I have been on this forum for a long time and do not think that I have ever seen a thread like this posted, perhaps I am wrong, but I would really love to know what area of nursing each member works and how long they have worked there. If you are aspiring to another area of nursing or are in school, please share that as well.
I have been an RN for 4 years and was an LPN for 17 years. I work in open heart step down and a surgical recovery unit. I am applying to actually work in CVICU and should know in the next couple of months if I have been accepted. I am currently in school and hope to complete my FNP after graduating from UoP. Once I am done, I would like to teach as an adjunct professor as well as maintain my hand in the clinical environment. Once I am done with school, I am not sure if I will pursue more degrees .... I am anxious to have school behind me. Thats me :) Thanks for sharing.
PS - I have been told that my advar looks like an older version of Harry Potter with a moustache.
I, too, did my tour of duty on Med/Surg in a 330 bed community hospital. Then I was pulled to ICU one day and fell in love! Worked FT in ICU for 5 years then got the critical care burnout bug. Did home health for 1 yr (hated it ) then was laid off for 6 weeks - who would've thunk it? I have been perdiem in ICU/CCU at same hospital for 8 years and work FT teaching 2nd yr nursing in an ADN program. Got my ADN in 1990 - BSN 1999 - MSN in 2003.
Just started my 7th year as an RN and did tele for 1 year, Cardiothoracic ICU and currently Surgical ICU/trauma ICU (with some travel assignments) total ~2 years and ER ~4 years. Also did some flight nursing during that time. Prior to nursing I worked as an ER tech for several years and also was a paramedic. My staff positions and travel assignments have taken me literally across the country!! Now looking to settle down for awhile and I am applying to Nurse Anesthesia programs.
I 've been a Nurse for 8 whole days! I am training in tele/med-surg. I worked as an ED tech for a year prior to graduating. I will be heading back down to the ed Next year. Can't wait to go back..lol
Specializes in Retired - ER, School Health, Quality, Case Managem.
Hello All,
After getting married at 19 y.o. and having three children, I began my health care career as an EMT. I worked nights as an ER Tech for a couple of years when I decided to try nursing school. I went to the local community college and got my ADN. Worked med-surg for 6 months -> tele, dialysis, cardiac step down for two years (with some per diem home health care and cardiac/pulm rehab mixed in) -> ER for 2 years -> Pedi for a year -> back the the ER for 5 years and got my BSN in 2002. I am currently doing Pedi and ER. Come September I am off for a new adventure!! I am leaving the local community hospital that I have worked at for my entire health care career to work as a nurse educator (both classroom and clinical) in a LPN program. I am excited, nervous, and a little scared about this huge transition. But, after 16 years in acute care and the last child off to college, I am ready to see what other nursing roads there are to travel. If there are any nurse educators out there with any advice/words of wisdom, I would love to hear from you !! Thanks !!!
You all sound so much younger than me! I have been a nurse for 22 years.
I am certified in perioperative nursing and renal nursing and I have a Master of Nursing Leadership.
I specialised in perioperative nursing for 17 years, specialising in Vascular Surgery, then had a change in career direction and specialised in renal nursing for 5 years, working in the renal ward, acute dialysis and chronic dialysis units.
I have held middle management positions such as clinical nurse specialist, and associate unit manager positions in both speciality areas.
After completing my Masters degree I applied for a DON position in a Day Surgery and was successful, so I am in a management position at the moment.
I am finding it very challenging, and occasionally very stressful, but I hope that I am here for the long term.
My story the last 14 years : started off medical/oncology, went to med-surg and the unit was turned into the trauma unit. Then did nuero, medical tele. Basically, you can say I've been a med-surg nurse for the last 14 years. :)
RN for 17 years. Worked LDRP/NSY/GYN for last 7.5 years. Mother baby for 6.5 years prior to that. My first 3 years as an RN were spent on post-open heart tele unit (what the heck was I thinking?). I hate administrative games, but I love the patient-care aspects of the job. I am hoping to pursue an MSN degree and would like to become a perinatal nurse-educator. We all need better compensation. Whether we like our jobs or not, as nurses we save and enhance lives everyday. There are many people who wouldn't or couldn't do our job for 6 figures. :)
Been an RN for 12 years now. Started out on Ortho/Neuro floor (very busy, very physical), then Cardiac tele, then CCU, then MICU, then SICU, then trauma ICU, then Cardiac cath lab, at this point I graduated with MSN degree in 2000, and have been a Critical care CNS now for right over 4 years...And have 18 hours toward my PhD...but right now I am taking a break from school...I enjoy my CNS role, I like the hours and perks (free trip to NTI with regular paid time for it to boot, free dinners with drug reps, chapter author)...
ksfrn66
25 Posts
I, too, did my tour of duty on Med/Surg in a 330 bed community hospital. Then I was pulled to ICU one day and fell in love! Worked FT in ICU for 5 years then got the critical care burnout bug. Did home health for 1 yr (hated it
) then was laid off for 6 weeks - who would've thunk it? I have been perdiem in ICU/CCU at same hospital for 8 years and work FT teaching 2nd yr nursing in an ADN program. Got my ADN in 1990 - BSN 1999 - MSN in 2003.