Career Advice - Too Young?

Specialties Case Management

Published

Hello All,

I am looking for career advice, any help is much appreciated!

I have been offered a position as an outpatient case manager, basically doing pre autherizations for a third party managed care group. I'm 28, and nursing is my second bachelor's degree, my first is in business. I have only been a nurse for about 2 years (1.5 yrs tele, 0.5 yr ICU), but I have really disliked bedside nursing thus far. I don't like poop, moving heavy patients, giving bedbaths, running around pushing drugs, etc. I moved from telemetry to ICU, which I dislike slightly less, but still don't enjoy. When I talked to my current manager to resign, she discouraged me from getting away from the bedside "this early in my career." I realize that I don't have a lot of bedside experience, but I am miserable at the bedside. I'd love to have a desk, work on the computer, and have a business schedule. Am I making the wrong choice by taking this job and moving away from the bedside so early?

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

How old does your manager think you have to be or how long do you have to stay by the bedside and risk your career prospects by working in bad conditions or conditions you do not like before you get to move??? You put in 2 years bedside clinical nursing and have a BSN. Thus, you meet the minimum requirements for most entry-level case management positions.

On the other hand, I know of nurses who waited to be pushed-out of bedside nursing after 10-20+ years and are trying to become case managers with a lot of trouble because there is a lot of age discrimination in this field. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with you taking the job now.

If you think you will want to continue to be a bedside nurse, then take a Per Diem bedside job to keep your clinicals up. Otherwise, I would not worry about being a bedside nurse another second.

By the way, I chose not to have anything to do with a bedside nursing job when I accepted my first case management position and have not regretted my choice. In stark contrast, when I was a bedside nurse I thought that the worse thing a nurse can do for his/her career in nursing is to work away from bedside. I was wrong!

There is an entire world out there that uses nursing skills, requires our license, experience, and knowledge, supports direct patient care settings, and pays well. Good luck with your transition and welcome to our forum.

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I agree with mbarn, there is a whole world outside of bedside nursing that is not likely to go away. If ur not happy it's time to move on. I took a job outside of bedside nursing with business hours, a cubicle and most all no nights, weekends or holidays, I love it, could never go back to bedside. I do however, still work per diem hospice, god help me if I forget how to take care of a patient! Good luck with whatever u decide!

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Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg.

It sounds like you have a good opportunity. Take it! You have enough bedside nursing under your belt to help you in any job away from the bedside. I have a cubicle and business hours and have never looked back!

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Thank you for all of your replies. I guess I'm just nervous and wanted some encouragement. I'm really excited for my new job though, it sounds right up my ally with all of the computer work and case research. I start April 15 and I can't wait!

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It depends. Do you think you'd be good at it? Sounds like the business background would be helpful. But casemgt can be tricky, and to me, it really helps to know about how the disease process can work in real life, with a variety of different kinds of patients. There's just no beating getting strong clinical experience. At the same time, you shouldn't stay in something you hate. The messy stuff never stopped me from being interested in how pathophysiological mechanisms work or how to apply the understanding with real life people. It's just a byproduct, so to speak--no pun intended. Maybe it's being in critical care, but it seems that there are more serious and pressing matters that took over my attention, and so gook, blood, pee, or poop has been the least of my concern. But I would say it depends upon how well you can apply the nursing process used within the case mgt model to a variety of scenarios.

Starting on Tax Day! :) Give a shot and see how it works for you!

Good luck!

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

At this point you don't know where your heart is, but you're pretty sure where it isn't. Take the opportunity. Worst case scenario, you add to your experience and expertise, and you learn about a new area of nursing. Best case, it will take you down a career path that will be rewarding and something you will stay with for a while.

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I have been a nurse 17 years. Hated every minute the first 14 (bedside). 3 yrs as a cm and have loved every minute!!! Go for it.

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Specializes in labor & delivery.

Go for it. Life is too short to keep doing a job you hate! Good luck to you!!

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