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After going through dialysis and having a transplant it changed my life profoundly. It has taken me quite some time to get back to a normal lifestyle. It's been 7 years since my transplant and everything is 100%.
So I'm considering career options and would love to give back and help people that are in the circumstance I was once. Having a unique perspective that most nurses won't have I feel I could sympathize very well with patients. But given that I am on immunosuppressants, would a hospital allow me to work for them?
S.P.-
I just came across this thread and I'm so glad I did. I too had a kidney transplant, in 1989-I just celebrated by 20th anniversary of transplantation this year!
I decided to change careers (I'm 29) for the same reason (among others)-to give back to the medical profession that helped me. I am interested in nephrology or transplantation recovery. I am going to tell my nephrologist tomorrow about my plans; mostly to get her "blessing", as my family is unsure whether my decision to become a nurse is a sound one.
Thank you for this information and the responses from RNs in the field. Hoping to join your ranks in 2011!
Best,
Kim
Congrats on your successful transplant.
I'm an advanced practice nurse in nephrology now but worked ER for many years and worked with an RN who had a transplant.
I would agree with other's advice: don't disclose personal info in an interview.
However, no barriers to becoming a nurse IMHO.
I am a Breast Cancer Survivor. I was diagnosed at 29 July 2006 with Stage 2 Invasive/Infiltrative DCIS. I have had a bilateral mastectomy, lyphnodes removed in both arms, 16 chemo treatments, 6.5 weeks of radiation, a hysterectomy, 1 year of Herceptin, and currently on Tamoxifen. I found myself back in school not knowing what my future had planned out for me and I found myself walking up at 2 in the morning last spring with a discovery that I needed to go into nursing. I love helping people and I am going crz that I am not around Cancer patients.
My goal is to go into Oncology when I am done with school. I am applying this month to 3 schools and have excellent chances of getting accepted.
Don't look at your surgery as a limitation, use your surgery as a benefit to help poeple because "You have been there and done that."
Kudo's to you
Cilantrophobe
704 Posts
I think it is great that you have a success story that you can be proud of and can share with others. As well as provide more empathetic care to renal patients.
I agree with what BabyLady has said 100%.
I understand that if the question came up about why you want to work in the renal dept, and using your story to boost your chances of getting hired. But you could say something a little less personal. Even if you are fully comfortable sharing your story, it might not always be necessary or welcomed.