MaiBee

Wow I thought this thread was pretty much done and hadn't looked in a few days. Logged back in and lots of replies. I have applied for a second PRN and am looking for more here and there, but I'm also trying to enjoy summer and have been outside more than inside the last couple of weeks. I normally hate summer...more of a cold weather person...but we've been having fun. Anne Marie I went FNP for many of the reasons discussed here. I really don't want to work off-shifts and the acute NPs I know mostly work ER or nights shifts in the ICU. That and I think a lot of the acute care NP schools want ICU or ER experience. I worked on IMCU...high acuity but maybe counts maybe doesn't. I think FNP will be a good match.

Argh just typed up a whole reply but my Internet farted and it's gone. Anyhow, I love hearing about those who've taken non-traditional career paths and been successful. There are so many cautionary tales out there and it's really easy to panic that things aren't happening fast enough. I have struggled with finding friends here...I'm sure there are possibilities for adult interaction but I've had a hard time finding them. Granted I am a bit of an introvert so finding these opportunities is a bit daunting. I hate being the new guy...

I laughed about taking the batteries out of the toys. For me it's the constant picking up of stuff I've already picked up three times that day. It's maddening. At the end of the day the house is just as messy as it was when I started even though I feel like I've done nothing but clean. And the constant fixing of snacks and folding of laundry. It gets mind-numbing after a while. I love spending time with my kids and it has been great being there for them more this year, but there has to be something more. I just applied for another prn yesterday...

I totally get that and it seemed that way at first, but the reality is I wanted to be a nurse since I was a kid and am really proud of that accomplishment. It is more than just the income...it's something I'm passionate about. The other issue is that in a couple of years my husband retires from the military and given his careerfield is unlikely to find employment that pays as well as what he makes as a military officer...by then both kids will be in school and I'll have been out of work for so long I probably will be unhirable. I think pp's suggestions about prn may be the best of both worlds...I keep my skills, maintain my hireability, but still have time for family and school. Not a dig at people who love being SAHMs...and not even getting into the fact that at my last position, working full time I barely made enough to cover childcare...just saying that there are a lot of factors to consider.

This sounds like my ideal. Get a foot in, get established, then from there do what I can. The one advantage to all this time off is that for the first time ever my daughter has been able to participate in gymnastics (she begged for years but my inconsistent work schedule made it impossible) and I've been able to attend school events, I know her friends, and I can check her homework every night. She loves it. But I need to get back...but I still want to be there for her (and for my little one). Hoping to find a way to make it all work.

See the long gap in emplyment is part of what's really scaring me here. Nursing seems particularly unforgiving when it comes to this because it is so technical. For the first position I applied for (PRN in PACU) I received a call back right away from the recruiter saying my background looked great. She did a phone interview later and I submitted references and took their personality test thing online. She said the next step is for the nurse manager to decide who she'd interview. I touched base with the recruiter recently when I didn't hear, and she said she's still waiting for the manager to decide who to interview and the position is still open, so I'm hopeful. Meanwhile I inquired about a GI lab PRN with the same recruiter, but then I got the school acceptance and got worried about scheduling so I haven't formally applied. I switched my license over to my new state and my ACLS is still current, so I hope I'm not too rusty to get hired! But that is a big factor in why I have a sense of urgency to get back. That and 3 year olds are terrible conversationalists.

I had sooooo much anxiety about direct patient care when I started, and clinicals all through nursing school were terrifying for me just because of my nerves over patient interactions. I made it through fine though, and started work on a super busy inpatient unit. I had a great preceptor and with a little time completely got over that anxiety. It was trial by fire at first, but got to where there wasn't a patient situation that I didn't feel like I could handle. It's a good place to get to. That being said, I wouldn't let the fact that you're 25 deter you from another field you think you'd be a better fit for. I left another career to go to nursing school at 30, and now at 38 I'm about to go back for my nurse practitioner. I know it doesn't feel like it, but at 25 you have all the time in the world.

I quit my floor nursing job of almost 5 years a bit over a year ago. My family was relocating so I figured I'd take some time off to prepare for the move, sell the house, etc. I planned to start working again shortly after moving but decided to wait a little while in order to get the family settled, find daycare for my youngest and make sure my older child was adjusting okay to her new school. Suddenly the school year is over and I'm wondering where the time went! I applied to a family nurse practitioner program and found out recently I was accepted. I start in the fall. Meanwhile I've finally applied for a couple of PRN positions that I haven't heard back on, but now I'm not sure how work will mesh with school. I'm a little lost. I miss nursing, I miss my nurse friends, and haven't really found my place here in this new city. I want to work, but don't want to start a new job at the same time I'm about to start school because I'm scared the schedules won't mesh and I'll just end up quitting. It's an online program so hoping I can find something that works. Guess I'm just wondering if there are other nurses out there who've become stay at home moms and struggled with keeping their identity as a nurse. I don't even feel like a nurse anymore. I'm sure I'll feel better about it once I'm in school and learning again, but right now I feel like I'm losing my skills and just sort of languishing in my house. I know a lot of nurses would love to quit and stay home with their kids but it just isn't for me...

Ok this post describes MY CHILD. She goes to the office for a stomach ache, because she's dizzy, because her eyes were blurry in band (she hates band). As far as I can tell there is no actual school nurse on the premises and the very sweet lady who works in the front office will call and tell me how she doesn't have a fever but "is very pale." Then she puts my daughter on the phone, who is of course weeping and insisting that she really really does feel sick this time. Eventually I give up and go get her. I've been slowly dialing up restrictions in activities when she comes home sick...I think I'm getting close to that magical formula where she deems it not worth it to come home. Last time she asked me to take her back to school . So glad to know my kid isn't the only one who does it!

So I just relocated across country and have just started looking for a job. I spent the last 4+ years (since I was a new grad) working in a super busy, very chaotic, high acuity IMCU. I had been reluctant to start working again...long hours...hated having the kiddos in daycare for 12 hours at a time. Finally decided it's time to jump back in though, and started by throwing out a long-shot application for a position I really knew I'd never get. An hour later a nurse recruiter for the hospital I'd applied at called and said that while I wasn't qualified for the position I'd applied for, my background looked great and she wanted to find me something. What a difference from the new grad job search experience, right?? I mentioned that I loved critical care and I'd be interested in positions like PACU. PACU is hiring, so she sent me links to an application for that, as well as pre-op/post-op. I filled out both and got a response requesting I fill out an assessment and schedule a phone interview. So this is all happening quite fast and now I need to know... 1) The IMCU I worked in was considered critical care and I've been ACLS certified for years. I've never worked ICU though. So will I be in way over my head in the PACU, or will my IMCU time give me a good background? I've done stable vents, insulin drips, lots of different cardiac drips, etc...no pressors or ET tubes. 2) I have a good sense of what pre-op does, but what are the big differences between post-op and PACU? Just trying to figure out which position I'm most interested in. It's the same manager so possible an interview could be for either/or. 3) What do you like about working PACU and what's not so great? The PACU nurses at my last hospital always seemed to like their jobs and were super friendly and on top of things (I tried to reciprocate even on days where I just couldn't take one. more. patient.) Let me know your thoughts! Looking forward to new challenges but nervous too!