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Discussion

I need some career help.

First off, I'm sorry that this is so long!

Long time lurker, I finally have the courage to write. I have enjoyed reading all of the comments SO much from all of the RNs, CNAs and students at Allnurses.com!!!

My story: I was a RN in L&D for 13 years and loved it for about 10 or 11 years. Then I got terribly burned out and had to leave. Then I decided to be an OR nurse, and worked in the Vascular OR for 4 years. I got bored doing the same cases everyday, so I went to a great teaching hospital and learned to work in several services in the OR. It was soooo crazy and stressful, I left after a year. Now I work in a little bitty short term care surgical hospital (for the last 6 months) in the OR doing Orthopedics, Bariatrics, and back surgeries.

I have decided that I really HATE OR nursing :o and really, really, want to do something (anything) else.

I have applied for a couple of nursing internships in NICU (something I've always wanted to do), and got a couple of rejection letters because I did not have the right "skill mix" (whatever that means) for the job. But the same letter asks if I'd like to apply for the OR. Do you think that I am considered too old to learn a new area (I'm only 42)? Do they only hire new grads for internships?

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do? I really want to work in another area of nursing, preferably NICU. I want to love my job again, it's been so long....

I live in the Dallas, Texas area.

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Gaining some current bedside nursing in peds may help the "skill mix" issue. Keep looking and applying, be open minded and positive about this new career direction as I am sure you will find a position you just love.

I was a critical care nurse for 8 years then took a supervisor position in a large geriatric facility. I worked all the units also and after 5 years there I found some difficulty returning to critical care. Either I didn't get a response to applications or they thought it was too big of a change. I am now working telemetry and love it and am looking for a position in ER. If I don't find the ER position by the end of the summer I will travel as a telemetry nurse for a few years just for a change.

That too old business means nothing. I did not even start nursing school till I was 45. Go for it

Oh yeh I forgot to add, I graduated from nursing school at 35, I am 50 now and not too old to learn new stuff!!!!

My hospital will let experienced nurses do internships if they request. I would think any hospital would be glad to have a nurse with so much experience!

  • Author

Thanks to all of you for your kind advice. I really appreciate it. I'm thinking maybe I can apply to a Children's hospital and get some sort of Peds experience (maybe in the OR) and apply for an internship when one comes up!

Thanks again!

If your goal is PICU and you get on at a children's hospital I don't think you should accept an OR position. I think administration would make a transfer from a general peds unit to PICU a lot faster than from OR to PICU. It takes a long time to get an OR nurse trained and you are experienced there so they are not going to want to let you go.

  • Author
If your goal is PICU and you get on at a children's hospital I don't think you should accept an OR position. I think administration would make a transfer from a general peds unit to PICU a lot faster than from OR to PICU. It takes a long time to get an OR nurse trained and you are experienced there so they are not going to want to let you go.

Thanks Rita359. Yeah, I could see getting stuck in the OR. I guess I'll have to see if a children's hospital had an internship, or would be willing to train a peds newbie.

Thanks!

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