judybsn

I found that if I wasn't scared stiff at first, I'd be bored in three months. Comforting myself with this fact helped me gets through those uncomfortable beginnings.

This is brilliant!!

Thank you for sharing this. God bless you as you continue to heal!

Going to a casual on call position was all I could find to cure my burnout. It worked wonders. I still could work full time hours if I chose, but initially it helped to cut back. Also working in a specialty like Labor and Delivery or ICU where the staffing ratios are better helps a lot if the fast pace of the floor is overwhelming. The extra training required is well worth the effort and expense. And as an added bonus the doctors treat you with more respect.

I've had back and neck injuries so am very careful. It didn't stop me from bedside care BUT I always asked for help turning and lifting patients. If I were you I'd try that ICU job. It would be much less lifting than on a medical floor and more staff to help.

Of course it would be easiest if you trained somewhere in the US, but training and immigration are two separate issues.

I have a changing station in my garage. I leave my shoes and used unies there and collect the dirty ones in a laundry basket there. When I'm out of new ones I wash them separately and bleach my machine following and dry them on high heat. (I keep the clean ones inside.) I scrub my hands and arms in the laundry room sink using a separate towel before I change out of my housecoat. I try to never touch my face at work. Have only gotten sick from work once in 40 years. That was before I realized the dangers of nebulizers. The patient had pneumonia and wouldn't keep the mask on so I stood there holding it for her without a mask. Have seen lots of MRSA, VRE, TB, HIV, even one case of leprosy (Hanson's Disease). Take the necessary precautions and you will be ok. Maybe I overdo it, but I am obsessed with not passing work bugs to my family.

When I worked in S. Cally Code Brown meant a bomb threat.

In the days of large green oxygen cylinders at the bedside, glass IV bottles and chest tube drainage bottles, large open wards with curtains between the beds, reusable dressing trays, gloves for sterile procedures only, glass syringes, reusable needles, metal bedpans, and posey restraints. I just retired this week. I've loved every day (well most days) of this exciting career and would heartily recommend it to anyone.

If you are trying to escape germs and other "dirty" issues, surgery and labor and delivery are better than most. NICU nursing is very interesting but hard emotionally. I tried it and couldn't take it long term. Too much death, suffering and suboptimal outcomes.

I'm about to retire and have loved the journey! Never got bored with nursing. So many different fields to try. I would recommend it to anyone!

My dad got pulled over for speeding. He was a doctor and told the cop he was going to the hospital. The cop escorted him to the door with lights and sirens. A bit embarrassing because he wasn't actually going there for any emergency reason but the cop just assumed he was because of the speed he was going!

There is nothing like nursing!! It is a very exciting and fulfilling job and if you get bored with one area you can retrain for another specialty. It has provided me with 30 plus years of entertainment. I'm so glad I accidentally chose nursing back in highschool.

BP Machine

You become the only family many of the patients have. So many interesting life stories. It is very rewarding work!