Trying to figure out my passion in nursing...

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Hi all,

im in desperate need of advice and opinions. I have been a nurse for 3 years now, 1 yr med surg, 1 year ICU at the same facility (this included micu/ccu/some sicu, but was a majority medical patients in a small community hospital), transferred last yr from the ICU I was in to a ct step down/CTICU at another facility because the ICU I was in did not have as many experiences and learning opportunities as I would have liked to experience. in this hospital the cardiac surgery step down and ICU is staffed by the same people and the staff is supposed to rotate between step down and ICU every week. This new company also offered a fellowship program for the ICU which was 10 wks didactic and then was on the floor with a preceptor for 5wks on days and 2 weeks night and then on my own. This was appealing to me bc the ICU experience I had did not have much official training. I felt that me taking this job was About gaining more experienced in the ICU that I would not have obtained and trying to figure if I wanted to remain in ICU? During my orientation I experienced various things from handling swans to open chest cases to giving a patient units and units of blood, feiba, cryo,platelets, plasma, and changing the suction canisters every hour overnight bc he was bleeding so much. I've experienced cvvhd, aquapheresis. But I haven't been feeling as passionate about being at this facility or unit as I thought I would have.

I went into nursing because of the nurses I worked with at this outpatient Breast oncology facility in an administrative position. I like the amount of contact you get with patients. Their schedule was appealing (4-10 hour days no wknds, no holidays). I know that working wknds and holidays is the life of a hospital nurse but I guess after 3 yrs I feel burnt out with its do am considering options. Going into nursing it was my goal to obtain such a position with these hours. However since I graduated with an ADN I was not able to obtain a position at the oncology company. after my year of med surg and getting my BSN I didn't want to go back to this oncology company because I felt like I didn't get my inpatient experience I wanted. I am now feeling that I accomplished that even though I have only been on my current unit on my own for about 3 months.

All this is coming up because I had been keeping my eye out for positions at the oncology hospital and something recently came up at the same facility I worked at when I was thinking about nursing. I am exploring the options and going for an interview on Tuesday. So I'm excited for that. However the current facility I worked at because I participated in the fellowship I amsupposed to stay for 2 year commitment from the start of the fellowship. No official contract just considered an 'expectation'. Since I started in April 2015 and would potentially leave after a little les than a year I would potentially be burning bridges, however I have heard of people leaving the fellowship before the end of this commitment. What are your thoughts?!? I know this is a long post but I needed to provide some bckground...

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Stay your two years and you will be so marketable that outpatient oncology will take you in a heart beat. ICU experience opens doors.

Thanks lev...

I forgot to say I also work pacu per diem which I love. Also didn't mention I already worked at this oncology company before so I already have an interview lined up with them...and I would have stayed if they would have hired me...I mean I committed 5 years working there and they paid for my prerequisites for nursing. But because everyone was changing requirements to only hire BSN I couldn't get a job there which worked out for the better b c I was able to work on med surg and icu...

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

You have a commitment, don't want to burn bridges. 2 years is really not a long time and you will learn so much. Oncology will be waiting for you in another year too.

You have a commitment don't want to burn bridges. 2 years is really not a long time and you will learn so much. Oncology will be waiting for you in another year too.[/quote']

Yeah, at the same time I feel like I am really tired of the stresses and hospital job. I feel like I wouldn't ever go back to the hospital that I would be quitting from if I end up at this oncology company.

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