“To do what nobody else will do, in a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through … that is what it is to be a nurse.” – Rawsi Williams

I’ve been a nurse since 2008.  So much has changed since then, but some things have never changed.  I started my career while in nursing school as a PCT on a Med/Surg unit.  I knew this life wasn’t for me, but it gave me so many things.  My first patient as a nurse, my first drip, my first upset family, my first runner, my first code, my first death, and so much more.  I worked as a PCT for three years while finishing my BSN.  After graduation, I stayed because I knew that I was comfortable there to grow my skills.  I stayed for one year.  During that time, I found my passion for nursing, and like I said, it wasn’t Med/Surg.  I had fallen in love with surgery.  When I was on orientation, my patient was going down to surgery.  My preceptor at the time asked if they would let me watch.  Man, I was so excited!  It was a simple lap chole on a young healthy male.  I watched the nurse as she scurried around.  I watched the CST set up her table and then assist the surgeon.  I was in awe of the work.  Little did I know there was so much more to consider.  

So, as I finished my first year on my unit, I just knew something was missing.  I set up some time to speak with my manager.  I told her I didn’t think this life was for me and that I wanted surgery.  She was beyond ecstatic that I had finally found my passion.  See, she knew I was a good nurse, but I was missing something.  It was my passion.  Literally right then and there, she picked up her phone and called the manager of surgery.  They were in desperate of staff, but unsure about taking a fairly new nurse with no experience in the operating room.  Long story short, four weeks later, I found myself in the surgery department, on orientation, wondering if I had made the biggest mistake of my life.  LOL! 16 years later, I am now the manager of surgical services in a small town in the Midwest.  I am living my passion.

With that being said, I have so many ideas on how to improve our profession. Just a few thoughts, that I will elaborate on in this blog are: schooling- why has it not changed in 20 years, licensing for LPNs, LVNs, etc, legislation, efficiencies, and so much more. I hope you come along with me on this journey