Hanging up my stethescope

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

I have been nursing for the past 19 years, and working in the hospital for 3 years before that and have always loved it. It hasn't always been the "dream job", and it hasn't always been easy. I have loved my profession and made many friends since starting in it, including my hubbie.

I am 39, and many of you here may remember some of the health problems I have been dealing with in the past year. In the spring, I had been dx as having one of the ASD, and went to New Orleans to have their pediatric interventional card. MDs close it for me. He did, using the Helix device and let me f/u with my cardiologist here in north Louisiana. Before the closure, I started having seizures and episodes of syncope. The ER docs attributed these to my cardiac defect and tried to reassure me these weren't permanent after running what seemed like every test known to man.

I did f/u with local cardiac MD, and wore another holter monitor. The next visit I wore one of the 21 day ones, and after seeing these and the tests the ER docs had ordered, acheduled a cath. I had received quite a few calls from the monitoring company when I started having a syncopal episode, and other various oddities. I started going into v tach, with an episode lasting more than 30 seconds but self terminating by 45 seconds.

I had the cath almost 2 weeks ago, and the doc was not able to fix or ablate something that has been causing this. I still have resp. and other complications that the 39 years of having the ASD caused, which has limited even my mobility and ADLs (to a certain extent.) Hubbie and I have talked and decided that I will not go back to nursing. Right now, I even have trouble getting the mail or cooking if it gets too warm in the kitchen.

I just really thought I would have had more nursing to get under my belt before leaving the field. I just don't know what I could contribute to my patients.

Used to be Anne, RNC now I guess it's just plain old Anne :paw::paw:

I did want to add my love for my cyber friends here at allnurses. I just wish I had found the site earlier in my career, it has been SO very helpful in the care I have been able to give my patients and my knowledge of areas I was not sure in, some of the things I had not seen or experienced.

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Specializes in ED, Flight.

Don't give up Anne! You really don't know what the future holds. It may be things will take a turn for the better down the road. Leave your options open in your heart, take time to care for yourself, then reassess the situation.

May you be blessed with healing and health!

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Take care Anne....I hope you find healing and a new path..

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no, it's still Anne, RNC. Just retired lol. You EARNED that title.

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Best of luck to you, here is hoping everything goes your way.

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I remember when I finally accepted my retirement. It was long after I got my first retirement check. I am a nurse. I will remain a nurse. Now I am a retired nurse. I hope the same for you.

I am sorry that your health problems continue. I am sure that there are things that can help you. I have known others who had similar problems and were able to get help and live pretty well. My prayers are that you can also.

It is OK to hang up the scope. The problem I had was that my identity was tied in a Gordian knot around the scope and the title, and all things nursing. Leaving that meant rediscovering who I was. I still have my moments of feeling lost without nursing but am getting more comfortable without that label.

I am a nurse forever. I can now be OK with being and not doing. I hope the same for you. You have earned the good things that can be found in not working.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Marines say 'Once a Marine, always a Marine.' I think nurses can say the same thing! :) I am sorry to see you not working anymore and pray you'll find a new 'creative outlet' wherever you go/whatever you do.

:redbeathe

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.

Good luck, but most of all, work on that heart issue and maybe we'll see you amongst the working again someday! Stay active out here on the boards, you have experience to help shape the newcomers in a positive way.

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:yeahthat: :heartbeat

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You will always be AnnieRNC, wishing you the best and hope your health improves.

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Specializes in rehab.
Marines say 'Once a Marine, always a Marine.' I think nurses can say the same thing! :) I am sorry to see you not working anymore and pray you'll find a new 'creative outlet' wherever you go/whatever you do.

:redbeathe

My feelings exactly...once a nurse, always a nurse. i wish you the very best!

maybe you can teach an online BSN class or something...or telephone triage...its nursing!!!

Whatever happens you are in our thoughts and prayers.:loveya:

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Specializes in Hospital, med-surg, hospice.

Thank you for your service to your patients and co-workers. Nursing is a vocation, you will always be Annie RNC! You have touched more people than you know, we don't always know what lies ahead, there are many areas outside a hospital for a nurse. May God bless and keep you, you will be in our prayers.

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