I am my own worst enemy

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am crap career nurse. To me, nursing was a way to get by, to work a bit, then travel a lot, work some more, then ski for a winter. Nursing helped me have fun, but I paid nothing back to it, or myself. I was an immature nurse, never thinking of the future, never planning, or furthering my own career. And now, after more than 20yrs of nursing, I'm a school nurse - please no offence to school nurses. But I went to a DOD school nurse conference in austria a couple of years ago, DOD (I think that's right) is the american defence military bases around europe. They have families living on base, and hence schools and school nurses. Out of 100 nurses, I was the only male.

The nurses were lovely, but not only was I the only male, I was the youngest person there. What have I done to my career.

I mean, I do enjoy my job, and I enjoy working with kids, although the military guys at the conference did have a bit of a chuckle at my predicament, but in a nice way, not a mean way.

I never planned on being a school nurse, but it's a job and it pays the bills. Has anyone else's career turned stagnant, and just a means to pay the bills?

I never did all the things I wanted to do, but then again, do any of us? If was put in an emergency room now, I'd be good with the minor injuries, but for the serious stuff, I'd be out of date with every single medical practice around.

I even looked at moving back to a hospital in England, but they wouldn't have me, and kept on saying I'd killed my career by spending so much time in school.

Anyway, no real point to this, just feeling a bit down.

Specializes in Telemetry.

Interesting. I've known a man or two who wanted to work Labor and Delivery simply because they enjoyed the experiences they had when there wives gave birth - even (or maybe because) things did not go as planned and newborns has to go to NICU. U

Instead he ended up in NICU and ultimately became a NNP. I think the fathers probably appreciate having a man take care of his tiny little one at such a scary time and be more willing and confident as he can (hopefully) increase his involvement his child's care. Perhaps seeing another man do it makes him think "Yeah, I can do this!"

I'm betting this nurse has no qualms about telling people what he does.

nursingaround1, I can't believe I'm saying this. Good lord...

If you have questions you should hit up the SN board. There are great nurses there, and there are legit guys there, who are not embarrassed to tell their buddies they are School Nurses.

I see what you're saying. One question: What kind of nurse are you interested in becoming?

If you just want to pay bills, then at least as a school nurse you get summers of to enjoy your whim of the day. However, if you want a high action job in a critical unit then you have a bit of work to do. It's very possible though. First things, if you want to go to a more critical unit obviously, you are likely going to have to do one of two things: 1) Go and grit out Med Surg at a place you want to work and get your certifications then move into ER or ICU (6 months-2 years) or 2) Go work in the ER/ICU of a smaller community hospital that you can get into, get experience, move on to a larger facility. A lot of places will train but, you have to show them that you really want it usually.

Great thing about nursing is that there is something for each of us.

I see what you're saying. One question: What kind of nurse are you interested in becoming?

If you just want to pay bills, then at least as a school nurse you get summers of to enjoy your whim of the day. However, if you want a high action job in a critical unit then you have a bit of work to do. It's very possible though. First things, if you want to go to a more critical unit obviously, you are likely going to have to do one of two things: 1) Go and grit out Med Surg at a place you want to work and get your certifications then move into ER or ICU (6 months-2 years) or 2) Go work in the ER/ICU of a smaller community hospital that you can get into, get experience, move on to a larger facility. A lot of places will train but, you have to show them that you really want it usually.

Great thing about nursing is that there is something for each of us.

I think it might be a mid life realisation that I've led a shallow, meaningless life.

I think it might be a mid life realisation that I've led a shallow, meaningless life.

How old are you?

If it's mid life, you still have the second half to correct things, right?

Specializes in Surgery, ICU.

If you're not satisfied, you can always look around for a new job in a different area. It's tough sometimes but something I have to remind myself of everyday is that the grass isn't always greener. If you're thinking of trying something else - can you look into little certification courses that would allow you to further your career? Where I'm from, you can take short certifications to become an occupational health nurse, wound care nurse resource, etc. Maybe you just need a side job or change of pace or something. Hope you can figure it out :) best of luck to you

Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

Enough; thought you worked at a boarding school for wealthy kids, where you take them to Paris or skiing or something and rapes occur?

The US Dept of Defense does not run any boarding schools for military children in England, of that I am sure. And very few US military families could be called wealthy.

I usually enjoy crazy, but I'm not in the mood tonight. So pretty please just stop.

Enough; thought you worked at a boarding school for wealthy kids, where you take them to Paris or skiing or something and rapes occur?

The US Dept of Defense does not run any boarding schools for military children in England, of that I am sure. And very few US military families could be called wealthy.

I usually enjoy crazy, but I'm not in the mood tonight. So pretty please just stop.

If you aren't in the mood don't read it.

Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.
If you aren't in the mood don't read it.

I know, I should have read the name of the OP before reading the post.

Specializes in Telemetry.
I know I should have read the name of the OP before reading the post.[/quote']

That'll teach ya. ;) But really it's kinda hard not to open just to see the latest. :p

Here's the thing. School nursing isn't all bandaids and boo-hoos.

There are significant health issues affecting children that are in schools. There are behaviorally challenged kids who need intervention, there are kids who are depressed, there are kids who are suicidal, there are kids on drugs, there are kids whose home lives are in shambles. All reflective in the hours they spend at school.

So the next time someone has a giggle over a male as a school nurse, and regale you with tales from the ER, you could honestly say that they don't have a clue. As more than likely, a kid was sent out due to self harm, a kid was sent out with suicidal ideation, a kid was sent out as they spent the weekend hungry....

I always say one can be as screwed up as they want to be as and adult, but not as a parent. Keep the kids out of the fray.

I would have a mid life crisis at the state of some kids these days. And having to deal with their parents.

Specializes in Oncology.

How can you tell us how you've worked psych, ER, school nursing all over the world, OB, neuro, medsurg, peds, etc (I can't even keep up) then tell us you've lived a shallow and meaningless life? Seems to me you've had a lot of great adventures and touched many people's lives.

+ Add a Comment