srahamim

Look at Blood Center Collections Nurse. Donors are healthy and want you to stick them in the arm. Job is friendly, you talk to people who want to be there. Really great job! Great training and opportunities to gain leadership experience. I moved to a blood center 15 years ago and have never been happier!

Another suggestion - apply to your local blood center organization. They are always looking for good people, the “patients” (donors) are healthy and want to be there and are usually in a great mood! The work can be a little physical if you setup mobiles, but otherwise it is a fantastic job.

What about working in a Blood Center? I have found it very rewarding and the donors are healthy and want to be there.

Adding my 2 cents. I started pre-Reqs at 47 and graduated at 50. Tried bedside but not a good fit for oh so many reasons (another time, another story) I became a Blood Center Collection nurse and have been very satisfied with my career with my blood center for over 10 years. No, I'm not making 6 figures but otherwise very satisfied. An RN has lots of options even with an ADN and a BS/BA not in nursing other than bedside.

Blood banking. Less pay but the "patients" (donors) are asking you to stick them with a sharp needle and they are usually happy about it!

Blood center nurse! Healthy people who want to be there. Great teamwork and lots of fun! Flexible schedule! I love it!

I'd like to put in a plug for atypical nursing roles such as legal nurse, chart reviews and Blood Center nursing. In a blood center, you deal with healthy people who want to be there and your job is to be sure they make it out safely! Lots of friendly people who get mad at you if you don't stick them I the arm with a huge (16 gauge) needle! where else can you find such a happy nursing job?

A lady came in with a splinter in her butt. A very generous butt to be sure. And had 5 family members with her. It it surprises me how many people think ER is primary care then complain about the wait for their clearly non-urgent issue.

Sorry for not replying earlier - look into Informatics, working as a clinical consultant to IS projects at your current hospital would be a good starting place... As regards salary - I am currently making (in California, in blood banking) about $15+/hr less than I would be making had I stayed at the bedside, if that helps. Also I am working 8hr shifts, 5 days a week and that includes some weekends. Good Luck! Let me know if you come up with some interesting alternatives. There's always the possibility of Legal Nurse Consultant if you have the experiance - I see that advertised frequently. Sarah

Are you asking the question or just providing information? Use cases have been around for over 15 years, starting as a tool for systems/application development around the same time as object oriented programming concepts. As the article says, it is a way of documenting the paths taken, and the participants of the path (users, data, etc) to ensure accurate collection of requirements. It is a lot of fun (IMHO) to "use". Let me know if you want more info. Sarah

In my case, after leaving the hospital (I tried ER for 15 months) I took positions that were specifically for RNs but very non-traditional such as chart reviewing with MedAssurant (look for another thread) and now working at a blood center. Since I also have about 20 years in applications development as a project manager and data and process analyst, I am working on a software application implementation at the blood center to automate the collection process. MedAssurrant is part time, no benefits, the blood center is full time with benefits... good luck!

Did you contact ENA? http://www.ena.org

What you are suggesting is a good idea except... clinical sites are necessary for this. In some areas maybe this is practical but in the Silicon Valley area of northern California there are way more schools (both RN and LVN) looking for clinical opportunities than there are hospitals able/willing to provide it..... All of it is a catch 22 that's for sure!

On the other hand, you may find that you never want to go back! :) I work in a Blood Center collecting donations from Healthy, happy people who want you to dtick them in the arm!

Carl - I too am over 50. I went to nursing school because it was a childhood dream. If I didn't have that dream and a love of learning - there were many times when I might have just quit (horrid teachers, mean spirited co-workers, tough days when we were short shifted, etc.....) I have found both age discrimination and the "eat the young" syndrome when I worked in the Hospital - I also found some great co-workers that really did try to help (and for that I am greatful!) I had worked over 20 years in Info Systems before nursing. Nursing has a very different culture - learning that culture was one of the most difficult things - learning the skills was easy by comparison... I am guessing you might be male - you may have an even harder time. I say go for it - even though right now it seems there is a nursing glut (no new grad opportunities, hiring freezes and layoffs) who knows - in a couple of years or so it could all turn around quickly..... I'm really glad I went to nursing school, I am happy with my choice. I am able to do good things for people and I have the knowledge to make a difference, even if I don't work in hospital (I work in a Blood center collecting donations and working on software for collections) and mostly advise my friends and family. Good Luck!