Do you miss bedside nursing?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 19, 2016

I was at the bedside for approximately 10 years in a variety of areas such as long term care, skilled rehab, acute physical rehab, and a smattering of psych.

I do not miss the bedside one bit. In fact, I would not mind if I never delivered care to another patient or encountered another rude family member for the rest of my nursing career. I would be disappointed if I had to return to the bedside.

I am a work-from-home nurse case manager for an insurance company.

AllOfMyWat · Nov 19, 2016

I worked bedside 7 years. Hated about 80% of it.

I work in correctional health services. I love about 80% of it.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Nov 19, 2016

I left after 39 years eight months ago. Yes, there are parts I miss. But working from home as an online professor in my yoga pants and sweatshirt has its advantages, too! :sarcastic:

chacha82, ADN, BSN · Nov 19, 2016

I love your avatar! GREAT movie :)

Libby1987 · Nov 19, 2016

My most recent patient care stint was 9 yrs long in home health . I loved much of it, the rest I dealt with. Most of what I didn't like were the changes in regulations and reimbursement requirements but then I'd assimilate with minimal disruption and it was fine.

The routine patient care got too routine for me. I enjoyed, and still do, the challenging admissions but I really could go the rest of my life and not do another procedure.

I'm am administrator now but work in a small enough agency, and with my clinical experience, that I get out in the field to train our nurses. We did an admission yesterday on an old softie biker going through a hellish time. I love sorting things out for people. Just love it. The time flew by and I could do that everyday. One day I think I will return to it, closer to retirement, just doing admissions and not the multiple patients per day.

guest464345 · Nov 28, 2016

One measly hospital year, moved to public health, and will never look back! No interest in breaking my back to line the pockets of some CEO...no interest in 13 hours a day without eating or using the bathroom...no interest in taking a high level of responsibility with absolutely no authority.

I liked taking care of people - honestly took pride even in mundane tasks, changing sheets, cleaning people up - but sadly that's not how you spend your time in a hospital. No thanks.

allnurses Guide · Nov 28, 2016

I am one who has actually found a bedside nursing job that I LOVE.

I hope and pray that things stay the way they are... my hospital is

looking to grow and expand, but the company I work for is great,

so no matter what happens, I hope to continue loving what I do!

I have been away from the bedside, sort of... I did a very short stint

as a Shift Supervisor in a nursing home... hated every single minute

of that, and vowed that I would never work in any sort of

management job ever again, in a nursing home OR hospital.

I was a home health nurse for about 2.5 years, and during

part of that I was a case manager, while still seeing patients.

I disliked the responsibility of making sure that care was

carried out in such a way, that we would get maximum

reimbursement from insurance agencies. I hated worrying

about all of that crap. I hated having to decide who we

would continue to see, and who we needed to discharge.

Now I just take care of my patients, and chart what I do, follow

doctors orders... and I love it. I love just doing my

job, and then going home.

One of these days when I'm closer to retirement age,

perhaps I'll find a job away from the bedside that I

love. One thing I did while working for an agency..

I worked in an adult day care center. That could

probably still be considered "bedside" nursing, but

I don't really. I loved doing that... but it isn't a

job that pays well, for sure.

Love2Sleep, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2016

I worked on medsurg for 3.5 years before leaving. I have been doing telephone triage for almost 7 months and I'm not very fond of it. I just can't stand to be stuck in a cubicle all day. I'm actually applying for medsurg jobs again. I hope my 7 months away doesn't harm my being able to go back.