Crossroads in My Career

[jayhawknurse4life]

Hello All,

I have never posted on a public discussion board, especially not about something as private as my professional career, but here it goes! Throughout nursing school (even way back in high school), I was interested in reproductive health; not obstetrics but birth control, sex education, adolescent/young adult sexuality. I graduated nursing school and got a job in a medical and surgical ICU because that's where I was interested at the time (and where I could find a job as a new grad). I worked night shift in the ICU for 4 years and genuinely enjoyed myself until my list of work related injuries, insomnia and chronic back pain made it impossible for me to ignore the fact that my body just couldn't handle the physical demands of bedside ICU nursing. I briefly took stock of my career and decided to become a hospice case manager, as it seemed like a logical next step and I wanted to see if I would be interested in pursuing higher education as a hospice NP. Ten months of strain on my life, relationships and mental health ended in me first trying part time work and then quitting hospice all together with the goal of getting my sanity back and finding a job in reproductive health. I have 4+ years of volunteer experience teaching teens about sex education and believe that this is an asset (and experience) that does make me qualified for an ambulatory clinic in reproductive health.

I am rounding out my second month of unemployment (well, I work at a bar) and have applied to an upwards of 20 jobs in reproductive health areas of nursing (OBGYN clinics, women's health clinics, adolescent medicine, Planned Parenthood, etc). I am giving myself one more month of concentrated effort before I get serious and find A JOB. My question for everyone is this: If I need to find A JOB and my goal is to break into the apparently very competitive world of reproductive health do I...

A) Find a job in a medical clinic that more suits my previous experience and one that hopefully provides me with enough emotional energy and time to keep searching for a job I care about

B) Get a job at Planned Parenthood (note: I applied and interviewed at PP already, and while I am a huge supporter of choice and a woman's ability to access abortions unencumbered, I don't know if I could be actively providing abortions 5 days a week. And yes, I would likely be providing abortions 5 days a week if I worked at PP in my state and likely draw conflict from my very conservative mother in law)

C) Go against my history of back pain and now-improved insomnia and work the night shift in L&D to get the experience that all these job applications desperately want me to have.

I desperately want to have a career that matters to me. I have spent the last five years doing what I "should be doing," which has left me with chronic pain and burnout. I passionately believe in helping young adults control their reproductive lives and enjoy sex, I had no idea it would be so painful and difficult to break into this field of nursing. Everyone says the best part of being a nurse is that you can have hundreds of different careers in one lifetime, but somehow I feel pigeon-holed to med/surg after only five years. Any advice, perspective, suggestions or words of wisdom would be deeply appreciated.

-JayhawkNurse4Life, BSN, RN

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

I'm sorry that you're feeling stuck and haven't yet been able to take advantage of the diversity of nursing that you're looking for. I understand your conflicts with many of the options you present, but I guess if those are your options, which will give you the best chance of moving on to what you want? Is the only L&D position definitely nights? Are there other facilities close enough that might have day positions? Are there women's health clinics other than Planned Parenthood in your area? We have some women's primary care offices that might be looking for nurses and would give you maybe the option to provide some reproductive health education. What about high school nursing? There are probably areas that need school nurses that can provide the types of resources you're hoping to provide. I'm sorry you've ended up with some physical issues due to your years in nursing, and I hope that you can find something that fits your career and life goals. Good luck!