bedside nursing is that all there is?

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Clarification: all there is for me

I am concerned about my future in bedside nursing (pool). I find that my stress levels onshift are too high. I find it worrying when my patients keep on deteriorating (one has been getting progressively worse for six months = multiple ICU admissions= no quality of life). I worry about shift work- increase risk of dementia. Most of all I worry that I don't seem to have that caring touch- I can't ever seem to find the time to chat to my patients. I do the work of a respiratory therapist, CNA and even telemetry tech from seeing what you guys from the USA posts. Maybe the problem was orientation? I received three shifts worth of orientation- this ofcourse is not going to change. My friends LOVE being a nurse, god it is all i ever see on my 'news feed' #love being a nurse #patient care #you wish you were a nurse #love night shift #my calling. Makes me sick.

I have 'stepped up' into a different role before- away from the bedside. I LOVED it= from my bedside nursing experience I understood why things weren't being done, I loved educating, loved contributing to policies. I loved the minimised stress (not perfect but still very good).

But these jobs are very few and far between, this unit in particular is not hiring and when they do I am almost CERTAIN there is someone more experienced in this area than me that will get it (very competitive).

So I am unsure where from here: am doing a masters of research. But I am unsure how to get OUT of bedside nursing. I want out, but to stay in the hospital system.

Any advice would be very welcomed.

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