Are you really not a "real nurse" unless you work in acute care?

cardiacfreak, ADN · Jul 6, 2015

I'm starting to think acute care nursing (which is what I do), is for masochists.

Dranger · Jul 6, 2015

I'm starting to think acute care nursing (which is what I do), is for masochists.

After a massive trauma/code night in the ICU I am starting to think the same. A nice outpatient or desk job sounds good right now...

...But I need that adrenaline fix somehow.

Guest805836 · Jul 7, 2015

In my nursing school I had two rotations in psych, one of which was in outpatient care (yay for re-inserting people into social life and work and stuff); two "public health" things : a nursery and a center for kids with disabilities, where we worked in coordination with physical therapists, etc.. Also assisted living for the elderly... I had classmates who went to school nursing, prison nursing..

(I still ended up in bedside, but I have a number of classmates who have gone in different ways : home health, management in assisted living, dialysis,...)

I think it is very beneficial to future nurses to see how many different possibilities there are for a nurse ! That's one of the coolest things about this job : you can always find your niche :)

estancia5 · Jul 7, 2015

I don't think I have ever heard this from fellow nurses but in school our instructors did say it. They made it clear that a "real nurse's" place was as an RN in acute. That just made me wonder if they considered themselves real nurses since they could no longer handle the floor and moved on to teaching. But to really answer your question, no you do not need to be in acute to be a real nurse. Nurses are needed anywhere people have healthcare issues, be it acute, a doctor's office or the other end of the phone for an advice line. Bottom line we are all helping those in need. We are all nurses.

Libby1987 · Jul 7, 2015

Did I already post this? (I'm losing it!)

One of my cohorts went directly to psych nursing and my ridiculous 22 yr old self made some cheeky comment about her easy job. She simply said come do it if I thought it so easy. Her tone made it clear how ignorant I was, which I was.

We had a public health semester which could have been much more enlightening and interesting but it was made so boring. I think she could have dragged us out to see situations where the nurse made a real impact, not just a couple of mom/baby checks and attempts at teaching.

I don't even remember my HH exposure. When I take out students, usually med, I make sure they leave remembering what we can do in home health and how they can impact or apply our services. So sad that I don't even remember anything about what would become my career, it was just an afterthought squeezed into a dull rotation.

mark_khaven · Jul 7, 2015

I'am an occupational health nurse. and to be honest im insecure for those who are working in acute care, emergency and psych.

FlyingScot, RN · Jul 7, 2015

After a massive trauma/code night in the ICU I am starting to think the same. A nice outpatient or desk job sounds good right now...
...But I need that adrenaline fix somehow.

Trust me, we get plenty of adrenaline fixes. It takes 10 minutes for the code team to get to us. 10 minutes of a code with minimal staff and equipment gets your heart racing a bit!

macfar28 · Jul 7, 2015

I have to agree. There is no shortage of adrenaline rushes in psych. For example, a schizophrenic who believes you are trying to kill them or a gang member who's essentially hiding out on our unit, keeps it interesting.

pthelper777, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2015

I just graduated with a BSN and we also had clinicals in all of those settings except for an insurance company, but funny enough my 1st career was in commercial insurance/workers' comp claims & worked alongside nurse case managers. Something Id consider doing after gaining much need experience (currently an emergency nurse - which was my dream job since high school)

Donelway · Jul 7, 2015

I understand the sentiment and, sadly, I must admit I've felt that way in the past. I think it comes from a misunderstanding of what clinic nurses do. The perception I use to have is that clinic nurses simply take vitals and collect medical history. Once in a while they give shots. That's it. Obviously this is wrong but, as with most things, those who do not understand are first to judge. I did not understand until I had a sick child. The peds clinic nurses are some of the most knowledgable nurses I've met and more often then not have been able to help me out without ever seeing the doc. I learned a new respect for the profession and am sorry I ever though less of them. Again, it comes down to understanding. Be a champion for your profession and spread the word that outpatient nursing may be different but just as important as acute care. Thank you for what you do.

JMBnurse · Jul 8, 2015

We are all real nurses no matter where we work. I worked in acute care for 13 years after graduation and have worked the past 6 yrs in Case Management. I may be a little old school in believing that new graduates should work in acute care for at least one year before moving on to other areas. I think it's best to have that experience under your belt and then you can find the right area that's perfect for you and not look back. It's highly doubtful I will ever work in acute care again, but I don't think I would be the nurse I am now or have the position I currently have without that experience. That is just my opinion for the best path, but as long as you like your job, you are definitely a "real nurse".

nurseactivist · Jul 8, 2015

I worked in a lot of different units in acute care. However, my brain kept telling me I wasn't a "real nurse" until I was a critical care nurse. Well, I did that for one year and then decided I didn't need to do critical care to prove myself I was a nurse. As I aged, I worked in an outpatient clinic; I worked as a case manager and a public health nurse. They were all nursing jobs. The only adivce I have is that the physical demands of bedside nursing are challenging, particularly as you age. If you really want to see the world of acute care, I would suggest doing it while you are younger. Are you telling yourself you are not a real nurse or are they really telling you? If they are telling you, they are not your friends and should be ignored. If you are telling you, check it out. Black box warning: it may not be cracked up to all you thought it would be. (Clinic jobs with great schedules aren't always easy to find). Best wishes.