Calling all Nurses!

[Frankiesmom]

I am a nurse at a quiet little nursing home-we have 40 beds and it's only 2 miles from my house. I have been a nurse for 14 years and have always worked in geritrics. It's really rewarding to help people die with dignity when their time comes. And the stories they tell! I only work 3 8hour shifts a week-3 kids and all the activities that the oldest 2 are involved in don't leave much time. And that way we don't have to pay for childcare. I work 1 evening shift-on wednesdays and then work charge on the alternating weekends from 7-3. And I don't have to work holidays;all the other nurses are more than happy to pick up that time. My DH is an ER nurse and he works 4 12 hour shifts a week and he picks up as much OT as he can. I was tempted to switch to a hospital-but with all the JHACO requirements-I'd have to give up my fake nails;LOL and I'm not willing to do that!

 

[sskem96]

I worked in geriatrics for 7 years as an LPN, and moved to OB when I got my RN about 5 years ago.

I was working primarily nursery and some postpartum, but I took a charge nurse position a few months ago, so I don't have as much patient contact as I used to. We are a medium sized hospital, about 1700 births/year. Nursery is still my passion, and I'd love to work in a NICU, but I don't want to drive an hour each way. I work 4 nights a week, 10pm to 7:30am. On my nights off, they always know who to call if they have an emergency, like a 30wk twin abruption, they know I can be there in 10 minutes and I'm always willing to go in and help in that kind of situation.

Once my youngest is 13 or so (she's 8 now), I'd like to switch to days, but nights works for us for now. If one of the kids has to stay home sick, even if I have to nap, I'm still here and don't have to worry about me or DH calling in. He's in grocery management, so he works about 60 hours a week, and we have our evenings together, and usually Sundays too.

I like to work every other day instead of a string of days in a row, so my daytime activities are more flexible. I'll just take a short nap after getting home if I don't have to work again the next night, or I won't nap at all, and just go to bed early. Doing 4 days in a row is really tough for me because I'm not too good at sleeping during the day.

 

[npmommie]

We need a national advertisement that explains to the general public who nurses are and what we do

Have you seen the Johnson & Johnson ads in your area? they have a tv and print series going about nurses and nursing, its pretty good, I was seeing the commercials a lot for awhile but haven't seen many lately.

 

[npmommie]

Thanks for all the replies, I love hearing about what everyone does! Such a variety, that is a good thing about nursing, there is always a different area or specialty to try.

 

[aubriee]

I've been a RN since the mid 80's and have worked in Telemetry, Home Health care, Community Health (State Health Dept), and for the last eight years in a state psychiatric hospital. I love my current job and can't imagine doing anything else. It can be challenging, but I know everyday is going to be different. We have clients who think they are Jesus, famous athletes, the President, movie stars, CIA agents, aliens, etc. It's sad, but at the same time can be very funny.

To see clients come in so psychotic then to see them leave looking as normal as me and you is so rewarding. I work on a behavioral unit, so we get some of the same clients over and over and build a rapport with them.

 

[cdrn1]

My hat is off to all of you. I know that seldom do I work as hard in a 24 hour shift as all of you do in a single 8 or 12. I'm not sure how many people really realize just how hard your jobs can be and how much of a difference having a good nurse makes in the life of a patient. Thanks.

Thank you!

 

[Mandy_in_NC]

My wife is an RN - labor delivery and postpartum. She works 2-3 12 hour shifts a week. We have been very fortunate to be able to arrange our schedules so that we can rotate our child care responsiblilities. I work 24 hrs on and 48 hours off and she can pull shifts on my days off. Three kids and no day care bills! Of course dw spends 1/3 of her life effectively as a single parent - she's amazing.

My hat is off to all of you. I know that seldom do I work as hard in a 24 hour shift as all of you do in a single 8 or 12. I'm not sure how many people really realize just how hard your jobs can be and how much of a difference having a good nurse makes in the life of a patient. Thanks.

So are you a fireman or do you work in EMS?

 

[nuts4wdw]

I graduated 2.5 years ago and started out on postpartum, but hated the hospital politics and back biting. I now have my dream job!!! I work at my kids' school as a school nurse. I work part time, have flexibility in my days, and love the kids. But my job is a grant position, which means that I never know if I have a job year to year. Our schools where I live don't believe that school nurses are needed. We have kids that have tube feedings, epi-pens, and rectal meds , and they just hire people off the streets to be special education aides. Oh well, I do my best while I'm here. I hope the grant continues, I've written every state person I can, in hopes to continue funding for school nurses in our state. I consider hugs from the little kids to be my benefits, and look forward to walking into the school!!!

 

[MALE*RN*777]

I've worked at a short staff'd nursing home and a short staff'd somatic hospital and felt like I was just a pill popper. I had no time to talk to the patients about their care in a holistic (body, mind and spirit) way and felt like I was on a production line. I currently work in a state psychiatric facility and we get the patients who are the chronic, worst of the worst cases. I like my job because I am able to take care of those who can't care for themselves due to no fault of their own for the most part. Of course you get the management that want to look good and have unrealistic expectations of direct care staff. Money isn't bad and overtime isn't bad compared to other hospitals. I was able to be part of Hurricane Katrina relief for two weeks and loved working in a "MASH" like clinic. No JACHO *&# or HIPPA ^*&%&. You did your job and people were happy you were there. Mine and my wifes main concern is that I'm happy and we make enough just off my income to live. She is a great support. And the best thing about nursing is that if you don't like your job you go find another. Good Luck and Merry Christmas....

 

[tinkerbell of winter]

I'm currently teaching freshman nursing at the community college level and I love it, there is so much more autonomy here than in the hospital. My group of coworkers is really good too so that is a major bonus. I really enjoy teaching. I also work every other weekend days in the ICU where I have worked for three and a half years. I really like the fact that I now have a DAY job and can be awake with the rest of the world! I'm also starting back on my master's degree with three classes in the spring. I am going to get my master's in Nursing Education and after that maybe go for a post-master's certificate for Nurse Practitioner.

 

[mikamah]

I've been a nurse for 22 years and have worked in med-surg, nursing homes, and ICU/CCU for the past 17 years until september. I took a position in the outpatient endoscopy unit, and absolutely love it. It's a very busy unit and the staff I work with are awesome and they all get along, and there is not the stress of ICU there. My hours are 9-5:30, and 10-2 for 32 hours total, and I am able to get my son off to the bus every morning before I go to work. I am off weekends and holidays now, and I just enjoyed my first long Christmas weekend off with my son. When I left ICU, I thought I would miss it because I did love that work, but so far I've really enjoyed having a job that I can leave at work at the end of the day and enjoy my time at home with my son.

I would like to work for hospice at some point in my career, probably when my son is grown and off to college.

 

[rjan67]

I work in a Trauma Surgical ICU in Detroit. Have done so for 16yrs. In a few weeks I am going to start a new job in a smaller hospital as a Nurse Educator in the SICU. It is a part time position so I will still do 20hrs/wk at my old job for awhile...til I'm sure everything will work out .

 

[bmoncher]

I am currently the Assistant Director of the OR in a trauma center in NJ.
I have worked OR, SDS, Endoscopy, Recovery Room, education and in JCAHO consulting.

My favorite job has been in Endo!
I do love my current job tho as well!
Beth

 

[monorailsilver]

I have been a nurse for 14 (yikes) years. I was a CNA/HHA for 3 to 4 years prior to that. All have been with the elderly.

I used to want to be an OB nurse but that rotation turned this then 19 yo away-the mom was mean, what did I know that child birth was actually that painful!

So then I thought peds would be good for me but those sick kids just made me sad. I couldn't do it.

I have always wanted to be an OR nurse but I never went in that direction. Now my goals are to be a school nurse (or at least fill in when my youngest is old enough to go to school FT) or to be a State Inpector.

I am still a geriatric nurse & I work every Sunday 7-3 & I go in at the end of the month to do the Kardex's for the following month.

I don't think I can work with younger folks as I do get attached to some of the residents & others well...no comment.

Good luck in your decision.