Bedside, what else?

[obizyanka]

I have been working in OB for 8 months now. My first job. The dream job of many. I want to stay a full year. I don't want to complain as this is probably one of the least sucky areas to work in at a hospital but I have come to realize that bedside nursing is not for me. I am soo bored of my setting and coworkers, but the job is not bad as other floors i know that. Some pts really get on my nerves. I'm sad all the time and exhausted( nights 5-6) days a week. Any advice? Travel nursing is an idea. New settings and new ppl all the time. But id v away from my husband more than id like. What else is there that's not bedside. I'm an rn will have BSN in another year. Thinking of psych? Don't want to end up a pt there haha very confused....

[lynds80]

I'm in psych now, its my first RN job. Its very interesting. I get bored because I like to critical think and there isn't much of that where I am. I wish I was in OB!!!! Try maybe ER, float nurse, travel nurse, surgical etc. Lots of diff options. Good luck!

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

There are plenty of non-bedside options in nursing. Community health/public health, school nursing, VNA- with an interest in OB, perhaps post-partum visits? There's also outpatient areas like endoscopy and day surgery.

[NJnewRN]

Yes, there plenty of non-bed side options, but it's difficult to get it. Even certain specialties like peds and L&D are hard to get into. It took me two yrs for ICU and almost a yr for homecare. Hospitals are tightening up because they know many ppl will apply for the same position. They can afford to be picky. Not unless you move to a needy area.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

First, I'm completly jealous. I would love, love to work in OB ...particulary PP. I'm also tired of the bedside, which is why PP is my last hope of remaining in bedside because it is a specialty I actually care deeply about.

Like you, I have had the opportunity to work in specialties others dream of working in such as ICU and ER. My advice would be to finish out your year ( wish I had done that) and then look to see if you can transfer to another specialty or non-bedside area.

[Tait, MSN, RN]

I loved cardiology and med-surg.

[Good Morning, Gil]

The jobs that are not in bedside nursing usually require a few years of bedside nursing. Not always, but usually.

If OB is of no interest to you, then do your year or so like you said (at least a year after orientation is finished), and then apply for an internal transfer in an area of interest to you. You will probably need another bedside nursing position in a different area to get into the more specialized roles. If you are interested in psych, like you said, apply for an inpatient psych position as a staff nurse and work toward being a community health liason or psych NP down the road if advanced nursing interests you.

Many opportunities, and it's okay not to know what you want to do at less than 1 year in the field. I work nights, too (in ICU), and have done nights since I started nursing, and they are not ideal for most people. I can't wait to be on days, waiting my turn, soon :), but it's also nice to know that I enjoy ICU, and wouldn't really want to work anywhere else in the hospital setting, I don't think (other than another ICU, CCU or something lol). Maybe oncology. Once you find that place, it feels good. Maybe psych will be that place for you. My first nursing job wasn't my niche, knew that when I started, but I needed a job, gained experience (worked for 1 year there, but also had only a couple of weeks of orientation. If I had a few months like I did in ICU, I would have felt it necessary to stay for 2 years, but that's just me). Also know that no job will be perfect, but as long as you enjoy it most of the time, you're in a good place.

What is it about psych that you enjoy? If you thoroughly look at your interests and abilities, you'll be more successful in choosing your next area. Are you a good listener? Do you enjoy advocating for people that can't speak for themselves, much stigma attached? (I considered psych, too, and don't let people talk you out of it if that's what you want. People will say,"Oh, I couldn't do that. Why would you want to do that?" etc). They also say that about my job, and it's not an easy job, but I find it rewarding because I enjoy the acuity, and helping people through one of the hardest times of their lives, also how thorough I can be with 2 patients. If psych is it, then good!

Best of luck!

[RNperdiem, RN]

Connections help as well. I suspect that many non-bedside nursing jobs are not really advertised. I know of a couple of nurses who were recruited for non-bedside jobs. These nurses were well-known and well-connected.

[Ilovemyboykin9]

So I've been a nurse a couple of years and worked primarily in acute rehab, very physically straining and always understaffed- the usual. I just had surgery which has limited me of being able to lift for quite a while. I also have realized over the past couple years that I absolutely despise bedside nursing. Don't get me wrong. I love to help others and thats why I became a nurse, but thats not realistic. I don't feel like I can adequately help my patients because of understaffing, budget cuts, and honestly the patients just being nasty and mean. It's left me very discouraged and now I don't know what to do with my life. I just finished my BSN in December and I'm left trying to find a job, but attempting to find one that won't make me miserable.

[coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN]

I'm a new grad and I got a position as a school nurse. I love it and trust me it's not an easy little job. I'm so busy during the day I don't have time to look at the clock. It's a lot of paperwork and office politics but I love it so far! I'm a challenge that nursing school didn't prepare me for, but I'm taking it head on!