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Thank you nursejill and azrnforlife. You both brought up very good points that I have considered. I have thought about shadowing, and think before I jump into this I must do it. My house manager suggested the same thing. But, I do hear from several nurses where I work they would much rather take care of 2 critically ill patients then to come up on our busy floor and run like crazy. The time I did float there I was busy that was no doubt, and these patients were pretty stable, I can understand how much stress there probably is when you have patients that need more monitoring. But, I feel I'm up to that challenge. As azrnforlife said it's rewarding. I worked hard for my license and no way would I want to do anything to get it taken away. I know I would get good training. I also like the aspect of being able to get to know the patients as I've heard others talk about and spending some quality time with them. Thanks again for your comments, I appreciate them both and will continue to carry on. I've prayed a lot about it and have asked God to guide me. I'll continue doing so and I think the next step to do is get in touch with the right source so I can go in and shadow. Blessings to you both, Teena

For one I'm an old new nurse. Well, I've been a nurse now for 5 years, 2 as an LPN, mainly working in LTC and then as a RN I did a year in Hospice and currently in Med/Surg. I've got 16 months of med/surg. I just turned 51. Long story, but I wish I would have become a nurse many years ago. Life and raising kids just got in the way. Anyway, I never thought I'd be thinking this, but I am seriously considering transferring into ICU. I had the chance to float........only once, I was so scared, but I was given 2 easy stable patients. Kept busy though with their med and the charting. But, it was them & me. On med/surg we can have anywhere from 5 to 8 patients. Last night was that 8 pt night. According to census I was suppose to get help. But, working nights that is easier said than done, and nobody was available to come in, so I had all 8. I got it done though. I've read that people in ICU like it because they get to know their patients. I would enjoy this. Now they come & go, some stay longer than others, but you know for the main part most are there 1-3 days. Working in ICU I'd have more responsibilities for sure. And that's scary, but I know with more training my confidence could be built up. I've heard good & bad of course from everyone. We once had a younger nurse float to our floor once from ICU. She hated it on our floor. She was so worried about having to care for 4 patients. I'm thinking now if she is freaking out about that, it can't be that much more stressful on ICU. Now, I know there will be bad & good days. But, I have that hear. What are your thoughts about this? Why do you love ICU, have any switched from med/surg to ICU? And do you think being 51 I could handle it. Now I'm running up and down the hallways, so it would seem I wouldn't be running around. Just busy charting and keeping my 2 or 3 pts. alive. Thanks in advance, and sorry this got so long. Teena

No way! I went back to get my LPN at age 46, and went on and got my RN at age 48. Even though I don't have that many years left, I still feel I have enough left to give all I can and do what God intended me to do. I've learned one good lesson in my journey through life is that God works in his own time and everything has a purpose. Congrats on beginning your journey! Teena

I have also had my share of scary experiences with way to many places. One place I worked at I was responsible for 39-40 patients, out of which 5 were diabetic, 1 had a trach and bolus tube feedings, the other had a continuous and luckily I had only 2 major wound tx. I had to do my morning med pass, but luckily I had a QMA come in to help out with some of my other tx and afternoon med passes. However after she left I was on my own. The other nurse had 34, so needless to say she wasn't available much to help out. I worked a 12 hour shift. So, the 5pm med pass I was on my own, and heaven help me that nothing happend during this time. Which ofter it did. At one time I had a CHF male going into failure with rapidly dropping o2 sats and while waiting on the ambulance to arrive another guy at the end of the opposite hall fell. I left that place and found another facility where I was only responsible for 25......that ended after they closed and went into a sister facility......and once again the patient load climbed. It was only 29, but the acuity was very high. I had 9 diabetics plus 2 major wound changes and a lot of very needy people. I ended up quitting. Then was going to go work PRN until I get my RN. I knew this place was going to add more residents, but also heard one hall had a QMA. Well, during my first day of orientation I learn I would have been responsible for 38 patients and no Q. I didn't go back. This is really scary. There is no way we can provide safe care. Accidents are going to happen. And as I try to cover my hind end in my charting, sometimes that's not even possible to chart on everything accurately. How do you find out which states are considering adopting the ratio legislation. I went into nursing to help people. I've been on the opposite side of the bed in a hospital setting and needed comfort and support. They way they have us running around this is impossible to do. So glad I found this thread..........as bad as it is, it still is comforting to find out this is widespread. I sure hope someone does something about it. No wonder there is a nursing shortage. Thanks for listening to my venting, Teena

I hope there is nursing after 50, I became an LPN at age 46. I'll be 48 this Feb. and hope to have my RN by Aug. 2005. I plan on working for many years to come. Being a nurse has been a lifelong dream, only life kept getting in the way of going to school. I prayed about his long & hard and God has gotten me this far, so I know he'll find something out there when my body starts to weaken. Teena in Indiana