Do you miss patient care?

INSRN1920 · Mar 6, 2014

I do miss it to a degree, I miss the instant gratification of feeling fulfilled after you help a patient come back from the brink of death (PICU nurse adrenaline talking) and now it's like it's after a long project to get that same sense of yes I did it! I think it takes a lot of soul searching to come off the floor, but I think if your truly want this as a future you could do it.

I am still debating if a return to the floor is in the cards for me, but I would do my NP, if I return, but I am continuing to try new things in this informatics role and it's going to keep on expanding as years go on. I say grab hold now, it's not going anywhere.

Ativan · Mar 9, 2014

Thanks for your response! It sounds like 100% of the informatics nurses I've asked about this are considering a return to the floor. But then again, 100% of the floor nurses I talk to are trying to get off the floor, so maybe it's a "grass is greener" phenomenon! Therefore, it seems like no matter how much thought I put into it, I might never be truly "ready" to give up patient care forever.

I like your comparison of the satisfaction of completing a project with the satisfaction (and adrenaline rush!) of helping a patient. It's good to know there are similar experiences. Thanks!

ikarus01 · Mar 11, 2014

This is interesting, we were just having this conversation yesterday before a meeting. How many of us miss patient care or working on the floors? There were 6 nurses in the room and out of the 6 nurses we all said, HELL NO, we don't miss patient care, nor do we want to go back to floor work. I know 6 nurses is not many, but my experience has been that it is rare to meet a nurse in the informatics field who wants to go back to the clinical floor. Yes, many will tell you they keep their licenses up to date just in case, but I rarely ever meet one that tells me, "I miss patient care, Ï'm dying to get back to floor nursing." I personally don't miss patient care and I would never ever get back to floor nursing. :cool:

ArmyRN789 · Mar 18, 2014

I would say that if they miss patient care THAT much, then maybe informatics isn't for them. I know there are some that like to have their cake and eat it too by working part time on the floor, but most informatics positions do require a full time committment. Yes, I do miss the patients, but I do NOT miss floor nursing and everything that comes with it. I think that's the distinction. I loved making that personal connection with the patients, but dealing with the supervisors, catty and gossipy nurses and hospital politics and having every decision you make over-analysed I do NOT miss! I also really don't miss shiftwork, working nights, weekends and holidays!

Ativan · Mar 18, 2014

Yes, I do miss the patients, but I do NOT miss floor nursing and everything that comes with it. I think that's the distinction. I loved making that personal connection with the patients, but dealing with the supervisors, catty and gossipy nurses and hospital politics and having every decision you make over-analysed I do NOT miss! I also really don't miss shiftwork, working nights, weekends and holidays!

Good distinction, I guess that's probably true. If only there were a way to have it all!

ArmyRN789 · Mar 19, 2014

Well, there are always volunteer opportunites or part-time weekend work if you have the time. Another good way to go is to join the Army or Air Force Reserves. You get to be a "real nurse" one weekend a month and two weeks every year. And no, I'm not a military recruiter .

Roguekitty75 · Jun 27, 2014

I know without a doubt that I will not miss floor nursing at all. I will miss my prn home nursing job and if I ever went back to patient care it will be in that capacity.