Feeling lost and depressed. Need advice!

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Specializes in Utilization Review and Case Management.

Hello,

I have been a nurse 6 years, med surg tele for 5 and home care for 1. I have realized that hands on and bedside nursing is just not what I want to do anymore. I applied to tons of case management and desk type jobs and I constantly get rejected. I am tight on money so I am about to work at a clinic to pay my bills but I just DO NOT want to go back to hands on care. I don't know what to do. My friends and family tell me to go back for my BSN and maybe I can get the types of jobs I want. I just don't want to spend all that time and money to end up in the same boat. I wish I could not be a nurse anymore but I don't know what else to do with my life. Please help !

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Specializes in Psych.

I'd say go for your BSN. There are so many jobs you can't even get close enough to breathe the same air without having that. Without my BSN no hospitals called me back. Now that I've gotten my BSN it's not so difficult to get call backs. I also got accepted into the wound, ostomy, continence program. Everyone is pushing for it so just go back and get it. University of Texas in Arlington is the cheapest I've seen it. The degree really opens up a lot more opportunities.

My friend has a case management job and he doesn't have his BSN but that's one person out of maybe 3 who doesn't have his BSN.

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Specializes in Utilization Review and Case Management.

@The0Walrus Thanks for the feedback! Do you think if I get my BSN I can get jobs that are not hands on? I love critical thinking and all the educational aspects of nursing, just not hands on and on the floor ( I know I'm in the wrong profession) but If the BSN would help me out of it I would get it in a heartbeat . Also, any advice on what job I could do while in school?

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Specializes in Psych.

Oh yeah. The BSN classes I didn't think were difficult and some of those classes I don't feel helped me too much. It's just me though. I'm sure they will in some way, but just the fact that you have that degree opens up tons of opportunities. My friend who doesn't have his BSN does wound care. Apparently because I will have my wound, ostomy, continence certificate and my BSN I'll get paid more. WOC nurses don't need to do bedside nursing either. If you work in a hospital to my understanding you walk in, do your wound care intervention and you give your recommendations. In NY you can't touch a hospital job without your BSN. In NJ I think there's maybe 2 or 3 hospitals in the state that will allow you to work without your BSN but even they tell you to get it within 3-5 years. I know you don't want to do bedside, but hospitals have nurses on the back end. Many of those hospitals want you to have your BSN.

If you even want to go for school nurse, become a nurse educator, or do nursing informatics, you still need your BSN for those programs. Many states are the same way. Get your BSN or there's very limited areas you can work.

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Specializes in Psych.

Here. Go on this and ask them about non-BSN positions. I'm sure you can get something for case management without your BSN but it's going to be tougher without it. Good luck!

https://allnurses.com/case-management-c57/

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Specializes in Utilization Review and Case Management.

@The0Walrus that's great, thanks so much. I will probably go back and get it asap then. That must be why I keep getting rejected from the non bedside positions. I just need to figure out where to work in the meantime. I am beyond burned out on bedside. I consider Working at a store or Starbucks LOL.

@The0Walrus I just saw the link you sent. Thanks so much!

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Specializes in Psych.

LOL don't work in retail. I wouldn't go back to those jobs for anything. You can try psych nursing. That's technically not bedside nursing. Patients are always moving around.

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Specializes in Utilization Review and Case Management.

@The0Walrus haha I will try to avoid retail, gotta make the money to pay back loans. Maybe I will look into psych. Thanks !

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Specializes in Cardiology.

Hello! I feel the same, except I am a new grad and I am already burnt out. I am finishing my BSN through an online program. It is 3 semesters long if you do it full time. It has been manageable while still working at the bedside full time. Mostly writing; discussion posts and essays or research projects. Way less intense than the ADN program. I would go for the BSN especially since a lot of management positions require it and the BSN can carry you into graduate programs if you want to change careers completely. One path I am taking is applying to Masters in Public Health programs once I wrap up my BSN this year. I still want to be involved in healthcare and population advocacy, but not as a bedside RN. If you don't want to go to graduate school you can also look at Bachelor's programs for other majors you are interested in and apply for those. Since you already have an ADN (and maybe an Associates in Arts or Science if you did that before nursing school?) you have some college credit that may help toward another bachelor's degree if you want to change career paths. BSN is not the only option is all I am saying. Additionally, you can always change jobs while you study in school. Even going from the clinical setting to something more relaxed or outpatient can help while you are in school studying. Best of luck ? 

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