Career switch- FROM nursing- advice?

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

hello, was wondering if anyone has advice in finding a new career from nursing.I absolutely love the medical aspects, loved the physiology, processes, etc, but absolutely hate the games that are played in acute care. I am happy to take care of pts who appreciate it, but its the ones who dont who have ruined it for me- and in this current climate of customer service, and the customer is always right, i have realized i need to do something different. After having a doctor tell me to rip a tele monitor off another pt so his rude pt could have it, that was the last straw. And when running short of nurses on an intermediate care floor, i dont have time for that kind of horse- bleep- some pts are very acute and need my care. So, i was wondering are there other jobs that can be done with a 2 yr degree? or if I have to go back to school( id rather not, as I am still paying on my school loans) . Any thoughts? non clinical jobs? i have looked and there are none in my area. Does anyone know what medical records pays? I am the breadwinner in the house, so that is a concern. Just looking for suggestions- what kind of further schooling should i get so i can get off the floors? thanks

[psalm, RN]

You don't mention how long you have been in nursing. You will find customer service mayhem no matter where you go.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

Hi sorry guess i should have given details- Interventional cardiology, intermediate care, med surg overflow. I have done this for 5 years now. It isnt even the customer service thing- its the "having an RN license " liability thing that concerns me the most. Its hard enough trying to keep up with the pt load, but if I happen to miss something important cause i was too busy massaging so and so's feet or fluffing their pillow, or trying to tell them that the Burger King whoppers and french fries that their family member brought are not part of the cardiac diet( why do these people even bother coming in?)- thats is what scares me into losing my license and being held liable. We rarely ever have techs anymore it seems. And we are always short on nurses- yet ed is "lets fill em up" ratio means nothing.Just wondered if anyone had any other thoughts- maybe medical transcription, or medical records? maybe an OR tech? do the doctors really throw stuff at you? just looking for job alterniatives that dont involve the liablity of an RN license.

[psalm, RN]

I feel your pain! Actually, I really know what you mean. There are times I have to tell a patient or a family who wants something that is not urgent; I will get to you as soon as possible. I have other patients I need to check on/give meds/etc/call doc. I'd love to stay and chat but that is a low priority (I don't say this to a pt. or pt. family b/c sometimes a nurse finds out plenty that helps in pt. care with just talking, but I am more referring to the ones who talk talk talk about nothing and everything during med pass).

Anything having to do with patient care interaction needs to be documented thoroughly in your nursing notes. I will write:

provided pt. with warm blanket for warmth; afebrile at 36 degrees.

Explained Burger King food not compatible for cardiac diet, verbalizes understanding but continues to eat fries and burger.

Encouraged wife to massage pt. feet for comfort.

Encouraged pt. to reposition self whenever possible to increase ADLs and call for assist if unable.

etc...to show I was in pt. room. This is good for the demanding pt. who then complains to the NM in the morning that "no one was in my room all night to help me with...." Prioritizing is the best I can come up with.