At a crossroad...

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2010

If you are having a gut feeling about staying put, then I would keep the position on the ortho floor. School is stressful enough and, in my humble opinion, you don't need to add to it by giving up your seemingly lower-stress bedside position on the orthopedics unit.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2010

You say you are bored and dislike "bedside" nursing. IDK. I'm not an expert on what it is like in the ER, but the bedside care is certainly different. Less "Nurse nurse nurse......put my head down." I've had ER nurses tell me they can't deal with that stuff. In the ER, you can write off things as not being life treatening, not so on an orto. or M/S unit. You may find the pace and approach to care more to your liking. Ask some of the ER nurses in here what they think of it.

I'm a believer in "knowledge is power". Even though you may not see a direct link between learning from the ER courses and your future goals, I don't think it can hurt either. Never know what little bit of experience you have that may come in handy in the future.

I'd make the move. You are already hired for it, your current manager now knows you are looking to move on and, well, something made you apply for the position soooo.........

Just my opinion though.

AWanderingMinstral · Jul 16, 2010

One of the reasons I am leaving my current position is because I am casual (but working 3 12-hour night shifts per week). As a result, I have no benefits and, once summer vacations are done, there is no guarantee that I'll receive full-time hours in the fall. So, I NEED to find something else. In addition, I have been working steady nights for three years and it is taking its toll on my body AND mind. I am tempted to call my contact at another hospital within the system and see if she has anything on a M/S unit (ortho or otherwise) that is days or both days and nights.

@eriksoln, I certainly see the value in learning something new, stepping outside of one's comfort zone, etc. I would hope the ER position would decrease the amount of time I have to spend with patients. I know that sounds terrible, but I know A LOT of nurses who work in the ICU BECAUSE of that reason. I've become a "just the facts, ma'am" sort of guy.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2010

I would hope the ER position would decrease the amount of time I have to spend with patients. I know that sounds terrible, but I know A LOT of nurses who work in the ICU BECAUSE of that reason. I've become a "just the facts, ma'am" sort of guy.

No, it doesn't sound terrible to me at all. Some nurses simply are not suited for spending 12 hours with the same alert patients who are making the same repetitive requests. Constant patient turnover can be a refreshing perk for nurses with certain types of personalities.

I recall one nurse who stated that she loved the ICU because, "By the time my patients are fully alert, able to converse with me, and riding their call lights, it's time to send them down to the floors where they cannot bother me."

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2010

One of the reasons I am leaving my current position is because I am casual (but working 3 12-hour night shifts per week). As a result, I have no benefits and, once summer vacations are done, there is no guarantee that I'll receive full-time hours in the fall. So, I NEED to find something else. In addition, I have been working steady nights for three years and it is taking its toll on my body AND mind. I am tempted to call my contact at another hospital within the system and see if she has anything on a M/S unit (ortho or otherwise) that is days or both days and nights.
@eriksoln, I certainly see the value in learning something new, stepping outside of one's comfort zone, etc. I would hope the ER position would decrease the amount of time I have to spend with patients. I know that sounds terrible, but I know A LOT of nurses who work in the ICU BECAUSE of that reason. I've become a "just the facts, ma'am" sort of guy.

No, it doesn't sound terrible to me at all. Some nurses simply are not suited for spending 12 hours with the same alert patients who are making the same repetitive requests. Constant patient turnover can be a refreshing perk for nurses with certain types of personalities.
I recall one nurse who stated that she loved the ICU because, "By the time my patients are fully alert, able to converse with me, and riding their call lights, it's time to send them down to the floors where they cannot bother me."

Yes. This is exactly why I want to go to the ICU. There just has to be more to nursing than chasing granny around the bed in circles telling her to lay down and fetching gingerale for AOx3 ambulatory patients.

Hoozdo, ADN · Jul 16, 2010

Yes. This is exactly why I want to go to the ICU. There just has to be more to nursing than chasing granny around the bed in circles telling her to lay down and fetching gingerale for AOx3 ambulatory patients.

:lol2:

Yeah, but the big drawback of ICU is the 7/24 visitation. Every family is in

crisis and it impacts your work tremendously. Many times I have problems

even GETTING to the patient! Sometimes you have to spend way more time

with the family than on patient care, (which is not ideal for the patient or the

nurse.)

But you know - we have to get those high customer satisfaction scores. The

actual ICU patient is not going to fill out the Press-Gainey or Studer satisfaction

scores. The FAMILY will. God forbid I did not priortize getting them a blanket or making

a pot of coffee fast enough. Oh, so sorry, was coding my patient next door. :mad:

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2010

Yeah, but the big drawback of ICU is the 7/24 visitation. Every family is in
crisis and it impacts your work tremendously. Many times I have problems
even GETTING to the patient! Sometimes you have to spend way more time
with the family than on patient care, (which is not ideal for the patient or the
nurse.)
But you know - we have to get those high customer satisfaction scores. The
actual ICU patient is not going to fill out the Press-Gainey or Studer satisfaction
scores. The FAMILY will. God forbid I did not priortize getting them a blanket or making
a pot of coffee fast enough. Oh, so sorry, was coding my patient next door.

Thats really odd. ICU where I am at actually goes the other way with it. Visitation is VERY limited. You can't even call during certain hours. There is someone in the reception room that will answer simple questions, but thats it.

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2010

If you go into a stressful job like working in an ER/ED whilst studying, I can almost guarantee you you will get more stressed, and may even fail.

I worked long hours full time (in large, extremely busy teaching hospitals) whilst studying full time, & I nearly had a nervous, exhaustive breakdown. I had to take nearly 2 full months off after I graduated cos I got so ill - I felt weak & sick everyday, had constant colds/coughs/viruses I couldn't shake, & generally felt achy and just yuck. Nothing showed up on bloods/tests done. My Dr said I was simply very run down (living in a really cold environment didn't help). So now I have decided my study comes first, not work (unless the bills pile up), & I am moving on to do less intense nursing or something else or similar. I'm hoping soon to get a nursing/admin/clerical job where I can work pretty much set hours so I can concentrate on my study. I failed one unit due to shiftwork & stress/depression, & I am NOT failing again. This agency recruits for permanent jobs - so I have my fingers crossed..

The point is you need to decide what is more important - work or study. I know you need to work - we all do. Can you handle being stressed doing different shifts, as you said you just do nights now? I hated it & won't do it again - it wrecks my sleep; I CAN'T sleep at all between lates/earlies, I had nil social life, hated having to work certain days, & was too tired / disillusioned to study. Some people say you should learn anything you can, but sometimes you can get off track. I don't see the point in learning all that stuff if you don't need it. Can you look for a position closer to what you will be doing in the future?

AWanderingMinstral · Jul 16, 2010

I have been spending a little time reviewing various dysrhythms, etc. I need to realize that there are less capable individuals working in ERs across the country. I am going to put my best foot forward and, if it is not a match, then I will move on. : )

CrazierThanYou · Jul 16, 2010

Are you going to be practicing in the Congo in the future?

AWanderingMinstral · Jul 19, 2010

CrazierThanYou, I was in the Peace Corps prior to becoming a nurse and I am earning a Master of Public Health degree. So, it IS quite possible that I may find myself in the Congo. : )