Career Mistakes

I'm writing this to warn new nurses to not make the mistakes I made. I'm 47 y/o, this is not a rant or pity party. These are facts, please feel free to comment...good, bad, or ugly...

I was a cosmetologist since I graduated from high school. in "84" I became an EMT-B in "98" then I became a RN in "08". I worked in level I trauma as an ED tech from "01-05" When I graduated in "08" I was accepted into a level I trauma ED RN internship, and I let it scare me away. I ran to OB complications while I worked PRN in Urgent care Clinic. To make matters worse my husband was in the air force. I only stayed at that hospital for 1yr(08-09). Following my husband I went where he was...which was back to level I trauma hospital where I was a tech(comfort zone with hospital system). I stayed there for 1 yr SICU(09-10 got my BSN that year). (I should have stayed for 3yrs no matter where my husband was going!) followed him again...did 6 months in peds icu internship.(did not stay!!!) went to adult CCU 3 months(10-11)...then my husband was sent to Dubai for a year I went. (Dubai's Canadian hospital was willing to hire me if I signed a 2 yr contract...hubby was leaving n 1yr) Did not want my brain to rot...so I enrolled in Paramedic program online with my last check from CCU. It was a great refresher...stayed in Dubai for 9 months because my Paramedic program was closing down!!! I needed 6 months to complete rotations ambulance/ER/Mandatory medic boot camps

Long story short I didn't work for 1year of 2012, but I have TNCC,ACLS,PALS and I just became a BLS instructor. I'm a nationally Registered Paramedic certification not used!!

(I volunteered at a clinic for underserved to attempt to stay relevant) WHEN YOU LEAVE A SPECIALTY YOU ARE NO LONGER RELEVANT!! I got a job in 3/2013 in the infusion Clinic...where I had to rotate "in I don't touch patients clinic". I stayed there for a year and 3 months. I tried to go to RN internships and med/surge floors no one would hire me at this hospital, I have no write-ups or RN license issues. IF YOU LEAVE INPATIENT FOR A YEAR, IT WILL BE HARD TO GET BACK!

(I understand my resume looks like crap because I've been a RN for 6 yrs and didn't stay anywhere long enough)

I resigned and joined my first RN agency this week...I need to work med/surge and build my inpatient relevancy up.

The moral of the story is stay in a hospital for a few years doing the same specialty if you passion with it. I love ICU I will fight to get back.

Thank you for having a place for real nurse talk