I have been a registered nurse for three years and I am at a crossroad. I dislike (bedside?) nursing. Several weeks ago, I began applying for other positions, including a few in the emergency room because I thought it would be less patient care and a valuable skill set to possess. I was offered (and accepted) a position within an emergency room, but I am having second thoughts. I am one year into a Master of Public Health program and I do not see the point in learning about dysrhythmias, ACLS, and PALS if, for example, in the Congo they have no heart monitors, etc. The programs grooms use to ultimately be administrators and managers. My current position, working steady nights on a non-monitored orthopedics unit, requires very little of me and I am really bored and unfulfilled. I have been at the same hourly rate for 18 months and the emergency room position is a lateral move (i.e. the same hourly rate). So, I cannot justify stressing myself out to balance learning about dysrhythmias, ACLS, and PALS (since I do not plan on staying any longer than April 2011) with graduate school when I could be sitting in front of the computer and reading allnurses, etc. all night. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
CrazierThanYou, I was in the Peace Corps prior to becoming a nurse and I am earning a Master of Public Health degree. So, it IS quite possible that I may find myself in the Congo. : )
Awesome! I wanted to join the Peace Corps. I probably would if I didn't have a family.
Thats really odd. ICU where I am at actually goes the other way with it. Visitation is VERY limited. You can't even call during certain hours. There is someone in the reception room that will answer simple questions, but thats it.
I wish my ICU had limited visiting hours! We have 24 hr visiting (and calling) hours. I understand the reasoning behind it, but as previously mentioned, it can be challenging and distracting.
CrazierThanYou
1,917 Posts
Awesome! I wanted to join the Peace Corps. I probably would if I didn't have a family.