Advanced learning opportunities ...

You can become certified in medical-surgical nursing through the Canadian Nurses Association specialty certification exam. You can join the Canadian Association of Medical and Surgical Nursing organization and attend the organization's conferences.

What do direction do you want your career to go? If you want to continue to provide patient care there are a number of certification programs such as; a footcare course through Kingstonfootcare, diabetic educator through Michener institute, nephrology nursing through various community colleges and enterstomal therapy through CAET. If you want to move away from patient care there are certification programs for; infection control, occupational health and nursing leadership and management.

I'm interested in eventually either going into the wound clinic at our hospital, recovery room/day surgery, endo or actually into the OR.

These areas tend to be full of high seniority nurses (in the hospital I work at at least), so I'm trying to find courses/education related to those specific areas so that when positions become available, I will be a little more prepared.

Nearing the the five year mark, I also don't feel as mentally stimulated as I used to feel during the first 3-4 years of working and could use something (like education) to re-charge. Terrible, I know, but I AM trying to do something about it to keep my brain fresh.

Those speciality areas have nurses with many years of seniority in most hospitals, not just your hospital. Have you checked what certicate programs the nurses in those specialties have taken? I know wound clinic nurses who have taken the enterstomal nursing certificate program through CAET because it includes theory and clinical placement with wound, ostomy and continence nurses.

It is pretty common to want more stimulation after the five year mark. I have found pursuing more education and participating in specialty organizations rejuvinates me and keeps my perspective fresh.

Obtaining certification through the CNA is a wise move because many employers prefer applicants with CNA credentials.