Non Direct Patient Care

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello all, it has been a while since I've been on allnurses.

I earned my RN May 2006, was on a surgical floor for 6 months, tried psych nursing for a month, left nursing for a clerical job for 8 months, and now I'm working at a nursing home (basically doing LPN med pass-type work). I like the educational, knowledge-obtaining aspect of nursing but I totally despise the actual bedside-nursing aspect of nursing. Once again I'm thinking about getting out of nursing for something more clerical. I basically hate nursing and have ever since I entered my nursing program, but my student federal loans were running out and I was in my mid-20s and needed to start working. I've only been at my current job at the nursing home for 5 months. I hate everything, the patient load (30 patients), being pulled in a million different places, trying to perform miracles for demanding/sue-happy familes, staying late to do incident reports of our constantly falling patients, the disgusting smelling patients.... everything. Bedside nursing is not in my personality.

What type of things could a person with an RN degree (with a psych degree, and experience as a patient registrar) do in the health-care field that has nothing to do with touching/being near/ patients?

Mr Ian

340 Posts

Specializes in mental health; hangover remedies.
:banghead:

CathyLew

463 Posts

Specializes in MSP, Informatics.
the disgusting smelling patients.... everything. Bedside nursing is not in my personality. What type of things could a person with an RN degree (with a psych degree, and experience as a patient registrar) do in the health-care field that has nothing to do with touching/being near/ patients?

Ouch. You do know that these are people? and that we will all get old some day. I hope when I am old and smelly, that my nurse has a little better outlook and feel for the job. That said...... on to your question.

QA, Infection Control, Chart Reviews, Insurance audits, Staff Education... lots of management positions that don't involve patients. I can't garantee that some of the staff members won't smell thought.

Specializes in ER.
I hate everything, the disgusting smelling patients.... everything. Bedside nursing is not in my personality.

What type of things could a person with an RN degree (with a psych degree, and experience as a patient registrar) do in the health-care field that has nothing to do with touching/being near/ patients?

You could work for an insurance company reviewing charts. I hope when you get old and smelly that a nurse whose in it for the right reasons gets assigned to you. I realize nursing is not for everyone but disgusting smelling patients is a bad attitude for a nurse, even one who doesn't like bedside nursing.

barbyann

337 Posts

In my experience, the clerical nursing jobs are saved for those nurses who haved worked at the bedside for years and find themselves unable to physically perform the bedside role. They then, as an act of appreciation, get the desk jobs. They are able to bring their years of knowledge to the "clerical" side of nursing. I am hoping for such an opportunity when I am no longer able to perform as a floor nurse.

meandragonbrett

2,438 Posts

Case management, QA, Infection Control.

RNperdiem, RN

4,592 Posts

Marry a rich man, quit your job, and live a life of leisure.

Trauma Columnist

traumaRUs, MSN, APRN

88 Articles; 21,249 Posts

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I think perhaps you need to do a self-evaluation so that you can then choose a better field. Your patients deserve a compassionate and kind nurse, and to your credit, you realize you are not that person.

Other posters have given you some solid leads. Good luck.

CathyLew

463 Posts

Specializes in MSP, Informatics.
Marry a rich man, quit your job, and live a life of leisure.

good idea! oh, but make sure you divorce his sorry butt before he gets old and starts to smell.....

This is why nursing schools should require you to be a CNA/EMT/PCT for a year as a prerequisite...

It's time to get out of bedside nursing...seriously!

pnurseuwm

161 Posts

Actually, some of the most smelliest patients aren't the "old" ones. My nursing home actually has a rehab unit (that they frequently put me on) and many of my patients are quite young (not past 60).

I came to this forum for advice, not for a particular part of my post to be blown up and blown out of proportion. Aparently everyone of you have been blessed to fall right into the career that you were meant for. Others of us have not been so lucky and seek genuine help. It's great to know that you all are perfect saints, perfect multi-taskers, perfect judges, have cast-iron stomach, and have never in your lives been affected by smells.

I believe the "Career" or "LTC" forum may have understood me better. Thank you.

Mr Ian

340 Posts

Specializes in mental health; hangover remedies.

Personally I think you got off lightly with the few comments you had.

Stating you 'earned' your RNs with such an appalling attitude to people is the ultimate insult to nursing.

Nursing is about caring for people and the fact that you managed to 'achieve' your RN with this attitude - since you started your course - aggravates the %^ out of me.

Someone else could have had your training place.

Good luck with your career choice.

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