I've been a nurse since.....(fill in the blank)

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I was admitting a patient the other night into the PICU, and the parents were VERY anxious. Rightfully so. Our attending, in an effort to make them more at ease, said, "Meanmaryjean has been a nurse for over thirty years and is our most experienced nurse!"

As is sometimes the case, I discovered that I have been a nurse longer than the parents have been alive. But it got me thinking, so I offer up this thread for you 'more experienced' nurses (and those who aren't if you want).

I'll start off by saying:

I've been a nurse since before there was an internet. Before AIDS. Before Elvis died.

How 'bout you?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I was born in '81, so the OP meanmaryjean has probably been a nurse longer than I have been alive. Anyhow, I've been a nurse since January 2006, when I was first issued an LVN license. I had been one month shy of turning 25 years old.

I'm now 33, have worked as an RN since 2010, and am currently in the process of figuring out which MSN degree specialization I wish to pursue. I've narrowed the choices down to nursing informatics, utilization review or clinical nurse specialist. By the end of the year I'll hopefully have my mind made up.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I was born in '81, so the OP meanmaryjean has probably been a nurse longer than I have been alive. Anyhow, I've been a nurse since January 2006, when I was first issued an LVN license. I had been one month shy of turning 25 years old.

I'm now 33, have worked as an RN since 2010, and am currently in the process of figuring out which MSN degree specialization I wish to pursue. I've narrowed the choices down to nursing informatics, utilization review or clinical nurse specialist. By the end of the year I'll hopefully have my mind made up.

add me to one where the OP had been doing this longer than I've been born! ;)

I was born in '81 as well; I've been a nurse since 2005 as a LPN; however I've been in healthcare since 2000; I remember 9/11, and hoping that my favorite ER doc wasn't going to be mistaken for the attackers; thankfully he wasn't. :yes:

In the 14 years I have been in this business; I worked my way up to being an RN since 2012; I've had a few opportunities presented to me; hopefully they will help me give back to this business. :yes:

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Hmm. I remember when Elvis died... it was 37 years ago Saturday. I was at work when I heard, slinging hash in a coffee shop.

I've been a nurse since just before the Internet entered the public consciousness, AOL got going and Yahoo was introduced. I've been a nurse since before Selena was murdered in Corpus Christi. Before the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building in OK City was bombed. Before Christopher Reeve was thrown from his horse and became a quadriplegic. Before Microsoft released Windows 95 and before DVDs were invented. eBay hadn't yet been introduced. OJ Simpson was still on trial, the Million Man March hadn't happened, and Calvin and Hobbes were still appearing daily in the comics. Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy was still alive and so were Howard Cosell, Ginger Rogers, Jonas Salk, Wolfman Jack, Tupac Shakur and the real Orville Redenbacher. Kendall Jenner hadn't even been conceived. Die Hard with a Vengeance, Toy Story and Apollo 13 hadn't been released yet but were destined to be the top three grossing movies of that year. Shania Twain was on her way to being named top NEW female vocalist of the year by the Academy of Country Music. And Tommy Lee had not yet married Pamela Anderson. Betcha he'd like a do-over!

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I've been a nurse since before the Bicentennial (but not too much before :-)), before C. Everett Koop was Surgeon General and before Captain Eo arrived at Disneyland!

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Specializes in critical care.

LadyFree and Commuter, I did not expect you to be my age! I'm turning 34 in October.

And I've been a nurse since before July. ?

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since 1985....but I am much older than that would imply....probably right around means age...

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Specializes in ICU.

I've been an RN for 25 years now. (My second degree.) I was pregnant with my daughter when Elvis died. I was in the kitchen, cooking, and heard it on the news. Would you believe I had 2 tickets to an Elvis concert in the 70's and LOST them? My boyfriend (at the time) had bought them, gave them to me for safe-keeping, and I lost them. He was furious!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
LadyFree and Commuter, I did not expect you to be my age! I'm turning 34 in October.
Let me guess? You expected us to be a tad bit older than thirty-something? :)
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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
LadyFree and Commuter, I did not expect you to be my age!

And I've been a nurse since before July. ?

Had to lol! I've been a nurse since Valentines day this year!

I'm in my 30's, too!! (-;

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I have been a nurse since the days when employees wasted time at work doing the crossword puzzles from the newspapers on slow nights rather than Facebook.

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I have been a nurse since the days when employees wasted time at work doing the crossword puzzles from the newspapers on slow nights rather than Facebook.

I was a nurse way back when there were slow nights!

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