juliam

Not everyone has the same story, which is what makes the decision to pursue nursing such an amazing thing! I think your statement, "I just want to help people..." is a wonderful start! Just sit down and elaborate on that statement. Why do you want to help people? Have you ever had an encounter with someone that made you want to help them? Associate that with your desire to help people in a nursing setting. Have you ever had a sick family member and seen a nurse in action (good or bad)? Elaborate on any of those things and if it's just a simple desire to help people, there are a billion ways you can dig into that! :)

fawnsternurse, I am with you 100%! I just started Case Managing and was informed the other day that I will be responsible for management of approximately 46 patients. I can't find anything on the safety/legality of this situation and am looking for information. Are there rules? What are they? Are they state by state or federal laws? Do I call the Nursing Board? Everything I find on this site states the average is between 10-15 patients for management, which seems reasonable to me but 40+ just seems RIDICULOUS and unsafe!!? I don't know that I'm cut out for this....help?

Anyone? Anyone?

I'm just looking for some encouragement I guess... I graduated in 2010 and passed boards last year. :redbeathe I worked night shift in the ICU for a couple of years as a tech and then stayed only a month after passing boards to find a better schedule. I worked my first full year as an RN doing a job I didn't love and ended up in a company where the management was horrendous. It was absolutely awful. So I left there to end up in yet another nursing job that I am unsure of... I enjoy the actual nursing work but I don't think the job is going to work out for me financially. I know I'm being vague but basically, I'm reaching out to ask more experienced nurses how long it took you to find your "place" in the nursing field?? I did love the ICU and miss the 12-hour shifts and actually find myself missing the night shift even but I have no idea where to go or how to even try and figure out where I belong? I don't want to jump from job to job but how do you know if you like/love something until you actually do the job? Right? Is there any test I can take to guide my decision on what steps to take to move in the direction that is going to be best for me? I just need some guidance and/or some encouragement. I worked really hard to get to where I am and feel like it's not quite paying off just yet, and not just financially but emotionally/mentally... Help! I don't want to be a failure.

I'll take it! It's good advice, thank you!

Thank you so kindly for your reply. I do work full time but more and more, the three 12-hours shifts I work don't work well with my child's schedule and I have no support system (lost my mom over the summer and both siblings live out of state) to help with childcare. In addition, I'm finding the environment less and less desirable as the days go by. I want to find my place where my values and beliefs as they relate to nursing are fulfilled. I have always had the desire to work in hospice and even more so after my mom's passing and also love working with the geriatric population so... I'm just trying to process where I could best serve the world regarding all of these things. It's going to take a little more thought of course but I was just curious about the general consensus of a new nurse working in home health. Again, thank you so much for your response! I am taking it all in!

Hello all! I am a graduate nurse awaiting the taking of my state board exam and pondering my place in this vast world of nursing. I currently work in an ICU (started as a tech and moved into an Intern position) and have been there almost 2 years but I'm not sure I want to stay in the ICU as an RN. I am confused about how to determine my place in nursing but am nervous about making a move without experience. I am seeking advice for my concerns. My desire going into nursing was to work in hospice or home health but should I wait until I have RN experience in the ICU? Or should I trust my gut instincts and move on from the ICU and gain experience in whatever field I find myself? Please help! Any advice and/or information about the HH avenue would be greatly appreciated, as I am ignorant in oh-so many ways! Thank you in advance! :)