Category: Healthcare

Diversity Jobs is pleased to present this career interview with a female Navy veteran who is now a civilian emergency preparedness planner. In her interview, she shares the struggles she faced transitioning from military protocol to working in a civilian workplace, however despite the tough transition she takes pride in her work which keeps her community safe, and strives to educate herself more at every opportunity.

What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in this field? How would you describe yourself using only three adjectives?
My job title is Emergency Preparedness Planner, and I have been doing this for 3 years. I would describe myself as Motivated, dedicated, and flexible.

How would you describe what you do? What does your work entail? Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?
I write various plans for emergency preparedness for a county level health department to respond to a disaster, may it be man-made or naturally occurring.

What’s your ethnicity and gender? How has it hurt or helped you? If you ever experienced discrimination, how have you responded and what worked best? Do you speak another language, and has it been helpful in your career?
I am non-hispanic, female. Being female has helped me strive to be the best at anything I do, from being a mother, to my job at work; at the same time maintaining my compassion for my fellow man, even if he/she disagrees with my own ideals of a particular situation.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What might need to change about your job to unleash your full enthusiasm?
My job satisfaction would be a 6; the job would need to change in the area of superior management style. My superiors need to hold themselves and their peers and subordinates accountable for their respective actions, good or bad.

If this job moves your heart – how so? Ever feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?
This job moves my heart in that it requires me to do my best since the plans I will write are the guidelines that people use to respond to during a disaster to save lives.

Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments?
I am a U.S. Naval Officer, surface warfare, veteran; I have served for a county Health Department Epidemiology, specializing in biological terrorism surveillance for 10 years. I am a wife, mother, and owner of 2 dogs and a cat, and above all I am a Christian, who believes and loves God.

How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change?
I got started in this job because I had a friend working in this line of work. I would not change anything if I was given a chance to go back, like Forrest Gump’s famous quote, life is like a box of chocolates, and you don’t know what you will get unless you bite into one, and I happen to like the flavor I bit into.

What did you learn the hard way in this job and what happened specifically that led up to this lesson?
The lesson I learned was in the civilian world one cannot be as frank to people as one can be in the military world. I learned this lesson the hard way through an uncomfortable encounter with my first boss.

What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world?
I have learned that nothing is ever fair, but one can always be fair to others.

Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud?
I get up to go to work to do my share in this world, and to bring a pay check home. I am proud that I earned my masters while working here.

What kind of challenges do you face and what makes you just want to quit?
The biggest challenge here is that there is no career ladder to pursue, and what makes me want to quit is the nonchalant attitude by the chain-of-command.

How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance? How?
My job is moderately stressful; I am able to maintain a comfortable work-life balance by talking about my day to relieve the stress, yet not dwell in its bad times, and bask in the good times.

What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?
$50K; I am spoiled so I must say no it isn’t enough, but if I reflect on it, I would say yes.

How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?
I get 2 weeks of vacation a year; The time is enough for state side vacation, but I would like a month for overseas travel vacation.

What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
You must have at least a Bachelors degree.

What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
I would tell my friend to take advantage of the free master’s one can receive while working here.

If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
I would like to be the Director of this Health Department.

Melissa Bosworth is a respiratory nurse with 5 years experience nursing, and 2.5 years experience specifically in the respiratory specialty. Her career plans include continuing to grow and learn in the field of nursing, while working on a writing career on the side.

What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in this field? How would you describe yourself using only three adjectives?

My job title is Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). I work as a respiratory nurse for a Midwest company. I have been a nurse for 5 years, 2 1/2 of that as a respiratory nurse.

What’s your ethnicity and gender? How has it hurt or helped you? If you ever experienced discrimination, how have you responded and what worked best?

I am Caucasian female. I feel that being a female often helps some of the patients I care for feel more comfortable. I personally have never experienced any discrimination, however, I know several male co-workers have found it harder being a male in this profession.

How would you describe what you do? What does your work entail? Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?

I take care of the respiratory issues in the building I work in. I assess each resident before, during, and after their various respiratory treatments. The most common misunderstanding people have is that mucous doesn’t phase me. That is so not true. I am just as likely as any other nurse to gag when I see mucous.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What might need to change about your job to unleash your full enthusiasm?

My job satisfaction is at an 8. In order to release my full enthusiasm I would want to change the early hours. I work 12 hour shifts, but being at work at 5am with a 45 minute commute there and back gets old after awhile. If you can find positions closer to home, I encourage you to do so.

If this job moves your heart – how so? Ever feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?

This career does move my heart. Watching some of those I have cared for for a long time, struggle at the end, gasping for breath is very difficult. I love the more individualized attention I can give my patients as a respiratory nurse as opposed to a floor nurse.

Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments?

You don’t always find your dream job right from the start. You might have to experiment with different types of nursing jobs before you find the one that suits you best. With each one you try, I suggest giveing yourself at least 6 months on the job before you make any drastic changes.

How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change?

I had been a floor nurse for a few years in long term care. I was starting to get burnt out on nursing. I was ready for a change, something different. The opportunity to become a respiratory nurse just fell into my lap, so I considered it. I haven’t looked back yet.

What did you learn the hard way in this job and what happened specifically that led up to this lesson?

To always pay attention. You are dealing with medications. I can’t say that there was a specific incident that led to this. I just recall there being numerous stories in the news about medication errors…deadly errors. It made me aware that it is possible to make mistakes and to always be aware of what you are doing.

What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world?

That all people have feelings. Everything you do effects those around us. A smile is contagious. And laughter really is the best medicine.

What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?

Well, I remember having a patient who was dying. I was assessing them and noticed their tongue was black. I called a co-worker and my DON to check it out and tell me what this was. My co-worker had never seen it either, but my DON had. The patient’s tongue was mottling. I had never seen a tongue do that before or since. It was truly crazy!

Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud?

For my patients that I take care of. I took care of a terminal patient recently. After the patient had passed, the family made a point of thanking me personally and telling me what a great job I had done caring for their family member. They told me I was caring and compassionate.

What kind of challenges do you face and what makes you just want to quit?

The only big challenges I ever face and the only thing that every makes me want to quit is the ‘politics’ that are evident in every job out there. The ‘cliques’ who seek to alienate you. To offset this I make a point of getting along with everyone and never being labeled as one who belongs in a ‘clique’.

How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance? How?

My job is not very stressful. Yes, I am able to maintain a very comfortable work-life balance. I work three 12 hour shifts, and have 4 days off to spend with my family.

What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?

A rough salary range is 37,000-42,000 and up. I could be paid a bit more, but I am happy with what I am making.

How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?

2 weeks per year. Yes, it is enough.

What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?

To be working as a nurse, you need to go to a licensed school of nursing. To work as a respiratory therapist without being a nurse, you need to go to an accredited school for respiratory therapists. To get hired, be confident, but be willing to learn. Everyday is a new day. Always be willing to learn something new.

What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?

Think on it carefully. Make sure it is something you want to do. And make sure you maximize your education.

If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?

I have experienced some nursing, and I have enjoyed it. I have learned some new things. Aside from that I have other passions. I love to write. I have written my first book, and I am currently working on my second. I have not had much time to promote my book to potential agents, but I am starting to work on that. I would like to be a successful author within the next 5 years, as well as be an accomplished and well-rounded nurse.

In this career interview, a nurse for a non-profit mental health organization shares how she has struggled to overcome the major obstacles she has faced, such as being a single mother, surviving cancer, and recovering from a crippling injury. While she still faces physical, emotional, and financial challenges today, she is driven to get up each day by a desire to create a positive change in the world around her.

What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in this field? How would you describe yourself using only three adjectives?
I am a psychiatric nurse for a non profit organization where I have 5 years of experience. I would describe myself as energetic, honest, and reliable.

How would you describe what you do? What does your work entail? Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?
My job is to provide medical treatment of the mentally ill. A misconception is that we just medicate difficult people without a second thought. The truth is that the only time someone can really force you to take medication is if there is a court order.

Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments?
I am the single mother of 2 girls. I am currently stranded in New York due to a divorce. I was raised in Memphis, Tennessee, and am a typical southern belle. I am adopted as well. I have survived cervical and ovarian cancer, and lived a healthy happy life beyond what my doctor expected in 2003. Because I am grateful for my recovery, I have promised to give back. I went to nursing school, and while I was in school I fell off a ladder herniating my back in 9 places and dislocated my jaw. I still managed to pass school with a 3.90 GPA even with my mouth wired shut part of the time. I am considered totally disabled because of this accident, but I continue to work. I love being a nurse. My back limits me sometimes, but I love the difference I make each day. I am now on the edge of bankruptcy and may lose my home because my children’s father quit paying his child support and because of my injuries, I can’t physically withstand the demands of working full-time and I have no health coverage because I make 15.00 a month too much to qualify for government help. But I am happy: I am alive, I have 2 beautiful girl,s and everyday I may fall behind but I make a difference, I am a friend, nurse , mother, human.

What’s your ethnicity and gender? How has it hurt or helped you? If you ever experienced discrimination, how have you responded and what worked best? Do you speak another language, and has it been helpful in your career?
I am a Caucasion female. I was once told I was too pretty to be a public health nurse, and that made me feel demeaned. I speak minimal Spanish.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What might need to change about your job to unleash your full enthusiasm?
I need to take on more responsibility and finish getting my RN certification. I am so broke now with 2 kids in college, that some months it is heat or eat. However, I love my work and I intend to go to school again when I can afford to do it and eat.

If this job moves your heart – how so? Ever feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?
This job moves my heart. I am accused of seeing the world through rose colored glasses, and wanting to save the world. I really feel like everyone deserves to have someone in their corner. Sometimes these people are so alone… I wish that all of these empty buildings the government has could be turned into acceptable housing for people who are struggling. There are too many homeless and hungry people out there, many of which are mentally ill. I want to take Kings Park (an old sanitarium) and turn it into housing and farms so that people who need a place to live can work there and have a place to stay. Let the people in need re-build it. Teach them pride… make homes for people.

How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change?
I had such great nurses during my illness and injury that I decided to fulfill my high school dream and go to nursing school. If I could do something differently, I would have completed my RN right away. I need to have it so I can support my self alone.

What did you learn the hard way in this job and what happened specifically that led up to this lesson?
I am trying to find work now that does not involve lifting and there is a larger variety of positions that are less physically demanding for RN’s.

What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world?
Be a good person.

What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?
I was giving an injection to a homeless man in a public bathroom. I made a sterile field and just as I injected him in the buttock, the door flew open and the POLICE told me to put my hands in the air. I was reported as a prostitute by the owners. There I was on one knee, needle in his buttock, pants at ankles, it was hysterical! Thank God I was wearing my badge. I am now known as Nurse Snowflake in a certain area of town.

Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud?
My patients need me. Sometimes it is just offering a listening ear, or a roll and hot cup of coffee, dinner from the church, or a blanket – These people need me and others from my office . My office was named the best in its category recently. I am proud to work and be a part of a team of people that consistently helps people learn to help themselves.

In an emergency I was able to help out with child birth, that was a very proud moment as well.

What kind of challenges do you face and what makes you just want to quit?
I work in non-profit. Sometimes I get frustrated about the budget not providing housing or food or a clean bed for someone who is alone with no family and is mentally ill, and possibly physically ill too. society forgets people I cannot. My heart breaks a little every day, and then, WOW sometimes we achieve success. The patient stayed sober, they took their meds or a bath all without encouragement, they got a job or their GED. I sometimes want to quit when the paperwork creates a roadblock that prevents people from getting the help they need.

How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance? How?
I have a high-stress job. I come home and cry weekly especially now that the kids have both left for college. I cry for the good and the bad. My daughter is studying social work and psychology and my younger one studies art. We spend a lot of time talking about their new lives at school and their ideas and dreams, and laughing and crying and planning to save the world together. Now that I am on my own, I read and listen to music on the computer… it helps me escape and clears my mind and sometimes that is when I come up with new ideas to help at work.

What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?
I make $24,500 as an LPN working part time. I am going to most likely have to file for bankruptcy because my ex-husband is not paying court ordered child support, and I am not able to work full time, but I don’t qualify for state aid due to my spinal injury and a wrist injury. I do well as a part time nurse but it is not enough to eat and pay bills, plus there is no health insurance available that I qualify for.

I am still not giving up…. I believe I will find a way to save my house and my pride. I am a great compassionate nurse with a big heart, so I will find a way or another part-time job.

How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?
I took a four day vacation this year, and I took my birthday off. I would love to take a week vacation and see something wonderful like Paris or Pompei or India.

What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
You must have a HS diploma or GED to be a psychiatric nurse, plus an RN degree, LPN or LVN.

It is a tough field, and some people can’t handle it emotionally. It is a true calling with tons of patience required.

What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
Nursing is a calling… do Labor and delivery and watch life being made, or do geriatric medicine and make friends with the elderly, asthey have so much to teach, and so much to say.

If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
I would like to be able to have finished my RN and be well onto my NP. I hope to found a project re-purposing the old Kings Park property into housing, and make enough money that I can catch up with my mortgage, bills, and have enough left over to eat and have health insurance. Maybe get married and have a couple of new adopted or foster kids. With God’s blessing, I would like to be somewhere near both of my girls.

This accomplished phlebotomist and instructor found her calling at a trade school while searching for a career that would enable her to support her children as a single, teenage mother. Not only has she been able to survive, but she has flourished in the field, now working both as a practicing phlebotomist, and as an instructor and author, teaching skills to future phlebotomists and writing her own curriculum.

What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in this field? How would you describe yourself using only three adjectives?
I am a phlebotomist with 21 years experience. I work in the allied healthcare industry as well as education. I both perform and teach phlebotomy. Adjectives that describe me are highly skilled, committed, and experienced.

How would you describe what you do? What does your work entail? Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?
Myth: Phlebotomy is easy, and anyone can do it…
Fact: Phlebotomy is not for everyone, and it takes SKILL to perform this seemingly routine and easy ask.

What’s your ethnicity and gender? How has it hurt or helped you? If you ever experienced discrimination, how have you responded and what worked best? Do you speak another language, and has it been helpful in your career?
I am a part Caucasian, part Hispanic female. It has been challenging (not necessarily hurtful) in my career, because people look at me and automatically assume or expect that I am fluent in speaking Spanish.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What might need to change about your job to unleash your full enthusiasm?
10…I love my job, and the only thing I think I would change is pay scale. I feel that the highly skilled and experienced phlebotomists in the field are under-paid, under-appreciated, and not always recognized for our expertise.

If this job moves your heart – how so? Ever feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?
It moves me and excites me when a frightened patient who has had a bad phlebotomy experience comes to me with great trepidation, and I am able to ease their fears, and successfully draw their blood and they exclaim “Wow, you are good! I didn’t even feel it,” or, “Nobody has ever got my blood on the first stick!”

Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments?
I was a single teenage mother who refused to be just another statistic… When I began my training in healthcare, I was terrified and had no previous experience. I was shocked and amazed at how good I was in this field, and very surprised to realize this was my passion. I was so fortunate to find my calling at such a young age (only 20 years old when I started.)

How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change?
I wanted an education that wouldn’t take me 4 years to achieve, so I enrolled at a trade school that had a 6 month program, never imagining that 15 years later I would become an instructor at the very same school. I wouldn’t change a thing, as I believe that it has all worked according to God’s master plan.

What did you learn the hard way in this job and what happened specifically that led up to this lesson?
I learned that not everybody wants to see you succeed; that some people are very jealous of my accomplishments, and that misery loves company. I learned this when my instructor from 1990 became my boss/supervisor in 2010, and when she saw that I, the former student had surpassed her, the former instructor, she was so envious of me that she made my work life nearly impossible. I was forced to seek employment elsewhere. I was very disillusioned by her behavior, as she had been my mentor for 20 years, someone who I tried to emulate, and my expectation was that she would take pride in knowing that she played a major role in making me into the person I had become, but she instead hated that I had achieved such success.

What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world?
That when you truly love what you do, it shows, and it makes getting up and going to work everyday not just easy, but enjoyable. It is easy to be great at what you do when you really enjoy it – loving what you do and having a passion for it makes work seem more like fun.

What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?
One day a patient came into my patient service center for a blood draw and she was a hard stick, and was very afraid because of previous bad experiences. She came in stating that I better be good at this. I assured her that I was highly skilled with many years of experience and I guaranteed her that all I needed was 1 stick, and that it would not hurt too badly if she just relaxed and took a deep breath. While she was distracted with the task of taking that deep breath, I performed the venipuncture. Her reply was “Wow, I didn’t even feel it.”

I told her that I used to teach phlebotomy. She then told me that she was the dean of a local college and had a phlebotomy instructor position opening in 1 month, and that she wanted me to teach that class.

Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud?
I get up and go to work each day because I know that not everyone is as good at what I do as I am, and that my patients deserve and need someone who is good at it. I am very proud of the fact that my patients always leave satisfied with the service I have provided, and especially proud when patients that need to have their blood drawn specifically ask for me when they need to have it done.

What kind of challenges do you face and what makes you just want to quit?
My biggest challenge is co-workers who are jealous of my people skills and my phlebotomy expertise. NOTHING ever makes me want to quit – it is not in my vocabulary.

How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance? How?
There is no stress at all, because I love what I do and I’m good at it. I maintain a healthy work balance by keeping my priorities straight: God first, family second, job third. I make sure to find time each day to find at least 5 things I am thankful for, and I make time each day to rest and relax, and spend time enjoying my family. Each day I take time to thank God for all He has done for me.

What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?
The salary as a phlebotomist ranges between 18 and 22 dollars an hour, and it is not quite enough, but I can manage on it.
The salary as a phlebotomy instructor is between 30 and 50 dollars an hour and I am extremely satisfied with that pay scale.

How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?
I have 2 weeks a year, and sometimes I wish it was more, but usually it is enough.

What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
The education that you need is to be trained at an accredited school.

You need to have people skills, good communication skills, patience (it really is a virtue in this filed), basic knowledge of the venipuncture/phlebotomy procedure, and willingness to continue to learn, a strong desire to be the best at what you do, pride in being professional, and a dedication and commitment to excellence.

What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
That it was the best decision I have ever made, but not to stop here, go further, and use this as a stepping stone…to use phlebotomy to open the doors to the medical field, but try to go further.

If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
I would like to be selling the phlebotomy curriculum that I have created/written/developed, while conducting personal training sessions to the instructors who plan to utilize/implement my curriculum.

In this interview with a substance abuse counselor, she shares how she has overcome overwhelming grief at the loss of her mother that changed her career path and lead her to this rewarding field. She also tells about her experiences of looking too young for the job, and how she juggles her professional career along with caring for her 3 children, one of which has special needs.

What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in this field? How would you describe yourself using only three adjectives?
I am a Masters Level Counselor of Substance Abuse Recovery. I am currently finishing up a year long internship in the area of professional counseling working with children who have been affected by the drug and alcohol abuse of their parents as well as working at a drug treatment facility. I would describe myself as caring, funny, and patient.

How would you describe what you do? What does your work entail? Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?
I come alongside of people who are struggling physically, emotionally, and spiritually due to trauma, abuse, and chemical dependance. While I am alongside of them I guide them, educate them and sometimes push them to dig deep within themselves to find healing and hope for a clean and fulfilling future. My work entails; understanding, being non-judgmental, being patient, a lot of listening, and a caring spirit.

One misunderstanding that I would like to correct about counselors/therapists/shrinks, we are not all trying to figure everyone out (analyzing) when we are off the clock, that is just what we do at work. We are like any one else that when we leave work, we like to leave it at work.

What’s your ethnicity and gender? How has it hurt or helped you? If you ever experienced discrimination, how have you responded and what worked best? Do you speak another language, and has it been helpful in your career?
I am Caucasian and a female. Being a female has helped somewhat because many of the children I have worked with had been exposed to violence by men, so there was a better sense of trust being a female for the children. The discrimination that I faced was based on my age, I look younger than I am, so people are not sure I am old enough to hold the degree that I do. I responded to the discrimination by just proving myself and being the best that I could be and giving the best service that I could. I do not speak any other language, only English.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What might need to change about your job to unleash your full enthusiasm?
I would absolutely rate my job satisfaction a 10. I love what I do. The only thing I would change, and that I am working toward, is opening my own practice. This will come with time.

If this job moves your heart – how so? Ever feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?
This job absolutely moves my heart everyday! I love getting up each day working with people who have found the courage to fight addiction, to face their past traumas and heal their gaping wounds. I feel privileged to come alongside these people and help them pick up the pieces of their lives. I feel honored that for the first time in many many years they are choosing to trust again and I am the person they are trusting. This is my calling, no doubt.

Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments?
Growing up as a little girl, age 7 or so, I always told my mom I wanted to be a heart surgeon. Well, life happened and I married young and had three children. My youngest child has special needs; Cerebral Palsy, Seizure Disorder, Hydrocephalus, and other issues. I tell you this to say that I never made it to medical school.

However,  I did go to college and began working on my classes towards my nursing degree. I have always wanted to help people. I finally applied to the 4 year nursing school of my dreams, so excited, I was placed on the waiting list, now very excited.I was on the wait list for about a month and then my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal brain cancer, she was given 2 months to live.

Two days after that diagnosis, I was called and told a spot opened up at the school and I was next on the list. I turned down my spot, I chose to care for my mom in her last days on earth. She only lived 5 weeks after diagnosis. My spot at nursing school was gone. My mom was gone. I was devastated.

I chose just to finish my bachelors in psychology because it was easy. I then began counseling for myself after the death of my mom and soon saw how this wonderful woman was helping heal my mutilated heart. I started working on my masters a year after my mom passed away.

I feel like a heart surgeon, working every day on broken hearts. They are bleeding and they have huge gaping holes in them and I get to help mend the broken-hearted. I’m doing what I wanted to do as a child, just not in the way I thought I would be doing it.

What did you learn the hard way in this job and what happened specifically that led up to this lesson?
I learned that human nature can be so evil. I learned this through listening to the loss, trauma and pain that other humans inflict on others.

What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world?
That there is always someone in every place a person works that will try to overtake you, or be little you, or bully you. I need to stand up for myself be assertive and not allow others to dictate my future or how I will respond throughout the day.

What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?
The strangest thing for me is when a fight broke out between a women and her nephew in the office.

Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud?
I get up and go to work everyday because I love what I do. I really love when a client who never laughed out loud or hardly smiled for months finally laughs with a big belly laugh, and then does it weekly after that.

What kind of challenges do you face and what makes you just want to quit?
Resistance, when a client just shuts down and refuses to work any longer, especially when they are so close to critical issue.

How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance? How?
My job could be stressful if I took home the troubles of the clients. I have had to learn that when I go home I am in the moment with my family, they are what is important.

What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?
$50,000 is a rough range. I am happy.

How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?
Three weeks a year, I do feel it is enough right now.

What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
Some places require a 2 year degree to counsel at treatment center, however I am planning to have my own practice in few years so I have my Masters. One must have at least a Masters and a License to have a private practice.

What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
It takes a lot of study, commitment, and you really need to be called to this line of work. I cannot imagine doing this and not liking people, or not having patience. Really think it through.

If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
In five years I would have my own practice on my own property specializing in adolescents and young adults struggling with addictive behaviors.

This dedicated medical hypnotherapist has succeeded in this specialty field in the Windy City of Chicago.  Find out details about his experiences in this field, the ups and downs, the earning potential and everything in between – everything you’d want to know if you’re interested in pursuing this field. 

What is your job title? How many years of experience do you have in that field?
I’m a medical hypnotherapist, and have been in private practice for 12 years.

Would you describe the things you do on a typical day?
On a typical day, I spend about half of my day doing phone consultations for prospective clients, and writing session plans. The other half of the day is seeing clients to do hypnotherapy.

What’s your ethnicity and gender? How has it hurt or helped you? If you ever experienced discrimination, how have you responded and what response worked best?
I’m Asian, but in this profession I don’t think it has had any effect, positive or negative. As long as you present yourself in a polished professional manner, clients will come.

Do you speak any language other than English? If so, how has it helped you in your job?
I do not speak any other language fluently. Hypnotherapy is built around using language and therapeutic trance to help clients relearn and reprogram deeply held habits and beliefs, so absolute fluency in a client’s native tongue is essential.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What would it take to increase that rating?
My job satisfaction is an 8. It would be higher if the industry was accepted more within the mainstream of healthcare. It should be, since it has been approved by the American Medical Association since the 1950’s!

What did you learn the hard way in this job and how did that happen?
There is no room for amateurs in this business. On days when I have not gotten enough sleep the night before, or in some other way have not brought my “A” game, I can feel it, and I believe the client can too.

What don’t they teach in school that would’ve been helpful to you?
As with most industries in which most school graduates will work in private practice, not nearly enough is taught about marketing yourself and maintaining structure within your practice. If you do not have these skills, you won’t last. Thus, I think everyone who seeks entry into this line of work should take additional classes in accounting, practice management and marketing.

How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change?
Getting started as a hypnotist is easy. You can take year long courses through many community colleges. However, since I specialize in medical hypnotherapy, I have taken additional classes in psychology, pathology, neurology, post-traumatic stress syndrome, and so forth. Based on a chosen specialty a person should plan to educate themselves in both the art of hypnosis as well as their area of focus. This amounts to needing to pursue two branches of education. Hypnotherapy is an evolving field though, so there is no single direct path to take.

What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?
Strange things happen every day in this job. People have spontaneous regressions, women give birth without pain killers while appearing to be daydreaming- there’s no end to the unusual things that will occur in a normal day.

On a good day when things are going well, can you give an example of something that really makes you feel good?
Boiled down to its essence, my job is about helping people achieve the things they hope are possible, but in which they do not yet believe. So, every time a client walks out feeling newly empowered to live a healthy, uninhibited life, I feel like I have the best job in the world.

When nothing seems to go right, what kind of snafus do you handle and what do you dislike the most?
Things generally go great for me as a hypnotist. After all, I am giving my clients positive suggestions all day, but at the same time, I’m getting their residual effect myself. Snafus usually involve someone not showing up for an appointment or canceling last minute. Over time, I have learned the hard way that I have to charge them for this time, or I would be driven out of business. It’s surprising how often, when you remind someone of a cancellation fee, their “emergency” or death in the family just ceases to exist. On the bright side, I suppose that shows you something about human nature and modern culture.

How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance?
My job is challenging and time consuming, but not stressful. I maintain a healthy work-life balance by establishing very firm boundaries with my clients. A lack of boundaries in any relationship, professional or personal, is a sure path to dysfunction. As the old saying goes, “good fences make good neighbors.”

What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough considering your responsibilities?

Hypnotherapists charge between $100 and $250 per hour depending on their level of expertise and fame. Although I am not famous, I possess an advanced level of expertise; most hypnotists do not have my health background. Thus I charge $150 per hour. I live in Chicago, so this is enough to remain viable in a Midwestern market while still making what, in this city, is merely a lower middle class living at about $80,000 per year.

What’s the most rewarding moment you’ve experienced in this position? Of all the things you’ve done at work, what are you most proud of?
A top moment in this profession is hard to choose. One of the things I specialize in is helping infertile couples to conceive. Every time I receive a thank you letter and picture of a new baby, I feel like I’m on top of the world.

What’s the most challenging moment you’ve experienced? What would you prefer to forget?

A large part of my work is helping people to release harmful emotions that are the result of abuse or trauma. Hearing the deep sadness in their voices is always very painful. It’s hard to see that so many people are walking through life with such dark memories haunting them. There are definitely some intense stories of abuse that I wish I had never heard.

What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
To succeed you need a high quality education as a hypnotist. The best programs involve about a year to two years of training and internships.

What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
I would tell a friend that he or she needs to be devoted fully to the well being of the clients. There is much egotism in this field, and frankly, it does not serve the client’s welfare. This is a helping profession, so a practitioner needs to make that a priority. If a person can do this, then it is a wonderful profession that allows us to transform hopeless cases into grand successes.

How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?
I don’t take vacations the way most people do. To keep up with new developments in hypnosis, psychology, and neurology, I use all of my travel time to take classes and attend conferences. I love it, so I don’t mind. It’s not for everyone though.

Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?
Hypnosis is not mind control. In fact. hypnosis teaches a client how to take more control of their own mind. Thoughts, beliefs, and habits that they may have once felt powerless to change can be reprogrammed with the concentrated application of their own will and attention. If everyone knew this truth about hypnosis, they’d all want to learn how to do it.

Does this job move your heart? If not, what does?
This job definitely moves my heart. If it didn’t, I wouldn’t be good at it. Every person that comes to me walks away more empowered to seek out the life that is most in alignment with their true selves. What could be more powerful than that?

If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
In five years, I’d like to be taking people on extended weekend hypnosis retreats where they would learn how to dissolve their self-doubts and regain their health.

Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments?
I have been interested in hypnosis since the age of 14, so my relationship to the field is over twenty years old. Anyone can do this so long as their heart is guided by an extreme dedication to excellence and compassion. If they are willing to truly devote themselves to giving their clients their best, they will succeed.

In this interview, we get insight into what it is like to work in a physical therapy office as an aide. She explains how she came to secure this job while going to school with the goal of becoming a physical therapist, and shares that the most meaningful part of the job is the relationships that she builds with her coworkers and patients.

What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in this field? How would you describe yourself using only three adjectives?
I work as a Physical Therapy Aide for a therapy center. I have held this position for almost 3 years. Helpful, dependable, and sociable are the 3 words I would use to describe myself.

What’s your ethnicity and gender? How has it hurt or helped you? If you ever experienced discrimination, how have you responded and what worked best? Do you speak another language, and has it been helpful in your career?
I am a Pacific Islander female, and my gender and ethnic background have not hindered me. I have not experienced discrimination in my jobs, and unfortunately, I do not speak another language.

How would you describe what you do? What does your work entail? Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?
In my job, I help patients with modalities after their physical therapy. This may include putting ice on their injuries, or performing electrical stimulation. I also help with keeping the gym clean, the mats sanitized, and making sure there are clean pillow cases and towels. This work entails a lot of walking around and interacting with the patients and therapists. The only misunderstanding I want to correct is that some people think that I am a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What might need to change about your job to unleash your full enthusiasm?
I would rate my job satisfaction as a 9. I enjoy my job, in that I get to meet new people every day. I also develop friendships with the patients since they have to come for months for their therapy. The atmosphere that I work around is fun, bubbly, and entertaining. There is never a dull moment around the gym. The therapists and I try to keep the atmosphere lighthearted and easygoing, since the patients have to deal with a lot of pain due to their injuries. There is really nothing that needs to change except for wanting the application process for Physical Therapy school to be a little easier.

If this job moves your heart – how so? Ever feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?
This job does move me, because the friendships I develop here, whether its with my coworkers or the patients, are lasting. It’s a satisfying feeling when I see a patient at the grocery store or around town smiling, happy, and see them back on their feet. I can see myself with a career in this field, but I would like to do something creative or
artistic. My sweet spot would be something in photography or baking. My lifelong dream is to be able to open up my own little bakery shop downtown.

Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments?
To work in the physical therapy field, you have to be able to interact with the public. If you are shy or reclusive, then this is not a job for you. For years, I used to be extremely shy. I was afraid to open up and talk to people. I wouldn’t even look people in the eye and smile at them. However, I had a friend who was honest with me, and basically told me that I needed to change. So, I did. It took a long time, but I eventually was able to come out of my shell. I don’t think I would have been able to get this job as a physical therapist aide if I was still that shy, little girl.

How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change?
I was going to college to get a degree, then apply for physical therapy school. I found out through a friend that there was an opening for an aide position at a therapy center. I called the director and talked with him, had an interview the next day, and I got the job. I wouldn’t change anything. I wanted the job and went for it.

What did you learn the hard way in this job and what happened specifically that led up to this lesson?
One thing you have to know about working in a small clinic or center is that “word travels fast.” People love to gossip, and coworkers love to gossip about coworkers. I learned that there were some things that I didn’t need to share at work or with certain coworkers.

What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world?
The single most important thing I have learned is that you will be remembered most for your work ethic.

What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?
The strangest thing that ever happened was when a tornado went down the road just in front of our building.

Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud?
I get up and go to work each day because I enjoy working with the people I work for. They are fun, caring, and we look out for each other. I also getting to see the patients we work with. Since we are a small clinic in a country town, we have that Mayberry atmosphere. What really makes me feel good is when I’m out sick or on vacation, the patients check up on me when I get back. They tell me that they missed me, if I’m feeling better, or how my vacation was. It’s nice getting to work in that kind of environment.

What kind of challenges do you face and what makes you just want to quit?
The challenge I face is just being able to multitask and make sure all the patients are taken care of. Nothing makes me want to quit more than when I have to deal with an unhappy patient.

How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance? How?
My job is not stressful at all, and I’m able to maintain a healthy work-life balance. With my job, I’m able to have holidays and weekends off, and work a 7-5 job. So I’m able to do the things I enjoy after work and on the weekends.

What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?
The salary range is based on your work experience, and is comfortable for students working through college or a single adult.

How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?
I take a reasonable amount of vacation. The job offers vacation/sick leave where you can take an ample amount of time off to go on vacation.

What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
For a physical therapy aide position, it’s on the job training. For a physical therapist, you need a bachelor’s degree in order to get into grad school for the doctorate degree. For a physical therapist assistant, you can get an associate degree from a PTA program

What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
That it is a wonderful opportunity to be able to work in a field that helps improve people’s lives. It is a chance to work in a friendly environment, and get to meet new people every day.

If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
I would like to be a wife, mother, and homemaker. After my children are grown up, I hope to one day open up my very own bakery.

Have television shows such as CSI ever piqued your interest toward a career in pathology? We interviewed this pathologist to find out what the best and worst parts of working in this setting are.

[I] currently work as a pathologist at a hospital in the American South East and have done so for the past 4 years.

My work consists of examining tissue and blood samples, as well as conducting autopsies, conferring with local authorities in criminal cases, as well as serving as an expert witness in court. In terms of misunderstandings, people often think of pathology as work conducted in solitude. In fact, I have an entire team at the hospital that I work with on a daily basis. Whether I am testing samples, conducting investigations, or working within the court system, I am rarely alone. The work of a pathologist requires a network of human resources in order to succeed.

I would say that I would rate my job satisfaction at a 9 or a 10. Of course, with any occupation, there will be good days and bad days, but I enjoy my work very much. The satisfaction I receive in helping solve medical mysteries, as well as in bringing justice to families of the deceased, keeps me going, day after day. When I get up in the morning, I go to work with a sense of pride.

I certainly believe I have found my calling. In my younger days, throughout high school and during my undergraduate studies, I worked a variety of different jobs. At one point, I was a waiter, as well as a security guard. I worked some fast food places and even cleaned pools one summer. However, within my professional life, I have always felt a calling to the medical field and I believe that helping people through solving mysteries has always spoken to me.

I grew up in a lower middle class family. We were quite your average, ordinary family. My parents had always encouraged me to attend college, but the money simply was not there. When my grandfather died, it was revealed that he had set aside some stocks that ultimately led to me being able to afford school. I am forever grateful for his hard work and I use that as an example to strive for myself each day.

I began my work at the hospital through my residency and fellowship programs. As part of obtaining my medical degree, as well as to work as a pathologist, I had to spend a total of 5 years in residency and fellowship, at which point I had to take a board review. From there, I was hired to work at the hospital at which I completed my graduate work.

One of the things about working in the medical field is that you must remain stoic while keeping a compassionate point of view. I had to learn to balance these two, especially when dealing with cases involving children. When you deal with death and disease on a regular basis, it is important to take yourself out of the situation emotionally.

The most important thing I’ve learned outside of school through this job is that humanity is the same everywhere. At the end of the day, we are all striving to be happy. The lines that separate us are self imposed.

While not strange to me now, when I first began my fellowship, I had a body sit up on the autopsy table one time. This is due to gases inside the body expanding. Although not a common occurrence, the first time it happened, I was significantly freaked out.

I get up and go to work each day to help give a voice to the voiceless. For those who have passed away under mysterious circumstances, it is essential that I find the cause, even if just to give some closure to family members.

In my particular hospital, the budget can be tight at times, so money is always an issue. From lab equipment to materials to workspace, there is always an issue to contend with. But, having a great team to work with, as well as the enjoyment of my job, makes my hair pulling days few and far between.

As mentioned, the job requires balance. I have to remove myself from situations emotionally in order to do my job. As with any medical professional, we are trained to remain stoic in the face of that which may make others upset. But, we do this for the purpose of helping people. When I go home, I do not take my job with me. I leave any and all stress at work.

A pathologist can make anywhere from $75,000 up to perhaps $200,000, depending on location and experience. A chief pathologist can expect to earn top dollar, while someone coming into the field will make considerably less. However, if you enjoy your job, money is not of any concern.

I typically take two weeks a year. Currently, I’m not married and have no children, so my vacation time is spent on myself. I will typically break up my vacation time and take one week in the summer and one in the winter. In terms of being enough, I don’t think there will ever be “enough” vacation time.

In terms of education, I completed my undergraduate degree in biology. From there, I attended medical school, then completed my residency and my fellowship. In order to be apathologist, I would think the skills needed would be a thirst for knowledge, as well as a compassionate heart. I entered this field to help solve mysteries. A desire to solve puzzles and make sense of things really drove me toward this career choice.

Being a pathologist is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. The work can be challenging, but when you finally figure out that missing piece of the puzzle, it’s all worth it.

In five years, I would like to be on my way to a chief pathologist position. I want to continue to educate myself, as well as grow within my profession. I’m currently involved in several professional associations, in which I would like to move to higher positions.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a doctor or surgeon? We interviewed this cardiologist, who grew up in a family of doctors, to find out what this highly esteemed career in the medical profession is really like.

I am lucky enough to have the job title of cardiologist. I work in the medical industry, and I have 10 years of experience in this field with five full years of experience at my current position.

I would describe what I do as extreme corrective work on the hearts of those who have suffered an emergency or are in bad cardiac shape. I want to say that I save lives, but I really do not. The patients pull through by themselves. I just help the body along. My work entails overseeing the processes by which the body can heal itself more readily – replacing parts that are not working, and saving as many parts as I can in the process. A common misunderstanding to correct about what I do is that it is always a life or death situation. Most of my patients are not in that type of danger, and I like for people to come see me before it ever gets that serious.

I would rate my job satisfaction at an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10, if I could. I absolutely believe that this is my calling and my full enthusiasm is “unleashed,” as you say, every day. I know that this is what I am meant to do because I love to do it even when tired, frustrated by other events, sick, etc.

This job does move my heart, no pun intended. Actually, that’s not such a bad pun. Let’s intend it. I definitely felt like I have found my calling. I am passionate about my vocation.

Something unique that readers should know about my background when considering my experiences: I come from a family of doctors. My dad was a podiatrist; my mother was a psychologist. Science just seems to flow in my blood.

I got started in this line of work by accompanying my parents to their jobs. Many times, I had to skip school because there was no one to drive me and there was no bus that came to my house at that time. So I received a great deal of my education inside of a doctor’s office. I really wouldn’t change anything about my experience, because from what I hear, school was pretty boring for most people who attended every day, anyway.

I learned the hard way that having responsibility for life, or being the last hope between a patient, their family, and a tragic circumstance, is a heavy burden. I learned this when I had my first patient pass away. The odds were stacked against him anyway – he was an older man with a family history of heart problems, and he had bad nutrition and no exercise. There was not much I could do, but even so, it was hell when we lost him. That was the only time I had to skip work the next day. I could not go in for a week.

The single most important thing about the working world that I have learned is that you must absolutely positively love what it is that you do. There can be no distinction between what you do for money and what you love. If there is, you are not living life to the fullest.

The strangest thing that has ever happened to me in this position have been the miraculous cures. The body, when nourished by the soul, can heal itself in ways that science simply has not found yet. There were many times when we thought we had lost someone, and a tear, a voice, a touch, has brought them back. True miracles. I have witnessed true miracles.

I get up and go to work each day to save lives and to help people. I cherish the possibility that I can change a life for the better today, and when I do, that is what makes me proudest. I am actually proudest when I can keep someone out of the emergency room. When people trust me and take my advice seriously and then call me later to tell me that their friend suffered the same thing they were about to, and to thank me for saving them from that fate, that is the best feeling in the world.

The challenges that I handle are mostly political. Not being able to get a transplant when I need it because someone doesn’t have the right insurance or enough money. Sometimes I have been moved to tears or great anger in situations involving insurance and money.

My job seems stressful from the outside, but really, when you’re in the room, there is no room for stress. It is just you and the patient. So no, my job is not stressful on the inside, or actually when I am performing my duties as a cardiologist. It is stressful when I have to play politician with the insurance companies. I really don’t need a work life balance, because I have not found the right woman yet, so I really just work, work, work. I don’t date much either. I really have no compunction to do so.

Depending on whether you own a practice or work for a hospital, a salary range can be from the mid six figures to unlimited. You can have other doctors working for you. The financial rewards are really limitless. I am paid enough for what I do, which is working for another doctor. I live frugally.

I take two vacations a year, to Hawaii and a different locale for the second every year. This pretty much gives me all of the off time that I need.

In order to succeed in this field, you need the latest in medical schooling and technology, and the drive to continue educating yourself after you graduate. You also need a lot of patience. Becoming a cardiologist takes a long time, though the path is relatively clear.

If a friend were considering going down the path of becoming a cardiologist, I would tell him that he or she had better be in complete love with people. There is no room for a doctor without the utmost patience in the face of utterly tragic and stressful situations.

If I could write my own ticket, I would have my own firm in five years.

This nursing assistant demonstrates patience and kindness every day as she works with veterans with dementia. Though her job can be one of the most draining jobs there is, she finds great reward in knowing that she is helping individuals who have made a great contribution to our society live out the rest of their days in a safe and caring environment.

What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in this field? How would you describe yourself using only three adjectives?
I am a Certified Nursing Assistant, and I work in the health care industry focused on elderly residents with dementia. I have been doing this job at a home for Veterans for a year and a half. I would describe myself as willing, attentive, and patient.

How would you describe what you do? What does your work entail? Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?
I work with veterans who have lost the ability to take daily care of themselves. The things I perform on any given day are: bathing, dressing, feeding, nail clipping, personal care, redirecting a behavior or an unanswerable question pertaining to these men’s past, chatting with wives or family members, and walking away from an escalating situation. Everyday at my job, I travel with these residents on a trip through their minds, and I try to be understanding. Sometimes I’m a wife, a daughter, a granddaughter, or some lady from his distant past. My job requires me to engage in conversations of gibberish in order to distract the resident as I change their adult diaper. Despite their irritating behaviors, which they cannot control, I would like people to know how emotionally close we actually get to our residents, and how much we do love them.

What’s your ethnicity and gender? How has it hurt or helped you? If you ever experienced discrimination, how have you responded and what worked best? Do you speak another language, and has it been helpful in your career?
I am a Caucasian female. Being from a predominately white society has benefited me financially yet deprived me culturally. I understand and speak the Portuguese language, but it has not benefited my career yet.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What might need to change about your job to unleash your full enthusiasm?
I would rate my satisfaction as a 9. When residents are being irrational, unreasonable, or just plain mean, it gets frustrating. I need to put my life into perspective and appreciate not being in their shoes.

If this job moves your heart – how so? Ever feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?
Giving these guys the needed attention they have earned after a long, productive life is how I know I’m in the right field of care giving. Their time is dwindling, and they’re mere shadows of their former selves. Their families are the links to who these individuals once were, and because of this, as difficult as it is, they come to visit dad or grandpa at his new home.

Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments?
This is a stepping stone into my future career as an RN.

How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change?
I needed to get out of customer service. It took me until my late twenties to accept the fact that I’m like my mother; who is also a nurse. This fits my personality better than my previous occupations- I’m a caregiver.

What did you learn the hard way in this job and what happened specifically that led up to this lesson?
I’ve learned to be patient, walk away when residents get out-of-control, and try to care for them when they’re in a better state-of-mind. After being punched in the chin, I realized some battles aren’t worth fighting.

What is the single most important thing you have learned outside of school about the working world?
People will try to be better than others at whatever it is we do. We need to stay humble and remember why we got into the profession and not get carried away with egos.

What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?
I witnessed an 85 year-old-man drop his trousers and make a bowel movement on a chair as if it were a toilet during dinner in the mess hall.

Why do you get up and go to work each day? Can you give an example of something that really made you feel good or proud?
I truly enjoy the hard work my co-workers and I put into this job. The sometimes hilarious behavior of the residents provides free entertainment, but I am always prepared to intervene in a troublesome situation. I would liken my job to child care, these proud men unfortunately have reverted to infantile ways. Shifts go by quickly, because I am constantly running around.

What kind of challenges do you face and what makes you just want to quit?
When I can’t rationalize with a resident, and they keep hollering in my ear, that stresses me out. Some co-workers don’t care as much as others; some don’t fully perform their duties, and it frustrates those of us who do care.

How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance? How?
It’s not that stressful. I take care of another person’s basic needs, so it feels good inside, but at times it can be emotionally draining.

What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?
25,000-30,000 a year. I work part time in the school year, so it is enough.

How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?
I will take 1-2 weeks of vacation a year, and it isn’t enough.

What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
At least an associates in a nursing or a R.N. Degree

What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
You have to be patient and understand that these guys aren’t in their right minds. Try to put yourself in their vulnerable shoes, and let any ego you may have out the window, because in a job like this it’s not about you.

If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
Living on a farm in northern Minnesota with my husband and perhaps a child, working as a nurse, and traveling the globe.