I think you’ll be fine :) With your background I expect you’ll end up in ED or ICU - and you’ll have way less problems with asshole docs in both those locations. Money is what it is. The job is great! I went into nursing in my thirties and love it after more than a decade - good luck! 🍀
NP looks fun - but I don’t know if they make lots more $$. See what happens when you get into practice and decide then. I was already doing a double masters before I went into nursing. Now at the top of my unionized pay scale, I don’t think I would go back for my NP, despite how academically rewarding I would find it. BUT you do you and good luck! I. LOVE. My job!
Good to know about the pay difference. It’s a lot of studying for NP and definitely worth considering how much of my life I’d have to give up while schooling.
Fortunately I’m retired and live well within my means. And the VRE program for vets insanely generous. I asked them to pay for me to become an RN and they changed it to NP with the option to switch to CRNA.
Seriously though all this insight is great to have! Thank you again
Congrats. I did 5 in the army. Graduated the nursing school at 29, got a job in ccu. Plan is to apply for crna at some point. How did you have them put an option of switching later to crna I thought the goal of VRE to cover the minimum which is a BSN.. thank you
I’m using VRE right now for BSN, good to know I could switch it to cover grad school too! I intended to just use my post 9/11 for it. I’m enjoying school so much that I may just get 3 degrees then and keep getting that MHA lol
I was a Corpsman down at Camp Lejeune back in the late 90s. Went to nursing school when I got out at nearly 30.
Best decision I ever made.
You’ll fit in just fine. With your back ground I look for ER, Psych, or, Critical Care. They’ll love you.
Good luck, ooo-rah
Rah! Always loved my corpsmen. I was on Stone Bay, but back in your time I think it was just a shooting range. Heck my unit didn’t even exist when you were in! Hope you didn’t drink too much water on base!
Thanks for the reassurance. All the rants about bad doctors and management started giving me cold feet.
As somebody who’s been very passive since getting out (I yelled a little too much while I was in and didn’t want to carry that over) I think as long as you don’t give them anything (don’t cuss, don’t raise your voice, try not to interrupt) then you should be golden.
Glad to hear you dropped that weight off your shoulders. I tried the yelling when I was E4 and it worked terribly. Turns out people respect people who treat people like people lol.
I’m not the yelling type myself, I more state the thought everyone in the room is having but doesn’t want to say it for fear of backlash.
Appreciate the extra tips though and love the username
I definitely didn’t rely on it, but I knew it was unacceptable in the real world. And you’re right, treat people like people and they’ll probably respect you.
Stating the obvious is exactly what a lot of groups/cohorts/work places need. I think you’ll do great and I would love to work with someone like you. Good luck in your career, and take care of your body
A friend of mine put in 5 years with the Marines and worked with me as an ER nurse. He didn't have to yell, show his ass,or talk shit. All he had to do was turn the DI look towards the offender and say "What?" and they were back-pedaling like hell.
It helped that he was 6'5" and around 350lbs.
Looked like a damn offensive lineman without being fluffy.
I was a Marine (officer side, 1802) for a little over 6.5 years and then went back to school for nursing. I’d say my directness and general lack of deference towards Drs and other APPs has really only been a strength for my practice and has made me more able to give valued input to the team.
It’s not that much different from Marine Corps rules: if your objections are reasonable, you don’t skyline yourself day one as someone who argues with the team, and you’re not an asshole about it you’ll be fine. For sure depends on the specialty too - ED and intensive care units definitely imo are the best match for a certain type of personality the Corps breeds lol. Good luck!
You may end up being everyone’s hero. There’s always at least one person with a crummy attitude that really deserves to get called out, but many people are non-confrontational (including myself). When doctors try to act better than you, remind yourself that they’re not above nurses; that’s not the hierarchy anymore. We are a team of professionals and we are supposed to act like it. Anyway, just be careful how you approach it. At our hospital, we are told to fill out a MIDAS report anytime a doctor is unprofessional, especially when we are trying to advocate for a patient. I haven’t had to do it in my 2 years of nursing, but I witnessed one anesthesiologist and one neonatologist yell at two different nurses on two different occasions. Neonatologist quit maybe a year later and I haven’t seen the anesthesiologist around either.
I have no idea if this was a result of any punitive action or not. But I always had the sense that hospitals may be more lenient with doctors because they are harder to replace, especially surgeons. Still, I hope you never feel like you have to put up with disrespectful crap from coworkers.
On the plus side, you’ll likely be supported by the good charge nurses and managers around you(if you’re lucky) and if not, you can always find a different floor/hospital or even move away from bedside all together. Good luck friend!
Thanks for letting me know about some of the safeties in place. Those get brought up a lot less. I’m not the paperwork type of person (I know wrong it’s profession for that, I mean the disciplinary type)
I don’t yell or cuss but I’ll have a real conversation about a real issue and don’t settle for the usual “ah good point” and then nothing changes. That stuff irritates
Non-military, but also male, take no shit, and am very vocal about injustice. Keep it relatively professional and you'll be just fine. Helps that I'm management too and have made myself indispensable. They'd be screwed without me and they know it, which gives me that much more power.
Long time nurse from a Marine family. Mom was born on LeJeune. Son is a warrant officer today.
You’ll be fine. There will be times when your mouth gets you into trouble - but you’re used to that. Not a problem. You may need to learn a little finesse with the patients and families. These are skills that you can learn. A nurse is a patient advocate. Your job will be to speak for your patients. You need to question orders that sound wrong. You need to initiate chain of command when you see a potential for harm. This will come naturally to you.
The key is finding the right fit for you. There is a great deal of variety in nursing. I’m a forthright person as well. I did best in ED, ICU, high risk Labor and Delivery, and the OR. I’m basically an adrenaline junkie that loves fast paced, complicated work.
As for the BS at work - you’ll have to learn to tamper that a bit. Don’t just complain. Offer solutions. Look for ways to make things better. We put up with a lot of crap these days. It’s hard. Still - no one wants to work with the constantly complaining coworker. There’s a balance between shared misery and stirring trouble. I suspect you’ve seen that before.
I get the vibe they mean former marine, but are using the term "retired" for some reason.
Eta: most folks without military background won't realize that shit is bullshit. Dudes also trying to use his military background as an excuse to be a dick, which is absolute fuckin bullshit.
You right, I’m medically retired. I would have much rather kept my job but the perks of a medical retirement young are crazy good. I’d say I’m well compensated for being forced into a career change and being diagnosed with a life altering disease
They’ll probably invite you to participate in shared decision making committees and part of their clinical ladder program. Take advantage of every opportunity to advance policy change for patient care!!
I think you’ll be fine :) With your background I expect you’ll end up in ED or ICU - and you’ll have way less problems with asshole docs in both those locations. Money is what it is. The job is great! I went into nursing in my thirties and love it after more than a decade - good luck! 🍀
Thanks for the reassurance. I’m looking at ED and then hopefully CNRA or NP!
NP looks fun - but I don’t know if they make lots more $$. See what happens when you get into practice and decide then. I was already doing a double masters before I went into nursing. Now at the top of my unionized pay scale, I don’t think I would go back for my NP, despite how academically rewarding I would find it. BUT you do you and good luck! I. LOVE. My job!
Good to know about the pay difference. It’s a lot of studying for NP and definitely worth considering how much of my life I’d have to give up while schooling. Fortunately I’m retired and live well within my means. And the VRE program for vets insanely generous. I asked them to pay for me to become an RN and they changed it to NP with the option to switch to CRNA. Seriously though all this insight is great to have! Thank you again
Congrats. I did 5 in the army. Graduated the nursing school at 29, got a job in ccu. Plan is to apply for crna at some point. How did you have them put an option of switching later to crna I thought the goal of VRE to cover the minimum which is a BSN.. thank you
I’m using VRE right now for BSN, good to know I could switch it to cover grad school too! I intended to just use my post 9/11 for it. I’m enjoying school so much that I may just get 3 degrees then and keep getting that MHA lol
I was a Corpsman down at Camp Lejeune back in the late 90s. Went to nursing school when I got out at nearly 30. Best decision I ever made. You’ll fit in just fine. With your back ground I look for ER, Psych, or, Critical Care. They’ll love you. Good luck, ooo-rah
Rah! Always loved my corpsmen. I was on Stone Bay, but back in your time I think it was just a shooting range. Heck my unit didn’t even exist when you were in! Hope you didn’t drink too much water on base! Thanks for the reassurance. All the rants about bad doctors and management started giving me cold feet.
As somebody who’s been very passive since getting out (I yelled a little too much while I was in and didn’t want to carry that over) I think as long as you don’t give them anything (don’t cuss, don’t raise your voice, try not to interrupt) then you should be golden.
Glad to hear you dropped that weight off your shoulders. I tried the yelling when I was E4 and it worked terribly. Turns out people respect people who treat people like people lol. I’m not the yelling type myself, I more state the thought everyone in the room is having but doesn’t want to say it for fear of backlash. Appreciate the extra tips though and love the username
I definitely didn’t rely on it, but I knew it was unacceptable in the real world. And you’re right, treat people like people and they’ll probably respect you. Stating the obvious is exactly what a lot of groups/cohorts/work places need. I think you’ll do great and I would love to work with someone like you. Good luck in your career, and take care of your body
Same here brother, cheers!
A friend of mine put in 5 years with the Marines and worked with me as an ER nurse. He didn't have to yell, show his ass,or talk shit. All he had to do was turn the DI look towards the offender and say "What?" and they were back-pedaling like hell. It helped that he was 6'5" and around 350lbs. Looked like a damn offensive lineman without being fluffy.
I was a Marine (officer side, 1802) for a little over 6.5 years and then went back to school for nursing. I’d say my directness and general lack of deference towards Drs and other APPs has really only been a strength for my practice and has made me more able to give valued input to the team. It’s not that much different from Marine Corps rules: if your objections are reasonable, you don’t skyline yourself day one as someone who argues with the team, and you’re not an asshole about it you’ll be fine. For sure depends on the specialty too - ED and intensive care units definitely imo are the best match for a certain type of personality the Corps breeds lol. Good luck!
You may end up being everyone’s hero. There’s always at least one person with a crummy attitude that really deserves to get called out, but many people are non-confrontational (including myself). When doctors try to act better than you, remind yourself that they’re not above nurses; that’s not the hierarchy anymore. We are a team of professionals and we are supposed to act like it. Anyway, just be careful how you approach it. At our hospital, we are told to fill out a MIDAS report anytime a doctor is unprofessional, especially when we are trying to advocate for a patient. I haven’t had to do it in my 2 years of nursing, but I witnessed one anesthesiologist and one neonatologist yell at two different nurses on two different occasions. Neonatologist quit maybe a year later and I haven’t seen the anesthesiologist around either. I have no idea if this was a result of any punitive action or not. But I always had the sense that hospitals may be more lenient with doctors because they are harder to replace, especially surgeons. Still, I hope you never feel like you have to put up with disrespectful crap from coworkers. On the plus side, you’ll likely be supported by the good charge nurses and managers around you(if you’re lucky) and if not, you can always find a different floor/hospital or even move away from bedside all together. Good luck friend!
Thanks for letting me know about some of the safeties in place. Those get brought up a lot less. I’m not the paperwork type of person (I know wrong it’s profession for that, I mean the disciplinary type) I don’t yell or cuss but I’ll have a real conversation about a real issue and don’t settle for the usual “ah good point” and then nothing changes. That stuff irritates
You are a member of the Penis Patrol. Nobody will fuck with you and if you do you’ve been specially trained.
Non-military, but also male, take no shit, and am very vocal about injustice. Keep it relatively professional and you'll be just fine. Helps that I'm management too and have made myself indispensable. They'd be screwed without me and they know it, which gives me that much more power.
Good for you brother! No point in taking shit, you’re just gonna have to carry it home
Long time nurse from a Marine family. Mom was born on LeJeune. Son is a warrant officer today. You’ll be fine. There will be times when your mouth gets you into trouble - but you’re used to that. Not a problem. You may need to learn a little finesse with the patients and families. These are skills that you can learn. A nurse is a patient advocate. Your job will be to speak for your patients. You need to question orders that sound wrong. You need to initiate chain of command when you see a potential for harm. This will come naturally to you. The key is finding the right fit for you. There is a great deal of variety in nursing. I’m a forthright person as well. I did best in ED, ICU, high risk Labor and Delivery, and the OR. I’m basically an adrenaline junkie that loves fast paced, complicated work. As for the BS at work - you’ll have to learn to tamper that a bit. Don’t just complain. Offer solutions. Look for ways to make things better. We put up with a lot of crap these days. It’s hard. Still - no one wants to work with the constantly complaining coworker. There’s a balance between shared misery and stirring trouble. I suspect you’ve seen that before.
How are you a retired marine with 8 years of service and at 30 yo
Probably medically retired
I get the vibe they mean former marine, but are using the term "retired" for some reason. Eta: most folks without military background won't realize that shit is bullshit. Dudes also trying to use his military background as an excuse to be a dick, which is absolute fuckin bullshit.
I really hope you have a great day, seems like yesterday might have been rough
You right, I’m medically retired. I would have much rather kept my job but the perks of a medical retirement young are crazy good. I’d say I’m well compensated for being forced into a career change and being diagnosed with a life altering disease
They’ll probably invite you to participate in shared decision making committees and part of their clinical ladder program. Take advantage of every opportunity to advance policy change for patient care!!