Is there anybody out there???

I am an agency nurse …. That necessity that every healthcare environment ends up having to call in when there is no one else !! I am an agency nurse because i am the mother of three children and this is the easiest way to work. Agency nursing  offers me flexibility combined with an excellant rate of pay. What’s more I actually enjoy being an agency nurse !!! I enjoy the challenge of going somewhere new each day, I love being able to spend time with patients that ordinary nurses don’t, I love my job…….

However , and there is always an  however,  I am finding it very difficult to develop myself professionally.   Because of the nature of agency work (sometimes being last minute) it is difficult to commit to study days. I myself know that agency nurses often have other commitments, making time in which they can professionally develop in short supply and very inflexible. 

Which generally leaves me with one option – to study under my own steam.  There is lots of stuff out there but the problem is that I either have to pay lots for it or it involves private study on the web or via journals.  Every professional bone in my body is crying out for some discussion with a colleague.  For agency nurses this does not exist. We are often quite isolated with no real colleagues and struggle to be in the information loop. The “network” pages on professional websites are merely bulletin boards with no forum for discussion.  Most of the CPD stuff I have come across is just chucking stuff at me to digest and not allowing any exchange of information.  And even when I have been to study days and study sessions there is no one to discuss with or share the information with after.  Professionally speaking agency nursing can be a lonely job. 

Is there anyone out there that who wants to discuss current nursing events and articles??  Problems they are experiencing?? Or share things that are working???  Is there anyone that wants to share information on interesting and good value study days???  Is there anyone out there who is like me ?????

Is there anybody out there ……………….