Badly needed advice..........

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Hi,

I moved this from another thread, due to no response. So, maybe I can get some advice here.

I am working in a none clinical position right now; however, I don't make a lot of money, but I really like what I do. I also work on a post-partum floor where I worked part-time, but went PRN, due to how badly the nurses behaved. When I started on the post-partum floor, I was a new grad and worked there only 3 months before going PRN.

My concern is if I continue to do a non-clinical job I won't ever have good clinical nursing skills. What if there is an emergency situation, I don't know enough to be of much help. Btw, there have been a couple recently, thank God they weren't true emergencies.

I really like where I am right now in the non-clinical area and the people are great to work with. How can I get good nursing skills, but con't to do this non-clinical job full time? Btw, I don't work on the post-partum floor often enough to help with my skills, and speed. The last time I worked I was quite up-set when I left (bad behavior/ co-worker). I am not sure what to do. Anyone have any ideas! I would be so grateful for any advice. Thanks! :confused:

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

You are simply going to have to think about your career goals and make some decisions about your priorities. For example, if you decide that further developing your clinical skills is an important goal for you, then you will have to have a job in which you will have the opportunity to further develop those skills. Either you make things work for you on the PP unit so that you can work there more often -- or you will have to go job-hunting for a patient care job that you will be satisfied with.

If you decide that devoting your time and attention to your non-clinical job that you enjoy is your top priority, then you will have to accept that your decision will probably hinder the further development of your clinical skills.

What do want to do with your career in the long run?

How important are those clinical skills to you?

Are there other clinical jobs that appeal to you?

Only you can answer those questions.

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Specializes in ICU, OR.

I agree 100%. I worked in med-surg initially before I took a position in ICU. I do mostly non-clinical now, but I had plenty of bedside experience first and do not fear forgetting my skills.

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I agree with llg, you need to first figure out what your goals are regarding your career. Then position yourself to attain those goals. If you desire a clinical position in a particular area, start a

applying for jobs that will get your foot in the door. It may take time, but I firmly believe that persitance and determination go a long way in people achieving their goals. My desire at this time is to work ICU or ER when I graduate in May. However, if I'm not able to obtain a position where I want right out of school, I'll work in another area until I'm ready, able or an opportunity opens up. Having a plan of where you want to end up helps focus your efforts in a generalized direction instead of flailing about aimlessly wondering why you never get anywhere. Good luck to you and I hope you get a position where you would like to work.

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Specializes in Nurse Practitioner-Emergency Room.

Maybe I shouldn't ask, but I have to admit I'm curious. What did this nurse do that was so disgusting? When you say bad behavior, what do you mean by that? I understand if you don't want to answer, but curiosity got the best of me. Sorry.;)

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Maybe I shouldn't ask, but I have to admit I'm curious. What did this nurse do that was so disgusting? When you say bad behavior, what do you mean by that? I understand if you don't want to answer, but curiosity got the best of me. Sorry.;)

The bottom line is this type of behavior means someone that is either rude, obnoxious, bullying, and or the ole cliche' "nurse eating her young". I absolutely hate working with this group of nurses, they are some of the meanest people I have ever been around.

With that said, I really like helping people and this is what I am doing now, just in a different format.

The whole reason for this post is if there is an emergency and I am suppose to be a nurse and I don't know what to do, then I will look like a big fool. This is how I feel right now, and I don't know if there is something I can do like a class, volunteer, etc. This is what I am really looking for. To be honest, the office I work in right now I have time to go to the bathroom, go to lunch etc. All these are a bonus and it shouldn't be that way.

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You could take an ACLS class perhaps? That might make you more comfortable in anticipating emergency situations.

You might have to honestly ask yourself, though, was it the nasty group of people you worked with, or clinical nursing itself, that has turned you to a non-clinical job?

Maybe you actually prefer a non-clinical career, and so should pursue skills in that direction. (Yes, being able to go to the bathroom and eat a meal are definitely things that should NOT be bonuses and yet might seem so in bedside nursing.)

Or, maybe you would like a clinical nursing career if the team you worked with was more mature and collegial, and you had time for bathroom and meal breaks. (Although I'm not sure how prevalent those two characteristics, combined, are in nursing.)

So, those are some questions perhaps you could ask yourself.

Good luck...

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You also have to decide what clinical skills you want to keep up to date on and what kind of emergencies you are talking about. Is it cardiac arrest you are talking about. Then take cpr courses at least q2 year. Things in cpr change all the time. I don't think acls will help. If it is the car crash you come upon remembering abc's will get you started until more experienced providers arrive. Keep your cell phone charged so 911 can be called.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, ED.

I would try doing prn on a med surg floor. You will definitely get good skills. PP is a great area but from what I understand, you have mostly healthy patients, so not sure how many skills you will actually be using if you stay there.

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I would venture to say I like bedside nursing and the non-clinical side, although the non clinical is easier to deal with.

The bad behavior of others should not sway me one way or the other. However, in reality I am just starting out and my confidence is easily shot down. When I took the non clinical position I had started to feel much better about my performance at the hospital, but I hated to let the non clinical opportunity pass me by. Plus, the non clinical position offered no weekends, holidays, nights, on call, rotating shifts; however, a lot less pay.

I thought about med-surg, but who would let me orient one day a week? Besides, I have tried to get hired in med-surg and interviewed at two different hosp and was not hired. :confused: What about an EMT course?

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Taking a class of some kind will help you feel a little better for a little while ... but the improvement in your comfort level will probably be temporary.

True self-confidence only come through experience. It's only when you rise to meet a few real-life challenges that you develop a deep sense of confidence in your ability to do so again if faced with a tough challenge in the future. No class can give you that.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

Unfortunately there are many places where you might run into rude or just plain horrible co workers. The upside is that they usually don't last because they eventually get fired or harassed enough to quit.

You just have to decide what you want from your nursing career. Do you see yourself in this non clinical job forever?

Have you considered other areas of nursing besides working with women?

I wouldn't recommend taking any more classes, especially ACLS unless you are working in an area where you might actually use it, its a hard course and you'll just forget it if you don't use it. As long as your BCLS is current then you have the basic life saving skills.

If you really want go clinical skills then bite the bullet and change jobs or sign up for a float pool prn job, or whatever it takes for you to feel comfortable with your clinical skills.

It will take time and a bit of sweat, and tears to get to a point where you don't feel so incompetent. Sorry there just isn't any other way around it.

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