Home Treatment for Repetitive Stress Injury

If you’re stressed and sick of your job and ready for a way out, you might be considering what your aptitudes and interests are for other careers. In this economy, now is a tough time to ditch your job for a new one though — or is it?

Some fields –especially nursing and teaching — are more in need of workers than others. In some areas you are practically guaranteed a job, if you have the requisite training–and both these careers will give you an opportunity to move around and interact with others during the day instead of just sitting at a desk job.

Read on to learn a little more about what you’d face as a nurse or teacher…

Nursing
The Pros
Getting the training is is a promising way that you can learn more about any injuries or disabilities you have, and learn how to treat them. Nurses have a lot of the same training as doctors, so you will be well qualified to help others. Your job will put you in contact with people and you can have plenty of social time. Many nurses also can decide what days of the week they work, and get paid pretty well.
The Cons
First, the cost and time it takes to study the profession can be daunting. (Update 1/15/09:Also it may be hard to get into a school — although the industry needs more nurses, the training programs apparently can’t accommodate all of the people who have started to apply to them.)

Then, nursing isn’t nearly as glamorous as being a doctor. Nursing can be a tough job, dealing with lots of people and their problems–you need the right amount of patience and tolerance for it. Nurses also work long hours — often 10 hour days, 4 days a week, then 3 days off. Some activities can also put nurses at risk of other injuries –helping to lift weak people can cause back problems if you’re not careful for example.

A recent Occupational Health and Safety article highlights new scholarships and grants for new nursing students:

Fifty-eight nursing schools in 31 states are sharing $7 million in funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program, which works to bolster the pipeline of new nursing by providing financial aid to students. The money is funding $10,000 scholarships for 706 nursing students in accelerated programs during the 2008-09 school year.

Read the full release here.

Teaching

Some districts are so hard up for elementary and high school teachers (K-12) they are lowering their standards. In Napa County in California, substitute teachers need only have their high school diploma and CBEST test OR a Bachelor’s degree. The teachers that I know (several) suggest that in coming years the standards might lower even further.

(Update 1/15/09: On the other hand, budget cuts may force other districts to let teachers and consolidate classes, making larger class sizes.)

Pros of teaching
Working with students and helping them learn and grow. Many teachers love working with kids or young adults, or they have a special interest in the subject matter they’re teaching. Teachers have a union that helps support them, and work with others in their same profession so can receive support. As a teacher you will also be up and moving around during the day, which can be good for your body and for your social needs.
Cons of teaching
Teaching can be tough especially the first few years, as you learn how to manage a classroom and different student personalities. Although teachers get paid salary, many put in way more hours than just in the classroom–they also have to write lesson plans, research subjects, and grade all those student assignments. Many teachers face burn out after several years as well and go on to other things, such as writing or administration.

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