???s-Considering leaving bedside nursing

Specialties Informatics

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.

I am in the primary stage of being considered for a System Analyst or Trainer position for an established vendor. My choice of which one I would want.

I do have prior experience, before my BSN, with the business world, programmers and training. Each of the 2 positions has elements that appeal to me & I could thrive at either one. I just can't see myself doing ER nursing much longer due to the common issues involved in nursing burnout. Since the opportunity and life circumstances just came together to push me towards getting out of bedside nursing, I thought I would look at this as opportunity knocking.

What I think I am really getting at with all of this background information is: What is it like transitioning from the bedside to either of these two possible positions? What type of rewards/benefits have others found making the transition? Can you still feel that you can make a positive difference in the lives of others (my main reason for putting up with all the BS that comes along with floor nursing)?

Thanks

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Specializes in Mostly: Occup Health; ER; Informatics.

You are wise to learn about this potential change before making it. My thoughts about it:

- Instead of "helping those who most need it" you will "help others who help those who most need it". Your satisfaction from patient care will be indirect at best.

- Instead of code browns and 4-point restraints and stacked waiting rooms, you will deal with project delays and unfixable software bugs and political maneuvers.

- The good feeling you get from finally getting vital software to work is nearly as good as getting that thank-you from the dear old patient. Just remember that you'll seldom be thanked by software users.

- You might become more locked-in to your existing hospital. As an ER nurse, any hospital anywhere would take you, if you wanted to change. As an informaticist, your worth is greatest to the hospital or vendor for which your knowledge is deepest.

- If your ER team was a tight group (as many are), you will become an outsider even if you remain an ER analyst/trainer. Your new peers will be info-geeks (like me).

Good luck with your decision!

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I am in the primary stage of being considered for a System Analyst or Trainer position for an established vendor. My choice of which one I would want.

I do have prior experience, before my BSN, with the business world, programmers and training. Each of the 2 positions has elements that appeal to me & I could thrive at either one. I just can't see myself doing ER nursing much longer due to the common issues involved in nursing burnout. Since the opportunity and life circumstances just came together to push me towards getting out of bedside nursing, I thought I would look at this as opportunity knocking.

What I think I am really getting at with all of this background information is: What is it like transitioning from the bedside to either of these two possible positions? What type of rewards/benefits have others found making the transition? Can you still feel that you can make a positive difference in the lives of others (my main reason for putting up with all the BS that comes along with floor nursing)?

Thanks

Benefits and rewards:

I finally felt appreciated for my hard work. As pathetic as that sounds, when I did clinical work I worked long hours, and it seemed that instead of getting ahead, we only got more work and less appreciation. One time I remember volunteering for a 16 hour shift, and at some point i was starving, and since the cafeteria was closed, I snuck in to the doctor's lounge as they kept that stocked with all types of goodies; next day i almost got written up for 'violating department policy' (haahahah). But that's nurses for you.

Anyway, I'm glad I left that clinical stuff behind, and even though i miss the medical stuff, you wouldn't pay me high enough to go back to it. I love what I do now, and no more back problems for me; as far as making a difference, well, I have trained so many nurses in using computers that I think i have made a difference in their own personal lives :cool: As the cliche says, Just do it, and you won't be looking back. That's a promise.

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I love it.

The rewards are that you work no weekends, evenings or holidays.

Unless, like me the past two weeks, you're rolling out something new and need to get the clinical staff when they're in.

You will be appreciated for doing a good job instead of being reamed out because you don't "fit in." The other nurses will no longer perceive you as a threat/

You will be doing geek work. Your code browns will be binary.

You don't have to wear pajamas to work.

You can advocate for the clinical staff. I talk geek and nurse and it's a great help. Our medical director is thrilled because I can get the data out of the 400 and format it, AND I don't wonder why he needs it and balk at providing it.

And I makee more money doing this than I did working NOCS on a floor caring for 42 frail, demented elders.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.

Well, I finally got submitted to the company today by a recruiter that has placed 6 nurses with them. Was told that I will know on Monday if the company wants to interview me.

Thanks to all the advise I received here, I know in my heart that this is right for me. I am praying that the company feels the same way about me as I do about them. Trying not to get my hopes up too much; but, I really want this soooooo bad. Never thought I would get this excited about something related to nursing.

Thank you all for your help. Even if this doesn't go through, I now know what direction to take.

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Fingers crossed!

I've been thinking about you.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.

Really bummed out. The Company doesn't want me. The recruiter told me that it is because I do not have enough local experience where the company's internal old boy network can check on me (investigate me through local contacts). The recruiter suggested that I take a staff position for a year in the area & reapply. Kind of makes me wonder about a place that would only hire people they can check up on through, let's just say, nontraditional means.

Thank you all for your help. I'll try to figure out where to go from here. Probably will have to go back to staff for a while. Not going to be too happy about it, but have to bring home a paycheck while I continue to look somewhere else. I am open to any possible suggestions.

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Well, crud.

Do you have any systems experience at all? Maybe you can get into a local hospital as the informatics nurse.

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Specializes in Informatics, critical care, research.

You could try applying with the software vendors. If they are hiring right now and you get in, you will be trained. You have to be able to travel at least 75% of the time after you are trained. That usually means arriving to work on Monday and leaving on Thursday, with Friday used to catch up on emails, submitting expense reports etc... These policies can vary by company. With enough experience you can go work for a consulting firm which offers the best money but most travel. You could eventually work as an independent (same as consulting but you are the company and the administrative/legal responsibilities that entails but more money also or you can work as a clinical analyst at a local hospital (pay is less than consulting but more than bedside, 9-5 Mon-Fri with weekends and holidays off except during the activation.

I found it in general a much improved change over the bedside. In my experience, I am treated with a lot more respect and there is a greater level of collegial behavior as opposed to the bedside. Did I mention the pay is better?:yeah:

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Specializes in Mostly: Occup Health; ER; Informatics.

For anyone who has worked bedside but not deskside, here is an awesome article on making the switch:

http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/hx_3/archive/2008/06/13/got-clinicians.aspx

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