Any R.N.s here? I'm a nursing student, and I was wondering if you felt that it had added to either your homesteading experience (less fear for health, better understanding) or worked out well as a work away from the homestead job for you? Would be interested in talking via personal e-mail with any RN's wanting to share experience, strengh, and hope too. (Drop me a line)

-- Marty in KS (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), December 13, 2001

Answers

Hello, I am an RN and have been "forever". I have been living on my small farm for about 5 years. I find that it has been a wonderful addition to homesteading because you can find a job almost anywhere. I live 65 miles from the nearest large city but there is a small hospital 25 miles away. I work parttime in the small hospital and they are very accommodating to my needs. I could also work in the homehealth field if I wanted. As far as the homestead philosophy and nursing, I don't think they teach enough about the natural treatment for illness and alternatives to all the medications that are so readily prescribed. I think this is a personal quest for a more healthy lifestyle. I wish you lots of luck in your nursing career and if you would like to e-mail me personally that would be great.

-- Marlene Leiby (mleiby@caprock-spur.com), December 13, 2001.

Do LPN's count? I have been raising sheep for as long as I have been an LPN. My medical background has been invaluable to me with sheep husbandry. My experience in obstetrics gets put to use out in the barn more these days than on my job. Now I work for the state in a community residence for mentally retarded, mostly for the better pay and excellent benefits. My hours work out well with the farm activities.

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), December 14, 2001.

Hey, I am currently an LPN student & will graduate in January! One of the big reasons I chose nursing was because of the flexable hours, ease of getting work in rural areas, etc. I think it will be a great addition to my lifestyle. I am considering going on for the RN, but need to work for about 6 months to get some money saved up first. Oh, I met a young couple last summer who live in a very rural area 2+ hours from Denver. Wife was an LPN, hubby was a CNA. They drove into the city every weekend to work "baylor" shifts (16 hours) on Sat & Sun in a nursing home. They got lots more money in the city & for the weekend/night differential and had the rest of the week off to do as they pleased! Not a bad idea is you can handle the long shifts.

-- ellie (elnorams@aol.com), December 14, 2001.

I'm an Rn with a lot of experience, mostly in emergency medicine.I use my assessment skills linked with a good Vet book to take care of the majority of the health issues that come up on my small farm. I raise goats(mostly) calves, hogs chickens and anything else that I feel like I want to give a try from time to time. Herd health management (preventive medicine,not the injections but just good managenent of your animals hygene, feed housing etc. will prevent many of the health problems that many people try to correct by giving drugs) And as ugly as it may sound, I use triage skills when I get a sick or injured animal, When I have a sick or injured animal I have to ask myself if I'm willing to put the time and expense into making it better, if the animal gets better will it be a "weak link" in my herd, is it better to cull the animal now, people cull animals out of their herd for may reasons that, to me are less reasonable that this. If you are in nursing school now, put a lot of effort into it now,while you're in a good position to ask questions and learn, not just enough to get thru the test, but learn it so that you know it, not just memorized it. Nursing, RN or LPN both provide you with a good marketable skill, that will enable you to find some type of employment most anywhere you want to live. I enjoy my job but I think I enjoy it more because it allowes me the income and time to live my life in the country. I will answer personal email if you write..Ron

-- ron (ronmister@hotmail.com), December 15, 2001.

Thanks so much for sharing. I'll try to get back to everyone who invited further private conversation, probobly today (12/15) or tomarrow. Seem to hear a lot more positive about the income allowing chosen life than love of the work. I've had several folks try to warn me off becasue of the difficulty of working with a few M.D.s.

Any regrets?? I'm hoping to work in home health, more specifically hospice (terminal patient care). Anyone do that??

Oh, LPN's, CNA's, and anyone in a similar field please DO feel free to drop in your thoughts. :-)

-- Marty in KS (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), December 15, 2001.