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RIA21 I started out as an ER tech, liked it and went to nursing school during the day while working 11-7 in the ER. That was easier then because I was 20. Ten years in the ER. Not the same one. I moved around. Finally realized I was burned out when a 9 yr old death completely floored me. Went into acute dialysis. Bedside, in-patient dialysis for two years. Recovered and did some travel nursing in ER and ICU. Loved that freedom. Settled down with a girl and had to put down roots. By the way, I am one of the few men in Nursing. Three of us in my graduating class. Went into Case Management. Really enjoyed that. discharge planning, coordination of services, learned about the "business" of hospitals and insurance. During this period, I had a weekend job as a nurse at the San Diego Zoo. That was a kick. Got tired of working 5x8hrs shifts and went back to 3x12 in PACU. After two yrs in PACU, I had an opportunity to train for the OR and jumped on that. That was five years ago. I made this point before in another blog. Nursing offers so much variety. If blood and guts isn't your thing, maybe kids are, or Home health, or public health or whatever. so many places. Best to start in the hospital and get good roots established. A strong clinical background will take you far no matter where you end up.

grow a thick skin. that first year will be hard and you will be subjected to a lot of unfair abuse. It's not fair and management should not allow a culture where physicians and even other nurses are allowed to heap abuse on each other. Unfortunately, in my travel nurse adventures, I went to more facilities with toxic environments than healthy.

Don't get yourself worked up over what might be. take one class at a time, one day at a time. I'll tell you that you are going to spend many late nights over the next few years doing care plans. Unavoidable. As far as the skills, they will come over time and after the first couple of needles or catheters, it will be nothing at all. A career in Nursing is a great choice. As far as the little ones and NICU, if you continue in school and get the masters, you will be set. Neonatal nurse practitioners are in high demand and will be in the future, especially if Obama gets universal health passed. I have been a nurse for 27 yrs and I am a guy. I have had my share of teasing, especially after Meet the Parents came out. "not a lot of men in your field, eh Focker?".

Pet I have been a nurse for 27 years. It is a great choice for a career. I have never been out of work except when I wanted to be. The current economy is a great example. While companies are laying off people everywhere I have not heard of a single nurse getting laid off in my circle of associates. If we go to universal health, advanced practice nurses will be valuable. However, I once knew a student who went through 4 yrs of school and then discovered she didn't like needy people. She wasn't a caregiver and didn't last 2 years. so, look inside yourself. Nursing is hard work physically and it can be emotionally draining. For me, in 27 years, I can count the memorable patients on one hand. People who will stick with me for the rest of my life for one reason or another. That is a pearl of nursing. As far as the skills, don't fret. You will learn how to stick a needle into someone or catheterize someone. And when you are done, you can choose a specialty that doesn't involve those things. Another nice thing about nursing is the variety of areas to work in. Myself, I started in the ER but have worked through 5 specialties in my career.