RN wants to further career ... informatics? education? management?

[mikejsmithrn]

Before I was a nurse, I had a career in I.T. (working with computers in almost every aspect except programming...I could do it, but I hated it).

I am now an ASN RN. I began my career right out of school into the emergency room. In terms of bedside nursing, I LOVE the E.R. It's just the kind of nurse I am. I am an atypical E.R. nurse, though. I imagine (and witness on a regular basis) E.R. nurses experiencing compassion fatigue and being crude. I like to imagine myself as not being in that crowd...and believe that I am different than that. Other experienced nurses had a hard time accepting me on the unit. They thought I was something less-than an emergency nurse. In some respects, I was less...I didn't have their knowledge and experience. However, over time, I feel both acceptance and respect. Add in there that I am a man in the profession, and that has its own set of discussions. When I left full-time E.R., one of the nurses who I had the most trouble with gaining acceptance and respect, ended up publicly telling me that I was making a mistake in leaving the E.R. She thought I should stay, because I turned out to be a good emergency nurse. Wow, that was quite a high moment at work. The validation was rewarding.

I worked there for two years. Then, my nursing educator, knowing my background, approached me about a job in the I.T. department taking care of the electronic medical record (EMR). She thought it would be a good match, since they need a clinician and in I.T. professional in one body - besides...the E.R. needs specialized attention in the EMR and if one of their own goes there, then perhaps the E.R. would get the attention they need. I applied. It was more money (way more money), much better schedule (M-F 8-4, half the job can be done at home, no weekends, occasional call), less but different stress, and it was a great fit. I accepted the job offer of Clinical Systems Analyst, and additionally work in the E.D. per diem. I sometimes miss 100% clinical work, but when I work in the E.R., I get my fix and the world is right again. My new job has expanded my vision of the meaning of being a nurse. When I work with the EMR, I feel like I can affect outcomes. Instead of working with one patient at a time, I work with ALL our patients at any given time. It's a complex job.

In a way, however, I was disappointed. When I interviewed, it was explained to me that I would be working more closely with the nurses and managers to focus on workflows, outcomes and the flow of information. What I do more often is worry about how to accomplish the results of someone else doing that job in the last sentence. I later found out that what initially attracted me to this job fits the job description of a nursing informatics person. I get great satisfaction in making things work...but in making things work in an "outcomes based" idea flow.

That being said - I love precepting, educating, community health, evidence based practice, emergency medicine, technology and supervising - maybe even managing (I do have some non healthcare management experience). I have an entrepreneural spirit in me, too. I want to be involved in policy, as well as nursing in government, law, etc. I want to go for an RN to BSN or RN to MSN program. I can't go back to clinical nursing 100% of the time - it just doesn't pay enough, the schedule is terrible for my family life. I am trying to decide what to do next with my career. I can and will be happy at my desk doing what I do now, but I am in a place where I want to map out my future a bit and make long-term goals. I am looking for a mentor or coach to help tease these things out of me and help me make a plan. If there's anyone who thinks they could mentor, please find a way to contact me. Otherwise, maybe a good discussion can help. What do you think? Up for a good discussion to help mold the future of a young, entheusiastic, tech-head, nurse - crazy enough to think out of the box?