Still a baby.

When someone asks me how long I have been a nurse, I say, "9 years"...and then I take a deep breath and say, "but I stayed home for 4 of them, I took a break to raise a family. I am just starting back up, but working just part time."

Now, when someone asks my preceptor how long she has been a nurse, she says, "34 years. 16 years at this hospital."...and then she says, proudly, "but I took 6 years off to have a family, and then didn't work full time until my last one was off to college."

This profession is Truly Wonderful.