1. I get paid hourly, and when at work the meter is running. When on OT, the meter runs even faster
2. I know when the shift starts and when it ends.
3. When the shift is over, it is over and I am under no further obligation to my employer.
4. If I have a crappy shift, it eventually ends. Someone else takes over and I go home. Unlike many of those in managment or other white collar jobs, who have to face the same set of problems the next day, I come to work the next day to a different set problems.
5. Unlike many white collar workers, when I go on vacation, the work is getting done and not piling up for me to do when I get back. When I am on vacation, I am on vacation and am under no obligation to communicate with my employer in any way, shape, or form.
6. When it is my day off, I am under no obligation to respond to my employer. If they call, I ignore it and let the answering machine pick it up. And no, I am not interested in working an extra night shift.
7. If I need some extra cash, I work extra and make some cash. Where I work OT almost always available.
8. I work .75 which is a perfect balance and I am under no obligation to work more if I don't want to.
9. It is a great fall back position to have if I want to do something else. I can cut back to part time if I want have more time to do something else. Most white collar positions are full time or nothing. In nursing I can work as much or little as I want to.
Now some of you people who are new grads might be reading this and because you are having a difficult time finding a job, think I am full of it. Not so. Once you have some experience and something to offer a whole new world will open up.
As someone who transitioned not so long ago from bedside nursing to an office job, I have to say that I agree with nearly everything in your post. Item 5 about work not piling up when you're on vacation rings especially true for me -- now that I have a desk job, there's a big old pile of stuff in my inbox whenever I get back from a vacation, plus a whole bunch of voicemail messages. There's another PHN in our program, who can cover stuff that absolutely cannot wait till I get back, but most of it does just pile up for me.
The only item I would take issue with is item 6, at least for me. It's still true in my office job that I'm under no obligation to talk to my employer when I'm off from work, in fact this is even more true in my current job. In my hospital job, it's true I didn't have to answer the phone (and I didn't), but in my current job, there's no reason anyone would ever even call -- in fact, management doesn't work weekends either, so there's no one to call me.
But yes, bedside nursing definitely does have advantages! For me, the M-F 9-5 schedule actually works best, but I can understand the attraction of 3 12's and 4 days off!
While I agree most of it's true. Part of the OP's statement is very regional. The opportunity for overtime isn't available in my area like it used to be. I remember my first job where they'd ask if any of us wanted to work extra the next night, and it was asked almost daily. Now...I'm asking and they never need me. The disadvantage of living in an area where there's an overabundance of nurses.
While I agree most of it's true. Part of the OP's statement is very regional. The opportunity for overtime isn't available in my area like it used to be. I remember my first job where they'd ask if any of us wanted to work extra the next night, and it was asked almost daily. Now...I'm asking and they never need me. The disadvantage of living in an area where there's an overabundance of nurses.
I am the OP and you are partially right. There is an abundance of nurses in my area but there is not an abundance of skilled/experienced nurses. I live in Rochester, MN home of the Mayo Clinic and yes there are more nursing schools then you can shake a stick at, so as a new grad things are very competitive.
I have made a concerted effort to learn new things and aquire new skills all the time. I have worked Cardicac Surgical ICU for over 2 decades and in my area can take care of any patient any time any place. So yes in general the OT might not be there, it is almost always there for the nurses who can do devices, VAD, IABP, ECMO, and the nurses who are also trained to do PEDS and do Charge.
And because I have aquired a lot of "skilz" I get asked to do training and do lectures/presentations as well. Doing stuff like that to me is getting paid to have fun.
Also through out the years I have looked at floating not as a negative but as a positive and have aquired skills that make me competent in other areas as well. I may not be an expert but you can plug me into any area in the hospital with the exception of OB/LD, or OR, and I can hold my own. So even if there is not OT in my particular area, it is most likely there in other areas if I am willing to do it.
Getting my first gig as a new grad was tough, but after that I took advantage of every opportunity to aquire skills for my clinical toolbox, and since then have never had a problem finding a job anywhere. There are jobs out there in most places but not for those who require a lot of orientation. If one has the skills to hit the ground running in a short period of time there are jobs.
noahsmama
827 Posts
As someone who transitioned not so long ago from bedside nursing to an office job, I have to say that I agree with nearly everything in your post. Item 5 about work not piling up when you're on vacation rings especially true for me -- now that I have a desk job, there's a big old pile of stuff in my inbox whenever I get back from a vacation, plus a whole bunch of voicemail messages. There's another PHN in our program, who can cover stuff that absolutely cannot wait till I get back, but most of it does just pile up for me.
The only item I would take issue with is item 6, at least for me. It's still true in my office job that I'm under no obligation to talk to my employer when I'm off from work, in fact this is even more true in my current job. In my hospital job, it's true I didn't have to answer the phone (and I didn't), but in my current job, there's no reason anyone would ever even call -- in fact, management doesn't work weekends either, so there's no one to call me.
But yes, bedside nursing definitely does have advantages! For me, the M-F 9-5 schedule actually works best, but I can understand the attraction of 3 12's and 4 days off!