Angela, you go for it!!!! You're only as old
Posted By: as you feel!!! SM on 2006-05-03
In Reply to: Does anyone think 41 is too old to go to nursing school to become a LPN? I love MT, but have - Angela Rae
The medical field is ALWAYS in dire need of nurses! Jobs are readily available. You have at least 20 years of "working" in you. GO FOR IT!! Good luck!!
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To Angela
I faced a very similar situation 10 years ago. Worked full time in medical offices all my life, then got hit with a rare disease causing me to have to *retire* at an early age with a young child. Because of chemo and inability to sit for long, I felt helpless but then I did file for disability and was awarded at a very young age. They helped me get set up and now I work 10-15 hours a week doing MT. It keeps me from feeling totally useless & provides a little bit of extra money to pay bills.
Keep the faith Angela, it can be done. Also, a lot of your state unemployment agencies have back to work programs that can accomadate people with disabilities.
Angela
Just do not feel down about filing for disability, you have paid into it for years and at times, it's all you have to fall back on. Think of your kids. That's when I had to swallow my pride.
Make sure you do not try to do it on your own, it won't happen. Hire an experienced Dis. lawyer and let them do the paperwork. The SSA pays them and you do not need to put anything up front, they take what the SSA pays. SSA sets up filing for dis so that you automatically get turned down, so again, let the atty handle it.
Who knows, you may find the right cure with your back that makes your life more functional and may not have to stay on disability, but it's there for you if you need it.
Angela
I used to do that with a company here in Portland. But I still raised my rates when it became necessary. It was a little hard to do but I did it. As an IC you can do it but then you do worry about them finding someone else. But if you have been there for two years and sounds like you know her, tell her that you need an increase even 1/2 cent per line would be nice.
Angela -- are you employee or IC
If you are doing the pick up of the tapes and deliverng back the finished documents you need to start charging more with the price of gas. If you are an IC you can raise your rates and tell them it is due to the high price of the gas, if you are an employee then you should be getting a pick up and delivery reimbursement or at least charging them the mileage if not you are deducting the mileage on her taxes if not getting paid for your mileage. Anyway, ask for a raise what do you have to lose. Good luck.
Sorry Angela. I had missed this question..this is what I do.
I usually work like a dog before I go so I can afford to take the day off to get to where I'm going. Then, I get set up once I get there. As I stated before, yes I do work a lot and while on vacation and people ask me what's the point but you can have the best of both worlds..I can sit out on the balcony of our condo in Hawaii with the most gorgeous view and type away. It's very motivating..We have red cardinals that fly onto the banister while I work etc. I am a self-professed workaholic, but I put on limits. I work as long as I want on vacation, log on, take the kids to the beach, go sight seeing etc..and work when I want. We try to go to Florida once a year but I recommend going in the spring or late fall. Other than that, it's hurricane season, hot and humid. I do my research whenever I am going to check out the hotel's internet status. Most will offer free, but in Vegas, they charge a certain fee, around $10, for 24 hours of service. I have a very small desktop and flat screen that I bubble wrap and take or I use my laptop. Whatever my software allows. I will never allow a job to tie me down again!!! Let me know if I can answer anything else.
Angela, dont feel so bad..We have kids spread out from 25 down to 8 and they all LOVE Vegas. In fact
We take him to the M and M factory and there are a lot of different things for kids..He especially likes the swimming pools. Our teenagers love the malls/shopping and our 25-year-old goes with us to Nascar..So pack them kiddies up and head to vacation. You'd be surpised how much fun you could have. One year we took 4 of our kids for Christmas..it was strange without the snow but they really had a great time as Vegas goes all out as only Vegas could in Christmas style..lots of decorations, shows etc..
For Pete's sake, you're not terminating a pregnancy, you're just typing a report after the
It's already been done before you even hear about it, and NOTHING changes regardless of whether you or someone else types it. Sheesh.
It's not funny when you're on a board where language is one skill you're selling.
.
Hope you're gonna have a glass of wine while you're relaxing
in your spa goodies. Congrats!
Well, you're all complaining that accounts are current and work is low, so, gee, maybe they're
focusing on WORK, as in CLIENT and transcribing, as maybe half of you should be focusing on!!
If you're experienced, try for 9cpl or higher, and you're lucky to get that! nm
s
Skip it. No one cares. Either you're good on the test or you're not.
x
You're probably right. Plus we're losing our percentage of good people by .... (sm)
allowing every loser from every 3rd world country on the planet to just stroll on into our country, some legally, most illegally, and take advantage of the social services all us hard working little gerbils pay for by having money taken out of our pay every month. But I don't think we're all lazy. Just the ones on permanent welfare driving around town in brand-new Cadillac Escalades. Saw one just today on the Bayshore Fwy. Brand-new black Escalade with expensive spinner wheels, with 5 or 6 Mexicans in it. Well, who knows - maybe they stole it and it was on its way to a chop-shop. Smart-and-hungry people aren't always hard-working and honest.
You're not going to find a word expander for free. You're going to have to pay
g
You're forgetting all the stuff you can't buy when you're UNEMPLOYED!
Unemployed people have a hard time buying anything, including cheaply made offshore products. How many will have to end up depending on public assistance? That means more tax dollars being eaten up - besides the taxes NOT being collected from the overseas workers. In the long run, are you really enjoying a lower price?
If you're on the job, ask for samples to do it how they want it. If you're testing, separate o
s
You're not losing it, you're burned out on your main job.
I feel for you... I am having my own "version" ;-) of these kinds of struggles. Lots of recent changes at the admin level have made my job do a 180, going from a really great one to a really crappy one.
For me, it's a struggle to get through the day with a shred of motivation. I get distracted in the way you discuss as well.
I just try to make my environment as comfortable as possible and make the best of it while I decide what the best way is to deal with the burnout... I figure if I can't change my inner brain workings so that I still like this job, I need to find another one, or this feeling will possibly get worse!
I hope it works out for you. Wish I had some better advice for you, but this really does look like burnout and extreme job dissatisfaction to me. We all wear it differently. Try to be good to yourself while you figure out a solution.
Don't know what you're complaint you're making with this post. sm
You stated in your original post that you don't want to work weekends or odd shifts. What is your definition of an odd shift? Second shift? Third shift? Sounds like you want to work M-F on days. Sounds kind of rigid to me. 
Personally I like second shift, so everyone working days means more work for me! 
You're not under a rock, you're just like me... an adult with more to
s
It's not because you're beautiful, it's because you're an IDIOT!
Does that make it any clearer for you??
YOU'RE A SACK OF CRAP!! YOU'RE NOT
THE ADMINISTRATOR. WHAT DO YOU THINK WE ARE IDIOTS???
 
Honey you're not being a shrew, you're being a
I don't get it when husbands and wives *allow* the other to have money that THEY work for...just don't get it. Go buy the flippin' keyboard and tell him to take a hike! (To put it sweetly!)
Why is it the only expander you're permitted to use? How would any know what you're using?
xx
They think they're smart to accept it, but they're
m
If they're withholding taxes, you're not an IC.
As an IC, you should already be paying taxes. That said, the only benefit having them withhold FICA is that your Social Security/Medicare share will be less. Social Security is 15%; if you're an employee, you pay 7.5% and your employer pays 7.5%. As an IC, you pay 15%. Doing the math, 0.0925 would be your 0.10 minus 7.5%--the 0.0924 is just a tad less than you're making now.
We're out here (good MTs) but we're busy! sm
I don't recall ever taking an employment test where I wasn't offered a job. My MTSO does not even look at my work unless I happen to have a question or a blank, which happens maybe once in every 30 or so reports with an ESL. If you find a really good MT, how much training would be involved? Certainly you would save time in the long run once they're trained and you don't have to check all their work.
If you're one of the MTDesk clan then you're ok
wersdffa
You're right if you're single it's tough.
I am an IC as well, but I have a husband with benefits and makes a fair buck. I am fortunate after 20 years to able to work from home. I worked on site for 17 years with a "chocolate cake" the day I left. Nothing more... The loyalty in any profession is gone, gone, and gone again.
Most companies want new employees/ICs that will take low pay and that won't cost much in the way of paying vacation time.
I do take every Friday off and try only to get on to check e-mail, etc.
However, I wouldn't trade being here for my kids at this point.
There are headaches no matter what profession you are in. It seems if it isn't one thing it's another.
Raises? Out of the question in this profession since most are afraid they will lose the account including myself. I also underbid my last account because I wanted the account so bad. I should be charging more.
It is a neverending cycle really.
But, I still enjoy the work, so I guess that's the difference. It does take will power to sit and type. Some people need that boss hanging around to keep the production up and the incentive of a nice paycheck is just not good enough.
Good luck with your new job! Sounds great!
If you're new, good - if you're not a newbie, not so hot
Would need to know how long you have been an MT. For a newbie, this is a pretty good rate of speed.
However, if you have anything over a couple years of experience, then this is not too hot.
Also, what are the dictators like? Is it a "United Nations" account??
If you ARE capable of 200 lph or more and you can't seem to get it, then the problem has got to be with the platform you are using. In my experience, the platform into which you transcribe can make or break your paycheck - so if the platform stinks, then I hate to tell you, but there is no way you will be able to improve your line rate. I have quit jobs because of awful platforms more than once.
You realize by doing that they're making more money & you're making less? You should reconsid
It's just what you're comfortable with and what you're used to.
I give a minimum of $100 for acquaintances and raise the bar from there to good friends, relatives, immediate family getting the largest gift.
that's because they're the big guys and you're only the
x
No, you're not missing anything, but you're really not seeing
anything either. InterFix designs and sets up software specifically to facilitate an easy conversion to overseas transcription.
You're both right and you're both wrong.
There are too many variables to give an accurate--or even estimated--count. Using a standard 1-inch margin, you may have short lines and lots of paragraphs and get a lower count. If no paragraphs and it's a full page of text from margin to margin, you get your higher count. You can't possibly use an average count because of variables, which is why no one can commit to a pat answer.
It says that's why you're QA and we're MT, simple enough?
Yes, of course, you're right.
You're absolutely right. Your E-mail shows such aspirational maturity -- I'm sure you were the class valedictorian, always the studious, respectful child. You have limitless options. That's how you ended up at MQ like the rest of us.
You're welcome SM
I know exactly what you mean. I've worked for some of the largest teaching hospitals who had staff and resident lists nearly a foot thick but that was in the "old" days when pay was better and computers hadn't been heard of yet. These modern days if a company can't provide their physician list in the data base where I can search with just a letter or 2, then I'm not going to work for them. I suspect that lots of your company's MTs object to nonproductive time looking up tons of names and addresses and whether you realize it or not, you're on the clean up committee, getting those jobs when they are thrown back into the pool. You might try talking it over with your supervisor and offering to continue doing the throw backs provided you're paid to do so. I did that once when all I was getting day in and day out was the most horrible of horrible dictators. Much to my surprise they agreed to compensate me appropriately. Granted, the pickings for really good companies are slim but they are out there, you just have to find the right one. Most will tell you anything you want to hear until you're hired, which is why I suggested keeping the old job until you've tried the new one on for size.
Hope this helps!
You're welcome!
You're right. They do.
x
seems like you're saying..
Since its been done for so long its okay. This is brutal to the animals and unhealthy to us. Its also heartbreaking to a lot of us. Although i'm not like those radical PETA members you described, when I see certain things being done to animals, it does move me, so I can understand their passion. One thing that gets me to the core is selling birds at pet stores. They were meant to be free and FLY, that is their whole purpose and for someone to keep them trapped in a little barred cage just for their personal enjoyment is just beyond me. You have to actually 'feel' these things, its not crazy.
You're welcome!
You're welcome, Miryam. Good luck to you - there are some really good companies out there. Keep looking if you are seriously thinking about changing jobs.
You're not in my car! LOL!
They do both - at least some of them, I know. But, you're right -the pay is not enough. :(
xx
You're welcome :-)
It's a pretty cool site (I like the name, too). Hope it helps. E-mail me anytime if you feel the need & have the time...I'll be around 
Have a great rest of the day
You're very welcome! :) nm
x
you're probably right
about the way they send 'em out. and thanks (for the congrats) its always nice to hear that vs the constant flames over saying something good about MQ.
I see no harm in stating the ltr includes: pay rates based on experience, skill and work difficulty, daily incentives, increased pay for eve/night, a new part-time employee classification with PTO and increased PTO for full-timers of 8 more days, along with other improved bene's and opportunities.
hope that helps!
I think you're right - thanks!
Yeah, it must be. I couldn't find it on any of the regular search sites I normally use. Thanks for the help. It's nice to know I'm not losing my mind....well, not over this anyway Thanks for looking for me - I do truly appreciate you taking the time to answer. Have a good one!
You're exactly right
The people that gripe about the sub-par schools are usually undercover reps from the expensive schools. People can and DO self-train in this field. Find yourself a mentor and you're in good shape. I've trained a LOT of people to become successful MTs and know a lot that have done so on their own. It depends on the person you're starting out with, of course. Some people do not learn well.
If you go to other boards, they only promote the schools that are SPONSORS/advertisers of that board. Hmmm. Coinky dink? I think not. I know people who have trained more successfully with a CD from ebay than they have with CareerStep. It's what you make of it and how much research you do, and what your intelligence level is to begin with, like any other field. There are bad doctors, too.
SURE you have. That's why you're an MT
...because of your physican-level education. That's why you're here.
Oh my. We are full of ourselves. The arrogance is amazing.
You're right
Then start your own business.
You're not alone
nm
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