Published Aug 11, 2012
LouisVRN, RN
672 Posts
I've done Med/Surg for almost 4 years and have been a charge nurse for about 6 months. I don't have any intent on leaving my unit for at least another couple of years, we are in that time going to get trained on Telemetry as they are going to start doing remote monitoring. But I like to have a long term goal in mind...and i don't think I want to stay on Med/Surg forever. I'm really leaning towards ICU/ER but don't know how to make a decision like that. So I'm posing the question to you, a little bit of background about me, I've always worked nights, I love nights and don't want to work days, but I miss having any interactions with the doctors because I feel they would provide some additional education/rationales. That being said i like the additional autonomy of working nights. I'm extremely type A personality. I am a very quick learner and have a photographic memory. I've been told I have very good "instincts" for knowing when something is going wrong. I'm not a people person. I can pull it off and have received many pt compliments but I very rarely get any joy from interacting with people. I'm obsessed with charting/paperwork. Everything has to be perfect or it is extremely upsetting for me. I like to be busy. So any ideas where I could put my talents to best use?
RoyalPrince
121 Posts
Yes, become your unit manager.
NurseCard, ADN
2,850 Posts
I vote ICU if you want to stay on nights. You won't interact with that many
people, you'll stay busy, etc. etc.. Gotta be perfect, lots of charting...
BUT, if you are willing to move to days, I vote OR. Virtually NO interaction with
strange people, tons of interaction with the doctors.