Dear Donna FAQs
by Donna Cardillo, RN, MA Dear Donna, I’ve worked in the ICU for three years and recently accepted a position in an ICU in a busy urban trauma center. I’ve been having second thoughts about the direction my career has taken. The constant stress and strain — not to mention working the night shift — are taking a toll. I’d like to take my career in a different direction: dialysis nursing. Would this be a mistake? How would I explain the short time I’ve been at my current job? Needs a Change Dear Needs a Change, If you’re certain you want to move on, it’s not necessarily a problem to do so. In fact, sometimes you’re better off making a clean break early on (when you know a position is not right for you) rather than prolonging the agony and leaving several months later. There’s also no point in staying in a situation that makes you unhappy. The important thing is to do a self-assessment to identify what you want and need from your next position and then thoroughly research your next move. Do that by conducting some informational interviews with those already working in the specialty, visiting the website of the American Nephrology Nurses’ Association (www.annanurse.org), and taking a tour of any prospective place of employment. Many nurses jump from job to job or specialty to specialty without really planning ahead. When asked why you were at your current job such a short time (presuming you’re applying for something like dialysis with more regular hours), you could say, “While I love trauma nursing, I realize that I’m ready for a change of venue in terms of type of work and work schedule. I’ve become interested in dialysis after researching the specialty and talking to others working in it.” Be prepared to say what interests you about the specialty. I doubt anyone will have an issue with your short stint on the night shift. Just be sure to focus primarily on why you want to work in that specialty. Donna Dear Donna, I have five years of experience in acute care. I have my BSN plus experience as an athletic trainer. I am also involved with horse rescue volunteering and am level 2 in Parelli natural horsemanship. I am getting my self-esteem everywhere but nursing. The patient load is so high that I feel like a failure trying to do 12 hours of work in eight. There’s little time to eat. Management could care less. The bottom line is that I need to do something different for my self-esteem and happiness. I am ready to move on. I need a change and may be experiencing burnout, and I want to have a plan in place for choices. Before I give my two-week notice, I want to have some direction. I have enough money saved to start school or move for another life. I have no attachments where I live, although I
do have a horse. I would like to get into wilderness nursing or work for the park service. Are there any courses, books, or Internet resources out there for this? Nurse on Horseback Dear Nurse on Horseback, Fortunately, you do have many options, and there is a way to combine your nursing with your love of horses and the outdoors. There indeed are nurses who work for the national park system. There are also nurses who work for wilderness programs. Some of these programs are for troubled youth; others are for survivors of cancer and other medical conditions and for women with survival experiences in general. Use Nursing Spectrum’s online article search feature at www.nursingspectrum.com and search for “national park.” Also search my online “Dear Donna” column archives for related posts using the terms “outdoors” and “horses.” There is something called hippotherapy, which uses horses in a therapeutic environment for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities. You can do an Internet search to learn more or contact the American Holistic Nurses Association (www.ahna.org) or the American Hippotherapy Association (www.americanequestrian.com/hippotherapy.htm). You might even contact some local stables and inquire about area hippotherapy programs. The secret to being happy and successful is to combine your other loves with your nursing career. Create your own career path — carve out your own niche. Follow the beat of your own drummer and soar. Donna Copyright Nursing Spectrum Nurse Wire (www.nursingspectrum.com).
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