Alternatives to bedside nursing??

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It would be great if I could get some ideas for "alternative" nursing jobs a new grad would qualify for. I passed boards in June for the RN license, but am miserable working on the cardiovascular unit of my hospital. :o I hate to sound negative, but I have a growing dislike of cardiac surgeons and doctors. I hate working 3 12-hour night shifts in a row, and I hate the fact that every single shift option leaves me needing babysitting (even day shifts - they start at 6:30am, but daycare doesn't open until 6:30 - what does a single parent do????).

I will be paying off my student loans for the rest of my life, yet am already unhappy with the profession they paid for! I never envisioned a long bedside career, but thought I would be able to do it for a couple of years at least and get experience. Two of the areas I am sincerely interested in are neonatal care and forensic nursing, but as far as I've heard, you have to know someone to get into the neonatal care (it always seems to be an "exclusive club"), and I don't even know where to begin looking for forensic opportunities in my area. Anybody ever here of medical examiners using nurses on staff? That sounds interesting to me.:rolleyes:

Any suggestions? Please??!!

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For forensic nursing try applying to your state department of corrections. Otherwise apply to work in a state forensic hospital.

Maybe Jail Health? That is usually a Public Health nursing position.

Just some thoughts.

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I am in Toronto, and for RNs I have seen these jobs with regular hours

oral surgery RNs - some will train you, they need rns around for putting the patients under, you monitor and assist

day surgery

public health -teaching health promotion

family planning clinics

doctors clinics

diabetes educator

have a talk with a career counsellor they should help you find something..

good luck

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

1. Occupational health nursing

2. Urgent care clinic

3. University research

4. Psychiatric intake nursing

5. Telephone triage

6. Director of nurses @ LTCF

7. Pharmaceutical sales

8. Public health clinic

9. Prison nursing

10. Campground nursing

11. Flight nursing

12. Hospice/Respite

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

there are alot of non-bedside nursing jobs. it depends on where you live the insurance companies are big and also there are alot of clinics here that hire new grads. some places won't even look at you until you have been a nurse at least a year though. good luck in your search.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

School nursing. Occupational health.

Working another area in the same hospital might not help with your babysitting issue, but you might enjoy the work a lot more. I'd be looking inside the facility as well as outside.

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

I wouldn't worry about what you've "heard". If NICU nursing appeals to you by all means bite the bullet and put in your application. Don't let rumors impede your progress because, believe me, nursing is riddled with them. Maybe if you talk to other mums with children to see how they work out their schedule you might gain some insight on how to make it work for you. Some hospitals have their own day care which have hours that cater to medical professionals. Perhaps finding a hospital with more flexible scheduling (8hr, 10hr shifts, non-traditional hours). Other posters have given you great ideas for non-bedside career choices. The only one I quibble with is the flight nursing one. You need a lot more experience and it's not good for single parents as we very often don't get off on time and what I mean by that is sometimes 3-4 hours over or more.Good Luck!

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I don't know how much experience you've gathered on your unit so far, but I think having a year experience as a new nurse bodes well for moving into another area away from the bedside such as forensics. Did you know that Kaplan offers an online course for certification?

~Wilson

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.

Most of the suggestions offered are good ones. However, most of them require at a minimum one year of experience. And two or three years is much better and gives you a better depth of knowledge and more skills to market. If you don't want to toss aside those years you spent getting your education, you are going to have to put up with working at a bedside for a while longer.

Woody:balloons:

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Specializes in Adult/ped/neonatal/ICU/Trauma ER nurse.

Why don't you try to ask the human resources of your hospital if you can transfer to other unit like pediatric if neonatal is impossible ,make sure you let the manager of neonatal know you will love to be trained there so, if she gets short of staff maybe she will give you the chance and training ,I will move to pediatric floor or post anesthesia or ER ,you have cardiac training is a plus in adult ER,the doctors in the ER and pediatrics are very nice .At least in my hospital. Do not leave your hospital for one bad experience .They should help you .They need you the shortage is coming .Let them know you are unhappy .Tell human resources you would like to explore other units instead of quitting the job.

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