I'm just really ignorant about this :)

[osdbmom]

I am in college right now (medical practice management/business associates) and am considering switching to finish the needed prereqs for nursing.

I've been reading and thinking, reading and thinking. I'm curious about some things and just not sure who/how to ask. Hence this post.

Let's assume I do my prereqs, finish nursing school, pass my tests and am about to go to work. Reading posts here, it seems as though most of you work in hospitals. If I were to do this, pursue nursing, where I would like to be (I think) is in a clinic, office, or home health, bc what I would like to do is work repeatedly with the same patients/families. Is that even a possibility? Do all nursing grads have to cut their teeth, so to speak, in the hospital for a certain amount of time in order to be able to work in an office/clinic?

I am a mom of children who happen to have a major medical issue that requires a great deal of treatment, including monthly infusions at a hospital clinic, frequent visits to see pulmo/infectious disease physicians, etc. My kids have had the same infusion nurses for about 6 years. I love that they have been able to watch my kids grow up, that they know their names, like/dislikes, special needs. When I call on the phone between visits, they know immediately who my family is. That's what I would like to do.....that's why I would like to work in an area that would see the same pts/families over and over.

I also feel that having been on the other side of the fence (as a mom of children with chronic disease) I have experience that would make me good at doing this. :)

Another question I have is this: If I were to secure employment, should I bring up my kids illnesses up front? I mean, I feel that I should be honest, bc they will need to know that I will miss/need day off at least once a month for infusions, possibly again for specialist appts. However, I am concerned that doing so will lessen my chances.

Thanks.