As nurses this is nothing new. We are always learning something new. I mean we were all delusional when we graduated from nursing school. We all thought (to some degree) that ‘whew’ – finally done learning. I got all the tools I need to function as a nurse.

Little did we know how SO-wrong we were. 5 years later – I’m still learning something new just about every day at work.

Now a days, it’s not just something we stumble upon. A lot of states (I’m not sure if all states are on board?) are requiring that nurses maintain a certain amount of Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) during a specific rolling period. For nurses in my state of residence we have to maintain and complete 30 CEU hours every 2 years.

A lot of seasoned nurses are bucking this, and are vehemently against it. They don’t think continuing education is something nurses should be required to do? Now, this is not just the seasoned nurses, a lot of newer nurses are joining their ranks.

Read the rest over at Scrubs Magazine: Continuing nurse education

What do you think?

Image Source: Deviant Art

I just read a couple articles on the nursing shortage and the stress a new graduate nurse has to endure. The reality of the overwhelming responsibility that a nurse has can be, and absolutely is overwhelming. In fact it’s down right BRAIN SCRAMBLING!  (I had to steal that name from a fellow blogger. Thanks Caroline)

Being a nurse, surviving and/or even flourishing in the nursing world is not easy by any means.  In fact it’s damn hard. Just ask my fellow blogger Caroline, or Kim.

But see, that’s just it. Nobody said it would be. A career in nursing is not for everyone. If it were easy, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.

Nursing is still in my mind, by far the greatest career path you can choose, I’ve talked about it before.  The options are limitless. I was just telling a fellow colleague last night, you could change the scenery (the job) you are doing as a nurse every 6 months and at the end of your career, you still would not have explored the vast number of job opportunities and options that exist for a nurse. If you remember, I’ve discussed some of the places you’ll meet a nurse. The only thing that limits you is your desire.

That’s why I can’t understand how new grads would quit? Yes, maybe quit your job and find a new avenue. But, quit being a nurse? Quit and leave the career all together???

I don’t know about you. But my RN license is something I’m damn proud of. I earned it. I busted my ass. I made many sacrifices to reach this point in my career. I think others would say the same thing.

After all you did, all you learned, and all you sacrificed, how could you even entertain the option of leaving nursing??

There are options.

I do hope any nurse that is at the end of their ‘rope’, and wants to quit there job will at least stay in the field of nursing. To do otherwise would simply limit your future.

To all my fellow colleagues out there. Thank you for doing what you do, and enduring what you have. Stay strong.

Carpe Diem

Image Source: Freewebs

As a nurse my career path has been quite choppy at best. I have always been ‘searching’ for my niche.

I can remember as a student nurse I thought the medical-surgical arena would be my niche. I have a BS in exercise and sports science. I am a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC). Orthopedics were second nature to me at that point in my life.

I found out how much I didn’t like that type of nursing quickly. Most of my exposure was not fun, exciting, or interesting to me.

I found a fondness with Critical Care. I ‘fit-in’ there quickly. I loved the rollercoaster fast pace, as well as the ‘mechanical’ aspect of that type of nursing. (To this day, I still love all the cool machines and gadgets)

Over the past 3 years I have been in the Critical Care arena, and have enjoyed every minute of it. I assumed this was the type of nursing I would always do ‘to some degree’. Whether it be in the ICU, specialty ICU (cardiac, trauma, etc), PACU, or ED.

I have always kept my options open. Never closing any doors. I still have thoughts (aspirations) of going back to get my BSN, or maybe even MSN.

I’ve thrown around the idea of Anesthesia quite a bit.

But, I can’t say I ever thought outside of that proverbial career box.

My life before healthcare has helped me greatly. Working in retail was miserable while I was there, but in hindsight it taught me so much about myself, about people, about communication, and mostly about leadership.

I spent a handful of years functioning as a manager in the retail world. At one point this responsibility included hundreds of employees.

It seems that my life has come full circle. I am now at a crossroads. That wonderful mister opportunity is knocking on my door.

Sometimes the gravity of a situation makes the decision that much more difficult to make.

Opportunity is funny like that.

Do you open the door and step through? Or do you ignore the knock?

Here’s where I wish I had that ‘see-the-future’ special power.

Wish me luck.

Carpe Diem