saradista

Good morning everyone :) I just turned 25 and come June I will have been an RN for 3 years. Take care!

I don't think that's what amzyRN meant, and I think you know that too. She was just trying to be empathetic to my situation. Please, let's keep the posts polite.

I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I had intended on staying at my med/surg job for a minimum of two years. The reason I left was because I was threatened by a coworker and HR/management did a poor job of investigating. But obviously on a resume it looks like I just peaced out after a few months. I also see how one may think my goals are all over the place. Pediatrics is an old passion of mine, that developed my first year of school. Flight training is another passion that developed through many discussions with my mentor at school. In some ways they don't seem related, but in others they are very related. Having that added pediatric experience isn't a requirement, but is an undeniable bonus. So that's where my thought process leads. I love my job and coming to work every day is great, I just feel I've aready exhausted all of my options when it comes to building myself into a better RN. I can take on all the extra roles, join all the committees, but if I feel like I'm not challenging myself, then that can't be a good sign. It's just not my niche is all. The point of me asking this question is because I need feedback from other RNs who have maybe been in my position or can offer their advice. I'm the only person in my family working in this field, all my close friends are just as new to nursing as I am, and I don't want to ask more experienced coworkers because I don't want word to get out I'm already looking to jump ship (which right now I'm not, but you can understand how things get flipped around from one conversation to the next). My boyfriend (also an RN) brought up a great idea of applying for that peds position and staying on in my rehab job as PRN. My CNO and I have a great relationship, I've worked with her not only at my current job but also at the hospital I worked at as a PCT. So it's not all that ridiculous to follow her to the hospital she's moving to. I wouldn't plan on applying earlier than September since by then I'll have six months at my rehab position. At least that doesn't look as bad as quitting after only 3 months? Any thoughts? Also, I love all the feedback I've gotten. Everything's been mostly positive and constructive. That makes it a lot easier to accept outside opinions haha

Urghhhhh dammit. I did know that. I think my question is if it's too early too look for other opportunities? I left my first job after 6 months. I don't want to leave my second job after only 3... one other thing to consider is that my current CNO has taken a new position as the CNO at a small local pediatric hospital. Pediatrics is another passion of mine as I've worked in pediatrics as a PCT during school, as well as doing my senior practicum at a peds hospital. Long story short, peds is another career path that I would love to commit to. But would it be a poor career choice to jump from one job to the next after barely completing orientation? Or do you think hiring managers would be understanding of the fact that I realized early on that my current job is not what I want to be doing with my career? It's just that I feel like there's a great opportunity here and the last thing I want to do is waste it.

So here's my situation. I worked on a med surg unit at a big city hospital for six months and hated it. I loved the work and patient population, but the environment was quite literally traumatizing. So I left and took the first job I could find. Now I'm at a rehab hospital and I absolutely love my coworkers and patients, but I'm bored out of my mind. I've just had my 90 day review with my CNO and she said I'm on track to become a supervisor by August, and has just asked me to start precepting new RNs on the floor. I feel I'm really excelling here and have been set up for success (unlike the support I had at my old job, or lack thereof). I'm part of the nursing practice council, fall prevention committee, and have taken on a new roll as an interim admissions RN. But I just don't feel like I'm learning anything new. A year out of school, I really shouldn't feel like I'm trapped. There are definitely places to move up with this organization, but why put all that work toward something that doesn't excite me? I think it's clear that this isn't my niche... I'm just concerned that it's going to be difficult getting a more challenging job in the future. I mean, my dream job is a flight nurse. That requires a whole different world of experience that rehab won't necessarily help me out with. Can someone ease my worries and tell me that this isn't a step in the wrong direction for what my goals are?

This is a question that stems from a recent Urgent Care visit for myself. I had to get labs drawn and the tech had trouble sticking me in the AC. I said that others had been successful sticking me in the forearm before and suggest that she try there. She then informed me that because she didn't go to phlebotomy or nursing school that she would only be able to stick me in the AC. This seemed a little odd because when I was a PCT (before graduating nursing school) I was allowed to stick a patient nearly anywhere on the upper extremities. I didn't question her further because I didn't want to seem rude, but I am genuinely curious if/why certain healthcare workers are only allowed to draw blood from the AC.

Hi, So I just started a job as a tech on a gen med surge floor at a small hospital. I was hired in April, did training/orientation in May and June, and now (July) I'm thinking this isn't what I want to be doing. I have one more year before I graduate nursing school and I know that I want to go into peds. There are a couple of children's hospitals closer to where I live and I'm strongly considering applying and trying to get a job at one of them as soon as I can. The thing is, is it too soon to even be considering this? I want as much experience as possible now so I can make it a little easier for myself getting a peds job once I graduate (not saying that's going to happen immediately, but some experience working with kids at least gives me a better shot at getting the job that I want sooner). Anyway, should I wait a bit longer, or should I just go for it? Maybe I'm just getting antsy, but this is something I really want.

Hi, I'm a nursing student (obviously) heading into my senior year of college and am looking for advice on how to get a leg up on the competition for becoming a peds nurse after graduation. I'm currently working as a PCT on a general med surge floor and also as a caregiver for an elderly woman. I also volunteer 4 hours a week at a childrens hospital. The hospital that I volunteer at is also the one where I did my peds rotation at, and I now see my old instructor twice a week and she's very fond of me so I can trust she'll write an excellent letter of recommendation. This past semester, I had also been selected to participate in a clinical group that spent a week working as med staff for a summer camp hosted by the American Diabetes Association. This opportunity was by application only and out of 60 or so students, only 8 of us were selected. It was for my public health rotation, but on a resume it might double as peds experience as the campers were all between the ages of 7 and 17. My preceptorship is coming up this fall, but I have yet to receive my assignment. I'm pulling for a peds location, of course, but I'm mentally preparing to be sent to work with the older adult population instead (not that I'd complain. But it's ultimately not my goal). My question is, I don't work on a peds floor. Yes, I volunteer on one for a couple of hours a week and spent one week working with kids with diabetes at summer camp, but how does that compare to my friend who DOES have a tech job at a children's hospital? What can I do to get a leg up on the competition so that I can be a contender after graduation? My plan is to get at least 6 months of experience at my current hospital and transfer to their partner children's hospital. But that would max give me 6 months of experience at a peds hospital IF I'm able to transfer. Are there any certifications I could get? Anything that might add to a resume? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.