I am both a Certified Rehabilitation RN (CRRN) and an Infection Preventionist. I started in a rehab hospital, where I was eventually fortunate and ambitious enough to be promoted.

The rehab floor serves patients who are improving after their stroke, heart attack, horrible accident, surgery, etc., but aren't physically able to take care of themselves at home yet. In addition to medical care, our patients get physical and occupational therapy. Those who need it also get speech therapy. But the thing I love about it is that the overwhelming majority of my patients get better. After 2 years, you're allowed to sit for the CRRN exam if you want.

I oversimplify Infection Control as "my job is to make sure you don't get even sicker while you're in the hospital." Oddly enough, restaurant guys are fascinated by what I do. Part of my job is to be that annoying nurse reminding you to clean your freaking hands and cover the linen carts. Part of it is keeping track of the labs and iso rooms -- and every once in a while I have to be the germ detective. When we have HAIs I'm the person who has to report them to corporate, the county, the state, and/or the feds as appropriate. And meetings. Oh the meetings. Good news, no 12 hour shifts and almost no weekend shifts. Bad news, working 5 days a week. I will be studying to take the CIC exam, which will open up some additional opportunities.