The Mahogany Door

Beautifully written, from the heart of a nurse that was truly meant to be!

knowing the architect of mass gen'l, as well as its majestic reputation, i could especially relate to your anxieties.and being the only magnet hospital in boston, many people feel privileged to be a part of an institution, known world-wide for its excellence in certain specialties.best of everything to you.you sound like you'll fit right in...

Thanks everyone. I corrected the year (I wrote this last year, so I changed "this year" to 2007).... and the rating and everyone's "thanks" went away.

Quote from cityhawkThanks everyone. I corrected the year (I wrote this last year, so I changed "this year" to 2007).... and the rating and everyone's "thanks" went away.

Cityhawk sounds like he will be a great nurse. Just hope the nursing profession is worthy of him.

Thanks for the kind comments everyone! :rcgtku:

Its very nice to read, heart warming and inspiring article!! I had the same experience when I was new in nursing.Good luck!

Great and moving article - it touches perfectly on the many thresholds of changes we go through in life - perfectly applied to a first "nursing" experience. I love it!

What a great story and after being a nurse for almost thirty years I still feel that way when I enter a patients room. Good luck and I hope you enjoy nursing for many years...

Hi Bill,Just joined tonight. I enjoy reading your posts. I will be starting Curry's ACCEL in Jan. 2010. Anyway, I'll be a father of three (two identicals on the way in a few months!) and will be in need of a job immediately following graduation. I just have a few questions for you, if you don't mind:1. Did the PCA job get your foot in the door, that is, are you working at MGH?2. Are you still in touch w/many of your classmates and are they employed at the big hospitals?3. Do you think me being bilingual (Spanish) is actually a real plus at the time of getting hired?4. What are you guys making (if that's not fude to ask)? Thank you so much,Spanish

Hi Ryan, Thanks for the comments!Congratulations on the impending twins and good luck with that! In answer to your first question, yes I am working at MGH. I'm working on a different unit (and very different than PH22!). And working as a PCA did help. I can't recommend doing that enough (wherever you can -- I understand that PCA/tech jobs are harder to come by than when I got mine). I only worked about 1 shift/week (and none when it was exam time, etc)... I did do more shifts during the two breaks in the school program. The point being, you don't have to work many hours, just get a per diem gig and do what you can and still get good grades in school.I'll have to address the rest of your post later... have to run! Congrats on getting accepted into the Curry ACCEL program too!

Bill E. Rubin,Great article!