should I...and would you?

[June91]

I've got the opportunity to train as a MiniMed pump trainer and I would LOVE to, except I feel that I've got enough on my plate living with D, now I'd be working with it all the time as well. Would I get to have a life outside diabetes? Or would I have a diabetes burnout? Will I be able to be objective?

Now I've written it down, the problem seems so trivial, but for me it's not. My current job is ok, but working for MiniMed is something I would really look forward to if it wasn't for this dilemma. I need some pros and cons from a purely psychologically point of view from my extended family here at the forum.

Thanks, guys.

[duck]

Diabetes consumes my life (along with other things). Too bad it doesn't pay me as well.

:-

[koblenz]

I'm with Duck on this. If it paid well enough, I certainly would. At the very least you may get a free pump, free supplies, etc...

If you end up not liking it.... quit!

[lelggren]

It is funny that you bring that up because I am also considering getting into pump training through my work. I think you should go for it. It is a great opportunity to share your experiences with others! And, I hear that their pay is great ;)

[rzrbks]

duck

Diabetes consumes my life (along with other things). Too bad it doesn't pay me as well.


that is my thinking exactly---with a bit more cynicism, of course lOl

getting paid for your life-long obsession--what could be better?

[Lynne1]

That would be so cool! I would do it if I could! I think it would be a great job educating people about the pump...think how many people you'd be helping get better control of their bgs!!!

Do you have to be a nurse to get into it?

[June91]

that is my thinking exactly---with a bit more cynicism, of course lOl

getting paid for your life-long obsession--what could be better?
My feelings exactly, but don't you think most of us on the forum already have some serious OCDs regarding our disease?

[duck]

My feelings exactly, but don't you think most of us on the forum already have some serious OCDs regarding our disease?

June, if I were a new diabetic, scared about the possibilities of this disease, worried about the ramifications of this on my life, my family, my well-being, and a pump trainer who is herself a diabetic shows up, tells me that this thing is manageable, and you can still be human...that would be cool.

[Cyborg]

With this disease, having OCD behaviour is probably a good thing...

[jrcskb]

Would you get all of your supplies, etc. for free?? That might be the tie-breaker!

I think your point with respect to living and dealing with D all the time is a good one. Work can be a nice distraction at times. However, at least for me, I think getting involved with D and the issues of legislation, funding and/or technology, etc. are empowering.

In the end, you will have to decide and hope your decision turns out for the best.

[JediSkipdogg]

Make sure you ask for all the benefits in writing and where you will be working. With Animas in Ohio the pump trainer is based out of Columbus. She'll drive down to Cincinnati and up to Cleveland for trainings quite often. So make sure you see if they either pay for a vehicle for you or give you some sort of mileage reimbursement. If you do have to drive alot like that, make sure you are comfortable driving. Or they may just have you based out of one hospital.

If I had the opportunity to do it I would take it. But then again, they'd have to pay me pretty well since my retirement package at work right now is one of the best ones I can find.

[June91]

ALL of the advice was good. :****mate: Thank you and keep it coming.

I just hope my future employers will not read this thread, thay might deduce that I am a freebie-loving, money-hungry obsessive compulsive.

[JediSkipdogg]

thay might deduce that I am a freebie-loving, money-hungry obsessive compulsive.

That would be most people out there and probably your bosses too. LOL

[rzrbks]

Cyborg

With this disease, having OCD behaviour is probably a good thing...


Talk about stating the obvious

[June91]

And I just thought of this. Do you think I would be allowed to tell people things that may not be by the book but are more convenient - like don't suspend when you disconnect, little things like that?

[Cynfullofhope]

June

I know here in the US I asked my CDE just the other day about this, and here you need to have a RN (bachelors).........I was thinking about it myself but not the RN...So now I am going to school for Medical Coding....Maybe I can fig why they charge us so stinking much lol.......

I think that giving tips like that as long it wasnt a medical stand point would prob be fine When I started the pump in 2001 my cde then told me the tip to not suspend when you disconnect along with some other pointers..

Good Luck

[Penny]

[QUOTE
If I had the opportunity to do it I would take it. But then again, they'd have to pay me pretty well since my retirement package at work right now is one of the best ones I can find.[/QUOTE]

But make sure you save for retirement, Kevin(and the rest of you). You should see what GM wants to do to our retirement plan!

[rzrbks]

The way my Educator handled that was

"While I'm telling you to do it this way, I know that in the Real World people..................." then she would tell us what "Not" to do.


Example:

"I'm telling you that you should change your needles every time you inject.

I know that most of you will get to the point where you don't change needles every time. If you actually get to that point, at least wipe your needle with an alcohol wipe before you inject."

That way she tells us not only what to do but how to do it and does it in a way that she's not Liable.

[jrcskb]

And I just thought of this. Do you think I would be allowed to tell people things that may not be by the book but are more convenient - like don't suspend when you disconnect, little things like that?

I think that you make it clear that it is not the company-recommended practice ("You should never go more than 3 days without changing sites - but people do that"), but will obviously be asked your own experiences.

[lelggren]

In the office I work at, they do pump trainings here. It is funny because they tell the patient all the "how to follow the manufacturer's guidelines exactly", and then, since they have been told not to tell anything outside of those guidelines, they come in and get me and then we sort of conference with the patient about what I do personally. But, I am always sure to remind them that what works for me just might not work for that patient.

For example, Minimed does not recommend that a patient re-use a reservoir. So, they came in and got me so that I could tell the patient that I re-use mine and then they would not be liable. Kinda funny, but I like being involved in the trainings :)

[poodlebone]

I would love to have been trained by an actual diabetic/pumper. I'm not one of those people who are constantly thinking "Why me" and I'm not depressed about having diabetes; I don't try to act as if I don't have it. I don't mind talking about it and obviously I'm interested in learning all I can and talking with other diabetics, or else I wouldn't visit these forums.

I would definitely take the job.

[nshack]

I actually was thinking of changing carriers and specifically wanted to work for Medtronic in Diabetes management stuff. I'm a teacher with tenure, so it's a leap to leave, but I was thinking the pay might be better and it's still education about something I enjoy talking about.

I went through the resume process, but was a bit discouraged when I heard that most of the people they hire are from science or nursing backgrounds. I'm just a passionate diabetic, but I thought maybe that would count. I didn't end up doing the full application. An acquantaince who works for them thought there was a chance, but it was on the slim side.

I think having a real diabetic for a pump trainer/ educator would be great! The info would be so relevant to them!

[rzrbks]

I think having a real diabetic for a pump trainer/ educator would be great! The info would be so relevant to them!


Geez, how silly and enthusiastic and affirmative can you get...............that just makes Way, Way too much sense.

Having an actual trained teacher and someone who is used to presenting in public presenting and training people?

nshack, you're just too far out there.

[nshack]

I know it made sense to me, but in the end I thought, on paper, I'm mostly a diabetic for them, which they have access to a lot of... maybe I'll look into it again if the politics of the public schools start wearing on me. Right now I have the optimism of a teacher who has been on summer break for 3 months. Yay!

[Dewey]

Truthfully, I'd give anything to be a pump trainer. It bites that in America, they require people to be RNs instead of allowing those who have daily personal experience to work in the field. :(

Like others have said, if you try it & don't like it, well, at least you've tried. If you don't try it, then you won't know what you might be missing (& possibly enjoying). Just a thought...

[gettingby]

I have to agree here. You will never know unless you try. If changing jobs won't put you in a financial bind, then go for it !!!!!!!!!!!! You know you have our support.

[Keezheekoni]

My ANRP told me yesterday that I should become a CDE. She had actually asked why I hadn't...I told her that I wasn't because of the requirements. Yes, I went to college, but I don't have all of the skills required, yet. Maybe when I am done homeschooling and can go back to college at some point. :)

I think it would be so much better to actually learn from people who are diabetic... Hehehe, if I ever feel the need to see a therapist/psychologist, I won't go to one who hasn't had a teenage daughter!!!

[June91]

Thanks, everyone. I have decided to accept and hope you realise this means we ALL get to be pump trainers - where do you think all the tips & tricks I tell people will come from?

:party:

[Lynne1]

Thanks, everyone. I have decided to accept and hope you realise this means we ALL get to be pump trainers - where do you think all the tips & tricks I tell people will come from?

:party:Fantastic, good luck with your new position!

[Keezheekoni]

Good luck with your new position! Congrats to you!

[Moonlitknight]

Tell me why not to suspend when we disconect????

[Cyborg]

Tell me why not to suspend when we disconect????

To keep the tubing primed... But be careful to reconnect!

[spike]

And I just thought of this. Do you think I would be allowed to tell people things that may not be by the book but are more convenient - like don't suspend when you disconnect, little things like that?

trainers WILL tell people practical solutions that may not be "by the book". You just have to use good judgement. You will be less constrained that the people manning the tech support lines at MM.

[MamaCat]

Hey, June91, my Minimed pump trainer is a Type 1 diabetic and she was great because she WAS able to give me some tips that were not by the book. And, it was through her that I learned that my endo at the time had my basal/bolus ratios all screwed up (on MDI I was taking 110 units of insulin, of which only 25 were basal)! She did the calculations, got the order from another doctor in the practice (one I'd never seen) and I started on the pump at less than half the total daily insulin I had been taking, and with better control! You've got experience that non-diabetics don't have, so if you like teaching, go for it! I will never forget my pump trainer because she changed my life!

[spike]

Hey, June91, my Minimed pump trainer is a Type 1 diabetic and she was great because she WAS able to give me some tips that were not by the book. And, it was through her that I learned that my endo at the time had my basal/bolus ratios all screwed up (on MDI I was taking 110 units of insulin, of which only 25 were basal)! She did the calculations, got the order from another doctor in the practice (one I'd never seen) and I started on the pump at less than half the total daily insulin I had been taking, and with better control! You've got experience that non-diabetics don't have, so if you like teaching, go for it! I will never forget my pump trainer because she changed my life!

Great story! I'd like to see all trainers walk the walk and talk the talk. How could a non pumper be as effective as a pumper/trainer? All the book learning they could ever receive wouldn't be as good as proper training AND living the life...but that's only my opinion.

[June91]

Thanks everyone for your advice and support. I will let you know as soon as anything develops with mm. I'm busy busy busy reading, learning, trying to remember what it was like not to know anything about the pump at all...

This forum has actually made me aware of things people could ask me and it is scary to think it would be my responsibility to know the answer at least most of the time! But thankfully, there is a 24-hour helpline - right here.

[June91]

Thank you all for your kind words. Unfortunately it didn't work out and I am not allowed to go into details.

I got a full time job in the meanwhile that's been quite challenging and haven't had time to post. Horror of horrors, no internet at my office at the moment...

See you all and keep well. :wavey: