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How will I know?

"if he really loves me? I say a prayer with every heart beat" ok I couldn't resist.  I wrote the title & then the song just came to my mind.  Of course any youngun's won't even know the song, lol. 

So, I've been reading my fav blogs (Adventures of a PICU Nurse Practitioner) being one of them & I am just wondering, how will I know where I really want to be when I graduate?  As it looks now  I am looking at 3 more years of schooling after my RN for my DNP & so I am wondering, how will I know where I want to spend those 3 years?  I have always said that I didn't want to do Med/Surg, but really how will I know?  I am so excited that next semester is my CC & Peds rotation, but really that only gives me four real rotations that I've had.  Well five if you count the SNF, but that's not even a consideration.  So, by the time next semester is over I'll have had Med/Surg, L & D, Peds & CC.  Wait, I think we have a psych semester too at some point, although I'm not 100% positive about that.  But really how does 12 weeks of a clinical tell me that that's where I want to be for the next 3 years?  And also, it leaves so much that I HAVEN'T experienced.  How do I know if I want to work somewhere if I haven't ever experienced it?  Am I putting the cart before the horse?  Should I just stop wondering & wait until I've had my next 2 semesters to decide?  I also hate that clinicals aren't a TRUE representation of how it's going to be when you graduate.  Well, at least it hasn't been so far.  But I'm thinking next semester will be better b/c we have a chance to follow a preceptor & not an instructor.  I SERIOUSLY hope that I get a preceptor.  

Anyhoo,  summer is dragging along & I've been working as much as I can, that is when I don't get put on call.  Can I just say that being put on call kind of sucks?  I swear there are days when I PRAY that I'll get that phone call at 5:00 am (& of course it never comes) & then there's days like today that I WANT to work & of course the phone rings at 5:00 & here I am making $1.25 an hour while not being able to go over 30 minutes away from home just on the off chance that I get called in to work (hasn't happened yet).

What about you guys?  What are you doing for the summer?  Oh did I also mention that my daughter is in California until probably after the 4th?  I mean that child is my shadow & I haven't been without her by my side for more than 5 days since she's been born & now she's over 2000 miles away without me for a month!!  Sheesh, this doesn't help the summer to go any faster, although I have to admit I have been having a blast with my boy.  Lots of fishing this summer so far :D

Hope everyone else is having a great beginning of their summer!




Comments

  1. Usually it's that you figure out where you don't want to work before you figure out where you do.

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    Replies
    1. Girl don't I know it!! I definitely know where I DON'T want to work (can we say SNF!!!)

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  2. I agree with above. Also preceptorship is totally different than clinical you are right, and it is a much more natural representation of what it will really be like if not worse. I get all the bigger cases and harder cases because I need the most experience as a preceptor, also if there isn;t much to do, I am the one doing it, so it is almost more work than a real shift. Hopefully some of your classes will help you choose too. After my peds class I knew I did not want to go there. On the bright side, outside of that three years the best part of nursing is if you work in one area and don;t like it there are tons of completely different oppertunities to choose from.

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    Replies
    1. Which is one of the things I love best about nursing, the ability to move around.

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  3. You do not know. Between now and the next few years you will change your mind several times. Pediatrics, cardiology, neurology, primary care, etc, etc. Just concentrate on the nursing now and the experiences will guide you. Once you are an RN you will get experience and then float with an open mind to other units. Travel nursing was a great thing for me to see everything. I worked everywhere and attitude was your best friend. Even with the few grumpy staff on every floor just stay positive and learn. Love your patients and job and keep moving forward.

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    Replies
    1. Oh how I WISH I could do travel nursing, but alas that is something I can't do with 2 kids. Of course I do like the whole idea of floating to other units. I am actually even considering being in the float pool, I think that would be really fun to get to just go wherever they need you.

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