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How has your career path evolved since becoming a Registered Nurse, and what advice do you have for someone starting in this field to navigate and excel in their nursing career?
I'm currently enrolled in trade school, pursuing a career in healthcare to become a Registered Nurse. I am particularly interested in gaining insights from experienced Registered Nurses to better understand the nuances of the profession.
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John’s Answer
This is a great question. Getting as many responses as possible should help you to see the multiple possibilities and opportunities that will exist for you in your career. Let me start at the beginning of my career and work my way up to the present for you to show you how varied a path can be.
I began my career in EMS working as an EMT, then a paramedic. I went to nursing school because I was unhappy working multiple jobs to try and make ends meet. I went to an ADN program that was affiliated with a hospital system and when I graduated and obtained my license, I first convinced the EMS service I was working for to pay me more and create a Paramedic / RN position so I could transport critical care patients. I then got a job working in an ICU and did both roles for about 4 years. Following that, because I had dual licenses, a different EMS service was looking to work with a hospital system to create a new critical care transport team and I was hired to help put that team together and be its program director. After working in that role, I decided to work at a different hospital closer to my home as an off-shift supervisor. Simultaneously, my wife (also a nurse) and I had our daughter and we agreed that she would stay home for the first year, so I worked a second job at the VA in their ICU. The VA paid well, and when my wife decided to return to work, we both decided to work part time and on different days so one of us could be home with our daughter and negate the need for daycare. We did that for several years and I transferred to the ER from the ICU and then went to work in a cardiology office and learned how to interrogate and program pacemakers, then ran the device clinic for several years. I then moved to the hospital's Quality Department and then went to work in the disability insurance industry where I have been for most of the last 11 years, less one year during the pandemic when I worked for the CDC.
My wife, in sharp contrast to me, does not like to move around or change roles and for the entirety of her 26 year career she has worked for the same hospital in the ICU (where we met) or in the PACU.
My point here is that your career can be as varied as you'd like it to be. I always liked to try new things and sought opportunities. Some worked out and others were just OK moves. But I've never felt trapped or like I did not have options. And despite my lack of a BSN or advanced degree, I've been able to land management and leadership roles. But it certainly would have been easier if I'd had those.
Your own story will evolve over time and your path may be nothing like what you are planning on right now. I can tell you that I do not regret taking opportunities to challenge myself in new roles or places, and while that may not be for everyone, it has helped me to stay engaged over my career.
Best of luck to you on your own journey.
I began my career in EMS working as an EMT, then a paramedic. I went to nursing school because I was unhappy working multiple jobs to try and make ends meet. I went to an ADN program that was affiliated with a hospital system and when I graduated and obtained my license, I first convinced the EMS service I was working for to pay me more and create a Paramedic / RN position so I could transport critical care patients. I then got a job working in an ICU and did both roles for about 4 years. Following that, because I had dual licenses, a different EMS service was looking to work with a hospital system to create a new critical care transport team and I was hired to help put that team together and be its program director. After working in that role, I decided to work at a different hospital closer to my home as an off-shift supervisor. Simultaneously, my wife (also a nurse) and I had our daughter and we agreed that she would stay home for the first year, so I worked a second job at the VA in their ICU. The VA paid well, and when my wife decided to return to work, we both decided to work part time and on different days so one of us could be home with our daughter and negate the need for daycare. We did that for several years and I transferred to the ER from the ICU and then went to work in a cardiology office and learned how to interrogate and program pacemakers, then ran the device clinic for several years. I then moved to the hospital's Quality Department and then went to work in the disability insurance industry where I have been for most of the last 11 years, less one year during the pandemic when I worked for the CDC.
My wife, in sharp contrast to me, does not like to move around or change roles and for the entirety of her 26 year career she has worked for the same hospital in the ICU (where we met) or in the PACU.
My point here is that your career can be as varied as you'd like it to be. I always liked to try new things and sought opportunities. Some worked out and others were just OK moves. But I've never felt trapped or like I did not have options. And despite my lack of a BSN or advanced degree, I've been able to land management and leadership roles. But it certainly would have been easier if I'd had those.
Your own story will evolve over time and your path may be nothing like what you are planning on right now. I can tell you that I do not regret taking opportunities to challenge myself in new roles or places, and while that may not be for everyone, it has helped me to stay engaged over my career.
Best of luck to you on your own journey.
Thanks for your encouragement!
Yessybel
Updated
Hilda’s Answer
What an interesting question! I started as an EMT, then RN, and now FNP. My advice for you is always be looking towards the future, the present seems really hard and impossible but the future will be better and worth it I promise. ;)
Thank you so much for the advice.
Yessybel
Updated
Geovanni Arnel’s Answer
My journey as a registered nurse has been a diverse and fulfilling adventure. It began in the Philippines, with a role as an Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) nurse specializing in Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL). Here, I assisted patients and urologists throughout the entirety of their hour-long noninvasive surgical procedure. While this role provided valuable experience, I found myself eager for more variety in my nursing practice beyond treating renal stones. Consequently, I transitioned to a nurse educator position, reviewing nursing students in Medical-Surgical Nursing. Shortly thereafter, I embraced a role as a utilization review nurse in a health insurance company, where I meticulously reviewed medical records and approved health insurance claims.
My RN career journey continued as I relocated to Saipan, where I served as a compassionate home health nurse, providing skilled nursing services, including assessments and wound care, to elderly patients in the comfort of their homes. Additionally, I ventured into the realm of dialysis nursing, where I oversaw patients undergoing the essential four-hour dialysis procedure.
Presently settled in California, I've found a rewarding niche as a registered nurse specializing in writing medical guidelines, enjoying the flexibility of working remotely from home. My varied experiences highlight the multitude of opportunities available to registered nurses. I encourage aspiring nurses to explore diverse roles to discover their passions and excel in their nursing careers.
My RN career journey continued as I relocated to Saipan, where I served as a compassionate home health nurse, providing skilled nursing services, including assessments and wound care, to elderly patients in the comfort of their homes. Additionally, I ventured into the realm of dialysis nursing, where I oversaw patients undergoing the essential four-hour dialysis procedure.
Presently settled in California, I've found a rewarding niche as a registered nurse specializing in writing medical guidelines, enjoying the flexibility of working remotely from home. My varied experiences highlight the multitude of opportunities available to registered nurses. I encourage aspiring nurses to explore diverse roles to discover their passions and excel in their nursing careers.
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Yessybel