hi everyone! i’m curious to hear from nurses who have found a good balance between loving their work and having energy for life outside of it. i’ve spent the last year working as a PCT on a blood cancer unit, and while i genuinely love patient care, the teamwork, and learning about the clinical side of things, working three 12s has been exhausting. i have ADHD and thrive in a busy, hands-on environment, but i also really value having time and energy for friends, family, hobbies, and eventually raising kids. i’d love to hear from nurses about a few things: -for those who started as CNAs/PCTs, how did the physical and emotional demands change when you became an RN? -have you found a specialty or schedule that allows you to have a fulfilling life outside of work? -for nurses with ADHD, has the constant stimulation been a positive or a negative long-term? -for those who transitioned away from bedside, how many years of experience did you need before making that move? -looking back, how has your relationship with nursing changed as you’ve gotten older or your priorities have shifted? i really admire the profession, but i’m also interested in what a sustainable nursing career actually looks like beyond the first few years. would love to hear your experiences, thank you!   submitted by