kimdd&psychRN

I graduated in June last year. I personally think working graveyard shifts are/ were unbearable. Just know some people adjust and some people don't. They say the quieter environment is conducive to learning, but is that true when your body is going "what the @#!*" and you're strung out on caffeine. My friends who work nocs are just now (10 months later) really getting used to it. It works for them because their kids are in school or they are single. I myself chose to forego the hospital pay for a semblance of sanity and do community-based nursing where I get to make my own schedule. Maybe you could do an old-fashioned Pros & Cons list? Good luck in whatever you choose.

I recently was looking for scholarship information for nurses with disabilities. There isn't much out there. However, in the course of my research I found an organization that specializes in it. I can't remeber the name though...sorry. My guess is they would have some ideas for creative employment. My first thought though, was that someone with your knowledge and situation could write a book, articles, do peer reviews for journals, grant writing, be a web master, do web-based research about nurses with disabilities...who knows? I hope you find/have found some gainful employment! Kim from Oregon

Oh, I guess I should have said which state, uh? I thought that the DDNA only has one conference a year...this year in Columbus, Ohio. I've heard great things about them. There is a description of the panels/seminars their hosting this year @ their web site : ddna.bluestep.net/ or ddna.org ... Thanks for the reply.

This is my first post. I am registered to attend my first DDNA conference. The agency I work for is paying for the seminars, but I have to buy my own airfare and lodging. I want to stay at the Hyatt on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night. Since I won't know a damn soul in Columbus, and I am still paying off those damn student loans, I thought maybe it would be nice to split the cost of a room with another female. I am fairly new to nursing (10 months). I took a job at a secure residential facility for severe and persistent mentally ill adults. I loved that job in terms of the population, but I started feeling worried about ignoring the advice of so many about how I would lose my "medical" skills. So, I switched to per diem with that agency. Now, I am the agency nurse for a non-profit organization that serves MRDD adults in 24 hour residential care. I used to be a caregiver, a manager of several group homes, the quality assurance assistant, and various other roles with this agency, so I know the population and structure very well. Other than feeling wholly unqualified to distinguish one type of rash from another, I feel like I am settling in this month. Well, if anyone else out there in cyber-space would like to meet up in Columbus and pal around with a 35 yr old silly Oregonian, email me or reply here!