So. What do I do next?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Fired twice. I hate LTC. Loved the residents, hated the regulations and politics and understaffing and guilty families giving us a hard time for doing their jobs. Took a med/surg spot. I'd go back to LTC in a heartbeat, but that's from Hell to Purgatory.

I have an extensive computer programming/design background but the informatics jobs I see all want BSN's or BSC's with extensive clinical experience. We can manage enough time for me to finish up my RN through Excelsior - I'm more than halfway there - but that's it. I can't go back to school except p/t, and not if I have a high-stress job.

I am extremely outgoing and animated, and have been described as bubbly and effervescent, which shocked me. But I guess I am. Apparently, a lot of nurses consider that to be flippant or cavalier. I don't know. But I need something where that is an asset, not the liability it seems to be.

Please help me brainstorm here. I have to say, I now know why there's a huge nursing shortage. While I don't think I've been eaten, I've certainly felt a few great nips.

:)

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Specializes in Home Health, Geriatrics.

Sue,

Have you tried home health? With your outgoing personality and true caring and compassion, you would be a natural. You get to spend some quality one on one time with your patients and you truly make a difference in their lives. Sometimes you are the only outside person they see and your cheerful attitude would be a huge plus. It's great that you are going for your RN and I admire your courage and spunk. Now go to Wal-Mart (which is where I am heading shortly) and get the biggest container of chocolate Hagen-Daaz ice cream and have a fest! Always makes me feel better. Please let me know if there is anything I can help you with. Have a great weekend - chin up and show 'em you can't be pushed down for long! :kiss

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Do you know, I've thought a lot of home health and hospice. I particularly agree with the mission of hospice - to let people go, and to help them do it in comfort and dignity.

Thanks!

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Specializes in Home Health, Geriatrics.

Give it a shot honey! It's worked for me. I'll have some ice cream tonight in a salute to you. Please let us know how it goes. You're the best!

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:)

I'm off to get stuff for tacos, and brownies, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and hot fudge. We already have wet walnuts.

:D

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Peds/O.R./Legal/cardiology.

WELL, GET ON GIRL!!!! :lol2: :lol2:

ebear

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Good for you Suesquatch. It sounds like a ah ha moment! I wish you the best of luck!!!:balloons:

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:)

I'm off to get stuff for tacos, and brownies, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and hot fudge. We already have wet walnuts.

:D

*snort*

maybe i should get fired, so i can stuff my face.

(oh wait. i did)

seriously, i think hh/hospice is perfect for you.

you'd have your space, autonomy and wonderful 1:1 relationships with your pts.

the only reason i haven't done it, is r/t not being spatial.

i get lost driving around my neighborhood.

sounds like a plan, my dear.

and an excellent one at that.

you rock sue.

i know i keep on saying it.

but i'm so danged smitten w/you. :icon_hug:

leslie

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[quote=earle58;2455147the only reason i haven't done it, is r/t not being spatial.

i get lost driving around my neighborhood.

And I don't?!

Do you KNOW what it took for me to get IV's? All those tubes and cassettes and the PLUMBING!

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And I don't?!

Do you KNOW what it took for me to get IV's? All those tubes and cassettes and the PLUMBING!

plumbing, schlumbing.

there's a vein SOMEWHERE.:balloons:

leslie

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I have seen jobs for outside companies that need nurses with computer guru smarts to teach clients how to use their computer programs as well as to design and troubleshoot hospital computer programs. What about medical coding?

Anything that you do with with patient care is going to be highly regulated - the things that you said you disliked about LTC. HH can be great but you still have the regs. A friend of mine had to quit her HH job and report them to Medicare because the company wanted the nurses to "re-write" old records to justify reason for them still being on HH (when they didn't qualify due to regs). Not to say that you wouldn't be able to put up with HH regs. There are crappy rules everywhere, you just have to find which job has the regs that you can put up with.

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.
:)

I'm off to get stuff for tacos, and brownies, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and hot fudge. We already have wet walnuts.

:D

Sue, and everyone else, can I join in? I'll bring the pavlova, with lots of whipped cream, mango, strawberries, kiwifruit, drizzled with passionfruit, and sprinkled with coconut and chocolate. Well its healthy; lots of fruit, and when you cut it, the calories fall out...;)

You say you have a great computer background? Can you use that somehow? Perhaps by demonstrating health based computer programmes?

What about a nursing telephony service where you give health advice over the phone? I know there are companies out there that do this, you follow strict guidelines, and maybe you can do this from home?

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