thirdtime

Thanks for your quick reply! I think I should have been more specific in my question....I know what a super user is, but I'm wondering how I can be one. I haven't seen any job postings for "super users" at nearby hospitals. Are they contract jobs? Or do you have to just be in the right place at the right time, i.e., happen to be moving to a computerized system at your hospital? Does that clarify what I mean? Also, I'll mention I have a BSN, but no Computer Science degree.

I've been an L&D nurse for about 5 years now, and am starting to really dislike it, mostly because I don't want to do bedside nursing anymore. I used to work with computers (doing low-end graphic design/desktop publishing and digital output) and I'm considering a career path in nursing informatics, because I like the idea of information management, organization and research. Many people on this site have recommended becoming a super user, but how does one do that? My hospital is about to start converting to computerized patient charts, and the L&D department has asked for people who want to "be involved in the initiative" (more details weren't given), so I signed up my name.... Last year our department went from paper charting to a temporary computerized charting system (OBIX) but they never had any super users. I know this conversion is going to happen over the next year, but I don't know how much computer stuff we'll actually get to do. My brain tells me to wait it out and see, but I also feel like I can't handle another day in L&D and have even applied for case management positions, just to get out of L&D. So how else can I get to be a super user? Any suggestions? Thank you, anyone!

Hmm. I've thought about administration type stuff because there's less (if any) patient interaction. :) I don't know how to get into more "office" type work in nursing apart from having some experience at clinical (patient) nursing, then working up into administration. I'm sure there are people on this forum who can provide more info than I can. But do consider, will you feel fulfilled? You said you wanted to feel like you made a difference to people at the end of the day. I'm not sure if you'd feel that as much in administration. I guess case management may allow that, or possibly legal nursing, but I think with both of those you'd still have to have some experience in bedside-type nursing. Also consider that you should enjoy the work you're doing - work becomes old pretty quickly if you're only in it to help others. I mean, it feels good to witness a difference you make in someone's life, but if that's *all* you get out of it, well, it's not enough. I found that I kind of enjoy being organized with my paperwork, and although I despise the amount we have to do (no computerized charting at our hospital - about 85% of my time is engaged in paperwork), I get a sense of accomplishment when I get it done. I think I should have been a secretary. Not to make this all about me (too late!), but I took a lot of personality tests and career exploration tests. One in particular - the Holland Codes - was helpful in categorizing my interests. Breaks job environments down into 6 categories: Realistic, Conventional, Social, Investigative, Enterprising, and Artistic. One of my categories that I leaned to was Conventional, which emphasizes "organizing, detail-oriented, clerical." Well, I thought to myself, "I'm not going to be a secretary." So I kind of ignored that information, although I knew I was detail-oriented... But now I see that it was right; I don't need to be a secretary, but those "conventional" aspects of the job are part of what I enjoy. I'd suggest looking into these career test things - you can look online at the Strong Interest Inventory, Holland Codes, and General Occupational Themes. A lot of it is free online, or your school (usually you can go back to your school and utilize career development stuff) may have the actual tests to take. It may help you solidify your areas of interest, and then you can research what types of jobs within the medical field may suit you more. Also, there's stuff out there on career values, and what you desire/prioritize: money, security, power, etc. I still think you should try and pursue the graphic arts thing, and maybe that's just my guilt at not doing it myself talking. I ultimately wanted to do PR/graphic communications for a cultural organization or the Humane Society or something like that, but I wasn't willing to "sell my soul" in the beginning by working at a big agency promoting something like tools or automotive parts. In retrospect, I realize I needed that type of experience, or a 3 month internship... Again, I ramble. :)

Yeah, I agree that's not enough money to be making. You feel bad for the techniques you've been taught to make the sale? What, are you torturing people to buy stuff? If what you're selling is so easy, let them try to do it themselves. I actually found a little fulfillment in doing desktop publishing because I knew that I did a good job (on most of it), and a lot of people actually appreciated it; they knew I had spent time on it to make it look good. Did you envision doing something in photography where you could feel like you were making a difference? I had a friend who graduated from the Art Institute (photography) only to feel like she couldn't get a job and promptly went back to school to specialize in photojournalism. Have you considered that route? Also... there are probably jobs with photography where you wouldn't feel like you had to con people to spend money, right? I don't want to dissuade you from nursing if you are really interested, but I'd hate for you to leave photography as a job if you love it. When I left desktop publishing and the world of computers, I didn't love it; I was hoping nursing would be my passion. You, on the other hand, have something that you say you really like. Life is much more enjoyable if you have a job where you do something you truly enjoy. Have you heard of that book, "Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow?" As for the concerns about not finding a job in nursing... Practically speaking, it will take a minimum of three years to graduate from nursing school. Maybe I'm too optimistic, but perhaps the economy will be a little better by then. Have you looked at local hospital websites to see if they're hiring any new graduates at all? I initially had a little trouble finding a job because I didn't yet have my license, and some hospitals want you to have that certification first. Some places will hire you before you get it and call you a Nurse Extern. It's different in different states. New grads now might not have as many choices as a couple of years ago, and I'm sure many places have a hiring freeze, but it can't stay like that forever. (Can it?!)

OOPS!!!! Ok, so I wasn't finished when I accidentally posted my reply, and now I just lost the extremely long reply I had typed up. So I'll be shorter in this one. I was in my early 30's when I considered nursing, so my experience is a little different from yours. I felt pressure to make a definitive decision on careers. Anyway, I have grown to enjoy my job in labor and delivery, and whereas I started out thinking I wasn't going to make it, I feel much more confident now. I'm not *passionate* about it, but it's pretty decent. You definitely have to care about people and their wellbeing, and you do have to be interested in health/medicine. You say you feel unprepared in your job. Most new jobs are like that - school is nothing like the real world. I'm impressed you got a job in your field; count that as a success! You say you're doing what you love except for the sale part of it. I think that's how a lot of "artsy" jobs are: you start off in the more commercial side until you get more experience, more contacts, and a better portfolio, and then you can move into an area you desire more. You mentioned wanting something fulfilling; did you see yourself doing something meaningful with the arts/photography degree, like working with an advocacy or cultural organization? Those jobs are harder to come by when you're fresh out of school. What I'm trying to say is, if you're passionate about it, don't give up on too quickly. I don't mean to condescend (you sound pretty smart!), but have you looked into volunteering your talents with local organizations that you might find meaningful? I know it's daunting (call, call again, call back) but it can open doors and make connections. What interests you about nursing? Are you interested in a particular specialty? If so, it might be helpful to see about shadowing for a day or two, or at least trying to interview people in that area. Also, what do you want in a job? I wanted something that used a lot of my skills, was meaningful, had visible results, wasn't a desk job, paid decently, had relative job security, and would allow me to get a job without having to stay in one place and work my way up for years and years and years. There are things I miss about my computer/desktop publishing job, but I can pursue them as hobbies. Continue looking into the nursing if you feel compelled. About debt, many hospitals offer loan repayment in exchange for working there for a certain period of time. Some states do, also. It is a lot of work. I took prerequisites and worked for almost 2 years, then went through an accelerated nursing program which took me 2 years to complete. About the confidence thing: do you feel confident about what you do now? Try and focus on anything you feel confident in from now or the past. I had that problem throughout school and still do sometimes. Helps to have role models and focus on your successes. Well, the other reply was much better and addressed things more in depth, but I guess this boils it down to what I was trying to say. Good luck.

Wow, that sounds familiar. In 2003, after months of career exploration, I looked at a newspaper and saw all the ads for nurses wanted. I thought to myself, "it's perfect. I want to help people and do something meaningful, I'm attentive to details, I liked biology in school..." So I decided to become a nurse. I graduated from nursing school at the end of 2006 and have been in Labor and Delivery since then. Some thoughts for you. I had previously worked in computers and graphics. I had absolutely no experience with healthcare. Shortly after I got into nursing school, I thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life. Two things I realized were that, 1) I really wasn't as interested in medicine as I should be, and 2) I didn't really like being around people that much.