What State you are in? Vic/NSW
What are you? (EEN, RN etc) EN, then RN, now Midwife
Where do you work? (Hospital, docs office, community etc) Maternity Hospital
Do you specialise in anything? (Mental health, oncology etc) Midwifery
What different things have you done and what do you enjoy the most? Medical, surgical, theatre, SCN, maternity ward, antenatal education and Birth suites. I am now in my dream job - I love being able to be there and support women & DP's from conception to the early days at home. I am finding a lot of interest in breast feeding suppoprt and wanting to do my lactation course. I also enjoyed surgical but our hospital is majorily under staffed so the work atmosphere sucked!! Midwifery is absolutely amazing. I must admit the lows are horrible and I wake my kifs up for cuddles after those shifts but once again it's being honoured to help the woman, DP & families through. Being a midwife is a special priviledge.
Shift work is hard but I am lucky that I have set days so that makes it easier.
Best of luck with your studies - nursing is a great job that will take you so many places you wont believe it.
Thanks so much for all of your replies , it is so interesting.. There are so many things you can do and try! I am so excited about my prospects. I am not really sure what I would like to specialise in yet but apparently by doing an advanced diploma or something EEN's can now do cardiac, which may interest me as I have congenital heart disease.. I don't know if I would want to be in a Coronary Care ward though with the aged.. Maybe young adults with CHD like me.. Thats if I get through this of course! I am only into week 3 and have been studying so hard! I have had to be really self disciplined! I get distracted easily too, but we have been advised its not a breeze, so study or you wont pass!! Wish me luck
Where do you work? (Hospital, docs office, community etc)
Emergency Department; Ambulance Service
Do you specialise in anything? (Mental health, oncology etc)
Emergencies! Fast Driving. Spotting Malingerers (I have an ICU/CCU Graduate Certificate)
What different things have you done and what do you enjoy the most?
I have been a volunteer first aider, an Army Medic, a very well trained hospital nurse. I have worked in central Aus with the Army helping indigenous eye patients. I'm always looking out for more in my field of emergency care, but could also just pack it up tomorrow too and change just for something different!
Where do you work? Hospital both public and private ( have worked in nursing homes and community centre as an RN)
Do you specialise in anything? Midwifery and theatre at present
What different things have you done and what do you enjoy the most? To start with emergency nursing, pallitive care, aged care, drug & alcohol, community general nursing (dressings etc), theatre but mostly Midwifery ( SCN, labour ward, antenatal and postnatal) most favourite is definately delivery suite and antenatal care. Although midwifery is my passion and I love it it is a hard place to work especially when I have secondary infertility. I hate shift work. Theatre holds no interest to me I am there for a break from midwifery. I plan on working in ICU and ED at some stage to increase my skills as I'll be doing remote nursing/midwifery when we move and I want these skills.
Where do you work? I don't at the moment - I've been primarily a SAHM for quite some time. However I have worked in a very wide range of areas. Private & Public Hospitals, Surgical, ED (a favourite place for me) small country hospitals which saw a wide range of issues - often quite confronting due to the lack of staff and the familiarity often with folks who were patients. (it's difficult resusing your best friends Dad or when a MVA comes in & they are friends etc etc etc - or when people want you to inspect their ulcers at the IGA!) Pathology collection, and I was an IV nurse, ICU (I really loved this), I did sleep medicine to certificate level, I worked for a respiratory physician, I worked in fetal medicine unit, (loved this) I also did education - I trained EEN's & did facilitation in clinical settings... (I loved education)...
I don't like nights - they really do me in. But that does depend on where I am working! I don't enjoy on any level aged care - I find it a bit tedious & sad... I enjoyed some time in women's health - I am passionate about women & their health.
I will do my mid at some stage - I think... I am concerned about working in "the system" as I hold strong ideals... I have considered and am still considering doing medicine... Not sure....
I love the aspect of just "being" with people. I find it an honour to share a journey however short with another in a time of need, illness, loss or anxiety. I also enjoy the learning & sharing that knowledge with others. I like the aspect of using my gut instincts... I love team work, learning from colleagues & clients!
I don't like the long hours that inevitable happen - nor do I like the power trips that many in this profession go on... It can be taxing the egos and tip toeing around. Institiutions are renown for this & hospitals are rife with the power games of different personalities.
I wish you well on your studies!
Last edited by Inanna; February 22nd, 2010 at 06:49 PM.
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, it is so interesting.. There are so many things you can do and try! I am so excited about my prospects. I am not really sure what I would like to specialise in yet but apparently by doing an advanced diploma or something EEN's can now do cardiac, which may interest me as I have congenital heart disease.. I don't know if I would want to be in a Coronary Care ward though with the aged.. Maybe young adults with CHD like me.. Thats if I get through this of course! I am only into week 3 and have been studying so hard! I have had to be really self disciplined! I get distracted easily too, but we have been advised its not a breeze, so study or you wont pass!! Wish me luck 
I know there are more of you out there!!! Keep them coming! 
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