My biggest accomplishment is my career as a registered nurse. I still think to myself quite often that the smartest thing I ever did was go to nursing school. I had no big plan to be a nurse in high school or anything like that--in fact, in high school, and then after high school, I worked at Newport News Shipbuilding as an assistant to one of the engineers in the estimating department. That's where I got my love of computers. I kept learning different programs, and ended up putting together big proposals for government contracts for a company that specialized in managing on-base services like mess halls, laundries, and so forth. It was there I first used a PC, a spreadsheet program (Lotus 1-2-3) and Windows 1.0.
Anyhow, to make a long story short--we moved to Florida, and I couldn't find a job in the field I had been in. My then-husband worked nights, and I wanted to work nights too, so I went to the local hospital and applied for anything clerical. I ended up getting a job as a unit clerk in the Emergency Department. I was there all of 2 weeks, when I realized that I wanted to be doing what the nurses were doing! The hospital put me through EMT school, and then nursing school. I worked full-time for them--two doubles and an eight every weekend, and school all week. It was exhausting and exhilarating. I finally graduated, and moved to Boulder, CO. I went right to work in a surgical ICU, and spent the next 8 years working in ICUs in Nevada, Montana, and Alaska. Then, I switched to OR for a few years, and then to management in skilled nursing facilities. Here I am, a Director of Nursing, and so very glad I have this wonderful career.
Very interesting career path!
ReplyDeleteSmall world. I lived in those apartments across the street from the Newport News shipyards in late 1970! Ex was stationed on the USS Enterprise which was docked for repairs. You have had quite a career!
ReplyDeleteWow! You're an amazingly hard worker! You should definitely be proud of yourself!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny how life takes its own path? Like you, when I was in high school nursing was not high on my list of Things to Do When I Grow Up -- largely owing to the fact that I, as a recalcitrant youth, did NOT want to become my mother*. It took me nearly fifteen years to realize that her occupation was in my blood, and I am finally working my way toward Growing Up and honoring her by following her footsteps. My biggest accomplishment so far in my life is still my daughter, but that degree and ensuing career will be a very close second.
ReplyDelete*you almost certainly crossed paths with my mother at that ICU in Montana - a hospital whose patron we just recently celebrated? ;-)