Work or study or both?

Nurses Career Support

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I started a new job in a Recovery Room in December, 2 days a week. I have been an OR nurse all of my career so far, and I really feel like a fish out of water in this new area. I didn't intend to apply for a PACU/Recovery job - HR at the hospital said I was interviewing with the director of Perioperative Services, but I was actually interviewing with the PACU charge nurse. So...since it was the only offer I got, I accepted the job, thinking that I like learning new things, and it would be good for the resume. But...I find it really, really stressful, & I don't like it at all. I kinda miss the OR.

Also...I have a good friend/neighbor who is a physician with friends in high places at the hospital where I work. I have talked with her about ideas for potential programs the hospital could start in order to be a top notch place in our community as far as wellness/health resources, not a just a place to go if you are sick. So...potential there.

Next bit of the picture...I start my work toward a Masters of Public Health at the end of February. At the moment I am going to do part time study while continuing to work part time. But...my husband said I can do full time and not work if I want to. This would mean two years of study versus four, which is very appealing.

So...do I stick it out in the unit where I am ion the hope of being able to transition elsewhere in the hospital, and keep studying part time? Or do I chuck it and go full steam ahead into my masters work, THEN find/create a job for myself in the area of my main interest which is public health/health promotion/health education?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Gosh! If your SO is that supportive, I say go for it!!! You're lucky - he's a keeper.

But - if you're in the US - don't hold your breath waiting on the upsurge of 'prevention and wellness' programs. The economic forecast is very uncertain. Reimbursements are dropping with additional cuts on the way. At the same time, everyone is scrambling to implement hugely expensive Federally mandated information systems. My crystal ball says the only 'prevention' area that is going to be addressed (in this climate) is preventing hospital re-admissions because that is one of the criteria that the Feds are using to rate the "quality" of hospitals. Soooo - this area may see increased investment and more jobs. Jobs like 'care transition' nurses, discharge planning, disease managers, etc..... but nothing aimed at keeping healthy people healthy.

Health education/promotion will never gain ground unless there is a consistent revenue stream to support it. Hopefully, we will all live long enough to see that happen.

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That's a great point re funding. And yes, I am in the US, but grew up & was educated in Australia. I'm trying to figure out where exactly I am going careerwise - it looks kinda foggy, though I have a general idea. I have a particular interest in mental health, occupational health & safety stuff (including stress management & infection control), and nutrition. It's entirely possible I may have to create my own opportunities and get great at grant writing, and it may not be that I end up employed by one place in the traditional sense, but hire myself out with travel. Eventually I would like to get involved in academia as well - looking long term, that's something I can do into my 60s & even 70s if I wanted to, whereas that just isn't physically sustainable working shiftwork in a hospital setting. I am *very* fortunate to have such a supportive other half - he has a career he loves, and we live simply & frugally - no debt (apart from my upcoming school loans, which I hope to pay off ASAP, part of the motivation to stay working) gives us more freedom of choice. He definitely is a keeper. :-)

It just kills me to see a captive audience of patients sitting bored in hospital rooms watching TV & drinking soda while they recover from illness or surgery - what a golden opportunity to talk to people about how they can eat a healthier diet (and overcome the barriers they have to good nutrition such as food deserts), adapt exercise so it's accessible to them & achievable, stress management techniques, etc. But floor nurses are absolutely slammed with too many patients and too much paperwork to be able to have the time to do those things. What if we were able to present programs via the hospital's TV system? Or create partnerships between organizations such as the YMCA for appropriate exercise programs for different age groups and abilities, adaptable for disabilities, or partner with organizations willing to coordinate fruit & veg cooperatives so that people could have access to affordable fresh fruits & veg. And cooking demo classes that do basic healthy cooking skills - so many people don't have those skills anymore, or think cooking has to be this big intimidating thing that's gourmet or go home.

Yes, I'm an idealist. I can't help myself. :-)

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During these times, we're lucky to have jobs. I would stick it out with work and school if you can tolerate it

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