iowaRN

I can identify with you. I am a very soft-spoken person myself. I don't know of any seminars, but my advice is to "put yourself out of your comfort zone." Consciously try to be more assertive in interviews and toot your own horn. It is frustrating to hear about the nursing shortage and then have such trouble finding a job. It took me 7 months after graduation to find a job when everyone else in my class already had. Hang in there, the right thing will come along.

Thanks for your advice. I sure don't regret any of my time on med-surg. I've learned so much! I'll keep your advice in mind.

i am very inhappy in my job. i work part-time on a med-surg unit in a small hospital. most of the other nurses are nice but there are always those few that aren't so nice. no one ever tells you if you do a good job but if you make one little mistake or forget something they write you up. i have only been a nurse for about 9 months but i need more support than that. also, i don't feel like i'm really helping people. i'd like to be more one-on-one with people and relate to them. now i don't get to do that because our patient load can be so large, you don't get time with them. 95% of our patients are elderly, i feel like i work in a nursing home, which is not really up my alley. so i want to look for a new job, but the problem is that i'm pregnant and due in 3 months so it's not like i can get a new one right now. also, i have no idea what i want to do!! how do i figure out what area is right for me? will 1 year of med-surg experience be enough to move on to a specialty? i've always been interested in ob or mental health, home health, education. it's almost like there's too much to choose from-it's overwhelming. i want i job that gives me satisfaction, like i'm helping people and doing a good job. i don't have that here. how do i find a career that fulfills my need to help people and have a positive impact on others at the same time? what to do????