getting out of aviation

[B-J-J Fighter]

Good luck. This industry is hard to leave after it gets in your blood. I understand what your saying about the pay and lack of stability. From what I've seen lately, most nurses are better looking than the flight attendants these days. Good luck.

 

[satpak77]

From what I've seen lately, most nurses are better looking than the flight attendants these days. Good luck.

:laugh:

 

[Tyro]

I hear the same kind of b!tching from my three sisters, who are all nurses...talk about how many nurses are leaving the profession...The pay is decent...big shortage of nurses...

Any curiosity as to why this might be the case?



Good Luck, Bell47. Hope it is everything you think it is.

 

[psysicx]

There is no shortage of qualified nurses just not enough that are willing to stay in that occuapation. Must say something.

 

[Tyro]

There is no shortage of qualified nurses just not enough that are willing to stay in that occuapation. Must say something.

Bingo.

 

[schoolio]

My wife is a nurse. She's been doing it now for about 5 years. The first half of that was spent wiping geriatric butts, this last half has been in pre-op. Let's just say that the grass is always greener on the other side. It's nice that she can get a job wherever we go, with relative ease, but the pay isn't as great as everyone makes it out to be. Here are my "insights" into the nursing profession...

Pay. I don't know where all of you get your info, but for a regular 4-year degreed RN, it still isn't that great. Livable, definitely, but not the greatest. Right now my wife is making the most she's ever made, roughly $50K, working in downtown PHX. She could make quite a bit more if she entered the nursing pool, but that provides no benefits, and with me finishing up ratings right now, we need those benefits. So if you can get by without the bennies, the pay can be good. If not, it's livable at best (if you have a family). Specialties will obviously pay more, but how much more is the question. I think my wife would love to be a CRNA, but that involves more school, which won't work with my current income ($0).

Management. The hospitals are businesses, and as such their goal is to improve the bottom line. My wife's boss consistently sends people home early in order to comply with managements wishes for lower costs. My wife's last paycheck was for 69 hours over a two week period, during which there were no holidays. Her normal shift would be 80 hours over two weeks. She can't even get full-time hours because her boss keeps sending everyone home early. This last week she's been fighting to stay for as long as possible so she can help out our bottom line. This was also the case at her first hospital. I don't quite understand hospital management - they'll send home a full-time nurse who makes $28 an hour, but have no problem paying a travel nurse almost $50 an hour to do the job of the LPN who, if she was full-time, would be making about $20 an hour. I know I don't have all of the cost breakdowns to look at, but they sure would be interesting to see.

Anyway, Bell47, good luck on the career change.

 

[AIRMOTIVE]

gaylord fokker!

 

[skipro101]

Dude, you will always be a slave to management if you are an employee.

I wish you luck, but I fear you are making the wrong choice, for the wrong reasons.

do yourself a favor and read the book "Rich Dad Poor Dad"

do it! it might change your path.

 

[satpak77]

amazing how everyone on the board knows your exact personal situation isn't it

 

[bell47]

amazing how everyone on the board knows your exact personal situation isn't it

I agree. A piece of advice is kinda like a butthole, everyone's got one! LOL Like I said I'm not going to quit flying, I love airplanes. I'm just changing professions to make it a hobby again. I have thought about going to nursing school for the past ten years, ever since I worked in a Emergency clinic and loved it. It has always been something that I was interested in. My mother, grandmother and sister are all nurses, this field is not foreign to me at all. Anyway, keep the advice coming I will listen to all opinions, and options. Thanks, bell47

 

[jppt2000]

Bell47 excellent idea and strategy.
So many people I fly with don't have a
plan B in case things go bad. I would definately get the nursing credential.
The biggest return on your effort would be getting a two year AS degree in Nursing.
Let the hospital pay for your "bridge degree" ASN to BSN.
I am a Registered Physical Therapist, currently flying at a major fractional.
I was in the same situation as you. Except, I tried to get a flying job back in the mid 80's. Recently I thought I would have to go back to PT if things went any worse at my current job. I was amazed at the number of people who thought they would be able to survive a job action by working at Home Depot. I did the PT thing for about 8 years, formed a PT contracting business (hospital, long term care, home health) along with my wife. Flew back and forth to see patients, had a blast. But, after treating many older folks and listening to their advice, finally realized you only get one chance at this life.
I don't regret being a PT but,
I would not go back to PT if I could still fly. I gotta admit though, I sleep better at night knowing I have a "marketable" skill.
If you get a critical care certification, I would suspect you could work your way into an FO's position with an air ambulance outfit.

 

[Tyro]

Questions were thought questions - not specific only to nursing or even this particular case. These could today be asked of any profession.

Take a casual look around. Those forces compressing aviation into a now vastly underpaid and wholly under-appreciated profession, are not particular to aviation: these same stresses are distressing every facet of the social order. It is logical to think that perhaps a non-business (e.g. governmental) agency might be exempt or relatively well protected. This is not the case.

Swapping horses does not alter this. The same ugliness will be there. Perhaps in a different form, - but it will be there.

The wisest thing I have seen written on this forum is from PilotYip, starts something like: “Fly because you like to...”

Best o’ Luck, Bell47. So long, Compadre.

 

[Resume Writer]

The nursing profession is unreal right now. I consistently receive 10-20 positions a day from recruiters in my email from all parts of the country. I have a colleague whose husband is a traveling nurse. He makes a heck of a lot of money. He has stopped traveling now and landed a job in a top hospital here in PHX.

As far as "wiping butts and drool," that is pretty much for the Certified Nursing Assistants. It depends upon the part of the country where you reside. I have composed several hundred nursing resumes over the years, and I am consistently amazed at the inconsistency of position responsibilities and educational requirements.

Good luck to you!

 

[satpak77]

Best o’ Luck, Bell47. So long, Compadre.

actually you might see him soon on the ramp when he taxi's up in his own 182, with a big fat smile on his face, enroute to an EAA airshow, because aviation is fun again

 

[Tyro]

It is possible.

Good Luck.

 

[skipro101]

amazing how everyone on the board knows your exact personal situation isn't it

That is a retarded comment. Dude he posted on a freaking internet forum. We are giving our 2 cents with the info that is provided. No one is claiming to know everything, just trying to comment. That is the reason that the poster posted this in the first place....FOR COMMENT.

I agree. A piece of advice is kinda like a butthole, everyone's got one! LOL

What the hell are you posting this for then? I wasted several minutes of my life reading your original posts and the replies and made a comment that I thought might possibly help you. I did it because I thought you were asking for comment. If you dont want comment, DONT POST.

 

[satpak77]

That is a retarded comment. Dude he posted on a freaking internet forum. We are giving our 2 cents with the info that is provided. No one is claiming to know everything, just trying to comment. That is the reason that the poster posted this in the first place....FOR COMMENT.

What the hell are you posting this for then? I wasted several minutes of my life reading your original posts and the replies and made a comment that I thought might possibly help you. I did it because I thought you were asking for comment. If you dont want comment, DONT POST.

ok dude I won't be so freaking retarded

 

[MalteseX]

CRNA Salaries

My wife is a nurse. She's been doing it now for about 5 years. The first half of that was spent wiping geriatric butts, this last half has been in pre-op. Let's just say that the grass is always greener on the other side. It's nice that she can get a job wherever we go, with relative ease, but the pay isn't as great as everyone makes it out to be. Here are my "insights" into the nursing profession...

Pay. I don't know where all of you get your info, but for a regular 4-year degreed RN, it still isn't that great. Livable, definitely, but not the greatest. Right now my wife is making the most she's ever made, roughly $50K, working in downtown PHX. She could make quite a bit more if she entered the nursing pool, but that provides no benefits, and with me finishing up ratings right now, we need those benefits. So if you can get by without the bennies, the pay can be good. If not, it's livable at best (if you have a family). Specialties will obviously pay more, but how much more is the question. I think my wife would love to be a CRNA, but that involves more school, which won't work with my current income ($0).

\

The pay for nursing varies as it does for pilots, I guess. I can only speak for my wife however. We have not experienced the low pay for nursing as you mentioned above, but it may be that my wife also is employed as a CRNA vs a traditional RN. She also has 20 years experience.......

She just interviewed for a job in the SF Bay area as Chief of CRNAs. They offered her $210K per year counting bonuses.... she did not take the job due to the extraordinary cost of living in the area. Currently, in West Virginia she makes well into the 6 figures.....

No butt wiping involved....

It really is not a bad job. I guess you have to search around for the best employers/pay etc.

I'm finding it much more difficult to be in Aviation.

 

[bell47]

That is a retarded comment. Dude he posted on a freaking internet forum. We are giving our 2 cents with the info that is provided. No one is claiming to know everything, just trying to comment. That is the reason that the poster posted this in the first place....FOR COMMENT.






What the hell are you posting this for then? I wasted several minutes of my life reading your original posts and the replies and made a comment that I thought might possibly help you. I did it because I thought you were asking for comment. If you dont want comment, DONT POST.

Yeah satpak77 you were retarded and I wasted his time, Be care next time or we'll get our peepee's slapped! Well skipro I do like the varied comments that's why I made the first post. But everyone has there own opinion, thanks for yours but don't get mad if someone else doesn't have the same views as you. If your life is so busy that you feel like you wasted too much of it playing on the computer, and answering comments on a message board then you need to S--L--O--W D--O--W--N a bit. Enjoy this board for the good info it has and feel free to jump in anytime, but lighten up a bit. Thanks for your incite. bell47

 

[F16fixer]

I shadowed my mom in the ER last year. It was pretty cool to see someones guts set up on his chest and everyone was acting just as calm as could be. We even got to listen to Rascal Flatts while the surgery was going on. Anyway, the only down side to working in the nursing field for me would be the fact that I would be employed with 200 other people that remind me of my mom. (she's a great lady, but you know what I mean)

On the other side of the fence, No commute, easy work, my mom works two jobs because she wants to and makes a little over 100k a year. For Southern Mn that is great pay compared to the norm. She went to a 2 year school 25 years ago to make this salary.

I have a four year degree from ERAU, four years active duty under my belt, 20,000 down at some mom and pop flight school for all my ratings and my w2 was around 17,000 this year. I think I'm going to get drunk tonight!

You go get that degree in nursing and start a new chapter in life. I think I'll keep getting crapped on by aviation for a few more years to see if I can make it through or it will make me that much happier at my next career.

 

[wrxpilot]

My wife is a nurse. She's been doing it now for about 5 years...

Pay. I don't know where all of you get your info, but for a regular 4-year degreed RN, it still isn't that great. Livable, definitely, but not the greatest.

Interesting comments. I agree that there are a lot of warped perspectives here regarding pay outside of aviation. So many times here at FI I've seen pilots exclaim how the money is practically overflowing in law, medicine, engineering, etc. The reality (that I've seen) is much different. There are many ways to make a "liveable" wage, but that is all it is. Enough to pay the bills and maybe buy a house in a dual income relationship. Hopefully there's enough left over on the side to go skiing every once in awhile and rent a beater 172 often enough to not be unsafe.

If you find the right situation and start your own business, I think there's the opportunity for serious money. But you will be working your ass off.

 

[pgcfii2002]

It's definately not for everybody....yeah, my parents gave me the whole "why don't you become a nurse" song and dance. Too bad I HATE hospitals.

 

[scarface]

Flying will never leave your blood. I was going to get out 20 something years ago and go into accounting. The interviewer was one of my friends from the Marine Corps and Army National Guard. After the interview he told me that he was going to do me a big favor and not recommend me for the job. I figured oh well, what the hell and went back to my corporate job, which really sucked.
After a couple of years I got on with my current job and worship the ground this guy walks on for telling me to hit the bricks. I'd have been one miserable SOB in contrast to the overall high level of job satisfaction I now have.
Don't know much about the book "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" but I was at Flight School, Camp Pendleton and FMF WesPac with Kiyosaki; his guru status is amazing. But, he was a good guy in the Corps and is one charismatic individual.

 

[pgcfii2002]

I'm aiming for "Rich Son, Poor Dad"

Besides, my generation is going to have to support their parents.....right??

 

[capt. megadeth]

I wish you the best, but I don't think nursing will be much better. My sister is an RN and she goes through far more hell than I ever do in aviation. Hopefully this won't be your experience, however.

YES!!!!

I work a few shifts a month as a nurse and want to shoot myself in the head after a 12 hour shift! It's a great side job but I would NEVER do it full time. If I lost my medical, I would go to school to be a nurse anesthetist if anything. You will find it is the same old thing as the airline industry (ie. management really doesn't give a $hit, makes decisions that affect you negatively, want you to work as much as possible for as little as possible, AND you see your boss all the time, etc.) Good luck though, you may like it better, ya never know. I would much rather be flying full time than nursing. Also, you will find you don't have a lot of the benefits an airline career may provide. If you want to chat about it, send me a PM.

You guys are cracking me up with the "what is the problem? nursing sounds great!" All I have to say is:

HA HA HA HA You are high! Go work a 12 hour shift at a busy hospital, you will be beggin to sit on your a$$ in the RJ. But hey, everyone is different. I thought pilots were lazy though.

 

[capt. megadeth]

pilot's who think they know everything , don't.

Ha ha.....just wait till you get around nurses. They are like Flight Attendants....they know they are not the ones really in charge but like to think and act like they are.


P.S. Re-read schoolio's post #36 on page 3. He is right on.

 

[capt. megadeth]

.

As far as "wiping butts and drool," that is pretty much for the Certified Nursing Assistants.

Well, that's because nurses are too lazy to do it and delegate it to the CNA which is pathetic. It is still a nurse's job. I have wiped more butts than I care to think about.

MalteseX: you are talking about your wife that is in MANAGEMENT! Waaaaay different than a staff nurse.

 

[bell47]

Ha ha.....just wait till you get around nurses. They are like Flight Attendants....they know they are not the ones really in charge but like to think and act like they are.


P.S. Re-read schoolio's post #36 on page 3. He is right on.

Exactly what I mean. If you read his post her pay is $50,000/yr as a nurse his is $0.00 as a pilot. He's getting his ratings and spending money and the hospital where I am gives you $3,000 PER SEMESTER towards school if you will work for them after you graduate. They also pay right at $40,000/ year starting out of school. I will also be able to go just about anywhere I( read that, "I" ) want to, to work. In aviation you can't just pick somewhere that you want to live and go there and get a good job. I perfectly understand that I will NEVER, EVER be rich being a nurse, nor would I if I stayed in aviation, but I am a firm believer that I am getting into a profession that I am very interested in and is light years ahead of aviation in job stability. Oh, by the way MEGADEATH, you should explain why you don't need the ratings because your a "chick". That's what your avatar says anyway! Do you think that you should be given a job just because you're female and a more qualified pilot should be passed by? You should let all the guy's on here know. bell47

 

[AirCobra]

Some Facts About Nursing:
Going to nursing school is not like walking down to the FBO and getting a pilots license. Nursing schools usually have waiting list of one to two years and to get in you need a lot of prequisites like Microbiology and Anatomy which may no be avaliable the semester you apply. Attrition at school and clinicals is about 30%. If you make it through you then have to take the NCLEX which has about a 40% first time pass rate in some programs.

Your first job will be at a nursing home or as a floor nurse at a hospital. Stay too long at a nursing home and your clinical skills will erode to the point it will be hard to get a job at a hospital. Floor nursing on the other hand is when people will usually leave nursing. Due to cutbacks at hospitals patient ratios have gone from 5 to 1 to 8 to 1. You will run your a** off and always be behind. You patient care will be comprised as you try to cut corners to save time and you will be liable if you injure a patient. When they a 12 hour shift it really means a 15 hour shift. The 12 hour thing is time on the floor. You can't take a load of patients cold so you will need to arrive an hour before your shift starts, and you will have no time to chart while you are on the floor so you will have to stay after your shift ends. Spend too much overtime charting and they won't pay you. Screw up giving meds-get sued, Screw up giving bood-get sued, screw up moving a patient-get sued. No one will mentor you, no one has time. Pay is $15.00 to 25.00 per hour. Have fun.

 

[bell47]

Some Facts About Nursing:
Going to nursing school is not like walking down to the FBO and getting a pilots license. Nursing schools usually have waiting list of one to two years and to get in you need a lot of prequisites like Microbiology and Anatomy which may no be avaliable the semester you apply. Attrition at school and clinicals is about 30%. If you make it through you then have to take the NCLEX which has about a 40% first time pass rate in some programs.

Your first job will be at a nursing home or as a floor nurse at a hospital. Stay too long at a nursing home and your clinical skills will erode to the point it will be hard to get a job at a hospital. Floor nursing on the other hand is when people will usually leave nursing. Due to cutbacks at hospitals patient ratios have gone from 5 to 1 to 8 to 1. You will run your a** off and always be behind. You patient care will be comprised as you try to cut corners to save time and you will be liable if you injure a patient. When they a 12 hour shift it really means a 15 hour shift. The 12 hour thing is time on the floor. You can't take a load of patients cold so you will need to arrive an hour before your shift starts, and you will have no time to chart while you are on the floor so you will have to stay after your shift ends. Spend too much overtime charting and they won't pay you. Screw up giving meds-get sued, Screw up giving bood-get sued, screw up moving a patient-get sued. No one will mentor you, no one has time. Pay is $15.00 to 25.00 per hour. Have fun.

Learn to fly, private-CFI at a pilot mill school for $35,000 then spend the next couple of years flying some P.O.S. 172 instructing at the same school for $15 bucks and hour for flying time only, work in the office for free just to be availible for charters to fly some peckerhead on an old worn out Aztec or Baron just for multi time. Hours worked 50-60 flightime paid for 15, grand total $225 for, lets say 50 hours worked = $4.50/hour. Then you build up enough time and go fly for a freight company in a old worn out Navajo for $ 15/hour but YOOHOO you get to fly that piece of crap through ice and t-storms! Now after eating raman noodles and vienna sausage for the last few years you get that RJ job, they only pay you $18,000/yr. but who cares you are a JET PILOT! UH OH there's a layoff looming around. Now your back on the street. Now you have to move 1000 miles to get a job flying a worn out caravan hauling UPS. HAVE FUN! bell47