BEDSIDE...run, don't walk!

[noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP]

I did 8.5 years in Med/Surg and it was horrible. I learned a lot and knew I wanted to be a NP so I kept at it despite the tachycardia from anxiety, sleepless nights before shifts, sleepless nights after shifts, no lunch breaks, physical demands, short staffing, hostile work environment, etc. Needless to say, it took a toll on my physical and mental health.

10 months ago, I started working as a NP and I do have to say all the time I spent in Med/Surg hell has benefited me in my current role. I'm good with patients. I know how to problem solve. I'm resourceful. I know a lot of doctors (helpful for referrals). I'm familiar with most treatments, procedures, diagnostic tests, and surgeries. I know how to deescalate angry patients.

Would I do it again? I'm not sure. It took a lot out of me. I should probably be in therapy. Wish there was an easier way to get to where I wanted to be. I would have taken it.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

1 hour ago, OUxPhys said:

I think it all depends on the system you worked for. My old job underpays everyone that works there including doctors. They consider it a privilege to work there and you should be grateful you even work there. My current job as a bedside I enjoy more. I enjoy the pt population more. I enjoy my paycheck more. Do some days suck? Absolutely. I am lucky to have good co-workers and a good manager/assistant manager. The acuity of the pt's is also lower than my previous job.

I have had my moments where I dabble at the idea of moving on from bedside. Some day I will but I won't move on just for the sake of moving on. It has to be for a position I know I will enjoy and not a position just to get out of bedside.

Yes things were infinitely better when we had good management. I had a wonderful boss for over 20 years, but he was let go. Also the best supervisor I ever had was let go. Basically all management and educators were shown the door when we were taken over by a hostile corporation. Even the doctors tell us and their patients how bad it is. Crazy! We lost so many nurses they need travelers in order to fill the gaps.

[gettingbsn2msn, MSN, RN]

My son who graduated with a BSN 3 years ago is choosing to leave bedside. He told me it is unsustainable for him for the long term.

He worked in New York city during covid and I believe that did him in. They were short so he was doing 5 shifts per week. The good news is because he went to an inexpensive college and used the pay to pay off his student loans.

His brother is going in to engineering.

I also will add that 2 of the nurses in his group succumbed to covid. I think he is also depressed about their passing.

[CaffeinePOQ4HPRN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

2 minutes ago, gettingbsn2msn said:

My son who graduated with a BSN 3 years ago is choosing to leave bedside. He told me it is unsustainable for him for the long term.

He worked in New York city during covid and I believe that did him in. They were short so he was doing 5 shifts per week. The good news is because he went to an inexpensive college and used the pay to pay off his student loans.

His brother is going in to engineering.

I can't imagine what your son must have gone through on the COVID-19 frontlines in NYC. Your kids sound brilliant, btw!

[nursex23, BSN, RN]

I left a year ago to work in a school. It's not the perfect job but it's 1000x better than working in a hospital, at least for me.

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

On 8/20/2020 at 10:16 AM, CaffeinePOQ4HPRN said:

Or, perhaps some of us Nurses just have integrity, self-respect, and healthy self-esteem that we don't feel a need to tolerate being treated like garbage ?

I'm sure it was not your intention but I feel a little insulted by this. I don't think bedside nurses don't have integrity, self-respect, or good self-esteem. Some people like bedside, some bedside jobs are not terrible, and others are stuck there because of lack of opportunities and financial needs.

My bedside job is hard, but I feel I have integrity for working for a public hospital, and it increases my self esteem to see critically ill pts get better and go home, and know I played a small part in it. I have respect for all types of nursing, and I don't think someone should be judged for staying at the bedside, just as no one should be judged for leaving it. Sorry if I sound defensive, just came off a hard shift... maybe that is proving your point! LOL

[Katie82, RN]

On 8/18/2020 at 8:10 PM, mmc51264 said:

Some just can't cut it bedside ?

And then there are those who choose not to "cut it" because there are so many jobs out there that are more interesting and fulfilling......

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

On 8/20/2020 at 1:16 PM, CaffeinePOQ4HPRN said:

Or, perhaps some of us Nurses just have integrity, self-respect, and healthy self-esteem that we don't feel a need to tolerate being treated like garbage ?

Are you implying that because I like bedside, I have no integrity, self-respect or healthy self-esteem?? With those qualities, one does not feel as if they are being "treated like garbage".

I just had a discussion with a "difficult" patient. Turns out, if the care nurse had taken the time to have a discussion with the patient, she would have discovered that the 38 yo was going to lose his leg and was afraid. Pt apologized and we got a stress/limb loss consult.

To me that is being a good bedside nurse.

[2BS Nurse, BSN]

On 8/19/2020 at 3:10 PM, JabuJabule said:

I personally love working bedside! I'm only at my first job though, we'll see where I end up. ?

Stay at the bedside for a while. They need RNs who actually love it!

[TeflonNurse]

RIGHT ON! Agree with you 100% don't listen to any idiots who tell you bedside is the only "one true form of nursing". Self care is far more paramount than anything else. You can't help others if you are personally suffering.

I'm actually ticked off they don't talk about the lesser known jobs in Nursing like poison control, call centers, insurance jobs  where you follow back on patients after discharge, etc. I left the ICU for Poison Control (you need a Critical Care/ ER background to qualify) and will NEVER (x 1000) look back. You don't have to be: body broken down, driving-in-for-a-shift-hoping-you-crash-into-a-tree levels of stressed out before you make a change.