Kathy Bertrand:  

I've really enjoyed reading everyone's story on his/her profile so I thought I'd write one of my own! I went to college right out of high school. I attended CSUS for 2 years and then transferred to USF when I was accepted into their nursing program. I graduated in 1983. I moved back to Sacramento as there were no jobs for new grad. nurses in the bay area at that time. I was hired at American River Hospital (the only hospital in Sacramento hiring new grads). I spent 2 years as a "float" (working in all hospital depts.). In 1985 I transferred to the E.R. where I spent the next 14 years. I transferred to Mercy San Juan E.R. in 1999 and helped open the trauma center. I absolutely loved working in the E.R., but when staffing shortages prevented me from giving the kind of care I felt my patients deserved, I decided it was time to move on. So in 2001, after 16 years in the E.R., I moved to the Outpatient Surgery Center at Mercy General Hospital. I absolutely love my job! I work with a group of people who truly love nursi...Expand for more