Coming Out of Retirement to Coach Nurses

From a long career with a lot of pivots to becoming a career coach for nurses

Welcome to Nurse Ascent, a twice-weekly newsletter created by nurses for nurses. This week, one nurses shares her long career in nursing that started with a lot of pivots. Now in retirement, she's found herself coaching other nurses on their next career moves. We also discuss contact tracing with the Ebola outbreak, a block for a new quarantine facility in Kenya, as well as record numbers of tick cases in some parts of the US.

But first, we have a question for you: We’re exploring new project-based work opportunities for nurses. Would you be interested in paid work that uses your nursing knowledge to help train AI models? Reply to this email yes, no, or maybe.

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Operating Room Registered Nurse (RN), HCA Healthcare Summerville Hospital

Florence, SC

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Albuquerque, NM

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Registered Nurse (RN) - Critical Care Float Pool, HCA Florida North Florida Hospital

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Registered Nurse (RN) - Medical-Surgical (MedSurg), Wesley Medical Center

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Nurse - Emergency Department, Incredible Health

Methuen, MA

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Registered Nurse (RN) Medical Acute Care - Day Shift, HCA HealthONE Mountain Ridge

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Nurse Spotlight: Rebecca Sanchez-Emery MSN, RN, PHN

What I do for work

I currently work as a nurse career coach. At the company I founded, My Nurse Specialty, I work with both new and experienced nurses and help them map out where they want to go with their career. I find that about 90% of people who come to me are looking for new jobs in the hospital, some looking for more glamorous nursing jobs, or just generally want to work from home as a nurse, but are not sure what they want. That’s where I come in with my podcast and my one-to-one sessions with nurses.

How I got here

I’ve had a 35+ year career as a RN and recently retired. Soon after my retirement began, I found myself helping nurses strategically build their careers. Personally, in my first 10 years as a nurse, I went through 15 different specialty changes in the hospital. Outside the hospital setting, I’ve also worked in community health, in school nursing and also as a charge nurse in a children’s psychiatric unit. From school nursing, I transitioned through management roles in schools. My last job before retirement was as supervisor for nurses at an elite private school for athletes.

Part of what I do now in my coaching podcast is ask individuals how they want to grow within the area of nursing they like. In discovery calls with the nurses I coach, they often tell me they would have loved to work in a certain niche, but they feel they got stuck in another area. In my coaching practice, I believe you can absolutely build your resume for 1 year goal and also 5 year goal dream job.

Headlines in Healthcare

Kenya Court Temporarily Blocks US Hospital in Kenya

On Tuesday, the Kenyan High Court extended its order to stop a Trump administration plan to build a field hospital for Americans exposed to or infected with Ebola, The Washington Post reports. The facility was constructed by the U.S. military on an air base on the outskirts of Nanyuki, a town in central Kenya. Critics of the facility note negative impacts of the rush in building something new with no track record, no established standard of care, no policy on when these U.S. citizens can return to their home country, especially when world-class facilities have already been built in the US for the situation.

Only 20% of Ebola Contacts are Being Traced

The International Rescue Committee warns that only 20% of people who came in contact with Ebola patients are being tracked, suggesting that case numbers are "likely far worse" than official figures suggest. The aid organization said response efforts are struggling due to delayed detection and dangerously low levels of contact tracing. According to ABC News, there are more than 1,000 suspected cases and more than 200 suspected deaths in the DRC, including 282 cases and 42 deaths that have been confirmed.

U.S. States are Seeing Worst Tick Rates in 10 Years

CDC data shows a tick bite incident rate of 188 emergency room visits per every 100,000 in April in the Northeastern U.S., showing the highest recorded rate for April since 2017, The Hill reports. Tick bite activity typically peaks in May and remains elevated in June before dropping off until another smaller spike in the fall. Ticks are not only annoying but also capable of spreading diseases like Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and a syndrome that can make you allergic to red meat and other animal products.

More on Rebecca

A day in my life

I’m newly starting my day with strength training or a workout boot camp with friends that might include hiking, weight lifting, or walking. Afterwards, on my work days, I grab a coffee and open my computer to work. This varies daily as I make my own schedule, but some days look like client calls, newsletter writing, outreach for the podcast on Linked In, connecting with fellow nurses on Facebook or other marketing and content creation.

What I do for fun

I’m a stickler for skincare and also am a bit of a Disney nerd! I love to travel and meet new people. I often travel with friends my age who are also retired. I’m the go-to friend to say yes to a trip when someone asks. This past year I went to Italy, Japan, Hawaii, Chicago, and NYC. I've raised 4 kids who were very involved in extra-curricular activities while both my husband and I were working full-time. Now I’m 62 and love stay active!

Share your story & be entered to win

As part of our effort to spotlight nurses, we’d love to feature you in an upcoming issue of Nurse Ascent! Share your story by filling out our quick interview form, and you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a $50 gift card.

An image of author Katie Scoggins is pictured.

Meet the author:
Katie Scoggins
(RN, BSN & Health Writer)

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