jnette's bio

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

My love for all things medical began in early childhood.

I grew up in Germany as my mother was from Vienna, Austria and my father an officer in the USAF who eventually retired in Germany.

In 1970 after graduating from German schooling, I came to the US on my own, felt like a fish out of water, and decided to join the USAF as a medical service specialist (medic), and was stationed right back to Wiesbaden, Germany.. the very place where I had grown up.

Spent two years active and working in the major USAF hopital there, then did 2 years reserves where I specialized my training in field triage and medical air evac.

Began preparing for nursing school twice after returning to civilian life, but both times I became pg with my two now "grown and gone" children. Didn't want to have to juggle children and schooling so I put the latter on "hold".

Raised my family while remaining in the medical field in various positions, from EMT, 911 Senior Dispatcher, Medical Receptionist and Secretary, PCT and later Crisis Intake Counselor at a chemical dependency faciltiy. Eventually I accepted a PCT position at an outpatient hemodialysis clinic where I remained for nearly ten years.

While there I persued my lifelong dream and goal of obtaining my RN. Worked dialysis fulltime and spent the rest of my time studying through distance learning.

Graduated from Excelsior College with my ADN in 2002 (at the tender young age of 53), .. stayed on at dialysis another three years as a staff RN, then decided it was time for a change of scenery. Home Health nursing had always appealed to me, and in 2005 I made the switch.

Am currently still enjoying every minute of Home Health. It represents all I have ever held dear in what I had always percieved nursing to be.