[olivia4]

Been an LPN forever but want new career. I would rather die than nurse sometimes. No one wants to hire me for anything else though. Over qualified I'm assuming.
Where are the jobs that train? We should be able to leave a field and go to another at any time if we so wish and still expect decent training. I mean we live in America for crying out loud!
Might be separating from husband and I need a job to be able to do that.
As much as I hate nursing I am being forced to reapply to the VA Hospitals in other states just to get hired somewhere. They train you back in like crazy so thank God for that.

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by olivia4

Been an LPN forever but want new career. I would rather die than nurse sometimes. No one wants to hire me for anything else though. Over qualified I'm assuming.
Where are the jobs that train? We should be able to leave a field and go to another at any time if we so wish and still expect decent training. I mean we live in America for crying out loud!
Might be separating from husband and I need a job to be able to do that.
As much as I hate nursing I am being forced to reapply to the VA Hospitals in other states just to get hired somewhere. They train you back in like crazy so thank God for that.

Sorry to hear, (((((Olivia)))))). Nursing is supposed to be in such high demand, that I keep hearing there's a shortage of them. A caregiver? But that pays very low, in spite of how hard they all work. And it's such an essential job, helping the elderly.

I agree with what you said about this is America. The message in this country is that if you work hard enough, anyone can get the American dream or what their dream is. Personally, I think it's a myth. It works for some, but not everyone.

I keep hearing from Obama and other politicians that we have few safety nets for people compared to other developed countries. And our job training programs are just not numerous enough, or the criteria is so strict to even be eligible.

Can't be of much help, but I just wanted to post to let you know I feel your pain and have empathy. We're left to fend for ourselves in this country, "pull yourself up by your bootstraps." But some people don't even have BOOTS, so to speak.

[IceCreamKid]

I too wanted to switch careers. I ended up going to school at night while I continued to work during the day. I'm still doing that (although I can see light at the end of the tunnel, finally). Depending on what you want to do as your new career, you might try this approach. Whatever it is you now want to do, start thinking of the ways your present skills can be useful in your new career (as an example, I would think you are good at: attention to details, timeliness, teamwork, and logical thinking) All of those characteristics are highly desirable in many career fields. I say this so that when some interviewer who has all the mental creativity of a box of salt says "How would your previous experience benefit us here?" You will have a ready and convincing (because it is true) answer at hand.

If you don't want to go to school, you can always be bold and ask potential employers if they will take you on as an apprentice or volunteer to get experience. Nothing ventured, nothing gained there. Good luck!

[CosmicRose]

I think there's a lot of branches off of nursing you could follow. Even going into a management position, other caregiver type position, or something else in the hospital setting like medical records, working with the surgical equipment, being some kind of technician, other departments like x-ray or neurological or cat scan. What about those people who sit at the desk in the middle of the ER? Aren't they like some kind of receptionists? Just think of all the careers you could branch off of from nursing. Even things like 911 operator.

[PrepCouture]

The culinary field. You can do paid apprenticeships and work your way up to a cook position. I've heard of cooks who make over $20 an hour.

The culinary field is fun if you like a fast-paced work environment. I worked in a kitchen to make money for college tuition, and absolutely loved my job!

If you want something more sedentary and relaxed, maybe look into becoming a secretary?

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by PrepCouture

The culinary field. You can do paid apprenticeships and work your way up to a cook position. I've heard of cooks who make over $20 an hour.

The culinary field is fun if you like a fast-paced work environment. I worked in a kitchen to make money for college tuition, and absolutely loved my job!

If you want something more sedentary and relaxed, maybe look into becoming a secretary?

Secretaries aren't what they used to be. They call them admin assistants now, and they are not so sedentary anymore. Most of them want you to support many people, with conflicting deadlines or priorities. You run errands, clean the conference room & kitchen, order food, order supplies, set up the food, maintain the copiers and such, etc. As well as being an expert in all this software, relieving the receptionist where needed, picking up people from the airport, shopping for the wife's birthday present, greet visitors, handle deliveries, make travel arrangements, travel yourself sometimes, etc.

Is that all? No, that's just all I can think of. Oh, and be able to work nights, weekends, and overtime on short notice. All while being energetic, bubbly, friendly, outgoing, and calm under high-pressure and multi-tasking.

Yeah, really relaxing.......

And usually for just $9 an hour and no benefits. And some of these positions are part-time.

Back in the day (20 years ago), each manager or executive had ONE assistant. And that person worked for that ONE person only. Much more "relaxing" so to speak, than supporting at least 8 managers. Now, they don't want to have to pay individual assistants for each manager, so just have one overworked assistant for everyone.

[CosmicRose]

Originally Posted by nonightowl

Secretaries aren't what they used to be. They call them admin assistants now, and they are not so sedentary anymore. Most of them want you to support many people, with conflicting deadlines or priorities. You run errands, clean the conference room & kitchen, order food, order supplies, set up the food, maintain the copiers and such, etc. As well as being an expert in all this software, relieving the receptionist where needed, picking up people from the airport, shopping for the wife's birthday present, greet visitors, handle deliveries, make travel arrangements, travel yourself sometimes, etc.

Is that all? No, that's just all I can think of. Oh, and be able to work nights, weekends, and overtime on short notice. All while being energetic, bubbly, friendly, outgoing, and calm under high-pressure and multi-tasking.

Yeah, really relaxing.......

And usually for just $9 an hour and no benefits. And some of these positions are part-time.

Back in the day (20 years ago), each manager or executive had ONE assistant. And that person worked for that ONE person only. Much more "relaxing" so to speak, than supporting at least 8 managers. Now, they don't want to have to pay individual assistants for each manager, so just have one overworked assistant for everyone.

That sounds more like a Personal Assistant's job description than a Receptionist's. I would never pick up someone's wife at the airport if I were a receptionist, lol. But I guess it all depends where you work. - Oh oops, you were talking about a Secretary, I always thought Secretaries were like another word for Receptionist but I guess they're two different things. Sounds like Secretaries are a mix between Receptionist and Personal Assistant?

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by CosmicRose

That sounds more like a Personal Assistant's job description than a Receptionist's. I would never pick up someone's wife at the airport if I were a receptionist, lol. But I guess it all depends where you work. - Oh oops, you were talking about a Secretary, I always thought Secretaries were like another word for Receptionist but I guess they're two different things. Sounds like Secretaries are a mix between Receptionist and Personal Assistant?

Personal Assistant jobs can be like the above, except that is more helping the person in AND OUT of the office, almost 24/7. You're almost always on call, and you don't usually have set hours. These office positions do the same thing now as some personal assistants, as they want assistants or secretaries to do way more. Secretaries who work for just one person have in the past been made to do personal errands. You just have to do more now.

I meant picking up a client, not the wife! LOL But that's a possiblity too.

Receptionists USED to just answer the phones, greet people, and sign for deliveries. NOW, they want you to do more than just that, WAY more. Nowadays, there's overlap between these titles. And titles don't always mean much either.

So, neither being a secretary, receptionist, or assistant is going to be anywhere near relaxing, unless one works for just ONE person only. AND that person has little work for them.

I speak from experience.