Cosmetic Surgery RN- waste of time and experience?

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I'm getting burned out at work and having been quietly researching some of my other options. I have thought about going into cosmetic surgery as an office supervisor. Would this be a waste of my experience? I am the type of person that would want to stay in a position for at least a year. I am afraid that if I take the position that my skills as a bedside RN would atrophy. I want to consider going back to hospital nursing one day, but just not right now due to my personal life. Would spending a couple of years in an office setting make me less hirable in the future? The cosmetic surgery position appeals to me because it pays pretty well, the hours are during the day, and obviously, patient acuity is not so much a concern. What are your thoughts? As a hiring manager, how would you view a candidate that took some time off to work in an office setting and wanted to re-enter bedside nursing?

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I don't believe so... just have a subscription to a nursing journal of some sort.

There are many nurses that would jump at cosmetic surgury. Just because you are not at the bedside does not make you less of a nurse... FYI there is another thread regarding this... GO for it esspecially if it would benifit your pocket and personal life that's a double whammy...

And rember it's better to swap positions while you still love nursing then to get burned out and hate it... GREAT LUCK!!!

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Specializes in Neuro, Neuro ICU.

I agree with the poster above, PLUS if it is an office manager job the management would look good for future jobs

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Go for it. Take it a day at a time and get some time away from the bedside. Worry about your next job when you decide to get one - if you do.

:)

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If you don't want the job, I'll take it. It sounds fabulous.

A year away should not hurt your later hospital employment. If you're really worried about that, stay PRN at your current hospital and work two days a month.

I took almost four years off bedside to work research. I will admit that when I started back up I called for a traveling assignment since I was moving and two companies told me that I had to have worked in a hospital in the last 12 months. But I really didn't have too much trouble finding a PRN hospital job after I moved. Yeah, things had changed in the four years I was off bedside. SCDs? What were those? What is this woundvac that you speak of? A few technical things like that. But most things don't change, like patient assessments and passing meds. And I learned a lot of invaluable things while I was gone. My critical thinking skills improved dramatically, I was way more confident. And management experience is a very marketable skill.

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

It was a big step for me when I left bedside nursing. I wasn't burnt out, but I had a situation at home that was incredibly intense and working in the NICU wasn't helping at all. So I left the bedside to do telephonic nursing. And loved it! To do the job I had to take monthly training and we were constantly attending inservices to help us understand the medicine behind the questions we were asking. I worked at that job for about 10 years before I left to work at another non-traditional job--school nursing. At this point I probably could not re-enter the hospital workforce without taking a refresher course. But you know what? I don't care. I have NO desire to go back to that rat race. Now I go to work at 8am and leave at 2:30pm. I get my 30 minutes lunch break every day and I'm not stressed out at all. I have weekends and holidays off, no night shift and no call. Why would I ever want to go back to that?

As a PP said, non-bedside nursing is still nursing. As an office nurse, you still have to be on your game. I would imagine most days will be pretty routine, but all it takes is one person with a heart problem or diabetes or a psychiatric illness and you've got to be able to rise to the occasion. Anything that can happen in a hospital can happen in a doctor's office.

I hope you get the job. It sounds like you're ready for a change. I, personally, think change is good. :nurse:

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Specializes in NICU, Nursery.

I SOOO agree to all responses!!! :)

Just to add, most nurses who don't work in hospitals but are in sub-specialty areas like clinics, companies, schools etc. get paid more than nurses in hospitals! Waahh!!! And they are not stressed at all, okay less stressed and could actually leave work at the same time everyday!!!

I think it's all about balance and having a life outside work matters too especially in keeping relationships. Finding the right fit to your personality and lifestyle, and if it pays good, then take it. Good Luck dear. ;)

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

After having plastic surgery, I've often thought that being the RN at an outpatient cosmetic surgery center would be something that would really interest me.

Heck, maybe after 20 years of bedside nursing, I'll check it out. By then I'll probably be in need of the discounted work they usually offer their staff.

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Thought you were burnt out of your current job already? If so, why not try being a cosmetic surgery RN? Don't worry much about being hirable in the future. The way I see it, if the NM wants to hire you, she will hire you and give you a chance to learn and train you. If during the interview she feels that she doesn't want you, she'll find a dozen reasons why she wouldn't hire you. Take it easy.

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Thank you all for your advice! I am still mulling this over in my mind...

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