Would you be content if you worked your current job/specialty for the rest of your career?

itsybitsy · May 18, 2017

NICU speciality? Yes.

Bedside RN Role? No. - However, if I could find a hospital with split NICU's of critical vs. feeder growers where I could ONLY work critical, it would really make me think twice about going back to school. I love the 24/25 week to 33/34 week population. But as another poster inferred, I can only feed so many babies before I go crazy.

If I can't find that, I will go back for my NNP.

nutella, MSN, RN · May 18, 2017

Lately, I've been trying to decide what my next move in nursing should be. I have worked in a rehab/LTC facility for a year now, and am still not content with where I am. I honestly cannot say that I would be content being a rehab/LTC nurse for the rest of my career, as I still constantly look at other jobs and have a desire to be a different kind of nurse. I still cannot say that I'm proud of my job or what I have done. So, for me, I'll be moving on eventually.
How about you? Are you content where you are, or is there something else you would rather do or try?

I am a very lucky nurse - I work for an palliative care consultation team in a hospital and our team is very supportive of each other plus I love what I am doing.

Yes, I am content and would be totally fine with doing what I am doing for some longer. However, I do not think that this will be fulltime because I also want to use my graduate education in other ways.

Also, I have probably 20 or so years to go until retirement and it is impossible to say what happens in 10 years from today. I am content and happy with my work - however, if some good opportunity comes my way I still look at it!

Caffeine_IV · May 18, 2017

Nope not with my current role. It's a desk nursing job with absolutely no patient interaction not even by phone. For many nurses that is a dream but I dread going to work. It's not a good fit for me.

I don't miss the bedside rush but I would like to be involved with patients. So I'm seeking something outpatient -- day surgery, GI lab, radiology etc.

I have to pick jobs that will work with being a single parent. If I was childless, I'd think I'd like working in critical care or Pre-op.

CeciBean, ASN, RN · May 18, 2017

Now you sound like me! I got horribly bored working at the same place for more than 3-5 years, though. After I more or less settled into cardiac/stepdown/progressive care/tele, I was pretty cool with it, but I just couldn't stay put. Traveling suited me until I met The Man, and then I wanted to be with him all the time. I think I would have tried "local traveling" in my field after a little while if I hadn't gotten sick and had to retire.

bsyrn, ASN, RN · May 18, 2017

I love my school nurse position and have no intention of doing anything else for the rest of my career!

qbowie1219 · May 18, 2017

I currently work as a psychiatric nurse. If I had to choose between this specialty or another, I would choose psych every time! I love working with psychiatric patients. I'm currently reviewing psychiatric mental health practitioner programs to continue my career in this field. I definitely made the right choice!

mlolo · May 21, 2017

I have been working in emergency for 2 years this month (3 yrs in total). oh boy, has it ever been rough, but it's gotten a million times better than when I first started. I was just having this conversation with a colleague today and we both say no - we can't see it for the rest of our careers. I, for one, can't see me doing full time 12 hr shifts in emergency for too much longer, to be honest. but I think change can be good - if only to provide some perspective. I am fortunate in my Union and employer we are allowed to take temporary assignments elsewhere for up to a year and return to our permanent jobs after that. so, come the fall I will be looking for a change of pace :)

Zyprexa · May 22, 2017

No, I'd actually like to get into research (mental health).

fezz · May 22, 2017

Absolutely not.

ivyleaf · May 22, 2017

No. I have been spoiled with mostly office/outpatient jobs but have always wanted to work in the ED... I afraid to give up my bankers hours, time off whenever i want it, and flexibility though!! i wish i had done m/s or ED right out of school, but easier said in hindsight!

eventually i want to do something non-patient care like informatics or risk management.

calivianya, BSN, RN · May 22, 2017

I have no intention of staying in nursing until I retire.

However, I could see myself staying exactly where I am for the rest of my nursing career. If I get into my first choice school for my next career, which is close by, I'll be able to. I love my specialty, I love the acuity of my unit, I love a LOT of my coworkers, and I absolutely am passionate about most of our physician staff.

There are other specialties I wouldn't mind learning, but I'd have to pick them up as a PRN job because I love my specialty that much.

rescueninja1987 · May 24, 2017

Well frankly I considered getting out of nursing entirely to study computers or engineering or something, but I decided to stick it out.Ultimately my plan is to start a business teaching BLS, ACLS, and first aid classes to the community including classes in Spanish. I work ICU right now and love every second of it, but I'm 29 and already having aches and pains as if I were much older; I am seriously considering becoming an ACNP and working ICU hopefully at my hospital because I really do love it there, but I can't do the lifting, pulling and 12 hours on my feet for the rest of my life. I am also adjunct faculty at a nursing school, but I'm finding out that isn't for me and getting ready to let that job go. I guess to answer OP's question, my business idea and possibly becoming an NP would entail staying in the same areas I am in now: adult critical care and education.