1. Zitzophrenia
   Member

   I should have done this intro when I first joined. Oh well. Better late than never. Just some basic info: I guess you could say I'm still a newbie. I joined in September. As mentioned, I'm from Alabama. I live just outside of the city of Dothan. I say that in the off chance that any of you may have heard of it. I'm of the fairer sex as they say. Female. I have been an RN for almost eight years now. I haven't posted any videos yet but that will change as soon as I invest in a good quality cam corder.

   Anyway, I just wanted to say that it's great to be here and I plan to stay as long as I'm allowed! It's good to know that I am not alone when it comes to this stuff!

   Posted 2 years ago #

2. pussnstuff
   Member

   Greetings zitzurfault/zitsophrenia (sp?) I feel like a newbie, have been very neglectful of my ptz family. With all my kin being from the South, I wonder how the hell did I end up in Illinois? Belated welcome!!!

   Posted 2 years ago #

3. Anonymous
   Unregistered

   ALABAMA! hee hee my angelic grandmother a native of burmingham, uncle resides close. Spent much of my youthful summers up there working the chicken houses!

   Posted 2 years ago #

4. Anonymous
   Unregistered

   ALABAMA! hee hee my angelic grandmother a native of burmingham, uncle resides close. Spent much of my youthful summers up there working the chicken houses! BTW ZITZUR, where do you work or should I say under what capacity do you slave away??!! Were you a lpn before? I find alot of us bridged that gap. I went to school out of high school and worked as an aide until I graduated. Way back then certification wasn't necessary. Been breaking my back at it for 25yrs. Nerver found that "easy" gig! I hope to get my twins through school, get a CDL and drive a truck until I can retire!! They are JR.s in high school.. Presently I do marketing, admissions and care plans at a small ltc facility 30 hrs. a week.

   Posted 2 years ago #

5. kat
   Member

   some of the best vids i have seen have been from down that way
   pls keep posting

   Posted 2 years ago #

6. Zitzophrenia
   Member

   MotherE, to answer your question, as of now I do PRN work for one of the local staffing agencies for healthcare workers. They send CNAs, LPNs, and RNs out to places where any of us may be needed in a pinch. Like most places it has it's ups and downs. But the advantage is that it frees me up to check out different facilities and if and when the dream job comes along, then I'll have the freedom to pursue it with no worries about having to resign or break any contractual obligations.

   A few months ago, I finally got smart and got my Florida license as well! I'm currently in the process of applying for my Georgia license. Both FL and GA pay RNs an average of $7.00 more per hour than AL. And that's just starting pay! This past Thursday, I applied for an RN Wound Care position at Signature Healthcare which is in Graceville, FL. and since I'm in L.A. (lower Alabama lol) it's very close by. This position is also one of those hard to find Monday - Friday, 7a to 3p shifts. Too good to be true! I hope someone else hasn't already snagged THAT baby!

   But before I was a nurse, I worked as a CNA, then as an EKG tech, then scrub tech and so on! I got my nursing degree at George C. Wallace in Dothan and have since worked as an OR circulator, an Endo nurse doing CIVS, and then hospice for a while-that was a tough gig. Anyway, I've got some well earned blisters and corns, that's for sure.

   It's great to "talk" to you, MotherE. You seem to be a kind and sweet soul. Glad we met. Let's keep in touch, shall we?

   Posted 2 years ago #

7. Zitzophrenia
   Member

   Kat, I promise as soon as I get my cam corder I'll post something spectacular! Or at least I'll try! Love the profile picture by the way! LOL! It's a trip!

   Posted 2 years ago #

8. Anonymous
   Unregistered

   you bet! We'll keep i touch! I have plans to move back to So. Ohio about spring. I simply have to reactivate my Ohio and Kentucky licenses, as I put them on hold when I came to Fla. I really can't wait to get back, I'm a native Floridian, but don't consider this home anymore. I'm in bradenton, quite a bit farther south then you. I have a very good friend in pensacola,so in time,ya never know, maybe we can get together. Oh the reason I mentioned the 2 lic. up there is, as for you now, I'll be very close to the Ken. border. About 10 mins! Beautiful country!!

   Posted 2 years ago #

9. Zitzophrenia
   Member

   My cousin and her family live in Ft. Walton. I have another cousin who lives in Naples with his wife and four little boys. So you never know, there's a good chance we could get together.

   If the job that I've recently applied for doesn't pan out, then travel nursing is always an option as well. I think it would be worth a try as I am now single with no children, and I'm not dating (the ex boyfriend made me very bitter!). Plus I can take my puppy with me if I travel....well, my dog Trapper is 10, but I still refer to him as a puppy!

   Posted 2 years ago #

10. jumbob
    Member

    It's a Bama reunion! Yep, I'm a homeboy too. zitzurfault, virtually all the hospitals in Bham are desperate for nurses. Of course, these hospitals are trying to have LPNs do jobs that were strictly for the RNs not too many years ago; and they want to run shifts with a bare minimum of RNs. All about cost-cutting. But a decent RN can just about write her own ticket. At least two hospitals are so desperate to get weekend RNs that those working 12-hour shifts on Saturday and Sunday are paid a 40-hr week. Work for 24 hours, get paid for 40: I like that math. There are many such incentives for RNs, so maybe you could give Birmingham a try.

    Posted 2 years ago #

11. Zitzophrenia
    Member

    Jumbob, thanks for the job tip. It's a coincidence that you mentioned RN jobs in Birmingham. I was just telling MotherE. that I would like to consider travel nursing if the job that I have just recently applied for doesn't pan out.

    For some reason, down this way in Dothan, the pay scale for RNs is peanuts compared to the pay rate in the surrounding states such as Florida and Georgia. I'm licensed in Florida now, and I've recently began the application process to gain licensure in Georgia.

    But perhaps since Birmingham is much larger than Dothan, the salary there should be better. So it is worth looking into. The only thing is, I would be a bit afraid to venture out by myself no matter where I go. Being alone in a new and strange environment is a bit scary for a female such as myself.

    When I was in nursing school, I did a three day clinical at Children's Hospital and YIKES! I was so intimidated by the shear size of the place, but I learned so much that weekend. So, I'll Google it and check it out. I might get lucky and find what I'm looking for. Who knows? Perhaps they may offer a sign on bonus or relocation expenses!

    Thanks once again and wish me luck, Jumbob!

    Posted 2 years ago #

12. jumbob
    Member

    Ah, it's a piece o' cake, zitzur. I promise you, Bham hospitals (and IIRC there are well over a dozen major hospitals in a 20-mile radius) really, really need nurses, and particularly RNs. I would be surprised if they weren't paying significantly better than in Dothan - it's a matter of competition. Even if the pay is not that different, I bet the benefits and perks and options are much better.

    As far as your concern that it's just "too big", I promise you that if you find a job in Bham, within 90 days you would feel at home. With Bham being such a medical and banking hub, it's very common to have a lot of transfers-in from all over the country. Almost universally, people with no other point of reference than "the bad old days" are fearful about moving in. But, almost universally, these same folks are wonderfully surprised when they find what a vibrant, tolerant, family-oriented and just plain friendly city it is - and many don't want to transfer out. I saw it happen time and time again with agents from the FBI, DEA, Secret Service and other fed law enforcement agencies: their families were scared to come, but most sought tour extensions, or even chose Bham to retire in. It's a well-kept secret.

    And too big for you? Hey, if you have ever driven through Atlanta between 6:00-9:00 a.m., or 3:00-7:00 p.m., and survived, then living in Bham would be easy in comparison.

    Posted 2 years ago #

13. Zitzophrenia
    Member

    Jumbob, thanks for the insight and info on Birmingham. I was surprised to learn that there is a family oriented and friendly environment in such a large city. A few years ago, I would have been concerned about the crime rate and safety issues in Bham. But in today's world, I finally got smart and realized that bad things can happen anywhere, even in the smaller towns. Form example I'm sure you recall the news story from a while back in which a young man who lived near Samson snapped, then went on a shooting spree killing several people, some of whom were his own family, including his mother and her dogs, and finally took his own life. And Samson is a very small town, so that proves my point.

    I thought that the bigger the city, the bigger the crime rate. I was wrong and I'm sorry for the misjudgement. I wonder if any of the hospitals in Bham have such services as nurse advocacy programs which are designed to orientate new nurses and new Birmingham residents so that they may becone more familiar with their new environment. I certainly hope so. I just want to be familiar with any new place because it means more independence for me.

    Posted 2 years ago #

14. Anonymous
    Unregistered

    zitzur, don'tlet the size of a city intimidate you, look at it 1 block at the time..

    Posted 2 years ago #

15. Zitzophrenia
    Member

    MotherE, you are right! I say I should just grow a pair, take a leap of faith, and call it a day. One thing is for certain, I can't make things happen just sitting here. There's still so much that I want to do.

    I just want to be happy and be at peace. I guess you could say that I'm in sort of an odd status right now. For instance, I'm 40 and divorced/single whereas my friends who are of the same age are all married. I have no children to occupy my time, while all of my friends have two or more kids. I'm not even dating because...well...I have no social outlet and I never meet any guys because I don't have any single friends to go out with. It's like, where do I fit in? I'm not out on the prowl, and I'm not the cougar type either, but at the same time it would be great to meet someone really nice. Who am I kidding? All the good ones ARE taken. Plus, I'm not about going out to the bars and such, hoping to meet Mr. Right. I prefer a situation in which things happen "organically", in a chance meeting as they say. Or maybe I've just watched too damn many chick flicks.

    I'm not asking for much and I think I'm easy to please. I just like getting together with true friends I can trust and that share some of the same interests as me, especially music. There's nothing like a Saturday night hanging out on the deck with my best buds, grilling burgers at sunset, while there's some good music playing on the radio in the background. Steely Dan is always good for such an occaision. I guess I must be feeling nostalgic to carry on like this. God I miss the good 'ol days!

    All of a sudden I'm finding it strange to "discuss" this subject matter on a zit website. I guess it's ok, though. After all, this is the forum. I'm sure there have been stranger things said. Also, posting is an insomniac's main duty. It's in the job description, because now, on top of the job stuff and the pursuit of happiness, I've somehow lost my ability to sleep like I should. It's the damnedest thing. CAUTION! MID LIFE CRISIS AHEAD! That's all I really needed to have said to start with!

    Posted 2 years ago #

16. Anonymous
    Unregistered

    Oh darlin, a woman at 40 changes once again, just like a child going for puberty..
    We have so many social expectations set forth. Grown children, grandparenthool, we are supposed to be mentally mature and settled, well rounded in our careers, punching in for a nine to five shift or even better, to have spent 20yrs. with our job and on salary.
    Not to mention the expectations that belong to only us about us! "Damn my house shoulda been paid or, or close!" Not 5 yrs. ago was that wrinkle there, New pains are kicking my ass, what are those fine blue lines behind my knee, and damn only a month ago There were 3 silver hairs, now it looks like a laser light show when I get in the light. Ya hide from the rays rather then searching for the tan, forget the stilettos that made me so sexy in a dress! and damn those younguns that are on my ass on the job and the highway! Am I close,or off my rocker? For me the worst part was realizing my time is truly limited! Why didn't I get that B.A. 15yrs. ago?! It's scary the best jobs are going to the nurses with a B.A.or better. Us old war hoses are ecoming obsolete! I guarantee you our instincts cannot be taught and lettered.
    I met my companion through my husband's uncle, zitzur, I met him at a fleamarket in Ohio. You just never know when thats gonna happen. Ya gotta get out of the house though. You know whats sweet and funny?! When I moved back here, He showed up 3 mo. later! He said why not? Never been to Fla. and he claimed to adore my children and me.. He had a letter of recommendation from the scioto co. school board and a med.u-haul. John secured a job with the school board of Manatee Co. My uncle just so happens to work for. Found a cute apt. and here he was!
    Now 5 yrs. later, I want to go back, he just says damn! Glad I didn't sell my house! He and I never officially shacked up, just had keys to each others houses. We may have to short term when we return. John has never cared for florida, he's a country boy through and through.
    I'm babbling now, I know you'll be OK. It's just time Karyn, be good to yourself and emember, jut like taking a city block by block. Live every day well, at only one at the time. Im rooting for ya!!

    BTW One reason I love ptz, is we do talk to eachother, not only about pus and Botflys!!
    No one seems to care.. Aint ya glad ya found us? I know I am..

    Posted 2 years ago #

17. Zitzophrenia
    Member

    MotherE, Yes! I'm very glad to have discovered this site. The good thing is, it doesn't feel like a website, at least not in my opinion.

    And if Emil says it's okay to "rant and rave and talk about anything," then I'm glad to take full advantage of the opportunity. Although I do realize that this isn't the rant and rave section. This is the "where are you from?" section, but that's ok too.

    I'm happy to "meet" you and anyone else who is already here or any new people that show up. Perhaps I should make a correction and say "newer" people, as I am still relatively new myself. More and more, I find myself here rather than on Facebook, and those are people I have actually met and know very well! There's a couple of them that are zit enthusiasts as well, and I keep telling them to come on over, but once again, that's a perfect example of why I find it difficult to engage in any social activity. They are all so busy with work, husbands, and kids that they barely take time out for themselves. I completely get it. I don't want to come across as though I am placing blame on my friends.

    I just got an idea...I think I'll start a new forum thread with it, and if you read it, tell me what you think!

    Posted 2 years ago #

18. Anonymous
    Unregistered

    Can't wait!

    Posted 2 years ago #

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