Burnt out of bedside :( help

I am 41 and have been a bedside medsurg/tele nurse for the past 4 year. I'm not burnt out yet, but I fear it is only a few short years away. I am graduating with my masters in nursing in about 10 weeks and am eagerly looking to transition into school nursing. I have been substituting as a school nurse for the last year and can't wait to get a full-time position within the next few years. School nursing is something I can do for the next 25 years till I am ready to retire. I will stay on in the hospital prn, but only do a few shifts a month for extra cash. I am looking forward to getting out of the rat race of medsurg and into something more doable like school nursing. I urge you to find something you can do well but enjoy at the same time and also have a life. Good luck.

missrn11, i absolutely understand where you are coming from. i turn 31 next week and am a total loss as to what i want to be when i grow up. i love nursing, educating people about their health, taking excellent care of others loved ones, but i have compassion fatigue and really am starting to dread my job. i have only been a nurse since 2008. i enjoy telemetry nursing because it has it's challenges but i know if i go to another area i will be just as unsatisfied.

i have had thoughts of getting my fnp and actually started at university of phoenix. after four classes there was an issue with my financial aid (a whole other story) and i dropped out of the program. i was considering Grand Canyon University because i have coworkers who attend the same program, but really do not know if that is what i want to do with my life. i have a criminal justice degree prior to my bsn, but i feel forensic nursing is a little far behind in az compared to other states so i do not want to be a sane nurse and do not have enough experience to be a legal consultant. i am at a stand still at this point. i am going to apply for a master's degree program so i can teach nursing students but i know i do not want to be a career nursing instructor, but i know there is a need for energetic instructors who love what it means to be a nurse. i don't ever want to lose that reason i became a nurse. i just feel like i am giving too much of myself at the bedside, i cannot turn off my caring. so you are definitely not alone. if you are thinking of different areas contact a nurse in that area and see if you can shadow for a couple hours. i am sure there are nurses out there that would love to give a little of their knowledge about their career area. good luck!!

Hi,

I am glad you posted this. I wish I could be of more help.

I am loosing my position as Cardiac Rehab Nurse in couple weeks. The economy is forcing our hospital to make cut backs and my position was one of them. I have enjoyed this form of nursing for 11 years. I shudder at the thought of having to go back to bedside nursing. I have been following all kinds of leads for call center nurses but I still am not sure what the pay is or how to get started. I live in Western KY and it seems most leads are in places like Arizona or California. Any one know any leads for Kentucky? I would like to find out more about working as a joint commission auditor too.

You say you are burned-out with bedside nursing. I think you are burnt-out with your present work environment. Those are two different fruits. Ask yourself: do you enjoy working with patients and families, or is it you hate to be working your butt off because the place is short staffed?