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Discussion

Considering going back to bedside...bad idea?

I'm worried I have a bit of a grass is always greener mentality.

I’ve been a nurse for 6+ years. My first job was on a large geriatric med-surg unit that had pretty high new nurse turnover. I high-tailed it to the outpatient world after staying at that job a little shy of a year (2+ years family practice, 3 years public health).

I just completed a MPH degree, which I started after leaving the hospital, with the thought that I definitely did not want to be a nurse forever. Turns out, nursing has grown on me and I generally enjoy it. I think my life has changed a lot since that fist job - I have a different perspective on life and have matured a lot.

I’m at a point in my life where I’m going to change jobs no matter what. In addition to finishing my masters degree, I also feel like I’ve maxed out the potential at my current job (just because of how the specific clinic I work at is - I am the only nurse…so no room to really advance, and the skillset is pretty specific). My goal after finishing the MPH degree was to get a non-clinical public health role. However, as a result of the pandemic, my current public health nurse job has shifted to essentially doing a “desk job” 90% of the day to support my health department’s pandemic response…..and I hate it. I find myself just waiting for one of the providers in my clinic to say they need help with a blood draw or some other clinical task. I don't like sitting and staring at the computer all day, answering emails, and talking on the phone. I find it frustrating that there is no clear end to the work day. My partner and friends that have regular office jobs work all the time - I don’t want that for my life.

In the back of my mind, I’ve always wanted to give the hospital another try. I want more hospital experience and I think it would be a great way to challenge myself. I’m still relatively young and don’t have kids - so I think its a good time in my life to just try whatever.

Wondering if there are any nurses that have gone back to bedside? What were your experiences like?

I’m also worried I won’t be an ideal candidate for bedside roles since my resume clearly shows I left the bedside just prior to a year, and have been in outpatient roles ever since.

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    Well this comment is going to involve some extrapolating and generalization to a degree I don't usually prefer. But it wouldn't hurt to think about it.

    The public health people I know are way more practical in their approach to patient care (providing services to the population) than those running the show in the inpatient world right now. For starters, PH seems to be more aware that you can't have obnoxious goals with finite resources; that is, it doesn't work to make pie-in-the-sky demands that are not going to be accomplished with the allotted resources. PH also seems to understand that the problems within the patient population cannot all be magically fixed if only Susie Q., RN would wave her magic wand (aka be perfect and also work harder). Inpatient? They are always looking for a way to blame someone on the inside for why things are the way they are. Their own employees are their enemies.

    Your source of frustration in PH right now is partially temporary (covid changes) and partially because there might be a different role for your new degree that suits you better.

    Again...lots of generalizing here. But I think you should consider comparing the prevailing/common philosophies of the areas in which you might work. You've made it this far with obtaining a degree that could be useful...if you want to have an existential crisis try throwing it down where it won't be given any regard whatsoever.

    JM $.02

     

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    Thanks @JKL33 . I actually really appreciate your 2 cents / perspective. You are right about the public health point of view vs. the inpatient point of view. That’s actually one of the reasons I got into public health - I do like the larger impact on a population versus the singular patient in the hospital or clinic setting. Something I need to consider.

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    1 hour ago, citynurse03 said:

    However, as a result of the pandemic, my current public health nurse job has shifted to essentially doing a “desk job” 90% of the day to support my health department’s pandemic response…

    When the pandemic started, I thought "what a great time to be a public health nurse." Well I was wrong -- what other roles are there at your Public Health Department? Teaching, epidemiology, setting up STD, Well Baby clinics, Immunizations clinics, etc. I really do think the public health departments are going to see/feel a whole new system of delivering care in the 21st century. (Frankly I wish I was you but I am retired). 

    I can understand you hear the siren song of a return to the hospital..I went back to the hospital many times, Best wishes

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    I haven't gone back to bedside/floor nursing, but have thought about it because I feel as if maybe I didn't have enough experience prior to entering my current role as a unit manager.  I've only worked in the SNF setting but have thought about acute care intermittently.  Like you, I feel that I might not be considered due to my most recent experience.  At the same time, I also think, why not? It can't hurt to apply for some hospital positions if that's what you want.  I would think that there would be some units that would be willing to consider you, as acute care can always use more staff.  You may not be able to be very selective in regards to units, shifts, etc at first, but could be more choosy after getting some more experience. Or you could look at being PRN at an acute care setting to see if it's what you really want, but I would think it would be more beneficial to dedicate yourself fully to the role if that's what you choose, given your time away from acute care.  

    Good luck with whatever you decide! ?

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    I went from bedside to management and back again several times during my career. It wasn’t as hard then to move around between specialties, and I always seemed to get bored and restless around the two-year mark at any job I held. I started out in LTC, moved to acute care, changed to assisted living, went back to the hospital, then started AL again and figured I’d be there till retirement. Alas, it was not to be, and I returned to LTC. My last hurrah was as a state surveyor, and I flamed out spectacularly within four months of starting. That was my last job. But I had a hell of a great ride, and I don’t regret a minute of my career.

     

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