D.D. Millett reflects on her profound calling to be an emergency room nurse, highlighting the emotional and miraculous experiences of nursing. The document discusses the significant job growth in nursing, projecting an increase from 2.74 million to 3.45 million nurses from 2010 to 2020 and emphasizes the diverse opportunities within various nursing specialties. It encourages aspiring nurses to explore numerous fields, reinforcing that nursing caters to a wide array of passions and personal interests.

1. D. D. Millett, RN, BS

2. Becoming a Registered Nurse
was most definitely a calling
for me and I felt a strong
passion for the Emergency
Room. Ever since I graduated
years ago, it has always been
the ER. My life as a nurse has
been filled with surprises, a
lot of laughter, crying into my
soul, being horrified, and
filled and blessed by
miracles…all in one day.

3. Nursing may not be a “calling” for everyone; but
for most of us, we hear the call. Per the
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, in
January of 2012, the job growth for nurses
increased from 43,300 new nursing positions to
49,000 ~ in just one month. From 2010 to 2020,
the expected number of nurses will grow from
2.74 million to 3.45 million, an increase of 26%,
with the average age of a nurse to be 46 and
into their 50s. Nurses are the largest group
within the healthcare workforce and the
demand for nurses, as well as the multiple fields
in nursing, will only increase exponentially.

4. Of course, ER nurses are
just one of many types of
nurses. Whatever your
passion and your
interests, you can explore
all areas of nursing.

5. OB/GYN: gynecological patients
Orthopedic: lots-n-lots of bones
Oncology: cancer patients
OR: operating room patients
Peds: sick children
Psych: therapeutic & medications
Pulmonary: non-surgical lung
patients
Cardiac: deals with heart problems &
telemetry
Cardiothoracic: heart & lung post-op
General Medicine: everything left!!
Hemodialysis: dialysis patients
Labor and Delivery: welcoming
babies!
Med/Surg: general surgery patients
Neurology: stroke or brain injuries
Nursery: caring for the newborns

7. Neonatal ICU: nurses for the premies
and sickest of babies
Neuro ICU: head traumas & major
stroke patients
PACU (Post Anesthesia Unit): post-op
patients
Pediatric ICU: caring for the sickest of
children
Surgical ICU: general surgical patients
with complications
Cardiac Care Unit (CCU): critical heart
patients who have not had surgery
Cardiothoracic ICU: post-op heart &
lung patients
Emergency Room: fast paced, see
everything
Flight Nursing: Transport patients to
hospitals, usually no doctors on board
~ nurse(s) only
General ICU: sick, but not surgical
(yet)

9. Lactation Consultant: nurses assist mothers
in learning how to breast feed
Occupational Health: independently
observe & assess workers' health status
with respect to job tasks and hazards
School Nurse: addresses student health
issues and plans and implements programs
to promote good health
Telephone/Triage Nurse: answer phones,
either at home or in an office; insurance
information or need medical attention
Clinical Research Nurse: assist gathering and
analyzing data for clinical trials; enroll
patients
Clinical Education Specialist: provides
education, training, and consulting support
to clinical nurses; troubleshooter
Forensic Nursing Career: “not for the faint of
heart” nurse, vital & invaluable
Informatics Nursing: *HOT* jobs as of late;
use knowledge to aid in developing
computer software programs and charting
systems for hospitals

12. Your opportunities await and they are limitless….