Working in a medical office for most of her 30-year career, licensed practical nurse Nancy Slaker has developed a range of work experience. The DeKalb College graduate started out in a hospital setting, but within a few years, she moved to a physician's office.

"I really didn't like shift work," she said. "Working in a medical practice offers regular hours and a wide selection of skills."

Today, she's a nurse at Northeast Georgia Plastic Surgery Associates in Gainesville, where many of her duties are clinical. She takes patient histories and assists in minor surgeries. The practice provides breast implants and reductions, breast reconstruction for cancer patients, and abdominal and cosmetic procedures. The office also performs hand surgeries.

"It's been a good challenge for me to be here," said Slaker, who joined the practice in 2005. "It's a fast-paced environment and a great place to work."

Working in various specialties over the years has kept Slaker's career interesting. "Every time I changed specialties, it's been a whole new working experience. I've been able to broaden my skills and learn new things," she said.

From her first medical practice job in rheumatology, Slaker moved into gastroenterology for several years. Then she worked for an Atlanta internal medicine practice, although that job was more focused on administrative work and office management.

"In my last job, I ran the office," she said. "I really like the patient interaction and the surgery experience assisting the physicians in my current job. Until I came here, I'd never worked in minor surgery before."

Northeast Georgia Plastic Surgery Associates doesn't have an in-house lab, so the nurses draw blood themselves.

"I'm polishing up old skills that I learned 30 years ago in nursing school," Slaker said. "Now I get to use even more of my clinical experience, and we have regular work hours."