What do PS''ers do for a living?

[beechezz]

I am a special education science teacher in the high school. It''s challenging, but I love the kids!

 

[Porridge]

Date: 6/5/2009 10:19:01 AM
Author: SapphireLover

Date: 6/5/2009 9:41:13 AM

Author: Porridge

Date: 6/5/2009 4:04:07 AM


Author: SapphireLover


Mental health nurse. After 8 years of clinical work I''m spending a year developing mental health clinical pathways for the Stategic Health Authority. Not sure if I''ll go back to clinical work at the end of the year or if I''ll stay in policy/ management etc.

SL I''ve been looking into the policy/management route recently. I''m about to graduate from physical therapy and definitely want to work for at least a year before further study. But I was looking at the possibility of a masters in Public Health down the line. Problem is I don''t know anyone working in that area. Mind if I ask a few questions? Do you like that area of healthcare? Are there good opportunities for advancement? I love working in projects, and with a team. I''m one of these impatient lets-get-up-and-do-things people

any input appreciated!

I''ve sort of fallen into it by accident- career wise I''ve taken a very different route in than most people and also I am based in the UK which will have an effect. The NHS is working on developing clinical leadership throughout the country and wants to develop better skilled clinical leaders. The job that I am was open to nurses, doctors and other allied health profs (dietician, OT, PT etc) and was to be a Leadership Fellow developing pathways in certain clinical areas for a year, hoping you will go back to your clinical area a better leader and change facilitator, or be a clinician working in management. They pay for us to do project management qualifications, plus a module from the Universities MBA course, amongst others. It does train you up well, and when I look at job specs for roles that I want to move onto, the skills I will learn in the enxt year are going to be priceless.


On a day to day basis- I am on my own in an office. They have put me in a building where all the other staff are clinicians. I can go 2 days without talking to anybody in the building! On a day to day level, at the moment I feel that I am writing my dissertation again. There is a lot of report writing that nobody will read any of, except for the exec summary which is the front page. The policy stuff is good. I sometimes wonder that there are too many people writing policies, with no incentives for people to implement them, and too many middle managers sitting around having meetings about meetings.


To be honest I might stay in it. It sounds awful, but clinical work involves shifts, weekends, having to work bank holidays, fighting to get time off in school holidays etc. I would loose sleep worrying about patients all the time and ruminating on decisions that I had made. The stress was making me ill at times (2 months with gastritis at 28!). In my current job I get slightly more money (although the commute I know have eats up any real increase in salary), regular hours, less stress. I get married in a year and want to start trying for kids, so policy work fits in much better with that. I know it sounds selfish. Also, I do think that there is so much mis-management and wasting of money, that if you develop good policies and guidance, in the long term you are helping patients. You can actually help more people with one good policy that is implemented well, than nursing and seeing one patient at a time.

Thanks for the detailed response SL. I''m in Ireland but am moving to the US with FI in a few months, so I''m not sure how different the setup would be there. I will have at least a year of working anyway, hopefully I''ll get a feel for what I like. I agree with your last sentiment, helping more people by creating better policies. At the moment I think that''s where my energy would be best spent. We''ll see how it goes! Thanks again.

 

[Tuckins1]

Date: 6/6/2009 7:20:09 AM
Author: mimzy

Date: 6/4/2009 4:21:57 PM

Author: Tuckins1

I am a special education teacher at an inner city elementary school. Some days I love it, some days I don't... But it's never boring!!!!

ooh Tuckins, aren't you in MI? what school district are you in??

I work at a charter school in Harper Woods- it's all DPS.

Where do you work? Are you in a school?

 

[risingsun]

I''m a Licensed Professional Counselor. That means I can practice independently and collect third party payments. I''ve been thinking of getting into Distance Credentialed Counseling as my health continues to decline

 

[diamondringlover]

I have kinda of a different job, it keeps changing

I work for a large medical insurance company and my title is a Project Analyst, however, I am crossed trained in 3 different areas in our department and currently I am doing Provider complaint and appeals, I dont like it, but it pays the bills, I bascially dont know what they are going to have me doing from week to week. But one good thing about my job is I just recently became a work at home employee, which means I get to do my crappy job out of my house and in my PJ''s

so I guess I will stick around for a while, lol, I only have 14 years till retirement!!

 

[HpiRally]

you will all be jealous of me....ready?

I play golf for a living


yes seriously......however I am transitioning into a being a Fire Fighter part time golfer.

joe

 

[packrat]

Just recently left my part time insurance job and now work 1 day a week at my Dr''s office at the front desk and getting paper records into the computer. The rest of the time I chase after Thing 1 and Thing 2. Am thinking of selling stuff on ebay or doing part time day care to help with bills.

 

[ckrickett]

Date: 6/6/2009 6:26:42 PM
Author: HpiRally
you will all be jealous of me....ready?

I play golf for a living


yes seriously......however I am transitioning into a being a Fire Fighter part time golfer.

joe

aw FUN!
golf is a blast.. I''m jeaaalllous!!!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 6/6/2009 6:43:00 PM
Author: packrat
Just recently left my part time insurance job and now work 1 day a week at my Dr''s office at the front desk and getting paper records into the computer. The rest of the time I chase after Thing 1 and Thing 2. Am thinking of selling stuff on ebay or doing part time day care to help with bills.

Packrat - how old are your kids? Right now I do PT (after school) child care and it''s working out pretty good. I''m not sure about the summer, however, since my kids will be home and may just do it a few days a month.

 

[packrat]

MC-London''s 5 and she''ll be going to Kindergarten this fall. Trapper is 2. I''ve thought about doing daycare various other times but people generally tell me it''s something that *has* to be done full time, so I never really pursued it. I like the idea of having some kids after school until their parents get off work or whatever! We''ve talked about doing some different things in the basement to have an area for the kids.

 

[jstarfireb]

Date: 6/6/2009 7:49:51 AM
Author: icekid

Date: 6/4/2009 9:18:24 PM
Author: SeaStar
I''m a staff nurse on a pediatric/maternity floor. Hoping to start med school reqs in the fall. Like nursing but really love medicine.

SeaStar- good for you! I also had a classmate who was a nurse.

Another resident doc here..... though unfortunately NOT almost finished, unlike Ltl.

Ditto, 3 more years to go for me. I''m in the ER field.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 6/6/2009 3:36:30 PM
Author: risingsun

I''m a Licensed Professional Counselor. That means I can practice independently and collect third party payments. I''ve been thinking of getting into Distance Credentialed Counseling as my health continues to decline

Marian, I knew your profession. Indeed you educated me about professional counselors in my own state; I hadn''t known that we had them!!! But I did not know about your health. Is there a thread about this somewhere? If so, please put in a link. I am sorry to hear this!

Deb/AGBF

 

[AGBF]

Date: 6/4/2009 9:03:52 AM
Author:princessplease

I''m just curious

I''m a social worker for mentally ill adults and a PT grad student.

If you are a social worker now, what are you studying in graduate school? (Asked by a curious MSW, of course!)

PS-Before my daughter was born my last job was working with the de-institutionalized mentally ill in the community, primarily schizophrenics and manic depressives (as they were then called) i.e. people with bi-polar disorder.

AGBF

 

[Kunzite]

An accountant for a travel company

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 6/5/2009 6:08:54 AM
Author: klewis

Saddler

Klewis, REALLY??? That''s awesome! Which company do you work for (if you don''t mind my asking)? Do you enjoy it? How did you get started? I''m a horse owner, and I always thought I would love to have a job like yours!

Oh, and I''m a paralegal and horseback riding instructor.

 

[klewis]

Date: 6/6/2009 11:40:24 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl

Date: 6/5/2009 6:08:54 AM

Author: klewis

Saddler

Klewis, REALLY??? That''s awesome! Which company do you work for (if you don''t mind my asking)? Do you enjoy it? How did you get started? I''m a horse owner, and I always thought I would love to have a job like yours!

Oh, and I''m a paralegal and horseback riding instructor.

Yikes, I''m sorry Irishgrrrl - I"m not a saddler. I was amused by Mochi''s post. She listed her job as a Dominatrix ( I included her post with mine) so I imagined being a saddler would be connected to a Dominatrix - you know, whips, boots and other leather tools of her trade. Well maybe you don''t know and neither do I actually. I see now it was a rather vague connection and possibly more related to S&M than a dominatrix, not that I would be 100% sure! Sorry to have misled you.
Nice to know you are a horse person though. My father grew up on a large station (ranch) & spent much of his life in the saddle and in his later life moved back to the station. On occasion he and I took overnight journeys by horse up into the hills on the edge of the Urewera National Park that bordered the station. I''m a very average rider though. We would overnight in a tiny rusty tin shed that leaned into the prevailing wind. It''s a very beautiful, primeval place.


Maybe you noticed the saddlery and other leather items in the Lord of the Rings movies? They were produced by an Irish/NZ saddler.

 

[beechezz]

Date: 6/6/2009 6:26:42 PM
Author: HpiRally
you will all be jealous of me....ready?

I play golf for a living


yes seriously......however I am transitioning into a being a Fire Fighter part time golfer.

joe

My husband would be sooooo jealous! He spends all his time on the course when he is not working. Good luck with the firefighting!

 

[gwendolyn]

This PSer teaches various subject (including music, my specialty) at a special needs high school for students with moderate, severe and multiple needs in London.

 

[Jen_91909]

I''m a Graphic Designer

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

I''m a research assistant and i get to work with twins.

 

[mochi]

Date: 6/7/2009 2:10:55 AM
Author: klewis

Date: 6/6/2009 11:40:24 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl

Date: 6/5/2009 6:08:54 AM

Author: klewis

Saddler

Klewis, REALLY??? That''s awesome! Which company do you work for (if you don''t mind my asking)? Do you enjoy it? How did you get started? I''m a horse owner, and I always thought I would love to have a job like yours!

Oh, and I''m a paralegal and horseback riding instructor.

Yikes, I''m sorry Irishgrrrl - I''m not a saddler. I was amused by Mochi''s post. She listed her job as a Dominatrix ( I included her post with mine) so I imagined being a saddler would be connected to a Dominatrix - you know, whips, boots and other leather tools of her trade. Well maybe you don''t know and neither do I actually. I see now it was a rather vague connection and possibly more related to S&M than a dominatrix, not that I would be 100% sure! Sorry to have misled you.
Nice to know you are a horse person though. My father grew up on a large station (ranch) & spent much of his life in the saddle and in his later life moved back to the station. On occasion he and I took overnight journeys by horse up into the hills on the edge of the Urewera National Park that bordered the station. I''m a very average rider though. We would overnight in a tiny rusty tin shed that leaned into the prevailing wind. It''s a very beautiful, primeval place.


Maybe you noticed the saddlery and other leather items in the Lord of the Rings movies? They were produced by an Irish/NZ saddler.

Somedays I feel like a dominatrix, but I''m not...LOL!

I am a recovery room nurse, but I can whip out a restraints and tie a patient down in just a few seconds!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 6/6/2009 8:16:19 PM
Author: packrat
MC-London''s 5 and she''ll be going to Kindergarten this fall. Trapper is 2. I''ve thought about doing daycare various other times but people generally tell me it''s something that *has* to be done full time, so I never really pursued it. I like the idea of having some kids after school until their parents get off work or whatever! We''ve talked about doing some different things in the basement to have an area for the kids.

Most of the moms I know who watch kids do so PT because many (mostly moms) work only a few days a week or need only after school care. I''m watching kids who are the same ages as my children so they can play together. You''re at an advantage with having one school-age child who can more independantly play with another child and also a little one which means your house is still baby proofed. I''d never be able to watch young children because it''d cost too much to babyproof my home.

One thing though is my son is complaining about becoming bored playing with the same kids. We rotate through friends when schedualing playdates so to avoid that problem in our social life, but with watching the same two kids weekly, and now with summer, I do not think the kids will enjoy seeing each other so much! The kids get a long well. . .many of the moms I''ve spoken with have told me once the kids get around each other often, they begin to bicker and I do not want to have to disipline other kids over silly things!

 

[LtlFirecracker]

Date: 6/6/2009 7:49:51 AM
Author: icekid

Date: 6/4/2009 9:18:24 PM

Author: SeaStar

I''m a staff nurse on a pediatric/maternity floor. Hoping to start med school reqs in the fall. Like nursing but really love medicine.

SeaStar- good for you! I also had a classmate who was a nurse.


Another resident doc here..... though unfortunately NOT almost finished, unlike Ltl.

But you are almost done with internship, that is a reason to celebrate.

 

[packrat]

Date: 6/7/2009 1:55:12 PM
Author: MC

Date: 6/6/2009 8:16:19 PM

Author: packrat

MC-London''s 5 and she''ll be going to Kindergarten this fall. Trapper is 2. I''ve thought about doing daycare various other times but people generally tell me it''s something that *has* to be done full time, so I never really pursued it. I like the idea of having some kids after school until their parents get off work or whatever! We''ve talked about doing some different things in the basement to have an area for the kids.

Most of the moms I know who watch kids do so PT because many (mostly moms) work only a few days a week or need only after school care. I''m watching kids who are the same ages as my children so they can play together. You''re at an advantage with having one school-age child who can more independantly play with another child and also a little one which means your house is still baby proofed. I''d never be able to watch young children because it''d cost too much to babyproof my home.


One thing though is my son is complaining about becoming bored playing with the same kids. We rotate through friends when schedualing playdates so to avoid that problem in our social life, but with watching the same two kids weekly, and now with summer, I do not think the kids will enjoy seeing each other so much! The kids get a long well. . .many of the moms I''ve spoken with have told me once the kids get around each other often, they begin to bicker and I do not want to have to disipline other kids over silly things!

Thanks MC! I think I just might talk w/JD about this a bit more. I''m sure there are a couple kids London''s age that would go to daycare after school until mom and dad are off work, so this might work out ok! Maybe there''s a sibling Trapper''s age that could come a couple days too. Thanks for the tips!

 

[honey22]

Date: 6/4/2009 9:53:39 AM
Author: Haven
I''m a high school English teacher.
I love my job.

Haven, I can totally imagine you as a teacher. You are so eloquent and well-read, it''s a perfect job for you

Now, I am starting to wonder if all my grammar is correct in my post

 

[honey22]

Wierdo, aka Research Scientist, cancer research.

I can''t believe I got to the lab all day and someone pays for it! I love my job!

 

[3Rocks]

I am a property accountant for a large real estate firm. I am hoping to land a part-time position as an accounting adjunct with a community college.

 

[3Rocks]

Date: 6/4/2009 9:59:50 PM
Author: marcyc
I have 2 jobs. My full time job is a supervisor of an editing department and my part time job is adjunct teacher at a community college.

Hi Marcy,
I am hoping to get a part time job as an adjunct at a community college. I haven''t apply yet so I need to do that first. But my curiousity is how do you prepare yourself for an interview? If you don''t mind sharing, I am all ears.
Thanks in advance!!

 

[icekid]

Date: 6/7/2009 8:41:09 PM
Author: honey22
Wierdo, aka Research Scientist, cancer research.


I can''t believe I got to the lab all day and someone pays for it! I love my job!

So glad there is something out there for everyone! Bench research drives me batty

 

[shimmer]

Date: 6/7/2009 8:41:09 PM
Author: honey22
Wierdo, aka Research Scientist, cancer research.


I can't believe I got to the lab all day and someone pays for it! I love my job!

Wow honey, that's exactly what I want to do! When I'm in a lab I feel like the rest of the world is standing still and it's just me and my chemicals

I'm so weird!

Can I ask how you got into research (education, work experience)?


ETA: I guess I should answer the question! I`m currently an insurance broker (family business), but just quit my job to go back to school and finish my degree