Right now, I cannot feel sorry for those who voted Trump and are now fearful

[markodochartaigh]

116. I'm retired now.

I always did bedside, or staff nurse level, nursing. I have Asperger's so management was definitely not an option.

It was mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting. I worked in a very large (more than 1,000 beds) public hospital. Much of the time I would change units every year or two. I did about five years in the float pool (which really hurt my pension, because the float pool weren't covered by the pension). Also the hospital took over the care of the inmates in the county jail (6,000 inmates) and I did triage for people being booked into the jail for about seven years.

I think that moving between areas was a big help in maintaining my sanity. Also, being gay and with Asperger's and being raised in Amarillo Texas a half century ago, I was used to being bullied absolutely every day with absolutely no support from the school staff. I think the fact that I expected no support from management and expected to always be considered in the wrong helped me a great deal in nursing. I realized that conflicts were not about right or wrong, but were about the people involved, and that as a staff nurse, I was automatically in the wrong. Knowing that I was always in the wrong freed me to do the best that I could and not care what others were going to say. It may seem perverse, but I think that most bedside nurses will understand.

I would also offer a bit of advice. When you finally get to retirement, work at least a couple of days a month. It is extremely difficult to get a nursing job when you are old and have no recent clinical experience and a bit of extra income would come in handy.

I wish you the best.