Need some options advice please

[thekid]

Hi all, I'm hoping to hear from seasoned veterans (or new grads) . I graduated with a two year in nursing in 1999. Did some work in long term care and hospice but never really loved the work like I thought I would. I took a break soon after graduating , I had been doing nothing but school and work my entire life. Ten years later (yea, I know) I reinstated my nurse license and found a job in case management. I enjoyed the salary but again the work was not very fulfilling.

I originally had an interest in labor/delivery but outgrew the passion or desire for it. Since reinstating my license, I've worked in case management and psychiatric nursing (which I have a bit of interest in) but nothing I've come across has really grabbed my interest.

I don't want to just throw in the towel on nursing. I'm 40 so I could go back to school but have had some health issues (temporary) .

Lol I don't know what I want. I live in a remote area so there's limited options, but I am not even sure what I want. I enjoyed the autonomy and being able to work from home when I was in case management and hospice. I am lacking big time in clinical skills and with the competition of new grads and those with hands on experience, I feel like a fish out of water.

Possibly someone can suggest some different areas of nursing (that are not necessarily hands on) that I have overlooked. I enjoy writing, working from home or in the field, would prefer part time hours, I enjoy "consulting" type of work , and (holds breath) low pressure work.

Thanks for any replies. I am about a year shy of a BS in psychology so I could complete a dual BS in nursing.. but I really want to like my job or the career options before pursuing it. I feel kind of stuck but not sure where to proceed.

[theRNJedi]

It sounds like you haven't found your passion; or at least the job that gives you that rewarding feeling of fulfillment. You are not very unique in that everyone desires that type of job, but many people don't/won't find it. With that said, I think the beauty of nursing is how vast it is as a profession. You can take almost any type of personality and skill-set and find some specialty or sub-specialty in nursing that 'fits' you. Some nurses job-hop several times looking for that 'one perfect position' that satisfies every desirable aspect of a job. If you're hung-up on something that idealistic, you may miss out on the good things a job can offer. (i.e., just because a job is not 'perfect' doesn't mean it isn't a good job with positive attributes that you can enjoy for the long haul.)

With that said, I would recommend identifying your top three priorities of what you need out of a job (i.e., income, schedule, location, benefits, opportunity for advancement, direct patient care, non-clinical, etc...) Once you narrow down your 'must-haves' about a job, then survey your opportunities through reviewing online job boards and search engines. Going to school is a great way to expand your network while advancing your education, so that in itself can provide opportunities you may not think of. Also, you should be proactive in conveying your interests to your organization's leadership and admin, they may take you up on your interest to try you in new roles and responsibilities. Choosing to remain in non-clinical and non-patient care roles will limit your options, but that doesn't mean there are no options. You will just need to filter out that aspect when searching for jobs.

As far as consulting goes, you would need to gain some significant experience in a particular specialty to genuinely qualify and market yourself as a consultant. If that's your end goal, then you'd need to choose a job and stick with it and possibly even become certified. Companies will only pay for you as a consultant if you possess a body of expert knowledge to advise others in.

In the end, cush jobs like you desire that are low pressure, allow working from home, allow for part time, and have good income are earned through a significant amount of years, effort, and experience; and even still may never come. They're competitive and don't just 'happen' to everyone. If that's your end goal, you may have to elevate your professional profile with hard work, advanced education, certifications, and getting more active in extra-curricular work and attend professional conferences.

Some considerations that might be doable for you is: Tele-nursing (working for insurance companies), social work/case management, mental health nursing, physician office practice or clinic, legal nurse consulting, nursing education/instructor (online or on-site), health coaching, informatics, and medical-device company (companies need clinicians to sell, educate, and support medical devices).

Good luck.

TheRNJedi