In Which I Have a Minor Freak Out

[saratu]

So, in the last month or so I have gone from, 'I'd rather not leave the NW' to 'Austin sounds okay'. In the past week I have gone from, 'the rest of Texas can't be that bad' to 'where do I not want to move and of those states where do I absolutely refuse to move'. Job security my ass. Pretty much this is the state of things. Portland would be

Comments

[glowing_fish]

Actually, Alabama isn't that bad.

Have you looked into any programs that place you in underserved rural areas? These places usually have gaps to fill, and they also can sometimes involve part of your loans being forgiven.

[saratu]

I'd rather not move to a rural area. If I was willing to do that I'm sure I could fairly easily stay in the NW. I did look at Indian Reservations, but I decided I wasn't qualified.

[glowing_fish]

Well, I might be a bit jingoistic here, but... the hickest rural area of the Northwest is better than the big cities of the South!

Why do you not think you are qualified?

[saratu]

I'm not entirely sure if I agree with that. I love the NW, I really do, but we have neo-nazi hicks. Certainly not everywhere, but we have them. I've decided I'd rather deal with the Klan than with neo-nazi's. Also, big cities have big hospitals.

I decided I wasn't qualified after looking at the qualifications. Most of them wanted experience which I don't have. Also, a lot of the jobs would have me a lot on my own which I'm not sure I'm comfortable with.

[sophaking]

How much do you want to make after you graduate? There's so many different places you could work. I'm sorry, I'm not a nursing nerd and I always get the letters confused . . .I know there's RNs and CNAs . . . will you be an RN? You could do:

* Summer camps HOLY SHIT THEY NEED NURSES - when I went to Kiwanis Camp they're nurses worked really hard!

* Outdoor School

* CMFCish organization

* Mult Co clinic

* Or any of a bajillion private places

I guess the issue is all about money. A lot of these places don't pay too well . . . and I don't know about Texas . . . I guess Austin is supposed to be okay but Dallas/Houston/anywhere else in Texas blows. That's why Sergio is here!

Well good luck with things. See you this weekend!

[glowing_fish]

RN stands for "Real Nurse"

[saratu]

I will be a RN (registered nurse) when I graduate. It's not so much the money (although that is an issue) as where I can go from whatever job I start with.

I looked at summer camps but the problem with them is that they don't really pay much and they're too short term. I would have a job but then after the summer I'd have to start looking again. While it is possible that the other places you mentioned might have jobs, I'm hoping to start in a hospital. If I start in public health and I want to later go to a hospital it will be very hard. There are a lot of skills you have to keep up on to work in a hospital that you can't practice in the community.

I also feel the same about the rest of Texas, but they have really good graduate nurse programs. Thanks for the luck!