I am an ER/ICU/Crisis Psych nurse. (Interesting combo, eh?) Basically what all that means is that in the ER I primarily work critical patients, patients who are displaying mental health symptoms that pose a danger to themselves or their community, and occasionnally cover the ICU. Crisis psych patients often harm themselves, and can be very tricky cases to work. (Especially when that person does not want us to know what they overdosed on, or is not alert enough to tell us) I also teach behavior management classes to employees, and pre-hospital care from Basic First Aid to wilderness first responder. My last job was in management, and I loved the job, but didn't like playing politics with patient care. This is why I am a little freaked about losing function of my arm. I need that dexterity to treat critical care patients, and protect myself from patients who are physically threatening. I was planning on returning to school to be an NP and teach nursing, but that is on hold until this gets figured out. Hopefully I will be in class by Spring.

My cousin is a NICU nurse, and I don't know how you guys do it. There are a lot of miracles in NICU, but there is also a lot of tragedy. Babies make me all warm and fuzzy inside, and I can't imagine losing one. I don't think I could handle it. That said, my daughter was in NICU for 5 days, and without great people like you, she wouldn't have done well, and wouldn't be the beautiful, mouthy, opinionated teenager she is!

Tam