I need some career help.

[JadziaSolo]

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 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.

[snowfreeze, BSN, RN]

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.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

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

[snowfreeze, BSN, RN]

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!!!!

[crissrn27, RN]

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!

[JadziaSolo]

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!

[rita359]

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.

[JadziaSolo]

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!