Reinventing a Nursing Career after 16 years.

[Charslight]

I became an RN 16 years ago, while raising a family and other animals.... I was a front line RN. I worked hard, and enjoyed my work immensely. I loved taking care of my patients, and feeling validated that I made a difference, moment by moment. I remained per diem for most of that time so I could be available to my growing children, and I am glad I did that, but then my world changed.

I currently find myself with a plethora of nursing experience, but having worked for the same company for so many years, I was tailored to fit into their round hole. When some life changing events happened in my personal life, I found that what I thought was my home away from home at the hospital, was less than compassionate and caring towards me despite the good care we offered our patients. After close to 16 years employment I made the decision to leave the organization, but now what?

I am not sure if all the events leading up to my decision to leave this company will be of interest to anyone, but suffice to say, that on several different occasions, when I either had a family crisis, such as my 21 year old son lying in a hospital in Europe with a broken back, or personal medical problems requiring two surgeries 8 weeks apart. I learned that the organization which I had served for 15 years didn't really care about me at all. I returned both times to resentment, lack of compassion and hostility. This appeared to be a new phenomenon, and I wonder if it had anything to do with the economic changes, causing people to look out for themselves more than others.

The environment I was working in felt, hostile, and toxic. Nurses swearing constantly, bickering, and putting other nurses down. Resentment had built up because apparently my absence/medical leave had caused increased workload amongst my co-workers, since they had not been staffed appropriately while I was gone. Very soon after my return, I was forced to take an unpaid sick day, due to infection, fever, and rapid heart rate. When I returned I was greeted with increasing hostility, finally culminating in my coworker flat out accusing me, in front of management of 'faking a sick day'

Not only was I shocked, (and still not 100% physically), I was floored that as nurses, we do not take care of each other. I have always been a smart, kind and caring nurse. My skills were excellent, and I cared well for my patients. I tried hard to help my coworkers, and felt quite destroyed by this set of circumstances. Being still somewhat fragile physically and hence emotionally, I should have called in my union at the time, but I didn't.

After much debate with my husband, who encouraged me to hand in my notice, I resigned in good standing, with a wonderful letter of recommendation. But I feel like that is all I have now. I thought I would do travel nursing, go to rescue / relief efforts, but those fell through. I have been scouring the internet, and job sites looking for work, but my training and experience are a little out of the ordinary, and really tailored for the organization that I just left. I have been looking for other training programs in the San Francisco Bay Area, but cannot seem to find anything.

I haven't worked on the floor for 5 years, nor do I really want to go back to that. I have excellent IV skills, and people skills. I have 16 years experience in everything from med surg, telemetry, stroke, procedural sedation, PICC line insertion, chemotherapy, orthopedics, etc. But feel like I am a square peg in a round hole.

I am updating my skills, my ACLS, BLS, NIHSS, and will be doing PALS soon. But I wonder what opportunities are out there now for someone like me. I was very well paid at the organization I was working for. Any jobs I see pay only 40% to 50% of what I was paid before. I am willing to take a pay cut for increased job satisfaction, but what?

Advice and help would be appreciated. I am not a spring chicken, but I am not ready for pasture. Despite a few medical issues, I am reasonably fit, and can only get stronger. I am smart, kind compassionate. I just want a job where I can use my great skills to make a difference, but also feel supported, validated and respected. A new area of nursing might even be what the doctor ordered, such as Labor and Delivery, or a comprehensive Critical care training program. (I was always on the fringe,- filling in, helping out, learning on my own, with management refusing to pay for a fully fledged training program) I just finished my Bachelors degree three years ago, graduating with honors, and I also have my PUblic Health License. These must be worth something at this point.

I have tried to convince myself, I can sustain my voracious spirit with the art that I do, but I really do love nursing, and I truly wish I could be working as a nurse again.

Advice - anyone - (If you got through reading all of this)

Thanks

[Laf2014]

Charslight, I was amazed reading your post, as I could not believe how many similarities I share with you! Not necessarily the physical and medical issues, but some of my frustrations with the hospital setting, my experience and passions (IV, sedation, desire to travel, interest in rescue/relief effort) and an interest in Public Health. I too, am at a transition point and am trying to figure out my direction. I have been gathering some WONDERFUL information by reading the "Dear Donna" column that can be found on the nurse .com website. One of the things I am leaning towards is returning to school to pursue my MSN. Although I was not initially even THINKING about returning to school, I found myself deeply encouraged and more motivated with the idea from reading other posts from nurses who are frustrated after years of service in the hospital. With the drastic changes in healthcare and an RN degree in our pockets, we are really at an advantage to create our own future! I would encourage you to think about returning to school, attend a career fair, an" "alternative careers for nurses" seminar, an ANA meeting and most importantly do a detailed "self assessment". I think there is a world of opportunity out there for us because we are nurses! Working in the hospital setting for so long (27 years for me!) we lose sight of all the other possibilities and potential avenues that we have for our career paths. And yes, a lot of those opportunities may pay much less than the hospitals, but you may be trading less pay for more happiness and job satisfaction!

[Biffbradford]

I, too, am in a similar boat with 14 years in the books. Your post, and my experience, is at complete odds with a few others who simply state: "When I get tired of this unit, I'll just transfer to another and do something different! Easy peasy!" If that's the case, what's OUR problem?? :^]

[miasmom]

Dealing with that now.