Back to the Bedside!

[Zee_RN, BSN, RN]

OK, I'm going BACK to the bedside. A little reversal in the trend, I know, but hey...I just had to do it!

Last October I went from being a staff nurse in ICU to being the nurse recruiter for our hospital, working in the Human Resources Department. We had never had a nurse recruiter before.

I finally went to my boss today and said "I want to go back!" I miss patients, I miss my fellow nurses, I miss pathophys, I miss running to codes. I got the approval to go but not for two months yet...until we're done with (or well into) hiring GNs and initiating our first Nurse Externship program. Lots of recruitment stuff going on right now.

OY! Administration is NOT for me! Part of being an ICU nurse means being a control freak. I have NO control over anything in my current job; it's driving me crazy. Gotta wait for approval for everything. In a six-hospital system, that can takes MONTHS for the smallest change to take effect. I've been taking Tylenol-PM, straight Benadryl or Nyquil practically every night since taking this job! I can't wait to get back to my 12-hour shifts!

[4XNURSE]

Good for you Zee!

I wish I could go back. Have fun!

ken

[zumalong]

Good luck Zee-RN. I am heading back to the bedside this summer. I have been teaching and doing clinical with students for the last 7 years, but still feel that I am losing touch with acute care (even tho we do clinical in acute care for 8 weeks).

I miss having my own patients and the hecticness of day shift. I'll keep you up to date and you keep me up to date on how things are going. :)

[BadBird, BSN, RN]

Well Zee,

Welcome back to bedside I am sure the patients missed you.

[live4today, RN]

Good luck, Zee, and good for you for knowing what it is you want out of life, and not being afraid to pursue it! :)

I'll be "returning to the bedside" myself as soon as we leave Texas and settle into our next duty station. Sooner than later, I hope! Anyway, good for you! :)

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

Zee, I have done that several times. I finally decided I belonged at the bedside. It is so much more rewarding. Other admin jobs can be rewarding, but the pay-off can be a very long wait. Not like putting in an IV on the first stick, you know you did a good job as soon as you see the blood return.

Best of luck to you wherever you are!

[SICU Queen]

Zee,

Can I have your job?

(just feeling toasted lately:()

[oramar]

Every experience is a learning experience. I am sure you know somethings now that you did not know before and will find use for it. I am sure what ever you do you will excell.

[PhantomRN]

Good Luck Zee in your transition back to the bedside.

[leeriza]

Congratulations! Nothing like being at the patient's bedside. It's all about nursing isn't it?

When I am a little bit older maybe:p :chuckle

[kelrn]

Hey, I was just browsing through and read your post. I just went back to the bedside after doing school nursing for the past year. It feels great to be back! I had more rewards in the past two days than I have had in the past year. There are lots of people who think Im nuts for giving up my job but how does that old saying go "you dont know until youve walked a mile in my shoes" anyway, congrats!

[Jenny P]

WELCOME BACK, ZEE!!!!!!! And good luck in your future at the bedside again.

Maybe you should write some of your experiences down now so you can remember why you decided to return to the bedside. Sometimes (I know) the daily grind of bedside nursing can wear you down, but by reading back in a journal one can remember why you're there again.