Sjogrens World Forums

We all know that Sjogren's affects a lot of people - young, old, female, male, worldwide and from all walks of life. 

There seems to be an abundance of teachers and nurses in our membership.  But, just how many??

Thanks to our teachers for all you do for your students and all the time and sacrifice you make each day in the classroom. 

To our nurses - thank you for all your valuable knowledge you share with each of us here and the patients you work(ed) with.

Please cast your vote and we'll see how many of these devoted, caring people we have among us..

Bucky

Thanks Bucky. I am a teacher but I'm also very thankful for the teachers & nurses out there.

Those jobs are still predominantly females who chose that profession of service, usually because of their desire to help others. Service jobs, including police, fire, & many others are so very rewarding but also stressful & demanding. I never feel like my job is done, I am constantly trying to be a better teacher.

I know corporate world is stressful & demanding too, I did that for a while before becoming a teacher. Not easier or harder, just different.

Some days I do miss my old job when I could punch my timecard & walk out the door leaving work behind. But today when I go to work I know it's where I need & want to be.

Thanks for this post Bucky, it has inspired me to persevere today. Carie

I am a teacher.  This is my second career, though.  I worked in the mental health field for several years and changed job titles many times and got laid off due to the lack of government fundings.  I thought that teaching would be a more stable job and I can still help those who need help.  :)

Winnie

Teaching was my 3(?) career depending on how you count. (length of employment)

I've voted 'teacher' but I'm actually a youth worker. I do work with school age children howver. I get the ones that the teachers have given up on and they think I and my colleagues are 'teachers' - but we're not.

Scottie  :)

I am a nurse . I THINK the reason we may have more teachers and nurses here is both these professions have an over abundance of females and  both require above average communication skills. When we  have problems we use these skills to assist ourselves- hence we reach out more to network on the internet.
I imagine if one did a scientific poll utilizing rheumatologists medical files we would see that SjS is probably evenly distributed amongst all professions.
We teachers and nurses are just a chatty bunch!

I am also a registered nurse--retired due to health (or lasck of it) and not happy about it.

I am also probably the oldest nurse on the site. I just became 69 and after almost 9 years of not working I am still interested in the medical issues. I still keep up my nursing license just because I can still do the CEU's and I always think that if I let it go I will regret it. In a tough times there might be a tiny job for an old over the hill nurse who can give shots, etc. I'd work cheap.lol

Anyway, I agree that the nurses and teachers of this world are great researchers. I haven't decided if it is because we are scientific or if we are nosy. After all is said and done we have always had to dig for information and keep abreast of things.

Also, I would bet that a lot of us get really peeved to have family and friends ask questionss about our health and we want to be armed with the latest info to "head them off at the pass".

No matter who you are it pays to Google or Bing and keep up with anything and everything. Irish ;D

I've voted teacher because I do have a post 16 teaching certificate. However, I use that for training adults. My main profession is as an epilepsy adviser, and my first degree is a social science one. I do a lot of researching for my work.

Interestingly, I had always wanted to be a nurse, and I passed for the training when I was 18, but got turned down on medical grounds as I had a history of epilepsy until puberty.

Kathyx

My teaching certificate is in Special Education although I work with adults with developmental disabilities instead of within the school system with children. I oversee a day program and the staff who work within it which has classrooms for teaching daily living/educational skills, a workshop which teaches work skills and completes contract jobs for companies in the area, and a community employment program.

So yes...I'm working in my field although not teaching in the traditional classrooms...but it's all good and I'm still enjoying it! I've been in the Special Ed field for about 30 years now in one form or the other...yikes!

I am a certified special ed teacher, but retired since 2010, and don't like it either, but my lack of health stopped me in my tracks.

I loved teaching the kids. I had worked with alternative kids my first year (court ordered that others were tired of), then at the high school (severe and profound kids), then 2 years of those trying to work on a G.E.D., because they were high risk to drop out of school. I taught them English (resource).

Then last of all elementary kids, and it was a nice change. Some of the kids would come to my base room, and other times I went around to their rooms.

The year before I retired, I had taken extra course work to get re-certified for another 10 years as a teacher. So I have the renewed license, but not the renewed body. lol...I also know the hard work teachers and nurses, and many others go through on the job.

susanep :)

I voted teacher because of all the jobs I've ever done it's teaching I loved best. 

I can't work any more but my last job was teaching History (mid 20th century European history) at university level.  I also trained teachers in Britain and Ireland, and museum staff in Poland.  Twenty five years ago I taught English at a university in France; and 20 years ago I taught English to Japanese aid volunteers in Zimbabwe.  Alongside all this I also taught birth preparation classes for almost 20 years - that was a joy and a privilege.

Maybe the most fun was home schooling my sons in Zimbabwe and my daughter back here in Britain.  I wish I'd done even more!

Chickpea

I was a nurse, but I taught clinical practice and specialized techniques to university students and other nurses.....which should I be? LOL

I am neither.  I just wanted to say "Thank You" to all our teachers and nurses for the services they provide.  I think to choose a profession as these you have to be special and a giving person.

I used to teach preschool for several years and also taught "kindergarten readiness" (testing and then preparing certain severely neglected preschoolers for kindergarten and making sure they had all the necessary learning skills, social skills and self esteem needed) but I never had a teaching degree so I didn't vote.

Linda,

I think you belong in both categories, with an added bit of "over-acheiver" status!  ;D  LOL

You, too, Chickpea.  ;) I find your teaching experiences highly interesting. I know you wish you'd done more, but what a teaching life you've led! 

All our teachers and nurses (whether you are still working or not) should be proud of the work they do.  You've affected many people's lives for the better.

I'm sure with many of them you will never know how much impact you've had on their lives. Feel proud!  ;)
Melinda

Just wanted to say thankyou for this thread.  I teach English in a tough school under lots of pressure to improve quickly and with Ofsted able to return with no notice within the next 4 months.  Pressure and stress are huge at the moment but your kind words and inspiration give me courage.

Thankyou for starting this thread Bucky.  Can I also say how much I have valued the wisdom and insights of those health professionals on here too.  Irish, you're awesome and always make a situation sound like it has a solution or a way of dealing with it better.  xx Ailsa

Kudos and thanks to all you teachers and nurses!  Teaching was my second career from age 36 - 51.  From age 18 - 35, I  was a 'working actor and singer' (made 'extra' money while raising 4 children). I decided to teach high school drama and English when my youngest child turned 12.  Thank goodness for my husband, who is a steady rock. I loved teaching and had a difficult time adjusting to retirement (which came early due to health issues). My type A personality doesn't want to go away and my mind is always at war with my body. I know all of you can relate, no  matter what 'type' you may be :)

It is so encouraging to read your posts. I have been inspired and reminded to appreciate each day, as well as continue to learn and 'do'!