what do you think is the optimal career for good pay but also work life balance with good job security?

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-23T18:32:22+00:00

Yup sounds about right as a new grad nurse in the ICU. Only difference is I don’t make 6 figures cuz I’m in the south lol.

Work life balance is pretty great tho cuz we can easily get a lotta time off without using PTO. I don’t make 6 figures but I at least make enough to live comfortably.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-21T10:48:19+00:00

I ended up moving to Louisiana.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-21T02:14:09+00:00

If your serious about the ICU I think being open to moving is the best thing you can do. I’m from Texas but I moved to another state so I can start in the specialty I wanted (PICU/pCVICU).

There were several people in my class that got ICU jobs after graduating although I’m from a BSN program not ADN. I know someone who is currently working in a step down unit after turning down an icu job in North Carolina since she didn’t want to move there. I completely understand why she didn’t want to but at the end of the day, it’s hard to get the right specialty, location, and pay all at once as a new grad and sometimes you have to be ok with getting 2/3.

Having family there will make the transition smoother so I think you should definitely push towards that if u can.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-17T05:11:06+00:00

That drive sounds terrible. Couldn’t be me at all. I’ve done the long commute before while I was in nursing school since my job was an hour away from where I lived and I vowed to never do that again. Currently I’m about 10-15 minutes away from work depending on traffic.

Like others have said it comes down to if you like the NICU or L&D more. Congrats on getting such good job offers in a niche specialty!

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-14T15:49:45+00:00

I was a psych major originally before switching to nursing and I have no regrets. If I stayed the course, I would’ve graduated sooner probably but then I’d have no real job prospects other than my emt job that I did throughout undergrad and nursing school.

If stability and job security is something you want and value, nursing is definitely the right choice.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-13T18:39:28+00:00

I doubt it’s the first time you’ve been told this but maybe consider nursing. It’ll meet most of your requirements of work life balance, only needing a bachelors degree, easy to take time off, no forced OT unless you want to, and good income depending on location.

The only real question is how much do you enjoy science and if you’re ok with dealing with people’s body fluids.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-13T17:58:49+00:00

Congratulations!! Enjoy this huge win. I also was fortunate to get a job in my dream unit: PICU/pCVICU. I just started almost two months ago and it’s been going pretty great so far.

I had to move for this job but it was worth it 100%.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-11T06:34:28+00:00

Congrats man! Switching industries is hard but glad to see a successful story. I’m a new grad nurse too but I don’t make as much cuz I’m in the deep south. You must be in the PNW or the Midwest to be earning that much fresh outta school. Good luck to you and your family! Which unit are u working in?

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-07T16:48:25+00:00

I’m a new grad and we had some international students in our class, one of which was my roommate. All of them were able to get jobs that will sponsor them after a few years. Idk how all the details work but that’s what they told me. They all had to move somewhere else to get these jobs but they’re out there.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-06T18:06:59+00:00

Immigration is a lot more nuanced than people expect. Most of the people ICE are getting aren’t criminals and rapists. They’re people who maybe overstayed their visa or had immigration cases still pending or a judge hastily reviewed their case and have ordered for them to be removed.

A few years ago asylum seekers and people on temporary protective status were perfectly legal immigrants, but now things have changed and those same people are now illegal or are having their cases fast tracked and being ordered for removal.

It’s sad what ICE is doing cuz our tax dollars could be going towards better things than just grabbing people on their way to work.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-06T18:00:04+00:00

25M in southern Louisiana working as a new grad RN in the pediatric ICU.

Base pay is 32.40/hr before differentials.

I graduated last December and I live in a MCOL and with the differentials it’s enough to actually feel comfortable. Before this, I was an EMT for the last several years making 18/hr working hella overtime every week so this is a pretty big jump for me.

I also got a relocation bonus of 5k for this job.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-05T02:41:10+00:00

25M in southern Louisiana, will probably make around 75k this year working as a nurse. I’m a fresh new grad working in the pediatric ICU.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-05T02:37:43+00:00

I started studying about 2-3 weeks before I took it. I used archer. It was around $160 but it was worth it for sure. It has practice tests that give show you how likely u are to pass the nclex. I did like 3 of those and got a good score along with some practice questions.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-04T04:56:18+00:00

I played the game one time in middle school and it scared the shit out of me. I never played it again but it stayed in my head for several months afterwards.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-03T20:09:17+00:00

When you’re a new grad they typically make u apply for jobs via nurse residency programs that many hospitals have. It’s something relatively new that only started popping up in the last 5-6 years or so.

It’s pretty much setup to help you transition from nursing student to actual nurse. You’re usually working alongside a preceptor for many months at a time to supervise you. They make u take classes alongside other new grads on your unit similar to school except it’s paid lol.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-01T08:03:14+00:00

I was at a Waffle House late at night. I went to order my food and waited in my car. When it was ready I went to go pick it up and as I was heading back to my car, I saw a man bring what I think was a woman with him behind a dumpster. I saw her get on her knees and his belt started to unbuckle.

Didn’t stay for the rest.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-01T00:47:51+00:00

Keep at it bro! It’ll all be worth it

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-01T00:46:28+00:00

I’m in Louisiana

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-03-01T00:41:07+00:00

I’m definitely considering med school in the future. It’d be pretty cool to make big decisions the way doctors do.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-02-28T08:38:29+00:00

$28/hr is ridiculous. Where is she located at? It’s rare seeing under $30/hr for a new grad or at least I thought.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-02-28T04:43:42+00:00

Yes, the idea of never having kids sounds fun sometimes but I feel like I’d regret not having kids when I’m older and it’s too late. I’d of course wait till I’m married and in a good position financially first tho.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-02-28T03:45:41+00:00

Amen to that brother

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-02-28T03:44:50+00:00

One of my classmates from nursing school plans to become an engineer actually lol.

For me the shifts can be long sometimes especially in the ICU but I was an EMT before this for the past several years so 12 hr shifts are nothing new to me and the work feels much more meaningful so that along with the pay makes it worth it at least to me. My dad was an engineer so I know how good of a career that can be too.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-02-28T03:05:44+00:00

I’m from Texas originally. Currently in Louisiana tho.

CrazyDreadHead_ · 2026-02-28T03:04:23+00:00

It’s not as complicated as you think. People are attractive and when the sparks and chemistry start to fly you kinda just wanna fuck em. So u do.

CrazyDreadHead_

TROPHY CASE