Move to teaching
After 19 years of caring for people in the hospital, I decided it was time to leave the bedside. I had been planning to teach nursing classes for years, but this year seemed to be the appropriate time. A friend was teaching clinical classes at a local college and recommended me for their faculty. I have felt a renewed sense of purpose since I started interacting weekly with those just starting their careers. They are still excited about learning, eager to gain the skills they will need to care for patients. Prior to leaving the hospital environment, I was in leadership. Part of my job was listening to patients concerns and complaints. In addition to providing direct patient care, my hospital needed the unit level leadership to bridge the divide between floor nursing duties and administrative responsibilities.