Being proud of what you do

[pancakes22]

The thing I admire most is anyone working in healthcare - midwives, nurses, paramedics, doctors I just think are absolutely amazing. I have never known what I wanted to do as a career and there is a part of me that longs to do something in that profession with the people I admire the most because then surely I would be proud of what I do too.... however, I also know deep down that I couldn't do what they do. I know I would worry about forget important things, or miss family too much on shift patterns, or get woozy at the sight of injuries/blood/vomit, couldn't put up with the abuse etc. The problem with this is that I then get faced with an internal conflict of still not knowing what I want to do but also thinking that nothing I choose will be 'good enough' because it isn't in this 'up on a pedestal' line of work. Not sure if I'm making any sense. I suppose I'm just wondering how people work out what to do when considering second careers, how to separate out admiration vs what you might be good out without a sense of failure? Sorry I've just had a bit of a ramble! Just something I always think about.

I understand where you’re coming from.

I volunteered in my chosen sector, then retrained at 38, and landed my dream job after two failed interviews elsewhere.

When people ask me what I do, it’s usually D(12) who answers for me as she is so proud of me

I’m training to be a nurse. Sadly many of them are not worthy of your admiration.

What about being a call handler? Or an NHS non clinical role as that all helps the same people?

I admire people who are efficient and kind and do their best in their job regardless of the role really.

Social worker?

I'm a support supervisor.

I adore my job and work so hard for the staff and clients I support.

It's so fulfilling.

Care isn't just about making cups of tea and wiping bottoms, as many people think it is.

Lots of sectors to look at if it interests you.

Sadly many of them are not worthy of your admiration

True - I'm an HCP and in my working life I have met some egotistical, lazy, rude, patronising , utter wankers (I mean other staff , patients are a whole new level )

There is no way on earth I could be a Midwife (and I've had two babies myself) . Huge responsibility, dealing with the woman in labour , pain, scared , the partner and of course the newborn. The education, the knowledge that patients will 'blame' . The blood , not a worry though.

But my Profession, I have people say "i don't know how you can do it"

Healthcare is vast . But it is all changing (and many think not for the better) . Healthcare staff keep running on the treadmill, it's never enough.

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I was looking for more regular hours, security, progression but most importantly it had to be challenging. Something I would find stimulating. I really missed using my brain and certain skills were not valued in what I did.

I got some mentoring and did some of those personality/strengths tests, made a shortlist of possible careers, explored them (mix of training course open days, volunteering) and made a decision which to go for. I felt like an imposter for at least the first three years and even now am scared to take the next step up a level!

My job isn't frontline but it contributes in a good way so I am happy. You can always volunteer too alongside the bread and butter job.

Volunteering is great for many reasons:

• it can top up skills and experience, both working in a team and independently
• its a source of pride to build self-esteem, you're helping others and being useful in society
• you can include certain skills on your CV appropriately (eg project management, finding solutions to often intractable problems, doing more with less, soft skills etc)

I've volunteered for an Armed Forces Charity for the past year with my employer supporting me with Volunteering days (6 per year), and I can see myself continuing to do so for many years to come. It's so rewarding and the people I work for in the charity are really the kindest most grateful and appreciative people (from the office staff to the branch Chair) I could wish to know.

I can understand your way of thinking, but it might help to focus on running your own race. Focus on your interests and skills.

Society needs all kinds of jobs to be filled if we want to continue to enjoy the quality of life we have. For example, someone who works in a cafe and gives excellent service is contributing to society. Who’d want to live in a world where you could never tuck into a nice meal prepared and served by someone else, and enjoy the ambiance of a different space? The person who loves interacting with people and food culture has just as much right to be proud of their job as anyone else.

This Illustrates the way to think of it...

“A traveler in medieval times comes upon a stonemason at work. He asks, “What are you doing?” The man looks weary and unhappy. He responds, “Can’t you see I am cutting and laying down stone? My back is killing me, and I can’t wait to stop.”

The traveler continues on his way and comes upon a second stonemason. “What are you doing?” he asks. “I’m building a wall,” says the stonemason. “I’m grateful to have this work so I can support my family.”

As the traveler walks on, he encounters a third stonemason who seems to be doing exactly the same work as the previous two. He asks the man, “What are you doing?” The man stands up straight. His face is radiant. He looks up at the sky and spreads his arms wide. “I am building a cathedral,” he answers.”

@ShirazSavedMySanity that's so lovely how proud your daughter is of you xxx

@Isadora2007 good luck with your training. I did look at call handler but the nearest centre to me is just over an hour away which is a bit far to travel. It's sad to think you and 70 have experienced that with the other nurses. I suppose it's a grass is always greener that I imagine everyone to be so kind and caring in such a selfless profession.

I definitely hear what you are saying about it being a wider industry and maybe look at something linked. I suppose I always feel it's second best but I need to get rid of that not good enough feeling - @EmiliaAirheart I love that phrase running my own race and your way of thinking, that has put things in perspective a bit more.

I have always volunteered historically and do love volunteer work. With children now I'm just finding it hard to have time away that isn't paid as I need to pay for childcare

Hi OP. I've always felt very much the same - I'd love to be a nurse but just cannot deal with vomit and oozy wounds... But I've ended up working in clinical research and absolutely love it and feel I make a real difference. Ive work on the coordination, management and public engagement for research. And at the moment manage recruit into studies - putting very scary medical terminology into plain English to get patients and members of the public interested in joining research either to potentially benefit themselves, or to help future generations. Medical staff often really struggle to engage the public as they speak in language that's too complicated or scientific, so having a specialist who can make it make sense and still put across all the enthusiasm and interest in the study/trial is really important to recruit enough people into research so we know the results are valid. When I started, I'd done no science learning since GCSEs and whilst I had to work from the very bottom up it's been worthwhile and I now have an MSc in clinical research. I can highly recommend it as a really interesting career path that needs people doing the dog work so that the medics can do the medical work