Can you believe that we are already into October? I sure can not! It feels like just yesterday that I graduated nursing school and began the PNR program. Now I am considered an "experienced nurse." How crazy is that! 2009 has brought about many life changes for me. From graduation, to getting my first "big girl job," to living on my own. I can honestly say it has been amazing and I can not wait for what is yet to come! Right now at work I am continuing to adjust to night shift. I go through phases of really enjoying it to completely hating it. But, I just keep reminding myself that I am making more money and am having the opportunity to care for sicker patients than I would have on day shift. I just had my 6 month evaluation with my supervisor and I am just still in shock about how much time flies! I think my weeks go by faster having only 3 day work weeks.
In the PICU, we have to pick an area of focus, either cardiac or medical. You can still float into the different areas but the nurses generally work in which ever focus area they choose. I am now having to make that decision of what to focus on. I enjoy working in both areas for many different reasons. You never know what kind of patients you will get while working in the medical area and it is great experience. From trauma patients, to oncology patients, the medical focus area offers a variety of patient diagnoses to become familiar with. I have a lot to learn and understand about cardiac patients and all the different congenital anomalies, but I love caring for them because they are always busy. Cardiac is very specialized but it challenges me in many different ways.
There are pros and cons to each area of focus. Does anyone have any suggestions? I know that no matter what I decide to focus on, I will continue to learn something new everyday. I just want to be challenged and enjoy caring for my patients. There always seems to be some sort of decision that has to be made. Maybe that is just adulthood!
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