Career Change

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Hello all, I am looking for suggestions.

I’m a nurse manager in critical care.  I’ve been in the same unit for quite a while, and I think it’s time to move on.  My question is, what’s next?  

I have enough experience that I’d have no problem getting hired as a bedside nurse, but I don't think that's what I really want.  The three 12's per week, weekends and holidays, and planning my life around the scheduling timeline was really starting to wear on me before I accepted my current position.

I think I would enjoy something related to quality/outcomes, because I'm pretty analytical and I enjoy researching and working with data.  But my state is deep in the throes of (yet another) covid surge, and those types of jobs aren't really hiring because everyone’s getting redeployed anyway.

So do go back to a bedside job (maybe in a different specialty) just for the short term?  Do I keep looking for something else?  Those who've left inpatient nursing, what are you doing now and do you enjoy it?  Any insight is appreciated!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

I worked as a bedside nurse in medical and surgical ICU's for about 6 years, after the third COVID wave I left for case management. I deeply dislike case management and the 9-5 lifestyle. In a few weeks I will be going back to bedside but working exclusively on a rapid response team.

The job is still bedside-ish, with elements of nursing education which I really enjoy. I am looking forward to the much needed change. I think now is the time to explore what nursing has to offer. 

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Specializes in Pediatrics, NICU.

if you like analyzing why not nursing research or the like ?

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I am not sure about the scheduling situation, but have a look at nursing informatics. A few of my coworkers made  switch to informatics and never returned to bedside. 

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I went from bedside to education (in hospital & SNF) to informatics.  I have enjoyed both education and informatics very much, for different reasons.  I know other managers & bedside nurses that transferred into QA positions in both psych and SNF facilities.  Don't forget about public health (county/state) and other government jobs.

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Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.

If you want to avoid shift work consider occupation health in a business or industrial 9-5 setting, or research nursing.

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Specializes in Being myself.
On 9/29/2021 at 5:34 PM, DavidFR said:

If you want to avoid shift work consider occupation health in a business or industrial 9-5 setting, or research nursing.

I work as an Grad Urban and Environmental Planning intern for a city planning dept alongside dept of energy, public utilities, and environmental policy. I use the CNA/LPN critical thinking skills we utilize everyday in heathcare to address civil rights issues in regulatory policies. I'm an LPN, and couldn't pass the entrance exam to become an RN after 10 years of trying. I went back to school outside of nursing because for me, I realized I will never be a RN. I found a niche. You can too, trust me.

Healthcare providers have so many intangible tools that are needed in civil government, and combined with the empathetic, critical thinking knowledge required to become one, WE can rule the world. And write the policies too!

Look into city/local/state government. They are begging for nursing experience and knowledge, and RNs have them in droves. You will find what you're looking for and be appreciated to boot. Don't sell yourself short, trust me, the world needs nurses,  both bedside and beyond.

Be easy, AD 

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