So here I am, on the cusp of a huge change. I have been working in the ED setting since 2005, as an RN since 2008, and I have achieved many things: my BSN, MSN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN, and a lot of other random certs and accolades while also holding on to my NREMT-P (13+ years!). I've managed a trauma unit in a war zone. I've had a wonderful run as an ED/trauma RN. The ED has been my passion for more than a decade.
I completed my MSN in Informatics in December, and with my husband being accepted to the med school of his choice (so proud of him!!!), we are moving to a city with a LOT of hospitals. Almost a ridiculous amount! I love it. But being the ED/ADD girl that I am, I want to do everything and work everywhere. There was a time when I literally worked in every ED in my current city, and it was a bit too much. I know this about myself — I overextend my energy resources a lot.
I am getting older, I have a bad hip thanks to Afghanistan, and maybe it's time for me to not act like an adrenaline junkie all the time and take a seat, slow it down. So I applied to an informatics-related position that would be Mon-Fri, 0800-1700. Still some stress I'm sure, just a different kind. But I have to admit that I am freaked out at the prospect of this change. Leaving the ED is bittersweet. Being an ED RN is part of who I am. You know how you meet people and they say "I'm a nurse"? I always say, "I'm an ER nurse." You know ... we claim it, we're proud of it.
I had a unique opportunity just last weekend to participate in the CEN passing point study (if the percentage needed to pass goes up, I'm sorry! lol), and I met a lot of awesome ED/trauma nurses from around the country. One of them has transitioned to informatics, and he loves it. That took some of my trepidation away. I keep telling myself (and I told someone here this same thing very recently) that if I dislike this new role, the ED will always be there. (So true ... the ED recruiter at the same hospital as the informatics position cold-called me the other day, lol. I told my informatics recruiter to watch out, he's poachin'! We had a good laugh.)
I finally made mental peace with this change (I expect an offer next week after an in-person interview with the director), when up pops a trauma nurse educator position yesterday, working for someone I know. lol. GOOD GRIEF. So yeah, I applied for it too. I am a mess!!!! This is a great predicament to be in, I know. I have another offer from a burn ICU. I have so many options. I surprised myself by NOT applying for a single bedside ED position.
For those of you who transitioned from the ED: how did you do it? Did you do PRN at another ED to "wean" yourself? Any regrets? I have had people express disbelief that I would achieve CEN/CPEN/TCRN/all my experience and then "walk away," as they put it. That's not how I see it, of course.
Thoughts from those of you who have moved on after a long time? I'm struggling. I feel like I'm breaking up with a longtime boyfriend who is kind of a jerk a lot of the time. Haha.
