Have You Found Your Niche?

Nurses General Nursing

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Do you think you have found your life's calling? Are you doing what you were meant to do in your working life?

Sometimes, I think I've never really found my calling, even though I've had Nursing jobs that I have really enjoyed and have some good friends from my working years. Every time, though, something has come up sooner or later on each job. Either I couldn't deal with the boss and the politics :angryfire, or I got bored :yawn:, or we moved, or the job shut down (went out of business) :cry:. The longest I've held any job is about 5 years, although I've been with the same employer 3 times that long, doing different jobs within the organization.

So how about you all? And not to be nosy but are you reasonably content in your personal life? I am married to the best gal in the world but I do wish we had more children. The grandkids are a tremendous joy. And I'm still spry enough to do active things with them! :lol2:

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I'm not sure I've found my niche or calling, but I have been with the same facility for almost 17 years. I've worked in three different units: telemetry, neuro and nueroprogressive intermediate, and med-surg which later turned into a unit that focused only on the trauma patient.

I'm enjoy many benefits of this longevity to include extra time off and maximum.

No matter where I go I seem to become the charge nurse. It seems to be a gift of mine and I fight it every time. Right now I'm the day shift charge nurse and I'm not sure what I'm going to do next. I got my BSN last year and am still considering what's next. I probably am going to have to work 20 more years and am not sure what to do when I grow up. LOL

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I think I've found my niche in nursing, for now. :D I'll continue doing it as long as I love it. When/if the time comes that I dread going to work for whatever reason I'll find another niche. If you wish you had more children perhaps consider volunteering as a mentor or Big Brother? There is a huge need for positive male role models.

Specializes in ER,ICU,L+D,OR.

My niche in life is being happy. Life has been good and I work and love the ER. I did retire early and gave up charge nursing. I now work part time and can never be asked if I want the charge position. They even have a rule that only full timers can do charge. Does not break my heart. So yes I have my niche in life and in the world order at least according to me. Ive never been happier. Now back to making arrangements for my trip to Jamaica. Love resort living.

Specializes in ER, ICU.

Still looking! But i do love the ICU and the personal care it allows me to give to each of my 2 patients.

I do love the ER but about once every year or two I take off and do something that utilizes my skills but allows me to travel or meet new people.....

This year I will be getting my credentials for the US and that will become my get away once a year or so.

Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

I found my niche but now it's in another city so I have to figure out what to do when I grow up...again!

I hope I find my niche someday ...

For now I would like to dabble in everything. Specialize. Pursue post-graduate studies. Do travel nursing.

Specializes in Urgent Care, Research, Care Coordination.

I don't think I've found my niche yet. I will be a nurse for a whole year come this April and I am on my 2nd nursing job. First at a hospital and now in urgent care. And sadly, I wouldn't be too mad if a new job came along. I am a WORKER. I hate socializing at work because it almost always comes back to bite ya. I find things go smoother when I do my job and leave the fluff alone. Nurses are brutal to eachother. I have a hard time with nurses flexing their "brain muscle" by trying to show off their knowledge and experience. My thought is, if you're smart, people will know. If you have to tell people, then they remember that when and if you mess up and furthermore, it just makes you look arrogant. So for these reasons I am not sure I found my niche. I love nursing, my patients remember me and love me. They write good letters to my employer, I have total passion for being a nurse. My problem is finding the right environment.

Specializes in LTC, geriatric, psych, rehab.

Well, I would like to say that I work in the ER in a rural hospital, and therefore am bored....since it was recently pointed out on a post that rural hospitals do not have emergencies....

But actually, I am the director of nursing at a nursing home. That may seem boring, but trust me, it is not. I have said it is my niche, but now am working on a master's to teach, so guess I am not settled yet.

Interesting...most people do not still wish for kids once they have grandchildren. Try foster kids. There are lots of them who need a good home. I had 6 kids on purpose. I have no more than that, on purpose. Do love the grandkids.

But while you are studying the niche thing, I am studying on my upcoming vacation to the Florida keys. Just like to get away now and then. Maybe if you are feeling very restless, you could go on a long vacation with the grandkids....or better yet, just the wife.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I have come to believe that if you go through life searching for something "magical," you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Everything scientific I have ever read about happiness -- as well as many religions and my own personal experience -- say that we MAKE our happiness. It comes from within, not from finding something "out there." It's learning to love the journey -- not yearning for something wonderful at the end.

9 jobs in 5 years, so no I haven't found my niche. If I could only find that elusive Mon-Fri 9am-3pm no holiday, no on-call nursing job that pays the same as full time, I think then I would find my niche.

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