Hemorhaging Jobs

Woody wrote: ........you need to be an EMT or a Paramedic if you want to become a firefighter, which is the best job in the world. Good pay, very rewarding and secure....

Also the reason why is is VERY hard to become a fireman.

If you are a white male (not being racist, this is just how desirable government jobs are) and don't have a relative or friends in the department, I have heard it can be very very hard to get in. At least in California, maybe less so in other states.

And yes, if you want to NEVER be out of a job, go with nursing. They are begging for them, even in this economy.

jamscal wrote: Male nurse jokes.

That is where the Ducati comes in

Nursing is actually a pretty good option.

One thought on EMT/ paramedic...

Private contracts are governed differently State by State (or maybe even more locally). There is a pretty big move across the State of GA to take back the ambulance services which had essentially been privatized. No real warning. But communities have decided the contracts were too big to outsource, and many were shutting down the private services (prior to the economic crash- not sure about now). Of course, they do not have the resources to replace them, but...

I've got a friend who shut down his ambulance service about a year ago because they couldn't do business any more.

So, the pay could be questionable, and the security could be as well.

Nursing is more tied to large facilities which are anchored to communities, and to large corporations which are anchored to the profits, and much more stable.

I know around here EMT's and Paramedics are in the $11, 13/hr range respectively (Although this info is circa 2006 when I briefly dated a chick that was an EMT), even in OK $13/hr doesn't go very far.

I know we have talked before about Technical Writing, now that I'm in my 2nd Tech Writing position I will suggest this.

DO NOT GO TO WORK AS A TECH WRITER FOR A DEFENSE CONTRACTOR!!!!! Ugh, the pay and benefits are outstanding, no doubt, but there is so much useless, inefficient E36 M3 that goes on its ridiculous. Not much writing either, much more redtape type stuff than writing.

I had considered going back to school in the fall to start working on my Masters in Tech Comm, but I don't think I want to be committed to the current job for likely the next 3-4 years (have to stay 1 year past completion of the last class you were reimbursed for or pay it back) just in case the economy picks back up.

Although I'm still working on what should be a good resume booster by completely overhualing how they do their documentation.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do, if you have any more Tech Comm questions, feel free to ask.

Male nurse wouldn't be a bad deal.. especially a flight nurse or something..

E36 M3.. my cousins wife is a nurse.. She's a moron and makes $70k a year.

http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1230,q,567073.asp

starting salary of $49,000 for D.C.'s Nash Bridges. Crime isn't quite so bad in the District - heck, a zero bs policy could wipe it out in a decade, but for all the weenie liberals that make excuses for the crims. then just drink at my buddy's place. http://duffysdc.com/

jamscal wrote: Why not nursing? Great pay. Great future outlook. GREAT working conditions. Various venues (Hospital, Dr. Office, Clinic, Travelling Nurse for Ins. Co, etc.) Sucky hours. Male nurse jokes. Good luck in whatever you do.

Hmm... that's another idea. I was under the impression that it would take significantly more time and study to become a nurse than an EMT.

I could do that and enjoy it.

I am not bothered by the male-nurse stigma. I drive a Miata and do social dancing. I got over that crap a long time ago. Plus it strikes me as one of those situations (much like dancing) where you actually get to spend more time with good looking girls than sweaty guys.

What would be the first step to becoming a nurse? Is there specific schooling or certification that you typically need?

Be prepared for lots of biology (obviously), and chemistry classes. I know my university has a nursing program and they have to take the gen chem and organic chem class series.

here is a link to the catalog for the nursing program to give you an idea. http://www.ohsu.edu/son/academic/cat08_complete_web.pdf

You don't need to have experience as an EMT to become a Paramedic (EMT-P), but it helps to have a little experience when you get out in the field.

M-ursing is an excellent idea as well. Around here they're even giving signing bonuses. School just takes a while.

As the average age of the population goes up, there will continue to be a need for nurses. And as the elderly population continues to grow heavier, there will be an even greater need for male nurses.

As for firefighting, I have to disagree, a least in part, with some of what aircooled wrote. If you are a white male (not being racist either, just an observation) you can count on every third job going to a person who may have finished much further down the list than the person who gets the fourth spot.

Getting employed in Firefighting requires no more than passing the firefighter test and interviewing very well in G'ville. Very very liberal town would fit your mindset as well.

Greg's in medicine too.

MD wasn't for me

Salanis wrote: What would be the first step to becoming a nurse? Is there specific schooling or certification that you typically need?

Yes. Different training for different nursing positions.

First step is checking with your local community college. Most have nursing programs.

As for your wife's interest in Vet Tech...very poor pay. My wife considered it when she was frustrated at her last job. Veterinarians, unlike doctors, really have to keep their fees low to keep customers. Therefore, the staff pay isn't great. Many offices will have part-time help to avoid paying benefits.

Nurses are crazy. My Mom has been one for decades. All her nursing friends, f'in nuts too.

Maybe it's all the bed pan changing and having to deal with Dr's all day long.

Anything in health insurance. People will always have it, companies will always provide it as sucky as it may be, and who knows? The gov't may make it mandatory or provide it!

We aren't hiring as fast as we used to, but we still have posted active openings, and my raises certainly haven't slowed down.

I agree. Anything in healthcare.

The added bonus is that the boomers have started retiring. Next 20 years should be continuous increases in need.

And yes, it could go nationalized.

My ex is a Registered Respiratory Therapist. I don't know how exciting the work is, but she gets paid VERY well for the amount of schooling she has. She can also find a job anywhere in the country, at anytime. She always used to tell me that XRay techs are the ones who have it made.

ddavidv wrote: Veterinarians, unlike doctors, really have to keep their fees low to keep customers.

[Flounder Alert]

And this is what healthcare for people could be like if we got the government and insurance companies out of it and people were actually compelled to shop on price.

[/Flounder Alert]

I <3 DILYSI Dave

If you want to know what jobs are paying in your area try this site: http://www.salary.com/. It correlates pretty well to the paid sources that I use in my compensation consulting gigs. If you want to get a generic picture what is involved in any job you can search by title here: http://online.onetcenter.org/

If you have an interest in health care and some IT skills, you might look into the new initiatives to automate/computerize medical records.

I'm not all that sure that changing careers at this point is a good idea. As bad as the job market is, it is a whole lot worse for newly trained people with no experience.

Relocation might be a better option. Everyplace seems to be better than California now, and this is coming from somebody who was born and grew up there.

DILYSI Dave wrote:

ddavidv wrote: Veterinarians, unlike doctors, really have to keep their fees low to keep customers.

[Flounder Alert] And this is what healthcare for people could be like if we got the government and insurance companies out of it and people were actually compelled to shop on price. [/Flounder Alert]

More flounder:
Yup-my dog just had stitches complete with anesthesia and IV. Total bill $330. Wife went to emergency room a few years ago-each IV $300.

I would owe $294,682 for Trevors early birth and three subsequent ICU visits (4 ICU trips in 90 days roxxors)

Snowdoggie wrote: I'm not all that sure that changing careers at this point is a good idea. As bad as the job market is, it is a whole lot worse for newly trained people with no experience. Relocation might be a better option. Everyplace seems to be better than California now, and this is coming from somebody who was born and grew up there.

Michigan is definitely not better than California right now.

Type Q wrote:

Snowdoggie wrote: I'm not all that sure that changing careers at this point is a good idea. As bad as the job market is, it is a whole lot worse for newly trained people with no experience. Relocation might be a better option. Everyplace seems to be better than California now, and this is coming from somebody who was born and grew up there.

Michigan is definitely not better than California right now.

From reading the news and this board I am beginning to think that Somalia is doing better than Michigan right now. At least the Pirates are still making money.