I'm 50 years old, in great shape and I will have to work until I die.I have worked in LTC for 15 years and at this point in my career I'm bored to tears with what Im doing-everday its basically the same- pass a endless amount of meds, do the treatments, babysit the nurses aids,paper work,etc.
Our facility has recently opened up a unit that they call a Emergency Dept. and also added 6 acute beds-now there is a opprotunity for me to work in the new dept, the hospital is taking applicants.
The problem is that although I'm bored with what I'm doing,LTC, I'm also afraid to make a change-to transfer to this more skilled aspect of nursing-I guess I'm afraid I'll screw up. The hospital is providing training where I would work at the city hospital down town with a perceptor in the ER for 3 months and I will also take a bunch of classes and inservices.
Anyone got any advice how to overcome this fear of making a change in the type of nursing I've been doing, or advice on how to be content with LTC nursing?
I too say go for it. At 50, you are hardly old. Like you, I am getting older and need new challenges. So...rev things up and go for it. Let us know how it goes.
A little fear is a good thing, because it means you care. If you were willing to jump to another job without any fear of "screwing up", THAT would be scary. This just means you want to do it right.
Once you commit to a change though, commit completely. Don't let little hangups (yours or other peoples) keep you from accomplishing your goal. Life with goals is glorious!
if your cheese has moved, go and find new cheese...
read "who moved my cheese," it's a great book and it can really open your eyes about what you consider important...
I read that book a few years ago in one sitting. Of course while I was reading it I told everyone "This is so profound, what a breakthrough!" Of course now for the life of me I can't remember what the book was about!!!
Thank you so much for these encouraging replies, are real helpful, however QuigRN has me confused, all in all, this is a great site.
Peace
I was just referring to a thread you started that ran for 17 pages about "old dogs". It seemed to annoy a lot of us older nurses and you never came back to it to respond....
Just my 2 cents' ... but I think it just has to do with the old phrase, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." I'm not sure what's annoying about that...I've been around a good while myself...but always learned new tricks. I think if someone makes that self-assessment, it doesn't necessarily reflect on anyone else.
Just my 2 cents' ... but I think it just has to do with the old phrase, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." I'm not sure what's annoying about that...I've been around a good while myself...but always learned new tricks. I think if someone makes that self-assessment, it doesn't necessarily reflect on anyone else.
Ummm ok. I guess that no one else was insulted. My bad.
i find myself very insulted aswell by your comment about having to babysit the Nursing Assistants. I am a nursing student halfway through my program, but I have also been a CNA for 5 years. It makes me very upset when nurses take for grated what the CNA's do. I have worked in many places where the CNA's do more work than the nurses and the nurses push off as much of their work as they can legally get away with onto the CNA's. I work in a Neonatal nursery where the CNA's are very much appreciated...the nurses beg for us to stay and help them even when our 8 hours are up. Sometimes I really think that every nurse should be a CNA before they become a nurse....I have noticed that the nurses that are CNA's first are in general better nurses.
Im a bit new around here and I've noticed a few sensitive types-so I will do my best not to offend anyone again, Im not meaning to. I'm not easily offended so I erroneously assume others arent either. People are people, and very fallible, so I dont take people all that seriously,their comments about me that is, unless its someone who I really respect like Jesus Christ or the swiss theologian Hans Kung.
I like this site, its really helpful and I want to thank you all for responding to my thread.
By the way citrine, you dont work where I work, you dont know "some" of the nurses aids that I have to "babysit". You see my comment is not a slam on every nurses aid in the universe-after all I was one myself for 5 years-only some.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Ummm ok. I guess that no one else was insulted. My bad.
No worries, you meant no harm. I would reconsider what you think is "old". When I was in college, we had some really cool ladies who were over 70 just having the BEST time in their classes-----these "old dogs" were learning to use PCs, internet and the like. GOOD FOR THEM...and good for you, if this is a move you need to make. Never to late to enjoy your life my friend. Do what it takes.Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
traumaRUs, MSN, APRN
87 Articles; 21,290 Posts
I too say go for it. At 50, you are hardly old. Like you, I am getting older and need new challenges. So...rev things up and go for it. Let us know how it goes.