Anyone NOT work as a bedside RN while in school?

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Specializes in neuro/med surg, acute rehab.

I am SO SO SO SO SO SO SO burnt out at my med-surg hospital job. I just finished my first semester of adult NP school. I still want to be a primary care adult NP (FAR FAR FAR AWAY FROM THE HOSPITAL) but cannot stomach the thought of working as a bedside nurse for the next 3 yrs. Not because of the patients but because of the environment and hours and management and, well, some of the patients (the drug seekers and ETOH withdrawals) and my body is literally breaking down (back pain, HTN, stress headaches) and I am seriously thinking about not even working as a nurse and just finishing school!

Anyone else?

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I just stopped working the floor in June never to return. I'm in year 2 of 3 in a BSN to DNP program and working was stress I did not need.

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Tell me about it!!! I had six patients one of whom I had to do primary care on during my last shift. I sometimes have seven. I had toyed with the idea of attending online classes (live lectures) straight after work....It would have been a total failure. I get so worn out after my shift to the point my brain can't absorb material.

I honestly love nursing and love talking to my patients and providing them with education and encouragement when they need it. However taking care of six patients with no break at all just makes me dislike my job. I use any possible excuse to call out even though I need the cash.

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Specializes in neuro/med surg, acute rehab.

I have been looking for a clinic job or something a bit. . .lighter. . .but they are hard to find. I need to work (for $$) so I am at a loss of what to do.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, CT Step-down, Home Health.

Have you thought about private duty? I took on a case when I started school and love it. After I take care of his needs, it leaves me with plenty of down time to work on class assignments. It was the best decision I made as I am usually able to get the bulk of my class work done there and still have a life outside of school and work.

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Soon2bAGNP. That's a good idea. Am staying at my current job for networking purposes. If I knew networking would yield me nothing...I would start looking for private duty. Now that you have put that idea in my head, how do you get a job like that and what hours do you work and what shift?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, CT Step-down, Home Health.

This job kind of fell into my lap. I have an independent provider number for Ohio Medicaid. They list all IPs on their website which enables potential clients to reach out to you if they are interested. My client is not a medicaid recipient (private pay), but uses the site to find his nurses. I work 40 hrs/week-- 2 12's and a 16. The other nurses on the case are really flexible so changing schedules, if needed, is not a problem. It is truly the perfect job for me right now....it also doesn't hurt that his family treats us like we are part of the family. This past summer, they payed for my husband and me to go to New York City for 4 days as a thank you for taking care of my client.

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I took a position as a case manager. I work in a large inner city hospital and work 12's on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. It still gives me the opportunity to review charts, interact with the team and patients. So far so good. I did Home Health Care for a while but schedule can be to chaotic for me.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Urgent Care.

Outpatient surgery is typically only M-F, could do PT or PRN at a center.

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I did not work as a nurse while doing my NP program, and I am glad I did not. The workload was intense. It was a financial sacrifice, but doable. OP, you will see plenty of unpleasant patients in primary care. ;0 And lots of them will be asking you to write for Percocet, Xanax, etc. It's one of the aspects of primary care I don't like, but there are plenty of other aspects I love.

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Hey guys! I really need some advice on this BSN to DNP program I am doing. I was searching through some forums and saw you were discussing not being an RN before being an NP. I am going on 2 years as an ER nurse (RN) and absolutely want out. I mean, the people I work with are fantastic but I am just not really happy with bedside nursing...

What are your thoughts on going to school full time to get a DNP and only having 2 years of RN experience. I have heard multiple points of view and would appreciate ANY tips/help.

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Hey guys! I really need some advice on this BSN to DNP program I am doing. I was searching through some forums and saw you were discussing not being an RN before being an NP. I am going on 2 years as an ER nurse (RN) and absolutely want out. I mean, the people I work with are fantastic but I am just not really happy with bedside nursing...

What are your thoughts on going to school full time to get a DNP and only having 2 years of RN experience. I have heard multiple points of view and would appreciate ANY tips/help.

I think you will be absolutely fine, but that is just my opinion. You will have the necessary patient/family communication skills in place, your nursing assessment skills will be fine, and two years of ER experience will give you a very good "radar" for situations that require fast action. Being an NP is very different from being an RN, and although many of your skills will transfer to the NP role, you will have to readjust how you think as an NP. That is normal. 2 years in an ER is plenty, IMO. Best of luck.

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