With all of the wedding hullabaloo, I haven't had the chance to blog about a very important change taking place in my life: I quit my job at Children's. After over six years of working on the inpatient cardiology floor, I decided it was time to move on.
Without going into too many details, I can say that I don't feel like I was given the opportunities I deserved that would have allowed me to grow as a nurse. For whatever reason, my manager apparently preferred abusing his "power" rather than seeing a great nurse reach her potential. After three years of "waiting it out" to see if things would improve, things actually got worse, so I made the decision to leave.
Quitting was one of the hardest things I've had to do. I am not a quitter, and I am extremely loyal by nature. Children's was where I learned how to be the nurse I am today. I've had so many incredible experiences there with my patients - some painful, some exciting. The people I have worked side by side with for the last six years of my life became like family to me, and leaving them has been the most difficult part. They have seen me through some of the hardest times in my life, and the most joyful. They are the main reason I stayed as long as I did, and I truly hope to keep in touch with them. Like I said, they became my family, and I love them dearly.
I have accepted a job at Medical City Children's hospital in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit for kids, so I'm stepping up the intensity a bit. Never in a million years did I think I'd want to be an ICU nurse! The thought of ventillators and open sternums used to scare me to death. But through the experiences I've had, I now realize that the days I enjoy the most at work are the ones when I have the sickest patients. I am finally confident enough in my nursing to know that I actually do know what to do when a kid codes, and I trust myself and my instincts enough to want to be there to help. (When I first started, I'd run the other way! No joke.) I also feel compelled to help with palliative care, when patients are dying. As extremely difficult as it is, I truly feel called to be there - both for the patient and the family during that time.
My first day of orientation is May 10th, and I'm so excited! When I visited the hospital and the unit during my interview, I fell in love with the people there. Everyone is SO friendly and helpful, and I really think it is an environment I will thrive in.
Until then, I'm going to enjoy the rest of my time off, and settle in to married life. This means I will finally get to use all this great kitchen stuff we got for wedding gifts!
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3 comments:
Welcome back! I was just telling my mom the other day about this change of yours because one of Mindi's closest friends' daughter (got that?) is currently at Children's and was just told that the 9 month old baby needs a heart transplant. Anyway, Mom told Mindi, "Lorin works there!", and I was all sad because, well, you don't.
Best of luck at your new home, friend. They're lucky to have you.
Congratulations on such an amazing opportunity! I think I have told you before but my niece is a patient of Dr Mendaloff so my family is very familiar with Medical City Childrens. You may even see my sister in your unit from time to time. She is very involved in a non profit organization called Amazing Little Hearts. Anyway...all that to say congrats!
I hate that your manager did not give you the opportunities you deserved. You are a fabulous nurse and will always be one of our favorites from Everett's sometimes frequent (not any more-yay!) hospital stays at Children's. I hope that working at Medical City helps you to reach your full potential as a nurse. You'll do great! Will you be working with Dr. Tortoriello? If you two of my all time favs have left Children's to go to the same place.
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