Seasoned RN's- Guidance is helpful

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To all seasoned and newcomers registered nurses. I'm seriously seeking wisdom, counsel, guidance of a pivotal time in my life. Through everything that you have put your all in being a nurse and as we all know the pandemic that has affected everyone in some way. 1. If you could go back in time, would you still be happy you chose to be a nurse or what career would you have pursued? (also applicable to newcomers)

2. What is your input on the following: RN VS Surgical Tech VS Diagnostic Sonographer? What would you choose? Would these be an option? How about personalities regarding each one? Are the latter two growing fields? What would you tell younger self regarding these options? Or what would you tell your daughter, niece etc.?

I would greatly appreciate your input. But I must make a decision. 

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Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.

First of all, you need to know who you are. You need to figure out what types of environments are likely to work well for you, and what ones will make life harder. 

For myself, I know that I am highly distractable, and that I have a really hard time with time management. I worked in the hospital's float pool for the first 1 1/2 years. That grounded me in nursing, but I still struggled with the multiple distractions that come with the territory. I was not happy and relaxed until I switched to private duty home nursing. And there, I found my niche. ? 

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

Like Kitiger said you need to know who you are first. My path is not your path. I would guess we have very different upbringing, experiences, hopes, dreams, flaws and character defects. 

I am almost 60 and I believe I was meant to be a nurse from the day I could walk. I grew up on a subsistence farm and was always nursing some critter back to health out spending nights out with the stock delivering lambs, colts and calves. Though there are times when it has been extremely hard (Life has not always been kind to me) I have never for one second regretted becoming a nurse. Would I do something else if I could - maybe go back to my roots and have a farm. 

My own particular niche in nursing is psych! Specifically adolescent psych. I know some people would rather have their eyeballs carved out with a spoon that do what I do but I love it. 

As for part 2 of your question -  RN VS Surgical Tech VS Diagnostic Sonographer? These have very different education paths, salaries and career paths. It would depend on what I wanted to be able to do from a fulfillment aspect, 

I have thought for some time that doing intake for pharmaceutical drug studies would be fun. I could meet interesting people and work 9-5 with no weekends or holidays.

Hppy

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Thank you, ladies! Appreciate both of you and your in-depth input!! I know I have made the right decision.

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