I've been thinking lately about my nursing career and where things are going for me. Right now, I'm finishing up my Master's Degree and am being encouraged by others in my life to pursue a doctorate degree. The more I think about it, the more I'm interested.
However, I also can't help but wonder how my focus on my career and schooling is impacting other areas of my life, such as home ownership and possible marriage and parenthood. While I have no doubt that I'll eventually be able to purchase some type of home that I can both reasonably afford and be satisfied with, I do question how much pursuing additional degrees or continuing my current career path may interfere with marrying or becoming a mother. Frankly, I want it all...education, career, marriage, and children. I'm just not convinced that all of that will end up working out.
The other day, I saw that a former boyfriend of mine just became a father with another woman. His newborn son is absolutely adorable and I couldn't help but feel a bit sad that this baby is not mine as well. We stopped dating about two years ago when I started pursuing my Master's Degree because I wanted to pursue further education at the time and he wanted to start a family right away. He didn't want to wait for me to finish schooling, and I wasn't sure how time consuming my degree would be. I can't help but feel some regret for my decision. Maybe if I would have held off on schooling or just put it aside together, I would be the mother of that baby, not another lady. Maybe I'd be married by now. The breakup between my former boyfriend and I was mutual, but it still made me sad to see him with another woman. I regret that I wasn't the person to give him what he wanted.
The thing is, I'm intrigued by additional education. I absolutely love going to school and would probably go forever if I could. At the same time, I can't help but feel remorseful in regards to what this means for other aspects of my life. Because honestly, as a nurse manager, I work 16-20 hour shifts Monday through Friday, and on the weekends, I complete school work, so there's really not time for dating, marriage or babies. I just wonder how much I'm going to regret this lifestyle. I'm already 30 years old, so really only have about 5-10 more years where I would be able to have any biological children.
But at the same time, do I hold off on education for a marriage that isn't in the nearby future and children that don't exist and may never exist? My schedule right now is actually perfect for continuing on from my master's to my doctorate.
Has anyone else ever felt that their nursing career may be impacting other areas of their life? Any regrets?
It wouldn’t hurt you to get some experience on the floors as a bedside nurse. This will keep your skill set relevant. Bedside nurse always pay more and you need to practice these skills every chance you get. When you say turned down do mean you actually interviewed and were turned down? If you presented to a prospective employer the way you present on this forum that may be the reason your not getting hired.
Wait, haven’t you been job searching for like, a day? Come on girl, get your big girl panties on and keep at it until you find something better. It’s going to take a little time. I second Happy’s advice for a floor nurse position. It has its headaches but nothing’s better at the end of the day than peacing the heck out of there and knowing no one will call me for any reason because I’m just too low on the totem pole.
Yeah. It's not really a surprise that the answer was a no, though. Would have been unrealistic or unreasonable to expect that the first application would result in a job offer, so not really a big deal. It's also possible that maybe employers don't see me as a fit for the admissions role if I've been turned down multiple times. Might be the time to look past administrative type roles. As you've mentioned, maybe it's time to go back into floor nurse role. I'm thinking maybe an acute med-surg role. I struggled with acute care a few years ago, but maybe now is a better time and I'm ready after dealing with numerous acute situations at my current workplace
It wouldn’t hurt you to get some experience on the floors as a bedside nurse. This will keep your skill set relevant. Bedside nurse always pay more and you need to practice these skills every chance you get. When you say turned down do mean you actually interviewed and were turned down? If you presented to a prospective employer the way you present on this forum that may be the reason your not getting hired.
hppy
What you're saying makes sense. I'm considering an acute med-surg position. All my experience is in LTC/SNF so might be a good time to expand and get some more acute experience. My only hesitation with the position I'm looking at is it involves taking care of all age groups, including peds. I like children and enjoyed my pediatric clinicals, but I really have no experience taking care of kids. I'm not sure what to think of this. So I might look elsewhere as well. At any rate, it might be time to go back to a more hands-on role. Yeah, I'm great at the administrative duties, but there is more to nursing than just writing excellent progress notes and may be time to focus on other skills. Admissions nursing can wait, or it can not happen at all; who knows, maybe it's not such a good fit and the hiring managers would know better
One skill that I've always wished I had was IV insertion. My current job doesn't provide this opportunity and my nursing program didn't provide any training regarding this, except for a one time attempt on a manikin. I remember my attempt wasn't successful. My instructor had "grave concerns " over my skills (even though I wasn't the only unsuccessful student after one attempt) and doubted my capabilities of learning it. Would love to learn and master this despite my teacher's "grave concerns. " It would be a source of satisfaction, even if my teacher never learns of my success
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
26 minutes ago, SilverBells said:
One skill that I've always wished I had was IV insertion. My current job doesn't provide this opportunity and my nursing program didn't provide any training regarding this, except for a one time attempt on a manikin. I remember my attempt wasn't successful. My instructor had "grave concerns " over my skills (even though I wasn't the only unsuccessful student after one attempt) and doubted my capabilities of learning it. Would love to learn and master this despite my teacher's "grave concerns. " It would be a source of satisfaction, even if my teacher never learns of my success
Grave concerns? After one attempt on a fake arm? That seems over the top... it takes a lot of practice on real people to get good. Seems some people are naturally really good at IVs, but others can get good or at least proficient with practice. I was terrible when I first started and got good (not excellent but good!) during my time in the hospital. If I can't get it I call one of those who are excellent LOL
If acute care is what you want there are plenty of videos and classes for learning hands on skills, and repetition really helps. The critical thinking and time management are the hardest things to learn in my opinion. But you have a great foundation already and have responded to acute situations in LTC.
Grave concerns? After one attempt on a fake arm? That seems over the top... it takes a lot of practice on real people to get good. Seems some people are naturally really good at IVs, but others can get good or at least proficient with practice. I was terrible when I first started and got good (not excellent but good!) during my time in the hospital. If I can't get it I call one of those who are excellent LOL
If acute care is what you want there are plenty of videos and classes for learning hands on skills, and repetition really helps. The critical thinking and time management are the hardest things to learn in my opinion. But you have a great foundation already and have responded to acute situations in LTC.
I agree. I thought it was a bit over the top. A few suggestions and maybe another practice attempt would have been more helpful. Alas, that was the teaching style of that particular instructor. Anyway, I’m not entirely sure acute care is what I want but considering it for a bit of a change. So far, the jobs I’ve been interested in for sure haven’t panned out so at this point may need to be more flexible if only to get a better working schedule.
Update: No success in the job hunt. Turned down for an admissions nurse role at another facility.
Didn't realize admissions roles were so lucrative. Can't seem to get anyone to consider me for that type of position
Just first try, keep on going. At the very least this should show you that most places don't expect one nurse to do the job of multiple people. There are many articles and videos on Youtube re resumes and interviewing. Check them out!
Struggling today. Many of my friends are posting Father's Day posts for their husbands. These posts are hard to look at because they are a reminder of how I am single and childless, having no one to wish Happy Father's Day to. The ones featuring my ex are particularly hard. He is enjoying the day with his son. Meanwhile, all I get to look forward to are more 20 hour shifts taking care of patients who will never be grateful for anything I do for them anyway. And strangely enough, I had a dream that I missed my ex. I am frustrated because I was making progress and today moved backwards
SilverBells, BSN
1,108 Posts
No interview was offered