My father was hospitalized for nearly six months prior to his passing in 1991.  During that time (and before I was a nurse), I had unfortunately witnessed some horrendous nursing care provided to him, and nurses who should be working in a profession which doesn't involve patient care, (such as working in a parking garage)! 

Even though I had lost my father, the experiences from his lengthy hospitalization provided me the inspiration to switch careers and become a nurse.  During my clinicals and still to this day, I've had the notion that each and every patient I've had could very well be my own father.  Over the many years I've been a nurse, I've tried to provide all my patients with the upmost care and attention I can possibly give to them.

Dad was supposed to have gone to a new rehabilitation hospital at some point.  I can remember how excited we all were to know he was finally getting better!  He never made it to the rehab hospital, but I'll always remember the joy and hope that the promise of the rehabilitation hospital had brought to my entire family.

I've worked in various rehab hospitals for nearly 17 years.  I've also worked in a critical care unit of a major hospital (too many codes, and far too much death) and on med-surg floors (good initial experience, but staffing ratios are fast becoming rather impossible & unsafe).  Nothing quite compares to the miracles I witness every day I work at the rehab hospital I'm presently employed.

  I had just finished earning my Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Northeastern University but I had no work/study experience in the management area (mostly accounting which I hated).  I bummed-around for a couple of months before my older sister (who was a pediatrician) talked me into nursing school as she remembered that I liked volunteering in the local hometown hospital.  And as they say, " the rest is history".  Twenty-seven years later I still love being a nurse (RN).  I've had my ups and downs like everyone else, but the "ups" have been more than the "downs".  I hope to eventually earn my M.S.N. in Nursing Education so I can teach future nurses, and give something back to the profession.

I began my career in the healthcare field in 1967 , completing a course in nursing assistance , later completing the LPN program , and then on to an associate degree in nursing , completed that program , and finally completed the BSN program. I worked mostly in the medical surgical areas, would like to do a master of nursing , hoping to teach in the clinical area . I have found nursing to be a difficult profession , yet very rewarding , one spend all or most of your time helping others in their most vulnerable state . My career evolve out of a process of elimination , At the time of my high school graduation , females did not have many choice in the professional world , also being African American , increased my being resisted in the workplace , not wanting to teach in the public schools or become a hairdresser , I choose nursing as a mean of self support . I have truly felt rewarded for helping others during their illiness , and even sometimes during the end of life . I say  to all students keep the faith , there will be trying times , when no words will be able to express your feeling , I believed in a higher powder that kept me going , may God bless each of you as you began your journey in the profession in nursing . You will touch a many lives .

Nursing was a career change for me. At the age of 40 (I'm 54 now), I found myself inspecting a bomb part that we were fabricating in the shop I worked at. For 16 years I was in production and machining mostly in aerospace. It had its' interesting moments but after 16 years of it, it seemed I was a hero one day and a zero the next. And let's face it, I was helping make bombs.

I turned to my Dad in my unhappy and unsatisfied state and he suggested that I try healthcare. He was a Navy nurse but wound up becoming a science teacher. Off I went on his suggestion.

For a year I worked as a certified home health aide and liked it. It was only two weeks of training to get certified. Then in 2000 I did an 11 month program for my LPN and worked as a nurse while I did the 4 years for my BSN. I got a little hospital experience on a telemetry unit but did not care for it. It seemed a little to "assembly-line" for me. The majority of my work has been in long term care. I love the elderly. Believe it or not, though, I'm having trouble finding a position after taking a year off to work on the home I bought. It seems this economy is not helping as a result of increased facilitys' use of LPNs because they are easier on the bottom line.

I had an interview today but I got the impression they did not like the year off thing. We'll see. Be well, folks.     Bill

I wanted to be a nurse since age 14. Didn't go to college right out of HS.  Started age 20. Got married age 21. Everytime I wanted to finish nursing school, I would be pregnant. Finally started when I had a 6 year old, 3 year old, and 6 month old. Completed school with the great support of my husband at age 31.  Started out in Med surg. Moved and worked at a large hospital in Dayton, OH for 3.5 years in Intensive Care. Did home health for 1.5 years. Took a small break when we moved to Indianapolis. Moved back to NC where my husband is from. Got a job as a charge nurse on the surgical floor because they had just filled the last ICU position. Worked a little while there, and was the cardiac rehab educator for a while. Finally started giving some chemo in the new cancer center. I ended up becoming the manager and growing the department for 8 years. Took on the role also as the out patient heart failure manager.

We bought a house in another town, and I left management. I had continued to work with oncology patients for 4.5 years. I really liked Oncology and have been an Oncology Certified Nurse for 13 years.

I recently left floor nursing, adn I am a Nurse Educator. I travel between 4 states and love it.

I also LOVE natural health. I have completed 2 Wellness Coaching programs, and I am building a wellness coaching business as a nurse that I plan to have one day as a full time business.

I started out as a CNA back in 1996.  I took a paid training course at a nursing home, then was employed there for several months on 1st shift until I could find a 2nd shift job (I had small kids and didnt want to put them in daycare)!

Actually, I had just had an ovary removed and the CNA assigned to me was incompetent, rude and ignorant.  When I saw an ad in the paper advertising a paid CNA training course, I thought of my incompetent CNA and I knew I could do her job much better.  So I took the job, passed the state exam, etc.

After 8 years as a CNA (a good one) I got tired of asking my nurses for explanations for the things I was doing, like why do I have to let my patient dangle her legs over the side of the bed before getting her up into the chair.  I was given many different answers, none of which I liked, so that made me want to learn more.  Several of the nurses I worked with suggested I go to nursing school.

I new I would never be able to give 100% to my education with 2 children and a needy husband (ex, now!).  When I left him in 2003, I started applying at different schools, took the entrance exams and was accepted.  I graduated 2nd out of 31 students, got high honors and an award for clinical excellence.  I couldnt have done it without my daughters.  They let me study when I needed to, helped with the housework, even helped me study!  My youngest made index cards of the different hormones to help me study, and if I got stuck on something, I would have one of my kids "say" what I was stuck on.  That way it stuck in my brain in their voices instead of mine.  That worked very well when studying!

I have only been an LPN since 2004, but I have worked at several LTC nursing homes, in rehab, respiratory and a pediatricians office.  Now I need to work as a sit-down nurse; no more charge nurse, floor nurse, float, etc.  I cant stand for too long and cant walk very far without excruciating pain in my legs.  I really miss the hands on care I used to give so well.

I graduated high school in 1982, which during my senior year, I was riding out ,( as an observer), with one of the local Fire departments. I had the opportunity to ride on the ambulance several times, and loved it. As my passion grew for emergency medicine, the fire department, offered to place me in the EMT/ Paramedic program at Southwestern Medical School. I accepted,graduated,abd started working for Care Flight ground and air ambulance.
I continued to love emergency medicine, as I flew with Care Flight, but felt I would have more opportunities as a Registered Nurse. So in 1983,I started the nursing program at Brookhaven College, and graduated in 1989.
I applied for the," Nurse ICU internship program," at Parkland
Memorial Hospital, and started working in the Burn, Neuro, surgical,
cardiovascular, ICU's, and loved the trauma
aspect of nursing. As I floated throughout all ICU departments,
My love for emergency medicine remained, and I stayed in the Surgical ICU for many years. After marriage, I chose to take a position with Cigna Insurance Company, working a a pre-Auth, RN.
Having a more conducive schedule.
Since then, I have performed almost all functions as an Insurance review nurse, and am starting a new venture with a pharmacological company, performing research, as well case managent functions, with patients just starting on new, experimental medications, for Hepatitis C patients.
I love nursing, and the flexibility to choose so many different fields,had been a blessing to me.

Sincerely,
Sheri Marsh,RN

P

I guess it began back in 1972, when I was a kid. I just loved tending to my animals and treating them as if they were pts. I did the same thing with all my dolls. My folks-Mom and Dad had alot to do with why I wanted to be a nurse!! Both have chronic medical conditions- Crohn's, Hashimoto's, Hypertension, Diabetes Type 2, Arthritis, and Gout!!! I just wanted to be able to look after them, but they'll never admit they need me. I know that they depend on me, and I'd be lost without them!!!

I've always loved taking care of older adults, and my last job before LPN school was taking care of a Alzheimer's pt. She was a sweet, little lady who had been a school teacher-Math for 35 years. I  was an overnight CNA - 3days/nights usually Fri-Mon. I was responsible for all her care-personal as well as household duties. You learn alot from someone when you're actually living with them. She became a dear friend and I loved being around her. I believe that one day we all will need someone to look after us, and I pray it's someone who cares about what they do like I do!!!!! Home Health that's my niche!!!!!!

Shonna