I PASSED State Boards (RN licensure exam) in July, 1997!  My first job was  working in a smaller-ish hospital in the Cleveland, Ohio area. I worked critical care, a complex step-down unit was home with lots of floats to ICU and CCU. Next, I was doing ER nursing in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Talk about challenge! despite the very hard work, the frustration, and the endless stress there is also very real gratification. Nursing isn't in a box down here - it's kind of like the old days ... either nursing does it or it just doesn't get done .... I came back to Cleveland after my mom passed away to 'take care of business' and never left. I did agency nursing  for 5 years in various Cleveland area hospitals - icu, ccu, er mostly. I did get to do a couple neat assignment at University Hospitals in radiation oncology and their angiolab.  I found it interesting and challenging with most of the benefits and little of the politics.

financial pressure by a certain un-named health care provider killed agency nursing in Cleveland. After a year of very frequent cancellations I decided to get a 'real job'. I applied at a few of the units I enjoyed most as agency & lucked out getting a position at my favorite CCU unit. I've been there a year now & so far so good. Given the political pressure exerted by our 'modern health care system', we'll see how long that lasts. 

And I know why I choose nursing - the song you're listening to tells it all ... One moment in time when I'm more than I thought I could be ... Those moments are what nursing is all about ... those moments when I truly make a difference in someone's life ... even a little bit, for a little while ....

Some interests include music (all kinds from alternate to classical), reading (at least a novel a week), studying and learning, outdoors (hiking is my favorite), the mountains (The Rockies are my favorite place), computer programming (Windows & NT, VB, VI, a little JAVA& html - mostly), and people...