redreba

Considering this. Am totally burned out at present, taking some time off to see what would make me the least stressed/most happy in nursing. (Since I'm in my 50s, divorced, little assets after the ex (narcissist physician) insisted we piss all income and resources in 12 years of litigating over divorce/kids and anything else he could think of....I need to work.) I started career in 90s as SICU level I trauma nurse, then stay at home mom for over a decade. Back to nursing as procedural RN (endo, biopsies, interventional pain, venous access implants, etc.) for many years, so pre-, circulator, post for deep/propofol and conscious sedation. Then 1.5 years as periop (OR/PACU/Pre/PAT/Endo/IR/Specials) clinical specialist. Taught ADN for one year (med-surg), nurse manager 0.5 year (Endo, way too much work for the crappy pay), nurse coordinator for hematology/ambulatory 2 years. Very good IV start (all ages, except babies which I've never tried) and phlebotomy, usually held ACLS continously but let lapse with my last position of two years. Doing procedural pre-op, I realize that main OR does things that procedural doesn't, namely: warming skin prep/chlorhexidine bathing/wipes SCDs shaving (yes, I wrote AORN-based SOP for my facility, but I realize surgeons are still going to shave no matter the evidence) What other tasks/skills have I not thought about (compared to procedural pre-op), and how long do you think it would take a very quick learner/high IQ RN with 15 years experience to pick these things up, feel comfortable enough to go travel? I have written SOPs for high dose regional blocking in pre-op, including getting stakeholders to buy into cardiac monitoring and RN training for pre-op, have done staff education and check-off for things like central line access/care, Foley inserts, etc., but I realize being the contact expert and actually being the bedside nurse are two different things, and I haven't done full-time bedside since 2016. So I"m thinking that working PRN or part-time and/or being a clinical adjunct in combination, and/or traveling would let me continue to nurse, make income, and hopefully mitigate exposure to unit drama and politics. Comments, questions appreciated.

Agreed djmatte, I have looked at a few of the MSN v. DNP actual course catalogs, and none of it convinces me that the DNP makes a better clinician.

Daughter finished BSN soon, wants to be FNP. I say she gets MSN (doable part-time in 2.5 years), she says DNP or bust (4 years, UGH). We are just thinking, as I said experience first, not straight to school; she agrees. Is the DNP needed if no desire to teach? She's afraid she won't be competitive for jobs, I say the DNP is a waste of time and additional debt. Would love some real world stories and advice, please. She wants to be clinical but then sometimes I even wonder about that lol. I have MSN Clinical Nurse Leader and pull 95K in West Florida, and they start NPs at that around here, sad, but true. Considering how much NPs can likely bill, not sure I understand that. Thanks for the feedback!

I really do not know much about the LPN world these days, but have you considered clinic nursing? I know a lot will want to only pay MA rates, so not sure this would be a 'demotion' or not, but the pace would definitely be much less stress than what you have amazingly been able to do.

Thanks, delphine! That's good to hear!

MSN, RN, OCN, CNL. 12 yrs. nursing, 3 as Level I Trauma SICU, 1.5 as Perioperative Clinical Specialist (oncology), rest as procedural (pre, intra, post) for major cancer hospital. Relocating back to Kansas City for family reasons. Earned the MSN in hopes to raise earning potential, post as Clin. Spec. taught me TONS and was lateral management (policies, admin meetings, subject matter expert in RCAs/housewide PI initiatives, how to deal with doctor egos as peers, etc.), but there's no advancement out of that position other than management. Call from nurse recruiter to interview for inpatient oncology manager (30 bed), $10K sign on bonus, relocation expenses paid. Don't think the annual pay is stellar though, although typical for HCA Midwest positions. Any feedback on transitioning into management and feedback about being an inpatient manager in a HCA facility would be greatly appreciated. I could wait and see if any other management positions (ie, KUMC, St. Luke's) open up, but of course those would not get any bonus or re-location, but better culture? Right now I am at a 'mid-life crisis' lol. Am 51, youngest could use a higher income to help pay for her college, and oldest wants NP (would love to help her as well), single mom. I could easily enjoy teaching (community college or smaller univ.) but make less than staff nurse, but absolutely NO stress. Or I could commit to climbing management ladder over time, especially knowing there is a need there as well (high rate of directors and CNOs will be retiring in next decade). Any thoughts, especially about HCA culture as manager, director, etc., would be greatly appreciated!

agree, it's just more patriarchy, blame game

May be moving out of a large metroplex to a small rural area, with limited nursing positions. Considering applying for a LTC DON position, but have no idea if I'd even be considered. Would like feedback on what my learning curves would need to be, and what are the typical challenges a DON faces. Background: MSN (Clinical Nurse Leader), 8 years outpatient procedures/surgeries, 3 years SICU, 1 year Periop Clinical Specialist (lateral specialist for large hospital Periop: OR, SPD, PACU, Pre-op, Endo, IR, Procedures; includes TJC condition rectification/policies, EBP, PI work, staff education and new equipment and policy role outs, etc.) I have always LIKED the elderly; used to go an play the piano and sing once a week when I was a kid, at a LTC. I did not care for it as a nursing student, but I was concerned about my med passes, as this was the focus of that semester, lol. Position would be for a state-run veteran's home, fairly good employee reviews on line, but voice typical problems like call ins, double shifts. Do you have to have worked in LTC to become a DON? Any advice, and or probing questions is greatly appreciated. I think two of my best qualities to make me successful would be that I am fair (don't play favorites) and that I learn very quickly (all the regulations I would need to get up to speed on quickly). Thanks!

CDC also released information about how to stay save in a zombie apocalypse. Sorry, but just more fear Media from the FEDS if you ask me.