My name is Katherine and I'm 25 years old. I graduate college with a Bachelors in Fine Arts, specifically Sculpture using fibers and metal and Glassblowing. I've always loved art, but I've always been fascinated by science and medicine more. I recently had surgery on my left bicep, the belly of the muscle had been severed more than 50% otherwise known as a high grade bicep tear. The whole process of getting injured then getting repaired and now recovering has taken me away from my job making high end handmade glass chandeliers for hotels and casinos. Truth be told I couldn't be happier, or more interested in my daily routine. So I've decided to make a career change, but haven't quite decided what medical field I'm more interested in.
I was wondering why people in the nursing field chose the specialty they're in. Why did you think that would be a good career path for you? Are you happy or are you looking for a change to? Does your specialty fit your personality? Or was it the people, the work, the science, the money, the location, the availability, your home life? Or was it the interest, the excitement, the fascination, the work environment, the advancement opportunities, or the possibility for discovery? Did you just like the idea of helping people, is it as rewarding as you thought or is it just pure love of your career?
Good idea, I'll look into it. I know a few people from my university that went on to become Art Therapists maybe I can shadow and see if it's for me. Thanks!
Nothing about my injury is permanent, I should fully recover...I'm just looking for a change in career, something more rewarding that holds my interest. What specialty are you, and why?
Thank you, I hadn't looked into ICU much, but you have attracted my attention. It's nice to hear that you have taken quite a look around before settling.
Thank you for sharing your story, I only wish my family had such a wonderful hospice nurse for my grandfather during his passing. What specialty did you end up choosing?
Thanks for your post, I know how you feel about NYC, I grew up there and there's nothing like it. I hope you get to go back if and when the time comes you even want to.
If you find glassblowing is unrewarding and hard on the body, wait til your a nurse. I would give anything to have a career in the arts instead of nursing.
i work with heart patients and i swear the stress from all cardiac will kill me! i like taking care of elderly patients the most. i should switch to geriatrics.
i am type a a bit and over the top with checking rechecking things and i never feel comfortable. i am always hyped up and all over my patients. its exhausting to operate like this with 4,5,6 patients. i feel its driving me to early grave or retirement whichever comes first. hmm maybe i should move to icu.
I have done LTC, Prison, ER, ICU, and Clinic nursing all before coming a nurse anesthetist/CRNA. Being a CRNA is the only job in nursing that I have truly liked doing on a daily basis. I work independently, have respect from the surgeons and my co-workers, the hours are decent most of the time, and it is very technical fast paced field. Anesthesia isn't for everyone, but I found my niche.
Before someone mentions it: No I don't do anesthesia for the money since I am military and in my payback period. In January I will make about 180.00 more a month than any other nurse in the USAF of comparable rank and time in service. For 2010 I actually was making a little less d/t the bonus structure.
Specializes in maternal child, public/community health.
As a child, I dreamed of being a nurse. My mom was a nurse (and her father a doctor back in horse/buggy days) and I found it fascinating. I married as a young adult and decided that I wanted to be home with my children so I did not pursue nursing school.
After becoming single, I started taking pre-reqs at age 46 toward getting a nursing degree. I graduated at age 51. I worked in a peds clinic for 9 months. I loved my co-workers but knew it was not a job I would do long-term. Even in nursing school, I knew I wanted to do public health working with an underserved population. After the peds clinic, I got my dream job - I am a public health nurse in a home-based program for pregnant or parenting teens. I love teaching and knew that I wanted a job that involved a lot of teaching and that gave me time to really teach. Much of what I do is teaching - not just the teen moms but their family members as well. Every day and every visit is different and I have a lot of autonomy. I do not work holidays and only work Saturdays if I chose to. I work 4 longer days so I can spend Wednesdays having "grammy days" with my grandkids.If I have a doctor's appoinment or my grandson has a school program, I can take time off in the middle of the day and work later that evening or do a few hours on Saturday. I work with a great team that is very supportive. I love my job because I believe what I do every day makes a difference in the lives of these moms and their children.
Some days are hard because many of the teens are in difficult life situations. I maintain clear boundaries between work and my personal life. Most of the time, I am able not to dwell on work stuff when I am not at work. I really try to leave work at work so I don't burn out. The other thing that is difficult is the amount of paperwork which I think is true with most nursing jobs.
I am just starting as an ED nurse. I volunteered in an ED for a couple of years and loved it. Then I did my last quarter of clinicals in an ED. Again, I loved it. I loved it so much that I held out for three months in this horrible economic climate without applying anywhere else, and finally got a job in the same department, on the same shift, with the same co-workers as I had in that last quarter of school. I am blissfully happy!
All the same things mentioned above by those who love their jobs is what I love about being a nurse in general. Helping others (and thereby feeling rewarded and fulfilled , decent pay (to take care of my family), loving my co-workers, etc.
What I love about the ED specifically is the pace. It varies wildly, so I never get tired of any one aspect. And the experience with patients...if you want a wide variety of patient experience, the ED is the place to be. You will see more individual patients with more individual conditions and life stories than anywhere besides maybe an outpatient day surgery.
Yet I believe the most important concept for someone interested in changing careers into nursing is that there are so many possible job-types within nursing that, should you get tired of one, you can always move into another, and yet still have credit for your years of nursing experience.
Good luck on your new path, whatever it may turn out to be.
I have been interested in Anesthesia since my surgery, I found this unbelievably wonderful sense of calm when I was moved to that department. It's funny but the ER, OR, and the Anesthesia Departments seem to be capturing my attention more and more despite the many differences in those departments. Thank you for you reply and I glad you found you niche.
Katherine25
16 Posts
Kessadawn
Good idea, I'll look into it. I know a few people from my university that went on to become Art Therapists maybe I can shadow and see if it's for me. Thanks!
~Katherine