Roll Call - Who's Been Around the Longest and Your Accomplishments

[traumaRUs]

Our staff was discussing you, our members. While we all like to remain anonymous, we are all proud of our accomplishments. We'd like to do a roll call of honor. Who has been on AN the longest? Who has been a nurse the longest? What is your greatest nursing accomplishment? Tell us, come on, brag a little! You deserve this recognition.

[OldDude]

...and in 2 days, I start a new job in a new state as a Director of Women's and Newborn Services...

And hopefully you'll leave your staffing difficulty behind!!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I've been a nurse for over forty years, and an AN member for umpteen. Biggest accomplishment is not being permanently banned from AN for having unpopular opinions or for stating them without the rainbow-colored sugar coating. Or maybe my biggest accomplishment is seeing some of the new grads I've precepted grow in their careers and become awesome bedside nurses, accomplished NPs and CRNAs, respected managers and nurse leaders and even MDs.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

At AN for 11, a nurse for 9. Can't recall when I became a guide and then a staff member.

I tend to keep a low profile both here and IRL, and don't often (I know it's not an accurate term but for lack of a better word) brag about my accomplishments. I will celebrate others' accomplishments before mentioning my own. This tendency of mine to fly under the radar is both a blessing and a curse.

[SaltineQueen]

I've been in public service and health care for about as long as I can remember. Most of that working with "special populations, psych, elders and intellectually disabled. Also sober since 2002 and currently working to bring about reform to the system that penalizes nurses who seek help for addiction and mental health issues.

Hppy

Congrats on your sobriety!

I read through the recovery forums and am just shocked and appalled at the things nurses are put through when they're trying to get help for themselves. I get that the BON has a job to do to protect the public but it seems SO unfair in most cases. I've often thought that I wish there was something I could do to change the one size fits all punitive programs. I keep thinking - there, but by the grace of God, go I. What can I do?

[Farawyn]

Been here since 2014, more or less, a few litttttttle bannings don't count.

RN for 25.

Biggest accomplishment is my "So Fetch..." thread in the School Nurse board.

In RL, I'm busy snatching kids from the jaws of death.

[Farawyn]

Same here. The greatest honors I have had in nursing have been caring for patients (and their families) as they took their last breath. Especially the few who had died surrounded only by nurses because no family would come.

Also, I once received a "cheer" on AN for helping a new poster.

Me, too. I got a cheer from BostonFNP. I have it framed over my toilet.

[Wuzzie]

I've been here since 2007 (was outed a few years back and it ended badly so had to reinvent myself). I'm in my 31st year of nursing...wow, I'm old! I don't think I can identify a "biggest accomplishment" but I've had a series of small, meaningful ones so I'm content. I've very much enjoyed being a member of this community and hope I've contributed in a positive way.

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

I've been here since 2003 I think, so not as long as some. It was right after I left the adult world to go to NICU.

So many changes in these last few years. I think Dan Gilbert gave a Ted Talk discussing how we always underestimate how much our own selves will change over time and that is SO true in my life.

I was very resistant to advancing my education beyond my ADN but finally gave in. Loved the research sections so much that I had to have more. So that got me roped into a PhD program. 4 years later I'm writing my dissertation and hope to defend it sometime next Spring.

Looking forward to exploring the world of Nursing Science as a career (scary).

AN played a role in convincing me I could succeed in advancing my degree. My biggest contention over the years was that "I can't write". In helping to convince me I could, my husband pointed out how I was prone to writing out 300-400 word diatribes on AllNurses (with careful spelling and grammar because that's just proper). I conceded he might have a point, and turns out he had a point. My dissertation chair, in reviewing what challenges I could expect to face through this process did point out that "well, you can write quite well, so that's not a worry" (and the tears started up again).

I guess this educational process would count as my most significant. My initial education was through a not-well-rated and anti-science homeschool curriculum which contributed to my feelings of educational inadequacy. Making it through BSN and now almost through PhD while working (full time at first, now PT) is really all I have to show but it's not nothing.

[Julius Seizure]

Also sober since 2002 and currently working to bring about reform to the system that penalizes nurses who seek help for addiction and mental health issues.

Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of nurses.

[Davey Do]

I've been in public service and health care for about as long as I can remember. Most of that working with "special populations, psych, elders and intellectually disabled. Also sober since 2002 and currently working to bring about reform to the system that penalizes nurses who seek help for addiction and mental health issues.

Hppy

Our society needs you, Hppy.

Joeseph Campbell said something like, "A celebrity is one who redeems them self whereas a hero is one who redeems society". You, Hppy, are a true hero.

I'm busy snatching kids from the jaws of death.

And Farawyn, I need you.

[klone, MSN, RN]

And hopefully you'll leave your staffing difficulty behind!!

From your keyboard to Dog's ears.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

I've been a nurse for 20 years and don't know if I have any special accomplishments that gets me a prize here. But my coworkers will tell you I'm the meanest little old woman they've ever met! I originally joined in '03 but had to reinvent myself as well. My proudest moments are those where I have taught others (both colleagues and patients) and watched significant changes take place