Losing Skills?

Whit2389 · Mar 1, 2015

I'm in the same boat as you. I had a baby while in my last year of nursing school. I also had a 3 year old daughter(at the time). School was so demanding, and while I loved learning, I was so ready to be able to slow my pace a bit and focus on my children. (Did i mention they also have health issues?). I took a private duty home health case. At first it was interesting and I learned a good bit, especially as far as vent/trach experience goes. Lots of cathing, suctioning, wounds, meds, cna skills, documentation, etc.. however, I quickly became bored and unchallenged. I'd say after about 6 months, everything became monotonous. I stayed anyway. Partly because I enjoy consistency and hate being "new" and partly because it gave me freedom to focus on my family/kids. I also became great friends with my patient. However, it has now been over two years since I took on this job and I am now more than ready to branch out. I'm in this weird stage though and I keep stressing out about it I am worried that when I do get hired somewhere more demanding they are going to expect me to know a lot more than I actually do. I would like to take on a part-time med-surg job, but I want to be taught like a new grad and I don't know if this is common practice. I have been considering taking some phlebotomy courses at our local college because that is definitely one area that I did not receive any experience.

MrsICURN14 · Mar 3, 2015

I'm in the same boat as you. I had a baby while in my last year of nursing school. I also had a 3 year old daughter(at the time). School was so demanding, and while I loved learning, I was so ready to be able to slow my pace a bit and focus on my children. (Did i mention they also have health issues?). I took a private duty home health case. At first it was interesting and I learned a good bit, especially as far as vent/trach experience goes. Lots of cathing, suctioning, wounds, meds, cna skills, documentation, etc.. however, I quickly became bored and unchallenged. I'd say after about 6 months, everything became monotonous. I stayed anyway. Partly because I enjoy consistency and hate being "new" and partly because it gave me freedom to focus on my family/kids. I also became great friends with my patient. However, it has now been over two years since I took on this job and I am now more than ready to branch out. I'm in this weird stage though and I keep stressing out about it I am worried that when I do get hired somewhere more demanding they are going to expect me to know a lot more than I actually do. I would like to take on a part-time med-surg job, but I want to be taught like a new grad and I don't know if this is common practice. I have been considering taking some phlebotomy courses at our local college because that is definitely one area that I did not receive any experience.

I'm glad I'm not alone. I feel that my GN internship in the ICU helped me a lot, but those skills are like anything else If you don't use it you lose it!