Where do i go from here?

[CRNAorBust]

Hi Everyone!

I'm a 54 yr old who became a Nurse (BSN RN) about 2 yrs ago. My first stint out i tried ICU and it didn't work out. I then had to move out of New York because I couldn't find another job after that. I moved to connecticut and found work at Yale New Haven Hospital where I've been a Nurse for the past year on a Medical Floor where we sometimes see higher acuity patients than should be there only because of the lack of beds in the areas where they should normally be.

I'm holding my own there but I'm not great at responding when a patient becomes critical. Sometimes my focus is off and my critical thinking skills are lacking. I've already voiced to my manager that I don't think things are working for me there and that I should not be there. But I'm not seeing a way out of floor nursing. Without several years experience I'm not seeing how I can move to other areas. The idea that once a Nurse has a year under their belt that everything opens up for them is not true for me. I've got the one year and I'm not feeling that floor nursing is for me.

On the positive side I have great facility with alot of patients. I am warm and have a great sense of caring and a great sense of humor. I understand theory (Had a 3.5 index when i graduated) and am very inquisitive and love to explore things. I also have a previous Psych degree, a degree in electrical technology, and i worked as a computer consultant (for a temp firm for 3 yrs and an actual company for one year) doing installs, troubleshooting and became certified as a network engineer. I investigated what it takes to move into computers in a hospital setting and it seems to be more who you know than what you know. Not very encouraging.

I recently went to a university here in connecticut to see if I could find an advanced degree I could get into and found a career counselor who i spoke with. He suggested I might try talking to a Librarian at the school to see if going for a masters in library science would work for me. Unfortunately that area of study is crowded and starting salaries are low.

So basically I feel stuck. Would love to chat with anyone who might help me rethink my situation. And or would love to hear any ideas others might have or experiences you could share that might shed some light on my situation.

Thanks in advance.

[CRNI-ICU20]

Okay....I am not a guy....but I wanted to ask you if you have ever thought of maybe working in the computer end of nursing....LIKE MAYBE DESIGNING NURSING/CHARTING SOFTWARE THAT IS EASY, FUNCTIONAL, AND INTERFACES EASILY WITH OTHER SOFTWARE...??? You'd be a rich man....believe me.....heheheh!!