What do you do and how long have you done it?

[daraowl]

I have wanted to be a nurse since I was 10 years old. I started working in a Nursing Home when I was 15,as a Nurses Aide, Boy that was a shock. Nursing HOmes in the 70's were not nice places. During nursing school I work as a Nurses Aide in Peds ICU, PICU, for 2 years, the day I took my finals I became the Charge Nurse on nights. I was responsible for the 7 bed PICU and the 30 bed Peds floor. I did 5 years of Peds, 6 of CVICU/Trauma ICU. Saw the first use of the Swan-Ganz Cath. 15 years Neuroscience/Neurotrauma. Last 3 years as Clinical Director of a SICU. CCRN since 1988, CNRN since 1992.

Member of AACN since 1985, founded a chapter in GA and then again in VA. Served as president in both chapters and on several committees.

Active with the Boy Scouts of America. Was the Medical Director of a BSA Camp for 6 years. Camp is ALOT of fun!!! I strongly encourage working with a camp, there are several different types that are all ways in need of nurses!

I LOVE being a nurse! I have been in the nursing field for 30+ years! I would not want to be anything else! Oh... I have seen alot... alot that I wish I had not seen, but Nursing has come a long way and I am VERY Proud to be a NURSE!!!

[joannep]

I LOVE being a nurse! I have been in the nursing field for 30+ years! I would not want to be anything else! Oh... I have seen alot... alot that I wish I had not seen, but Nursing has come a long way and I am VERY Proud to be a NURSE!!!

AMEN to that, I just totally agree with you!!

Joanne :)

[RNPATL, DNP, RN]

I have wanted to be a nurse since I was 10 years old. I started working in a Nursing Home when I was 15,as a Nurses Aide, Boy that was a shock. Nursing HOmes in the 70's were not nice places. During nursing school I work as a Nurses Aide in Peds ICU, PICU, for 2 years, the day I took my finals I became the Charge Nurse on nights. I was responsible for the 7 bed PICU and the 30 bed Peds floor. I did 5 years of Peds, 6 of CVICU/Trauma ICU. Saw the first use of the Swan-Ganz Cath. 15 years Neuroscience/Neurotrauma. Last 3 years as Clinical Director of a SICU. CCRN since 1988, CNRN since 1992.

Member of AACN since 1985, founded a chapter in GA and then again in VA. Served as president in both chapters and on several committees.

Active with the Boy Scouts of America. Was the Medical Director of a BSA Camp for 6 years. Camp is ALOT of fun!!! I strongly encourage working with a camp, there are several different types that are all ways in need of nurses!

I LOVE being a nurse! I have been in the nursing field for 30+ years! I would not want to be anything else! Oh... I have seen alot... alot that I wish I had not seen, but Nursing has come a long way and I am VERY Proud to be a NURSE!!!

Thank you for sharing .... your experiences are wonderful and like you, I also love being a nurse. There are times however, when I question that love.

[Boo439]

I hope my comments are welcome... I have been a CNA for a little over a year now. I got a job at an ALF the day I graduated from my CNA class. I worked there for 6 months and got bored with it so I applied at the local hospital and got the job the next day. I have been there since and will stay there until the day my husband and I move out of state.

I am currently taking the pre-req's for the RN program. I am weighing my options between taking the LPN program online then bridging over to RN or just going straight to RN.

Pro - save gas money on lecture days for the LPN program, which will be done online.

Con - Have to take an extra semester to bridge over to RN.

[khattosan]

I did Med/Surg for 4 years. That was a very BIG mistake. I completed my masters as a Family Nurse Practitioner last Dec. 2003. That was one thing Med/Surg made me do, go back to school!

I'm a nursing student and would like to go into the med-surg after school...please tell me why it was a mistake for you? p.s. after all some love it and some don't...I just want an insight on what to expect.

[RNPATL, DNP, RN]

I hope my comments are welcome... I have been a CNA for a little over a year now. I got a job at an ALF the day I graduated from my CNA class. I worked there for 6 months and got bored with it so I applied at the local hospital and got the job the next day. I have been there since and will stay there until the day my husband and I move out of state.

I am currently taking the pre-req's for the RN program. I am weighing my options between taking the LPN program online then bridging over to RN or just going straight to RN.

Pro - save gas money on lecture days for the LPN program, which will be done online.

Con - Have to take an extra semester to bridge over to RN.

Your comments are most certainly welcome. Glad you posted ..... good luck with your decision to go to nursing school. I started out as an LPN, then went on for my RN almost 17 years later.