Are there any aspies here who work as doctors, nurses or any other jobs in the medical profession?
I have always had a fascination for anything medical and have a desire to look after sick people and help them get better. I have been thinking more and more lately that this sort of work might be my calling. I have read up on some of the jobs I'm interested in and am aware of the poor pay, unsocial hours etc and have no problem with that, but my issues are to do with very low self confidence, being introverted and touching people. I am a bit afraid to touch people but I think I could overcome this.
I have no qualifications so will start off as a nursing assistant but I am also interested in training as a phlebotomist.
Oh, I forgot to mention
if there are any folks out there working in this profession, then I would be grateful for any advice and to hear your experiences
ethereal, my husband does not work in that field, but we have been discussing jobs lately and his is a very difficult one for an aspie. His would have some similarities to working in a medical office, and that is why I brought it up.
In his job he has a difficult time with the lack of ability to plan. He works for attorneys, and is always at their whim with what he is doing. He can sit and plan the next day, and come to work, and leave at the end of the day and realize that he has done none of the things on his list. He has to have a LOT of contact with people, many times people that are stressed or upset, mostly by phone, but still, that is very hard on him too. Basically, the best job he ever had was a data entry job where he entered numbers into a PC all day. He was able to wear headphones, and challenge himself to do more of the work daily, but was never at the whim of anyone else.
Being in the medical profession, I would think, would be similar, as you are working with doctors and are subordinate to them, and the people coming to the hospital/medical office are often stressed and at their worst.
Just my thoughts...
Thanks for responding Korrigan and M, much appreciated
Being in the medical profession, I would think, would be similar, as you are working with doctors and are subordinate to them, and the people coming to the hospital/medical office are often stressed and at their worst.
I've grown up with people who are constantly stressed so I think I can handle that in a working environment ( I hope 
) and at least in a busy job there will be little in the way of social chit chat
I always thought that anyone in the health care field would have to have a good amount of natural empathy or empathic ability.
I'm a very empathic person, only problem being I may have too much of the stuff.
Lucie, that is very helpful and interesting, thank you!
I too am a lot slower at learning practical tasks with other people around and have been worrying about that amongst other things. I plan to take it slow like you said and see how I go.
Thanks for the advice
Can I ask what branch of nursing you are in?
Having said all this - at the moment I am having to get a clearance from my doctor to continue to practice because of anxiety issues. Just another hitch, that I will get through - hopefully.
Good luck with that
not to upset the conversation going on, but I am a CNA (would LOVE to get into nursing). I currently work in a group home for Adults with developmental disabilities. I have to say, it's the best job I have EVER had.
One of my adults is profoundly autistic, he was a rare case of someone actually being BORN with it. But it is so fun, and I can enjoy myself with them without feeling like a freak. They think I am funny, and I get down to their level, i.e. playing with them, rocking on the floor with them, and really getting to know them. I can say that I have a natural talent for this
BUT I have worked in a nursing home/hospital type setting before and I couldn't handle it. The stress was too much, and I would come up with ways to stay home to avoid the whole mess.
I am sorry, but what? Can you explain the statement above in bold?
No, the point is that you are born autistic anyway. Unless you believe the mercury poisoning/dropped on the head/whatever route.
No, the point is that you are born autistic anyway. Unless you believe the mercury poisoning/dropped on the head/whatever route.
Yes, that was the point, I am not sure how it was a "rare" case of someone being born autistic. You are either born autistic or you are not. You do not "develop" autism.
Oh so you believed that you 'developed' autism? Damn it, I told Heinz not to put mercury in their baby food.
'W/e thats nice'
Fair dos Orange, but if someone misunderstands you, seeming abrasive when they only ask for clarification or when other people point something out) just creates more bad feeling. Its more likely to get peoples' bristles up.
It would be rare to be diagnosed autistic at birth, however you are nevertheless autistic at birth.
I am AWARE that people are BORN autistic geeez....I already said that I meant diagnosed...
that is what I said, that is what I read. I can't help that what I type LOOKS abrasive, because there is no way to tell what the inflexion would be. Anyway, like I said, I read his IEP and that's what it states, I didn't make it up, I am not a doctor, I am aware of babies not being diagnosed due to, hello they are just born!!! so, hence we can clear up this missunderstanding, and other people who work in health care (that was the point of the original post right???) can have a say
I appreciate what you wrote, and I will never talk about my consumer again okay
problem solved.
Several of your posts have come across very abrasive and unnecessarily aggressive. I am not sure why, but they have. No one can understand what the inflection would be for any post, and yet not all posts "look abrasive". It may behoove you to take a moment to read your posts before you hit "post reply". Perhaps even try the "preview post" button. It tends to help with people getting confused with your meanings, and causing bad feelings all around.
I think that a lot of us have come to the conclusion that it is better to over-explain, and be very clear, otherwise people will get confused about what you mean.
We are all working with limited information here. Hopefully, people will ask for clarification if there is confusion, and the poster will then provide the clarification, without any more upset than necessary. If not, there will be hurt feelings and upset people all over the place.
Isn't it worth it to take the time to just post carefully in the first place? In my opinion, yes. But that is only one person's opinion.
I work in... dementia.
What is that old saying about "the blind leading the blind?"
What is lucie back?
Nah-just a previous post. Her name hasn't been 'bluelined' so it looks as if she is still here but she isn't.
I work in medicine.....
I just got fired...The boss called me in the office, told me that my co=workers would appreciate it if I would look at them when they spoke to me....
I was bullied for 4 months then fired...Oh and pushed by a man twice my size
I am so sorry to complain my first day here...
I'm sorry to hear that, what an awful situation what kind of job in medicine did you have?
not to upset the conversation going on, but I am a CNA (would LOVE to get into nursing). I currently work in a group home for Adults with developmental disabilities. I have to say, it's the best job I have EVER had. One of my adults is profoundly autistic, he was a rare case of someone actually being BORN with it. But it is so fun, and I can enjoy myself with them without feeling like a freak. They think I am funny, and I get down to their level, i.e. playing with them, rocking on the floor with them, and really getting to know them. I can say that I have a natural talent for this
BUT I have worked in a nursing home/hospital type setting before and I couldn't handle it. The stress was too much, and I would come up with ways to stay home to avoid the whole mess.
CNA is what I was thinking of doing, although I start a new job in a couple of weeks working in a pre-school/nursery with 1-5 year olds, I'd like to work with kids with disabilities.
What exactly did you find too stressful in the nursing home/hospital type setting? I suspect I'd find it too much to handle also.