September has always been the month I have made career changes. It is because this is the time of year when school starts, and we all begin with a clean slate. Over the holiday weekend, I had time to reflect on my career.

I have had a great career, with some great experiences that enabled me to grow and see things from many points of view. If I had it to do over again, I would have gotten my bachelor’s in nursing, followed by a master’s in nursing. I might have been a nurse practitioner specializing in family medicine for those in need. I would have liked to work in an inner-city clinic to help underserved populations manage their health and healthcare needs. Another area I want to pursue is public policy to help develop fair policies on the local, state, or federal level to allow all access to safe, quality, affordable healthcare.

At 70, I am moving into retirement. Retirement means doing what I want when I want to do it, being on my own schedule, and picking the things that I want to do.

Today, I mentor and advise several people who are entering the fields of patient/health advocacy and case management. I do this in various ways, through my writing, public speaking, social media activity, and professional associations.

I teach two online classes at Cleveland State University for those who want to learn more about the area of patient advocacy. I have developed two certification review courses for the Case Management Institute for professionals preparing for the CCM certification exam and nurses specialized for the American Nurses Credentialing Center Nursing Case Management Exam. I also developed an on-demand course for professionals sitting for the Patient Advocate Certification Exam. These programs allowed me to share information that helps professionals understand how theory is implemented into actual practice and how critical thinking through exam questions can help pass a certification examination.

I still have a few cases, allowing me to keep my hand in practice. This helps me stay grounded and realize everyone needs an advocate when entering the complex healthcare system.

I have a few ideas for the to-do list I will work on over the next few months. I will keep you posted as they develop.

Looking back occasionally helps us see how we can move forward. What have you learned from your career? Please leave a comment in the comment section so we can learn from each other.

Thanks for reading, and have a good week!

 

 

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