Picking a major, which hopefully will lead to a career, is often a stressful and daunting task in our young adult years. Fortunately for my guest today, she had friends and mentors along the way to guide her to nursing even though it meant switching majors. Observing the joy and fulfillment her friend got from her job as a nurse, and seeing the wealth of opportunities for continuous learning turned out to be just what she was looking for in a career for herself. If you are like my guest Jessie and thrive off of new experiences, ceaseless opportunities to learn and improve your skills, nursing may just be the best option for you as well.

Jessie is a specialized Neuro/Trauma Pediatric Nurse in Utah. She is also became a mother in the last year. Tune in as she gives advice to other mothers who wonder how to continue to nurse their infant while working as an RN.

My guest is also part of the quality and care improvement team on her unit and she gives great advice for nurses looking to up their career. Along with advice for current nurses, she also has tips for new grads looking for their first job.

This episode is PACKED with great info, fun stories, words of encouragement and empowerment. Take a listen to see what there is for you to learn!

Show Notes:

• Having little "healthcare experience" prior to becoming a nurse may not be as big a detriment as you think. In Jessie's opinion; "Some of the best nurses...are people that are shaped outside of the healthcare field prior to their entrance as a nurse".
• It is possible to land a job that allows management roles as well as bedside patient care.
• One of the great things about nursing is that it is broader and deeper than you may think at first.
• Finding a balance between work is tricky. It is important to remember that "Everyone's  journey is different, everyone's work and home life balance is going to be so different".
• Portable battery powered breast pumps really helped this RN in the transition from maternity leave back to full time work.
• Try getting on a pumping schedule 2 weeks before you go back in to work.
• Try keeping a consistent schedule when you do return to work as this may make for an easier transition for you and your family.
• Schedule quality time with your spouse, children, or even yourself to help maintain a balance.
• If you are looking to add on new roles at work, start by taking on small projects. Those will often lead to bigger ones, and opportunities for new responsibilities. 
• If you see that something could be done better, speak up!
• There is "always going to be someone with more experience than you. But they are NOT you so just go for it!"
• When it comes to interviews, whether in person or done virtually; ALWAYS dress professionally!
• For those in capstone in their nursing programs; by the end of your capstone, make it a goal to be as independent as possible and ask for feedback and friendly criticism. 

Links:

1. https://www.monster.com/jobs/search/?q=Nursing&intcid=skr_navigation_nhpso_searchMain  Looking to get back into nursing? try this site and the one below. They may have resume templates as well.
2. https://www.indeed.com/q-RN-l-Utah-jobs.html
3. https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1358281 Looking for a host site for your podcast show? Click this link and earn a $20 gift card for a paid plan. And, using this link will also help support our show.
4. https://www.thepodcasthost.com/academy/?ref=tristansoelberg If you are have an idea for a podcast