Looking for a new career direction

tbrownlow · Oct 12, 2011

Have you considered consulting. It sounds as though you have sufficient experience and intellectual capacity to be quite successful.

Texan_Gal · Oct 12, 2011

Well you know, I was a Wellness Educator while living in North Carolina & that job was by far the best one I've ever had in nursing. My job was to counsel hospital employees on health & wellness topics.

I covered 6 hospitals within a hospital system, 2 of which were directly on the beaches of the Atlantic ocean. Of course, I took full advantage of the natural setting & took my employees out to the beach for some wellness sessions. Needless to say, I had the BEST time with that job! So you may want to consider becoming a wellness educator, that might be right up your alley! Best of luck in your search!

Kitty · Oct 12, 2011

Texan Gal-- how do you go about becoming a wellness educator? Is a special degree or certificate required? Thank you.:)

lamazeteacher · Oct 12, 2011

In the days before "wellness" caught on, I taught prenatal classes. As a Public health Nurse and OB/PEDS nurse, I wanted to plant "seeds" for success in maintaining health so I added the reactions to crisis (like a child becoming ill) a la Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, the first few steps of CPR in the parenting segment. Of course I recommended that a full course in CPR and parenting should be taken.

Community Centers embrace such courses, so becoming a certified CPR instructor through the American Heart Association and American Red Cross would help anyone wanting to do that. It doesn't pay as well as hospital nursing, but it's very satisfying in terms of empowering people. You'd have to investigate multiple prospective worksites, and organize your workload, possibly remaining in your current midwifery work for less time, infused with greater enthusiasm.

My brother-in-law recently died (September 2011) on the golf course in Toronto, a year after he collapsed there with heart disease. Do you think an AED was available? Nooooo. I spoke to golf course managers where I live in California, and was proudly told that an AED was kept locked in the clubhouses... I'd recommend having them available at every other hole!!! I'm sure there are enough survivors/.families of afflicted members in the club membership, who have the means for bankrolling that.

That reminds me of airport installations of same in the early days of AEDs. They were barely visible and unlabelled, locked in a case on the wall. I think all those involved in their availability (?) had visions of AED theft denuding their budgets.....Certainly budgets need to allow for appropriate placement and replacement of new, old and missing AEDs.

CPR Instructors can set up classes in the corporate settings and suggest that. You'd have to be entrprenurial and offer to monitor those workplaces where you teach (for a fee, of course). Just telling management and offering published articles regarding the survival rates for those stricken with sudden heart disease will open the necessary pathway to the money. No one wants valuable employees away from their jobs, orienting others to take it, etc. That is certainly more costly than an AED!!

Nurses need to take the initiative in the Reform of Health Care Act's emphasis on prevention of diseases and ensuing complications. Industrial settings are the logical place for adult learning. I taught prenatal classes at a facility that manufactured credit cards, for years.

That was a demonstration to their employees that their employers care about them. It helps morale and prevents longer absences due to childbirth. Of course, child care in workplaces providing opportunities to breastfeed during breaks could be a goal, too. There was less attrition at that place, due to the perks given.

Use your imaginations, as there are employment opportunities everywhere for the determined nurse who is innovative!

bell1962 · Oct 12, 2011

How about a school nurse? You would definitely do alot of teaching, empowering kids to make good decisions. You would work alot with the families as well. Another thought would be an instructor in a nursing school program.

candiRN79 · Oct 13, 2011

May I ask why you are tired of nurse midwifery? That is my dream job!!

Texan_Gal · Oct 13, 2011

Hey Juliette,

The wellness educator position I held was part of an Employee Wellness program that the hospital system I worked for had developed.It was a new program geared towards helping hospital employees stay healthy, and because I was already employed with the hospital system, I transitioned into that position relatively easily.

The position was basically a case management one, but it wasn't labeled as such & that's really what I was doing, managing medically complex cases. The "cases" just happened to be hospital employees rather than a typical case management caseload.

The reason why this job was such fun was because I had the opportunity to develop it on my own; I could do whatever was necessary to get these folks healthier. What I did was create care plans that included a large variety of activities including exercising on the beach! I remember taking one gentleman out to a golf course for a game of golf & the golf course overlooked the ocean! It was an awesome job!! I loved every minute of it! The only reason I left it was because I relocated to another state.

I know that both the Case Management Society of America & the American Holistic Nurses Association have information on certification in specialties such as wellness education & case management so you may want to check those out. Both of these associations also have job listings, so you should be able to find some information on those as well.

Just be patient & use your imagination, and you'll find your way! Best of luck to you!

-DJ

Texan_Gal · Oct 13, 2011

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lamazeteacher · Oct 13, 2011

We are all susceptible to job burnout, since we put so much time and thought into our work. Although we are told not to take home the problems that come up daily, it's unusual to find someone who can do that consistently.

Bravo to any nurse who recognizes when it's time to change to something else, after considerable self and jobsite assessment. I've worked with many nurses who stayed in positions beyond the value they contributed, juat because it was easier to keep on keeping on; and the prospect of leaving was frightening, and leaving familiar settings and tasks was thought to be daunting.

Challenge is what keeps us valuable workers, able to improve outcomes and keep skills current. Midwifery involves long, arduous and occasional dire situations that affect the lives of 2 patients at once. Malpractise insurance costs and other practical concerns can have dulling effects on even the most enthusiastic person.

I loved teaching prenatal classes, and held other hospital staff positions while doing that, evenings. However After 35 years of saying basically the same things to thousands of students, and becoming out of sync with younger, and seemingly less health motivated students, took its toll. I found work that involved greater satisfaction for me, fewer long hours, and more travel. Promoting the preservation of stem cells from umbilical cord blood (potentially providing 100% matches for mother and baby, 50% for siblings) became my passion, due to its prospect of having life preserving effects for untold numbers of people.

I expect that revised (to render them undamaged from disease) stem cell use will be the "new medicine", conquering heretofore uncurable diseases. There is much more education to be done, and it involves planning for future wellness by young expectant parents. Now that's exciting!

Racklebrown · Oct 15, 2011

I've been a nurse-midwife for many years, and am ready for an entirely new career direction within nursing, outside a hospital setting. Any suggestions for great, unusual nursing jobs? My past experience has also included HIV nursing here and in Africa, research, home health, and early intervention (kids 0-3). The part of nursing that I like most is patient education and empowerment, as well as working with families. I'm a strong writer and I like continually learning new things. Have you had a great nursing job that I should consider?

I am also looking for a new direction! I am a LPN with eight years under my belt. My problem is the only places willing to pay me enough to survive are nursing homes. I have worked in NH's since I was a CNA as a teen and I am past burnt out. Any suggestions???

Racklebrown · Oct 15, 2011

Also I am highly skilled, much more so than my creditals alone would lead you to believe. I have much room for new learning experiences still. And would very much welcome a chance to engage my brain at work! Help!!