azmimi

As I read your post, I was reflecting on my 45 year career, remembering a time I had a 3rd shift job on a unit that had a nurse ringleader that just rode me mercilessly behaving much as you described. After trying hard, I simply went to the nursing office at the end of my shift and handed in my badge stating "I will never again step foot on that floor as a nurse!" The answer I got was, "Wait, wait, not so fast...." "After talking with staffing I find out that I wasn't the first to complain and that staffing was going to refuse to send them help if they didn't "change their ways." Look, the reason I am telling my story is that perhaps they are wrong, or maybe you are defensive. We all know that we can't just quit a job as I was ready to do because of frustration or anger, but it does pay to talk with a trusted person either your boss, or someone in the staffing office, as I did all of those years ago.... I agree with the advice to seek some help with the employee assistance--it is free as a previous poster stated. But more realistically, we as nurses need to realize that not all jobs are a perfect fit for us. Don't stay in a job that is draining you emotionally and physically and making you cry all of the time--that's not good for you, dear. We all have had shifts that made us think, "I am not cut out for this..." But after a day off or a good night's rest we are at it again and then when a patient thanks you or makes you feel like you have made a difference to them, it all is worth it. For me nursing is all about our patients. You have received some heart-felt advice here, and I agree that the practice manual of the hospital should be your ultimate reference--it should be your "buddy." Sure, you might have to ask for help in the interest of time when something is pressing, but then review, review so that in all instances you are following the manual.:redpinkhe

Do you know that you became a nurse on the same day my husband and I got married--only that happened 43 years ago. Congratulations. Yes, I have been a nurse now for 45 years and becoming one was the best decision for me that I could have made as a young person. I enjoy what I do, yes, I still work, though I have taken a position that allows me much more flexibility in scheduling as a part-time float at an outpatient surgical facility. Nursing is one of the few occupations that allows flexible days, hours and a variety of types of work--you can teach, sell, do bedside, research, be in bio technical, the law aspect, forensics, it goes on and on. I wish you the best in your nursing career, remember to give a job a reasonable trial, but if you hate what you are doing, don't be afraid to search for something different until you come upon the perfect job for YOU. Life is too short to be wishing you didn't have to be there day in and day out--we all have certain days when we wish we were somewhere else, but if it is always miserable, it is time to change. Again, Congratulations AzMimi

WOW, Isn't it amazing, how life takes us? When I talk to people that will listen, and they feel a little at loose ends I tell them to consider nursing. What other career will allow you to do so many things with the RN. You can sell medical equipment, teach, go techie with bio med., work any hours, full time, part time, be at the bedside or not, do research, have a high adrenaline type job, or work to try to convince people to donate their organs--you get the idea. Even be a liaison person--the list is huge!!!! Congrats, I am proud of you....

Thank you for reading my little note. You deserve accolades for doing intensive care nursing--the intensity of it was more for me when I was younger--see how different we all are, you still love it even as you approach seniordom--awesome and amazing!! I, too, applaud your ability and skills--keep doing what you love--you truly are needed and valued, let's keep on embracing the new ones entering the field and teach them what we know, they can teach us, too. Carry on, NURSE

Hi, Over 50 and still working........I am 66 and still working as a pool nurse in an outpatient surgery center part time. I work recovering endoscopy patients most of the time, but still recover surgical patients as well when needed. We have a pretty rapid turnover patient-wise, at a very busy city center and as long as my body holds up and I can contribute, why not? I like what I do, find it to be rewarding, and I have the ability to say yes or no to an invitation to work, which allows me to have a life at home with a semi-retired husband and a granddaughter. I like learning new things, relating to my patients and co-workers and it keeps the old brain cells firing. What other career but nursing allows you the flexibility to work as much or as little as you like, whatever hours of the day you like, or in so many different specialties--technical, teaching, bedside, research, choices go on and on. I encourage young people interested in healthcare to consider nursing, and further encourage nurses unhappy in their current jobs to simply change to something else as a nurse--there are so many opportunities. Admittedly, it does take a little courage to change, but it is better in the long run to move on when you first realize that things aren't going well, instead of hoping that things will get magically better--they probably won't.... So, for today, here I stay at the bedside, loving my patients. Best wishes to all of you out there wondering if you could do this for 45 years. azmimi:nurse:

Yes you can. Somehow you need to convince your husband that a part time job will keep you interesting and on top of things, not to mention your monetary contribution to the family. You will need to enroll in a nursing review class, but once that is accomplished there are many directions you can go. I would guess that you are bilingual at least, and that is a real plus. I wish you much success and don't give up, we need your abilities as a nurse, your patients await. Best Wishes, Azmimi

44 years on the job, part time, as I helped raise our sons, hmmmm........ Funny, I had planned to be a teacher. I had made some inquiry at the local nursing school, but no serious application. Then my dad found out how much nursing school would save him compared to college:twocents:--that was it--I would be a nurse!!! Once I was a nurse, I realized that it was the place for me:nurse:. I liked floating and did, for most of the years. Now at retirement age, I still work part-time and hope to continue to do so:yeah:...Now I have come to realize that nurses are teachers of a different sort--daily with friends and relatives as well as with our patients.:redbeathe

I loved your line when I read it.....I guess that we all have experienced the "backstabbing co-workers". I laughed out loud when I read it. I come to allnurses maybe once or twice a week, don't always sign in, just read some of the posts that interest me. There are some posters with great senses of humor here!!! I have been a nurse 42 years, and still find things to love--mainly my patients!!! It seems over the years that the science about the body has always picqued my interest, so it was no surprise that my granddaughter aged 7 says to me one night as we lay in bed reading, "So, Mimi, tell me about the human body." When I was in second grade I don't remember being taught about the digestive system, but she sure is learning about it, and by her explanations proves that she really is "getting it." That is so amazing to me. My intro to all nurses came about through google as most did....

To amandahqtpie, Thank you for responding to my note....Alot has happened to us since my post. My dear husband has had a knee replacement, our granddaughter has gotten her tendrils wrapped around our hearts, and I couldn't imagine living far away from her. Our friends who built a home in Idaho are experiencing the same pull for them to go back to California where their family is living....so you see life is like that.....what you think you want is sometimes shown to be not in your best interest after all. Idaho will be there a long time, hopefully we can visit some time in the future God willing. Let me wish you the best in your nursing career. I have been a nurse for over 40 years, and it has been good. One word of advise: if you are not happy in what you are doing, don't be afraid to try something else. In my experience, those nurses who are hating nursing are those who stayed at a job because of benefits or that old standby excuse "But I have so much invested in this job, etc., etc." Be willing to move on to something else, not when you're having a challenging shift, but when you realize there is no more to learn in this particular job situation....Best wishes to you and congratulations in completing nursing school which I am sure challenged you far beyond anything you ever expected... azmimi

I strike a single line through it and write ME for mistaken entry and my initials and have never been told to do it any other way. I used to write error, but someone told me to use ME for mistaken entry and I liked the sound of it better.....

I have been blessed with a granddaughter, and since she has a nana, I thought mimi would be a good name for me since my mom is grandma and keeps blessing us with her presence on this earth--now a wonderful 83 and one month away from 84. Arizona is where we all live, hence the name.

Me, too, I love fireflies!!!! I used to catch them when I was a child in Chicago many years ago. A few years ago I went back to Chicago on a visit and I was running all over my uncle's front yard jumping and trying to catch them. He laughed so hard at me and said he had never seen a grown woman go so crazy over a few bugs. Go figure.....Thanks

PACU yesterday. Temporary community problem with water supply secondary to heavy rains. Powers panicking. Cases cancelled. Staff waiting around $$$$ :angryfire :rotfl: Things fixed. Reschedule:crying2:

You are a hoot!!! Thanks for making me and my husband a laugh......... It has been a brutally rainy and kind of depressing week here in the Phoenix desert. I won't bore you with all of the details, but suffice it to say that a little laughter was just what we both needed.

I voted that a man should not be required to wear a t-shirt. A man should be able to evaluate each situation and act accordingly.....some work environments are very warm and a t-shirt would make a guy very uncomfortable....some cities are very hot (even with air-conditioning). I am a married female and I can only say that after many years of marriage have learned that men and women have totally different thermostats!! My guy lays nearly buck naked in bed at night when I am under a quilt, so I have empathy for the guys.....then, they have the option to groom at the neck line. It is all negotiable as far as I can see. Thanks for a fun thread!!!:chuckle :chuckle :chuckle

My husband and I are thinking about relocating to Idaho:coollook: This coming summer we want to visit Boise and check it out. It doesn't sound too promising job-wise, however. We are both close to retirement age, but I have enjoyed working part-time in the outpatient surgical department for many years and would be interested in that area. It is all in the planning stages for us. He is a school bus driver. I guess that with everything contacts matter.:rotfl: