MissIt

I have lived in N.C. and V.A. I think it all sort of depends on what kind of place you want to live in. Do you like cities or more rural areas? College towns? Do you have children? Richmond is a big city, with all of the pros and cons of that. ...

Figure out where you'd like to work and then make personal contact with that department. I volunteered at the organization where I'd like to work (Hospice) before contacting the nurse manager. I really believe it is all about who you know. I've be...

Hospices do use volunteers, although to shadow a nurse might be a different thing. At ours, we do the training and then either volunteer in the inpatient center, visit patients at the long term care facilities, or are assigned to a home care patient...

I have been so fortunate to be volunteering at a wonderful inpatient hospice and I really feel like I've found a good match for me! I haven't done any inpatient nursing in many years. The nurse manager said that I can do a shadowing experience and ...

One other thing. (Although, probably not the last thing. LOL). I am really nervous about taking care of kids, especially infants. Any advice about that? So far, the youngest person they've had while I was there was a teenager, so that was okay. ...

I read that one last weekend and then went into volunteer and had a patient with terminal delirium. It was a really good read. Thank you for suggesting it. One thing I can do is central lines. My background is oncology, so I'm good there. :) We...

I second oncology, especially an outpatient chemo clinic.

I'd also keep volunteering at the inpatient hospice while you're working LTC. It's all about who you know when you're looking for a job.

I am going to take a nurse refresher course with a skills lab component and then, hopefully, start doing a few shifts a week at an inpatient hospice. I think one day I might move into case management, but it seems like the inpatient facility might b...

I'm curious about the NOVA program. Is there a good pharmacology review? How about wound care? Thanks!

Have you decided what you're going to do yet? I have, basically, the same exact questions as you. We live in V.A. and the two I'm considering are GMU and NOVA. I just don't see why NOVA would be twice as expensive. But, it does make me wonder if ...

I think Jolie's point about using the clinical for networking is key. I was told by the nurse manager of the unit I had worked for that if I had the refresher, I could get a job there. But, that is at least in part because they know me. Is anyone ...

I am coming back into nursing after a 6 year break and am finding myself overwhelmed by anxiety. I'm so worried that I'm going to mess up! Has anyone else been through this and survived?

In my state, an RN who wants to be a CNA instructor has to take a course to learn how to teach adults. Has anyone taken one of these? Where did you find it? Thanks!

Okay, so definitely don't wait for that rotation, then! I think you should contact your local health department (or the public health professor at the nursing school) and find a volunteer position ASAP. You're not going to make it another 3 years w...

One other thing. :) I think that you're going to find that it is easier to get a job in public health with a BSN. And, it will be more flexible if you decide not to do public health. When do you get to do a public health rotation? For me, that ...

I think you need to investigate volunteering in the public health arena. When I was in nursing school, I volunteered at a student staffed free clinic. It was a wonderful experience and it definitely helped me realize that there are opportunities in...

You know what might be a good fit for you re: bedside nursing? Hospice! Your job would basically be comforting patients and families. You could use a lot of your holistic medicine interests as well as complementary therapies, music, etc. etc. You...

My accupuncturist was a labor and delivery nurse. Maybe something like that or massage?

Honestly, you're going to get a job in public health by knowing someone in the field. Get your BSN and get as much public health related experience as you can. Meet as many people in the field in your area as you can, too. You aren't going to need...

I know I want to work in ambulatory care rather than hospital nursing. I've worked in lots of different settings-- free clinics, travel medicine, and radiation oncology outpatient clinics. I have loads of interests-- palliative care, immunization ...

I was actually thinking about this today. Definitely time to think outside the box when it comes to jobs. I feel so guilty about leaving nursing, though. All that "it's my calling" and "have to make a difference in the world" stuff. LOL

One of my daughter's preschool teachers was a BSN as well. The other one was an EMT. LOL Would you like teaching? What about doing CPR and first aid type classes? Or lifeguarding and/or teaching swimming. The community center near us pays swim ...

Another question for you all... Can you teach in a nursing school if your masters is in public health instead of nursing? I was speaking with someone who works in a nursing school and saying that I wanted to teach, but wasn't sure I wanted to do the...