Do you have to do bedside nursing

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I'm in nursing school and I just realized I don't want to be a traditional nurse. I get way too nervous and people aren't very nice at the bedside. Is it possible to do non beside roles once I graduate? So things like utilization review, triage, ambulatory care (outpatient), etc? I know the economy is pretty bad. Any input would help. Thanks in advance.

Thank you for your response. I found it very helpful. I think the thing is I'm a pretty meek and kind of fearful and insecure person so I have a feeling that I would have a hard time in pretty much any profession. It is not the patients as much as the fellow nurses.

With patients I try to be understanding at least because I know they must be in pain. So msn10 for clinic and school nursing how do i get there? do i need bedside experience?

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I'm not talking about the patients as much as the fellow nurses.

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Yea it is possible to get a non-bedside job after graduation. You may want to head over to the "First year after licensure" and you'll come across some new grads who did it. However for some of them it took a very long time in an already tough economy for new grads in obtaining those positions. If you have bills to pay, I wouldn't put my eggs in one basket, especially when that basket is for non- bedside positions.

But I must warn you as a new nurse, assessment, interpersonal, and communications skills are important in any position (bedside or not). You can't run from "mean" people. Guess what, they are everywhere, so you have to learn how to effectively talk with them.

Sent via Glad2baRN's iPhone using allnurses.com

Thank you for your response. I think people are misunderstanding by what i mean by "mean". I am talking vicious and degrading. I don't mean people aren't acting like they do in barney.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I think people should treated with respect and dignity period. As a society we chaste people who are rude to cleaning staff and waiters but somehow with this field it is okay. I understand with getting hot headed in a life and death situation for a patient but I am talking about cliques, backstabbing, and eye rolling. You know what I am talking about horizontal violence as they call it.

And how do we enforce chastity among people who are rude to cleaning staff and waiters?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I think people should treated with respect and dignity period. As a society we chaste people who are rude to cleaning staff and waiters but somehow with this field it is okay.

Let me enlighten you; it's NOT and was NEVER ok with THIS NURSE. :no:

Advocacy is one of our skill sets; that includes advocating for oneself; in all my 8 years of nursing I never felt that I was inadequate in commanding respect and dignity as well as dishing it out :blink:

I understand with getting hot headed in a life and death situation for a patient but I am talking about cliques, backstabbing, and eye rolling. You know what I am talking about horizontal violence as they call it.

Then don't go in with a chip....carry a stick and go to bat when you need it. :)

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I think people should treated with respect and dignity period. As a society we chaste people who are rude to cleaning staff and waiters but somehow with this field it is okay. I understand with getting hot headed in a life and death situation for a patient but I am talking about cliques, backstabbing, and eye rolling. You know what I am talking about horizontal violence as they call it.
Personally, I ignore them...they are a waste of my precious time. I'm there to work not be popular. I gave up popular after high school.

As a manager I don't allow gossip...and hold the nurses accountable.

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
I'm not talking about the patients as much as the fellow nurses.

OOohhhh! THAT is a whole 'nother thread...If you are talking about bullying (horizontal violence) there are many threads on here to choose from.Bottom line-if you are a doormat in life it's up to you to stand up for yourself....

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Specializes in cardiac, ICU, education.
With patients I try to be understanding at least because I know they must be in pain. So msn10 for clinic and school nursing how do i get there? do i need bedside experience?

No you do not need bedside nursing experience, however, many school nursing jobs require a BSN for entry. You will have to do a little more digging for these types of positions, but I see new grads find all kinds of different jobs. Good luck and PM me if you need more info.

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OOohhhh! THAT is a whole 'nother thread...If you are talking about bullying (horizontal violence) there are many threads on here to choose from.Bottom line-if you are a doormat in life it's up to you to stand up for yourself....

for me at least it is hard when people are vicious. I come from a dysfunctional family, have really judgmental family friends, and was never popular in fact for the last few years I am very much a loner. I need a break somewhere. So to add on the fact that even my co workers/ teachers are kind of giving me a hard time is too much. oh yeah and my love life sucks.

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Specializes in Hospice.

The beauty of nursing are the endless possibilities and routes you can take. Although some may believe all bedside nursing is filled with are horror stories, it's pretty incorrect! You may face minor bumps on the road of the bedside "highway" but the experience, skills, and knowledge you gain are worth it. Perhaps a year of bedside nursing will provide you with some insight of the "real world of nursing". I honestly believe that it takes a least two to three full years of bedside nursing to feel comfortable and competent in a specific area. Don't let your current interactions with patients deter you. Good luck!

xoxo,

Jo.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
for me at least it is hard when people are vicious. I come from a dysfunctional family have really judgmental family friends, and was never popular in fact for the last few years I am very much a loner. I need a break somewhere. So to add on the fact that even my co workers/ teachers are kind of giving me a hard time is too much. oh yeah and my love life sucks.[/quote']

Looks like you have to have a moment with YOU and work through internal factors...

I came from a not so great environment either; some times those voices place decisions and judgement in not the right places, but that doesn't have to be ones destiny; the only light in my home life was that being objective was a trait I created an it was supported; without maintaing objectivity, I would've missed out on when I learned NOT to listen to people that are supposed to support the family structure; and even me writing that doesn't scratch the surface to the hard realities of the human condition, related or otherwise-people are people are people.

I've learned to like therapy; helped me give me MUCH perspective in addition to the life I have outside of being a nurse; albeit those "lives" are interdependent of each other at times...but that's what's worked for me; now you have to learn what works for you in a healthy way.

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Specializes in ER.

Maybe phone triage but a triage in an ER is a lot more work. You have to assess people and assign them a proper level/color/number/whatever method the ER uses. Then if the ER is full you have to deal with them. Some of them are going to panic or become angry because you aren't rushing them to the back. They don't understand why you're taking other patients back before them.

While triage can be entertaining and seem easier, it's truly a lot harder.

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