Found my calling!!!

Just had to share my happiness in my new job...I went straight to being a surgery nurse when I graduated from nursing school...Big mistake, but non the less, loved surgery very much! After 9 years, I let someone "talk" me into trying the cath lab, so I did...Bigger mistake:cry:. I absolutely hated it there, but stuck it out for almost three years. The majority of my patients were elderly and I was very drawn to them and their stories. I actually got fussed at for spending too much time with my patients. I guess, some aspects of nursing have become much like factory work, get this one in and out and on to the the next one. I was so unhappy that I left after work on a Friday afternoon, and my car automatically drove itself down the street to the Local Veteran's Home and I walked up to and through the doors. I was greeted by lots of friendly smiles and told the lady that "I think I'm looking for a new home!", she smiled really big and noticed that my badge had RN on it and said, "I think you may have just found it.". She took me to the DON's office and we all three sat and talked for about an hour. They said that they would be contacting me soon. The first of the next week, they called me and asked when could I start...I was astonished, amazed, scared, and excited all at the same time. The job at the cath lab, was very disappointing, especially in the way that I was treated. They thought that when I started that they were getting a 9 year experienced nurse...Well, I was, but experienced in SURGERY!!! So, they were frustrated in having to teach me everything from starting i.v.'s, reading and writing Dr.'s orders, physical assessments, i.v. pumps, moderate sedation, just to name a few. I never had done any of those things in surgery, so it was all new and intimidating to me, since it had been since nursing school since I'd done most of that stuff. So, my confidence was shaken, and I was rushed constantly and my mistakes were thrown up in my face and sent to the "office" instead of being patient and helpful. But, God works in mysterious ways, indeed...:heartbeat I have been at the Veteran's Home now since the first of April, 2008, have never felt more in the right place in my life. I feel welcome, needed, loved, by not only the staff, but the residents...They are so wonderful and I actually get to spend ALL of my time with them...I actually look forward to going in to work now.

I am Nursing Supervisor for the 11p-7a shift and couldn't be happier.That's the wonderful thing about nursing, so many fields to choose from...Thank you for taking the time to read this. MM, RN