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?
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
There are people who get sensitive at times. I think we all would do well to take a "chill pill" -----true old age is not for wimps. We all could do well to grow tough skins.
There are people who get sensitive at times. I think we all would do well to take a "chill pill" -----true old age is not for wimps. We all could do well to grow tough skins.
I am guilty of being too sensitive sometimes. My apologies for sounding like a jerk. I love this site, too. I can spend hours reading through and never get tired of it and always learn something. I took my chill pill today!!
I resisted posting on this thread for a while coz I didn't wanna give away my age, but what the heck, here goes........
When I turned 50 I decided it was time for a change for 'this old dog' :chuckle and I started the long process of applying to move from the UK to the US. I took the NCLEX exam and passed first time, and I'll be immigrating to the US in a few months, starting a whole new life. So.......it's never too late and I sure hope I'll be 'an old dog learning new tricks' very soon.
If this is the direction you now want to move then go for it!!
That is one of the many positive things that drew me to nursing as a profession -- the ability to change direction in midstream and what choices there are and for a nurse with your level of experience. I personally think if you are ready to change you would be making a mistake to allow fear of change keep you from growing in a different direction.
Go for it!!! Sounds like you will get plenty of orientation which will also update your skills. If you end up not liking the new experience where you are currently working it will be easier to leave your current employer and get a new job where your enthusiasm for nursing can be rekindled.
I have been an RN in various specialties for the past 40 years; I've done everything from Emergency care, intensive care, maternal and child health, third stage research in contraception, infertility and sterilization, rehabilitation nursing, LTC and the last 20 years have worked in the insurance industry as a case manager for catastrophic and worker's comp cases.
When my last job was "eliminated" after 9+ years, I took my time looking for another specialty; I really didn't know what I wanted to do....and when I was pressed to make a decision I thought "what's the worst that can happen?" and launched into Hyperbaric Nursing and Advanced wound care. (This site helped me with the decision!) It has been a wonderful change; my life experience has been invaluable and the challenges come with learning, growth and service. And isn't this what life is all about? Why I went into Nursing int he first place?
Now I'm not making as much money as I did within the insurance industry,(I don't care) but I leave at the end of my shift knowing that I have made a significant difference in the lives of my patients and their families - each and every day.
Change is always scary. But I have to say, all my coworkers want me to succeed and this is one of the best decisions I've ever made. So "GO for it"! You will be amazed at how much happier you will be working at something you LOVE! GOOD LUCK!!:heartbeat
I have been a RN for 23 years, straight out of college to the field. I assure you that I am more versed on the latest procedure, regulations and standards of care for med/surg, and critical care nursing. The problem is a great deal of what the young nurses think are "new ways" are simply recycled procedures and policies from past years. In my case it is not a matter of teaching an "old dog" new tricks, I am just bored with a bunch of baloney being presented as new that was already tried 20 years ago.
You're bored & wondering if you should make a change? My answer:
YES!
Life is short. Listen to your heart, not your fears. Nurses have lots of options. It's hard to get started in the process of making a change, but it's exciting, too! Your heart could be leading you in another direction for a reason. Maybe you are supposed to encounter a new experience not only for your own growth and happiness, but b/c fate/God/whatever means for you to impact someone in a certain way in a different situation -- who knows! Additionally, you can always go back if the new situation doesn't suit you.
My mother is a nurse in her 60's, and she has just made a huge change from night shift med-surg to day shift ER. I'm so proud of her!!!
If you believe in God or something divine, do you think he/she communicates to us via our fears or our hopes & inner-most longings? Follow your heart.
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
There are people who get sensitive at times. I think we all would do well to take a "chill pill" -----true old age is not for wimps. We all could do well to grow tough skins.