Why I'm Not Ashamed to Work in a Rehab

I'm a Registered Nurse, and for the last month I've been working in a rehab facility. I don't work in the Intensive Care Unit, I don't work in the Emergency Department, I don't work on the Oncology floor, and I am okay with that. 

Some of you may be grimacing, but "why a rehab?". It definitely isn't my dream job, but it's a job. In fact, it's a great starting job. You may be wondering, how with my background, I ended up where I did. Well I can't answer that. I can't say I didn't try for something different. But this is where I ended up, for now. This isn't the end of the road for me. My career JUST started. I've been a nurse for what feels like all of ten minutes.

I will admit, I wasn't jumping at the chance to work in a rehab. Actually I was mad. I didn't want to start from the bottom again. I wanted to start where I left off. I started working as a CNA in 2012, and the day after graduation I got a job working in home care. Not glamorous, but I was just happy to be working in the field. By 2013 I had worked in a nursing home and a retirement home. Then I started working in a hospital. At that moment, I knew I was going to nursing school within the next year, but it was big. I started from the bottom and worked my way up to one of the best CNA jobs I could have had. I worked in the ICU, ED, medical floors, Pediatric floors, and other floors. The ICU would request to have me, total win there. So when I was in nursing school it didn't occur to me that I might have to work my way up to the top. I kind of had this idea that I already put that time in and that was the end of it. God has a funny way of reminding us who's in charge.

I've realized in the last few years that God uses unforeseen circumstances to lead us. God is in charge of our lives, and our life plan. I wish I had control over the things that happen, and to a point I do, but he has control over my control. If God wants something to happen, it happens.

The last 6 months have not been part of my plan. My plan was to pass boards, the first time, and get a job in the Emergency Department right away. Two things that did not happen. I have hit many bumps in the road, and I keep finding more bumps. Just when things seem to be settling down, I'm hit with the reality that this life is not by my book.

I work in a rehab, and I am okay with that. I am proud of my job, because I earned this job. I put in the time and applied for jobs, I put in the work and went for interviews. I got this job on my own, with the help of God and the support from my family and friends. It's not my dream job, but for now, it's giving me experience. This job is teaching me, preparing me for the next step. I may get treated different from my classmates, because I have a 'crappy' job, and they feel bad for me. But I just smile - I got this job because someone chose me based on my own person, and not because they were told from professors to choose me. I may be getting constant emails from my director about how this job is not giving me the 'experience' I need to be a successful Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. But for now, this job is giving me experience to be a good nurse. I may have to take a year off to get that 'better' experience, and I will cross that bridge when it comes. But for now, I am enjoying what I have in front of me. Because this is Gods plan, and I am trusting that his plan is the best plan. 

So many times in life, we have this idea of how our life needs to be, and we can't get that view out of our minds. We just can't see what we don't want to see. We are constantly comparing our life to those around us. That girl has my dream job, that guy drives my dream car, that girl has the most handsome boyfriend, that girl has the prettiest shoes, or I wish I had his life because she gets to travel so much. STOP doing that! You have no idea what their life is like, what you see on the outside is so deceiving. Because while you are envious of their life, they may be envious of yours. I wish I had her hair, her boots are so cute, her dog is so well behaved, or she is the best cook. Start being thankful for what you have and not what you wished you had.

So no, I am not ashamed to work in a rehab, because this is exactly were God has planted me. It may not be the exact desire of my heart, but there is time. I am thankful for life and that I have a job to go to. I am thankful that I can pay my bills support myself. I am not going to waste time being jealous of others or complaining about the current situations I am in. I am loved by Jesus, and have faith in the future.