pbuttercups

I agree that there are so many different specialties you could go into that will be completely different than the hospital setting. I would also suggest school nursing to you!! When I first became an RN, I struggled also finding my place in the nursing world. THEN I discovered school nursing and absolutely love it!! You become part of the school community and have so many opportunities to participate in events in not only the school, but the surrounding community, that you feel like you are making a difference on so many different levels. Hang in there! You WILL find a place where you feel comfortable and then you will continue to grow as a nurse.

Peanut butter cups are the best snacks when you are on the run! I live on them some days.

I agree!!!! We need full time professional school nurses in each school every day! There are way too many children who have chronic health needs. When a school district has just one nurse who travels to different schools every day, mainly just doing the required paperwork, they are not tending to the specific needs like he/she should be. When a nurse is stationed at one or two schools, they really get to know their students and parents. They keep up to date on doctor's orders and are able to train teachers on what to watch for concerning those students. Each school has many kids who have special medical needs whether it be allergies, asthma, seizure disorders, diabetes, sickle cell, tube feeds, catheterizations, etc, that nurse has his/her hands full with those needs! From my experience, the school nurse is busy from the start of the day to the end of the day. He/she also has to keep all of the children's immunizations up to date and reported to the state, perform health screenings to screen for vision, hearing, and dental needs, and also deal with many emotional disturbances. And that's not even talking about ALL the other kids who visit the clinic for nose bleeds, injuries, bandaids, icepacks, etc. The school nurses in my district start out making about $45,000, which I feel is not enough for all they do!!!

I wear scrubs and tennis shoes because they are just way more comfortable than dress clothes. I'm constantly running around and getting down on the floor or the ground to help someone. I enjoy having pockets to put all of my keys and phone. It just makes more sense!

Have you ever considered school nursing? That may be a good fit since you are most comfortable in a school setting with kids and teachers. It would also give you all the perks that you gave up (holidays off, spring break off, summers off) You would also still be able to teach in some capacity. I am a school nurse and I teach several different classes. Just an idea :)

Maybe go through a temp agency to find your first job.

Yes, in Ohio you must be certified as well, along with at least a BSN.

Oh my goodness! This is my biggest pet peeve! Parents (who don't even work) take forever to pick up their kids. Sometimes, the child has a high fever, is vomiting, has diarrhea, etc and the child is absolutely miserable, and the parent takes several hours to pick them up. Sometimes I have a child who was incontinent (I'm always running low on extra clothes) and I call parents telling them I need clothes ASAP, and they still take FOREVER. I don't know what the answer is.....

I work in elementary schools and our policy is every medication (including OTC) must have the Dr and the parent sign administration forms. However I know our middle school will allow OTC with only the parent signing off on it.

You would make a fabulous school nurse with your wealth of experience!! The main prerequisite really besides nursing knowledge, is to have a love of children of all ages. I've learned that as long as you are compassionate, you can pretty much get through anything they come to you with. I've seen not just cuts and bruises, but broken bones and broken spirits. I've realized that being a school nurse is so much more than just being a nurse...you become an integral part of the children's lives, their confidante, their #1 cheerleader. That frequent visitor who comes in every day isn't just trying to skip class, they are depressed and being bullied. Or the frequent crier who always has tummy aches and headaches, they are hiding a secret, and sooner or later will tell you about the abuse they are suffering from at home. Teens who are depressed, you might be the person they turn to when they are contemplating suicide. You get to know your kids, you know when their medications are causing changes in their behavior. You notice when they may need additional resources outside of school to get them the help they need. Sometimes I think about what I do at the school besides the norm (medication administration, vision and hearing screenings and keeping immunization records up to date) I'm really making a difference in these kids lives and I LOVE it...every day is different and a surprise!

I've been licensed now for about a year and a half. I've been blessed with the opportunity to TRY a few different specialties. I've done psych, school nursing, public health, and case management. I have learned important things from each of them...and each one has made me a better nurse, taking bits and pieces from each and making me grow into a more rounded individual. My problem is I want to SETTLE into one and work long term in something I enjoy, but I find I'm always comparing the PROS and CONS of each. Currently I am trying to decide between the School Nurse position and the Case Management. School Nurse: Love working with the kids.. Full time 40 hrs a week, M-F, no weekends/holidays, great pay + benefits, BUT summers off with no pay is kinda scary to think about...Don't think they allow you to collect unemployment in summer. Case Management: I work with MRDD. Full time pay at part time hours...no benefits, some holidays and weekends, a lot of paperwork, always bringing work home. ALWAYS driving here and there...no mileage reimbursement. More stressful, but year round.. I don't know what the best path for me is.... The case management job gives me MORE time at home, which is important because of my children. But it also has a lot of negatives.... So frustrating....

Ohio $24/hr

I think any experience is helpful and can be beneficial for future job opportunities. After getting experience at a Drs office, you could always get a position in an OBGYN clinic and not the hospital....you may like it better. Who knows! That's what's so exciting about the world of nursing...many different settings. Good luck finding where you fit in :) Each setting is very unique!

I am strongly leaning towards school nursing... I just think it would be so rewarding and would fit into my life better at this time. I have 2 children. I thought about what you said...and thought WHAT IF I took a per diem job at hospital? That may be an option. I may have to talk to someone there to see if they'd have a need. Thanks for input!! It always helps to get other nurse's opinions...

I never imagined this happening.... I have 2 job offers on the table. One is FINALLY a hospital position BUT it's only part time. But there would be opportunities for bidding on full time in the future. It's pretty much a "foot in the door"...something I've been waiting for...for a year!!! Of course I'd have to work holidays and weekends like any hospital job would. Shifts could be 12 hrs. 7am-7pm OR 7pm to 7am. The other opportunity is a full time school nurse position for a charter school. It comes with excellent benefits. I loveloveloved working in the school setting before....and I love being around kids. The hours would be ideal...M-F, no weekends, no holidays....yet I'd have to find something else in the summer... RIGHT NOW...my priority is having a sane schedule that would allow me the most time with my family, MONEY is another priority... I'm thinking the school nurse job definitely is something I'd LOVE....but I feel like I've been waiting for soooooo long for this hospital job that maybe I should hurry up and jump on that.... I don't know what I should do.

Good luck! I have 2 job offers on the table. One is FINALLY a hospital position BUT it's only part time. But there would be opportunities for bidding on full time in the future. It's pretty much a "foot in the door"...something I've been waiting for...for a year!!! Of course I'd have to work holidays and weekends like any hospital job would. Shifts could be 12 hrs. 7am-7pm OR 7pm to 7am. The other opportunity is a full time school nurse position for a charter school. It comes with excellent benefits. I loveloveloved working in the school setting before....and I love being around kids. The hours would be ideal...M-F, no weekends, no holidays....yet I'd have to find something else in the summer... RIGHT NOW...my priority is having a sane schedule that would allow me the most time with my family, MONEY is another priority... I'm thinking the school nurse job definitely is something I'd LOVE....but I feel like I've been waiting for soooooo long for this hospital job that maybe I should hurry up and jump on that.... I never imagined I'd have 2 opportunities at once to choose from!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

I'm sorry i'm just now getting back to you. Havent been on the site. Did you have your interview yet?

YES!!! I just got the job!! I'm soooo excited!

I can't figure out how to a put a pic on here. But I will describe it. On one side I have pics of my family and pets...one side has words cut out that describe me...one side has my hobbies and things I enjoy doing and the last side has quotes I believe in...THEN INSIDE the box representing what people may not know about me, I have a notebook of poems I've written, some crocheted items I've made, and some chocolate wrappers...

An RN license is an RN license....you both take the same test to get it. That's what I could never understand.

I work about 45 min. away, 32 mi. one way. All highway...not too bad...never alot of traffic.

Well it went very well actually!! I took in the "Therapeutic Art Box" and they absolutely loved it! They said they didn't have anything in particular in mind when they asked me to bring something. They just wanted to see WHAT I'd bring in, and this box really intrigued them. They said that they would like to see EVERYONE at their agency make one. (just for the self awareness it forces you to do) Plus they said it would be great to have on your desk when patients some in, to allow the patients to feel a connection with you and spark conversation. Thank for asking!!! I'm super excited about this job opportunity. They said they'd get back with me in a week or so.

Hello, I just had my 2nd interview at a county health dept. today and am so excited about the prospect of getting this job! Especially after reading everyone else's comments about how great it is to be a public health nurse!!! I've always wanted to spend more time educating and actually feeling like I make a difference every day! I think it's going to be the perfect fit for me. The pay is less than what I've been making, but they sure do make up for it in benefits!

I do find it intimidating but only because I'm a new grad. I'm sure with time and more confidence, I won't feel that way. I treat everyone equally, nurse or not.

I do use mine in a school for someone I assess regularly who has a trach. It's just part of my assessment with breath sounds. So I guess it just depends on who your patients are and what their background & medical needs are.