You Don't Have to Start in Med-Surg as a new Grad nurse

In reflecting on my career, I'm reminded of something I heard a lot of as a student: start in Med-Surg. I got lots of reasons. In hindsight, It would've been better to do the thinking myself regarding what I wanted instead of listening to those telling me how it is supposed to go.  Do You Have to start in Med-Surg as a new graduate nurse? No. That is my opinion after working in different specialties of nursing. It is not a bad idea to start in medical-surgical nursing but it is not a requirement or an absolute necessity. If you get the opportunity to work in a specialty you would like to end up in, please go ahead and take that opportunity. Your body will thank you later.  When I was graduating from college, a professor I admired told me to start in med-surg. And back then, it wasn't uncommon to here people say "start in med/surg". One of the reasons I sort of recall was so you can learn the basics of nursing and what not. Another rationale was that because you ar...
Post a Comment

Happy New Year to the FI/RE'd life.

 The last month of 2024 was busy. I wanted to finish up work around the house. I wanted to get other things done. And I had events to attend. I was at a wedding last month when someone asked where I worked. I simply said I didn't. They thought I was lying. I simply turned it around to ask them where they worked and tried to ask more questions about what they did but the couple came in. 

That said, I thought I would've possibly FIRE'd this year or next year. Instead, I felt the call to leave in the Fall of 2023. I am grateful to God for getting me through the year. To be honest, leaving seems scary. Even if the numbers look like they would work, it's not easy to leave. For me, I was afraid I wouldn't have income coming in. I was wrong. I needed to trust God because he more than sustained me throughout the year. It took me about 6 months to leave because I wanted to be sure in the beginning and then I got greedy and wanted to use up benefits. I wouldn't advice that. Just get out and leave things behind. 

While I wasn't worried in the beginning, I had some things happen that me wonder how I'm going to get through. I'm talking of big expenses I had not anticipated. But thanks be to God for seeing me through. I'm glad I left. I think if the major issue that occurred shortly after I left had happened prior, I may have stayed behind in the name of making money to pay for it but it got taken care of in grand style. I think most of us are used to working and are so comfortable in it that we shudder at the thought of doing something other than what we've been doing. 

That said, if you are thinking of getting FI/RE'd this year, go ahead and do it. Whatever you fear you've not planned for, let it come and you will find that you have survived when it's long gone. It wasn't an easy year but it was a good year. Even with the sad news I got and the subsequent costs associated with it, I'm grateful to God for seeing me through. Life is meant to be lived. My goal is to do my best. 

I think if I had relied on what ifs and maybes, I would've still been working in a place that was quite toxic in its own way. So, my encouragement is dare. Dare to take that plunge and FI/RE. Dare to live that life that you want to live. If you come across this blog and are on a F.I.R.E journey, when do you hope to retire? Are you there and wondering if you should? What are your aspirations for the new year. And if you don't have any planned out now, the year is still young. I'm trying to work mine out myself. 

To all my fellow nurses and those hoping to FI/RE, Happy New Year!

Here's a verse to keep in mind as you ponder on your decision making regarding FIRE and life:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3: 5 - 6 (NIV)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

What do you say when people ask about work after FI/RE?

Image
 I was at a wedding reception last December, so less than a month ago, when someone asked me where I worked. Usually, I get asked what I do for a living. And it's easy to say "I have a degree in Nursing". But this woman asked where I worked. I simply said I don't work. She didn't believe me. She asked if I was being truthful.  Considering I don't know her very well and primarily know her from the church, I don't know why she would think that I'm lying. But I quickly turned things around to ask her where she worked. And was asking more questions when the couple came in and so I stopped.  The question about what to say when people ask what you do for a living is something I've seen asked on the FIRE subreddits. So here  is my take on it.  First of all, I try not to talk about work. I think some people ask this question just to make conversation and in some cases, it's easy to say "I have a degree in Nursing". That tends to move the conv...
Read more

Things I do more since FIRE'd

Image
 There's something I've found myself doing lately. I sometimes walk into the bedroom on my second floor and look out the window. I didn't use to do that. I had family there and they would do that. They were retired but they didn't look out always. Still I had to change the blinds so that says something. I was usually amazed they knew who lived where, who was pregnant, who did what when I didn't even know. Or I would ask "is so and so pregnant" and would hear something like "...long time". While I didn't work full-time for the longest time and so was here, I still didn't look out or bothered with what was going on around here. I had houses sell on the block that I didn't even notice were for sale.  Today, I looked out and saw a pick-up truck across the street. The man in it had what looked like a cigarette and the windows was up. I was wondering why one would smoke inside a parked car with the windows up. I was also on my computer havi...
Read more