Are you struggling with  deciding  which nursing career path to settle on. Nurses have so many choices that it can be overwhelming. I know how this can feel because I have been in your shoes. I started my nursing career as a Nurse who was working in a cardiac stepdown unit. I then went to work in an inpatient psychiatric unit for a couple of years. I really thought that was the direction I was going to end up in. My plan was to get my Masters degree and then I thought I would have an outpatient clinic. Well that is not what happened. I had children and did not want to go back to school. I pivoted from working at Mass General Hospital to becoming a staff nurse in a Nursing Home. That was due to better hours and being close to home. 

Over the years, I have tried to be a school Nurse but that wasn’t for me. I didn’t like being the only nurse in a school. I did become a director for a school grant where I helped bring an electronic medical record to the school systems. It was for all schools in the Tritown. That was fun, but then the school system wanted nurses to go and get their Masters in order to work in a school system and I wasn’t willing to do that. They did not pay school nurses well for all that they were expected to do. 

I also had my own consulting business for 10 years which I loved. I again pivoted back into working for a company due to homelife demands of caring for an ill parent and needing to be available for my dad. Family first has always been my motto. I then went back to Long Term Care because that is where I really felt I belonged. I love being able to give back to the elders who paved the way for all of us. 

I have been where you are right now in your life trying to figure out which nursing setting was the best for me. I have pivoted several times and have enjoyed each experience in the different stages of my life.

What would I suggest you do if you are trying to decide where you should be?

Ask yourself these questions?

• What area in nursing excites you when you think about it?
• Do you enjoy working with children or adults?
• Do you enjoy working with the elderly?
• Do you enjoy working with clients with learning disabilities or with mental health issues?
• Do you want to continue your education?

Then once you do that then  answer these very important questions and be very honest with yourself?

• What are my life demands that may interfere with changing my path?
•   Am I willing to learn a new skill?
• If I am required to go back to school can I afford to do that?

If you decide that you are able to pivot I would suggest you find a nurse that works in the setting you would like to join and ask if you could shadow them for a couple of days.

Call the setting that you are interested in and ask if you could talk to someone who could explain what they really do. Ask them what a day in their worklife looks like.

Discuss with your immediate family such as the ones you live with and let them know what you may need to do. See if they will support your decision. This may or may not influence your decision but your choices may directly affect your family.

Let me know down below if you found this helpful.

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The information presented is informative and does not constitute direct legal or regulatory advice

September 2024\Skilled Nursing Support\maria.messina@skillednursingsupport.com

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