“Your problem is how you are going to spend this one and precious life you have been issued. Whether you’re going to spend it trying to look good and creating the illusion that you have power over circumstances, or whether you are going to taste it, enjoy it and find out the truth about who you are.”
::Anne Lamott::
There are those days in our years, and moments in our days when our attention is forced from underfoot, and we look out with somewhat startled surprise at the unexpected terrain we are actually crossing.
Such a moment occurred when I was recently offered a new job opportunity. In fact it landed in my in-box on my birthday.
The project is for 6 months. And although it is very much tied up with the health system, it is not nursing.
After much deliberation, and discussion with Kelly I have decided to take a leap of faith and see where this leads.
I have been working as an emergency nurse for 23 years now. For the last 2 years I have been acting in the role of Clinical Nurse Consultant.
Recently, that job was advertised and I was unsuccessful in my application for it.
So, for the foreseeable future at least, the doors for moving into any substantial positions of leadership within my department are closed.
This is a situation that I am finding personally and professionally frustrating right now for many reasons that I will not bore you with here.
Don’t get me wrong, working on the floor as a clinical nurse is a privilege that I hope I have acknowledged in my writings on this blog. But I had aspired to more.
So on my 49th birthday, at a time when I was questioning my own leadership capabilities as a nurse and wondering where exactly I was going in my remaining career, this opportunity has arisen.
As far as this blog is concerned, Im hoping that over the next 6 months the release from the stresses and strains of working in the emergency department will give me some more time to develop my writings, both personal and clinical on this site with a renewed vigor (I have big plans).
But I guess as a sort of credibility disclaimer I just wanted you all to know that for the next wee while, although I will continue to write as a nurse I will not be working as one.
I hope you will stick around to watch it all unfold.
Good luck Ian, and do keep writing
Good luck Ian! Just through Impacted Nurse you have sown so much into nursing, Im sure you do the same in your work. Therefore my hope is that in your new adventure you will reap all the good things you have sown and will have a blast! Watch out for the new and improved Ian.
Go for it Ian and never look back
I have worked full time as a nurse for 40 years. I am now 60 (OMG)
like you i had an offer ‘out of the blue’ 4 years ago – I took the plunge albiet nervously – and I should never have worried because its is the best nursing job I have ever had,
Look Forward to following your progress.
Keep Smiling
Mandy
Ian,
Finding you in my in- box always brings a smile to my face. I love the way you write and the way you nurse.
What ever you do please share it in your thoughts and words.
Also any tips on reading ECGs. . . .just thought I would slip that in.
Take care.
This is such exciting news! Congratulations Ian and enjoy the time away from the ED.
And the departments wonder why they loose good senior staff. It’s so frustrating when you are doing the job for 2 years to obviously help them out and then whammo suddenly your now not good enough. Well good onya for sticking it to them it will be their loss. We see this kind of thing happening all the time to good experienced staff, so unfair. All the best in your new venture Ian.
Good Luck Ian, and enjoy. I have taken many different paths during my nursing career, and enjoyed every opportunity. I too am taking a leap of faith by moving interstate with no pre-arranged nursing job. Scary, but…..life is short and every change is an adventure waiting to happen.
Mate
All the best for your future endeavours, hoping it all runs smoothly and the withdrawals from the ED floor want be to severe. Will you still be heading down for the CENA conference in Tassie?
Anyway take care, all the best – let me know if i can help you out in anyway.
Kane
I suspect he’s obviously lying about his age to gain credibility, as with the bald look he can’t outwardly fake the grey hairs… Mr Miller looks way too young to be 49.
Congratulations Ian on taking the leap and doing something different. I hope it keeps you inspired and provides you with many new challenges.
Good luck in your change of direction. Please do keep writing this blog. Only discovered you several months ago but enjoy your offerings immensely!
At 49 you are but a youngster.
I have been nursing since I was 17 and 46 years later I am still in awe of the work we nurses are privileged to do and still enjoy it..well most days anyway.
The good thing about the profession is that it takes many forms so enjoy your sabbatical from ED.
Congratulations! ….and thanks for continuing impacted nurse,your incredible talent to share and teach with great humour always brightens my day.
I am a recent devotee to your blog. This is wonderful news and congratulations are in order!. Age should never be a barrier to your career. Go to it with gusto and remember its all part of your life plan. I look forward to reading more as you travel along.
Good luck Ian, we will miss you. I am always cheered by your willingness to tell us stories on how not to do it, so I never felt stupid asking a silly question (like “Why don’t we run to code blues?” “Because otherwise you will get there and vomit in the physiotherapy pool”). Keep us updated on your workings……
Good luck, enjoy your leap of faith, we have but one life to live and the key is to live it well. Nursing teaches us to enjoy what we’ve got cause we don’t get a second chance. I’ll look forward to reading about your journey with pleasure. Xox
Everything happens for a reason at the exact right moment. Good luck. Cant wait to hear happens in the next chapter.
Ian,
Let’s not get confused. U are and will always be a nurse! The scope of nursing is not limited to the clinical area. Without input from researchers, academics, policy developers, educators and governmental advisors nursing would not have a chance to expand like it has!
You are a nurse, your nursing experience will assist you in your new job.
Looking forward to your needy venture!!
Hello so glad you have decided to keep writing as I just discovered your web pages etc. I have been in nursing 30 yrs and I don’t know where the time has gone. If they didn’t promote you stuff them another opportunity is opening I hope it goes well maybe we can share our experiences I write too but at he minute the job is all consuming
Take care
Caleygirl
Yay Ian! You need a bloody rest mate, how you’ve lasted that long in that place is beyond me! If they don’t have the sense to promote you, then it’s their loss. Enjoy
At age 49 you’re viewing your career as its “remainder”? Either way, wishing you the best in the new direction. You have tremendous creativity that can be developed and “nursed” (
) , a rarity in the medical field! Good Luck!