For those that have left bedside nursing.

susanmary · Feb 27, 2002

Kudos to all of you for doing what is right for you. I'm nearly at the end of my med-surg-tele threshold. What's holding me back is that I work with GREAT nurses and aides -- we're all very supportive & treat each other great -- very low turnover on my unit. But the stress of such critically sick patients, being charge nurse with a full patient load, and dealing with all the beaurocracy and paperwork is overwhelming. I'm casually browsing the newspapers, work bulletin board, and web sites for the next step, but I'm not sure what that is. Yes, I care about my patients. But I'm a human being, wife, and mommy first.

So.....the whining has stopped....I'm going to be another ex-floor RN. God bless you all.

PhantomRN · Feb 27, 2002

To leave bedside nursing is not an easy decision to make. Yes, I am getting or am completly burnt, but I spent 5 years in school to get the degree that allows me to work at the bedside.

It really dont seem a waste- to not use the degree at the bedside- but It does feel different[?]. Maybe because we have it drilled into our heads from nursing school that floor nursing is the light at the end of nursing schools dark tunnel.

Without question, there is a lot of pressure to stay a floor nurse from nursing itself.

kyjule · Feb 27, 2002

Hi all...I have been a bedside nurse for 13 years and just left it 1 week ago to become the "Clinical Analyst Specialist" in the inpatient rehab. hospital I have been wroking for. I love the hours...Mon-Fri. no weekends or holidays. Miss the overtime however. Basically i code FIM levels for reimbursement for Medicare and such... I am really having a hard time adjusting. Any words of encouragement would be appreciated....thanx jules

Stargazer · Feb 27, 2002

Phantom, I sympathize with your feeling that you are "not a 'real' nurse"--as a former ICU nurse I've struggled occasionally with those feelings myself since leaving the hospital 7 years ago, and direct pt care 2 years ago. I recently spoke with a former ICU colleague who expressed similar feelings even though she loves her current job as a transplant coordinator. But we both agreed we were not willing to go back, even on a per-diem basis, with bedside working conditions the way they are now.

I think you have to change your mindset. Some nurses stay at the bedside their entire careers because they love it, they find it fulfilling, and they can't imagine doing anything else. That's great, and thank God for them.

For others, bedside nursing is the first step in a career progression or evoution that moves through management, teaching, specialty care or advanced practice, because these nurses have discovered that they have a talent for management or teaching. Still others--like many in this thread---are running research studies, getting published, and contributing to the general body of knowlege. Others are using their clinical expertise to start their own businesses or help design new medical products.

There are many ways to "help" and contribute to the profession, and take care of patients. We need the teachers, advanced practice, research, and entrepenurial nurses just as much as we need those at the bedside. If you're staying because you want to be there, great. If you're staying because of pressure from your colleagues or the fear that you won't be a"real" nurse once you leave the bedside--time to start assessing your options. Take your time and decide what's best for YOU. Best of luck. :)

VSRN · Feb 28, 2002

How sad is it that we equate real nursing with bedside? Where is it that we think we must work in a hospital on a busy Med/surg floor to be considered a real nurse? As a profession we have such depth of talent and intelligence. That, my friends, is what makes a real nurse!! I am proud of my ob background, just as I hope those in psych, peds, public health (ect.) are. We are all REAL nurses, some of us just choose to work away from the bedside. Like Stargazer says, we need all of us and we all represent nursing.

ryaninmtv, ADN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Feb 28, 2002

I left the bedside six years ago for a case management job. I am now the supervisor of the unit. At times, I do miss the adrenaline rush of the codes and crashing patients but, it got to the point where nursing at the bedside was just plain dangerous. I would leave work every morning wondering if I was going to get sued.

I do not miss anymore holidays, weekends, etc. with my kids. That's the payoff. And I'm still a REAL nurse.

BeachNurse · Feb 28, 2002

Although I am in clinical research, I work in the area of Pediatric HIV and AIDS. Just because I am not at the bedsides of our very small number of patients ill enough to be hospitalized does not make me feel like less of a nurse. I feel like I am making a difference in the lives of our patients, and that our work will positively impact patients all over the world. :)

ChristyM · Mar 3, 2002

I did bedside nursing on a med-surg floor for the first 2 yrs of my nursing career and I knew it wasnt for me!!!! I had really enjoyed my psych rotation in school so I figured I would give psych nursing a try and have worked in this field for the past 12 yrs :eek:

I work on a busy children/adolecent unit. The work is hard and the hours are long, but at the end of the day I can honestly say I have "made a difference" in someones life. Thats a great feeling!!!! :)

SRainny9 · Mar 3, 2002

I left bedside nrsg after working on an orthopedic unit for 7 yrs. I am now working in an outpatient setting where we do nrsg interviews, perform EKG's and draw lab work, preoperatively. Do I miss bedside nrsg?? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I work M-F, no weekends or holidays. I no longer feel like I'm "stroke" material everytime I go to work. I have just enough "hands on" to satisfy me. I'm thankful there are still bedside nurses, but I had enough to last me a lifetime. In the ideal world, if there were patients that appreciated all your time and effort on the floor, realistic staffing patterns, supportive management, and manageable workload...then I might rethink returning to floor work.

PhantomRN · Mar 6, 2002

Well, I did get the job outside of bedside nursing. I am very much looking forward to new challenges.

The only thing that still bothers me about the change is I feel I will loose all the hands on stuff I have learned.....so I am hoping this is the right direction for me, I dont want to wipe myself out of the job market.

VSRN · Mar 6, 2002

As a nurse you will never wipe yourself out of the market. But truthfully you will lose some hospital and agency marketability after 5 years or so away from hopital nursing. You must trust that you are making the best decision for yourself at this time in your life. I don't think I have forgotten any of my skills, but, I know I would have to start from the beginning to regain my IV skills and pumps and such. Now, you will gain so many other skills! My horizons expanded immeasuably once I stepped out of the hospital. It amazes me how far our education can take us. And the bedside is always there.......

lisagrneiis · Mar 7, 2002

I left after almost 22 years of patient contact, went to a managed care company. Lots of perks, and it is different, but since I have finished a BA in Business and am working on a masters in business related field and am seriously considering teaching grade school. Do I miss it...NO! I do not miss the politics, the long hours & the lack of respect for nurses as professionals. There is a big world out there...................