I think it is hard for nurses, who are by nature self-less, to leave bedside nursing because of working conditions. I have almost 6 months in on a general Surgical floor and I am finally going to admit that I want to leave bedside nursing. Althought I am a new nurse, I have been struggling with this thought since I have started on the floor. And I mean struggling! I have to learn how to be selfish in this case, and it's hard for me. I say selfish in a sense that I have to think of my license and my family and my mental health above the unit. My first instinct is to tough it out, see if it gets better, and keep working/worrying/not sleeping/crying and having anxiety attacks, but it's just not worth it.
This is not why I went to school! I love working with the patients in a time of need and I really like teaching them, but I haven't been able to do as much as I've wanted and I feel like we are never staffed to the point where I think is safe. The ratio is usually 6 patients primary and 7-16 teaming with an LPN. We are lucky to get NAs, and as soon as we discharge someone we get an admission from PACU. The anxiety of liability at the bedside is so high that is is consuming!
The problem I have is this: I know I want to get away from the bedside, but I am so young I'm afraid no one will hire me or that I won't like it. I have only ever been on a floor (as an aid for 6 yrs too) and I do not understand (nor have I been trained on) "background" things like insurance co.'s, case management, informatics, utilization review, or other terms that I have heard in association to non-bedside nursing roles that seem to be fuzzy for me. Anyone that can clear up these roles for me?
And a background fear: what if I apply and get trained on these positions and hate them?
And are there any certifications or degrees that would help in the non-bedside nursing roles? I am willing to go back to school as well.
I have been a nurse for eight years and my first year was on med-surg. I went there hoping to stick it out for two years but after one year I had my fill of patient load. I went to a cardiac floor several years later and found it to be easier. Let me emphasize it was not easy work but the patient load seem to be tolerable for the most part. I went to work being able to provide good care and that was a relief. I would still consider a specialty if you like bedside nursing. Remember it takes a few jobs to find one that you really like so good luck to you finding the right fit!!
I like helping people too...but I didn't like leaving with that nagging feeling of not doing what I could - so bedside wasn't for me either. I think you should feel good that you figured that out early on and didn't waste years doing something you hate.
Can you afford to switch to part time while you look for something else? That might help your stress level so you can tolerate staying there until another job comes up.
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.
I went back to med-surg after 30 years of doing everything else. It was very stressful but I really liked it. But it was easier for me because I had been a nurse for a long time. Patients who are in the hospital are much sicker than they used to be and they live longer which makes their health care needs more complicated.
I really think that you need to have a long talk with yourself before you make a move. Make a list of the things you like about your current job, what you don't like and what your career goals are. Don't just get another job away from patient care. Make sure that job is for you before you do.
You might find that there are things on your "don't like" list that you have control over and can deal with. More CE courses, more orientation, a self referral to employee assistance (don't discount employee assistance. The people there can be VERY helpful). In addition, if you want to make a change, consult a career coach. They can help you decide what direction to do in.
It is important to remember that you are new at this job and to have a great amount of anxiety is normal. You will have that at every job, no matter what. Each new job brings anxiety. Also, you do not have enough experience under your belt to qualify you for some of the positions that you are interested it. The job market right now is HARD for nurses. Be very cautious before you decide to give up this job you have.
Have you talked with your manager about how you are feeling? Do you have an employee relations person at your facility that you can talk to? I urge you to consider trying to make this work before you decide to leave. It does not look good on your resume to leave a job prior to getting at least one year in there. Try to make it work if you can.
I think it is hard for nurses, who are by nature self-less, to leave bedside nursing because of working conditions. I have almost 6 months in on a general Surgical floor and I am finally going to admit that I want to leave bedside nursing. Althought I am a new nurse, I have been struggling with this thought since I have started on the floor. And I mean struggling! I have to learn how to be selfish in this case, and it's hard for me. I say selfish in a sense that I have to think of my license and my family and my mental health above the unit. My first instinct is to tough it out, see if it gets better, and keep working/worrying/not sleeping/crying and having anxiety attacks, but it's just not worth it.
This is not why I went to school! I love working with the patients in a time of need and I really like teaching them, but I haven't been able to do as much as I've wanted and I feel like we are never staffed to the point where I think is safe. The ratio is usually 6 patients primary and 7-16 teaming with an LPN. We are lucky to get NAs, and as soon as we discharge someone we get an admission from PACU. The anxiety of liability at the bedside is so high that is is consuming!
The problem I have is this: I know I want to get away from the bedside, but I am so young I'm afraid no one will hire me or that I won't like it. I have only ever been on a floor (as an aid for 6 yrs too) and I do not understand (nor have I been trained on) "background" things like insurance co.'s, case management, informatics, utilization review, or other terms that I have heard in association to non-bedside nursing roles that seem to be fuzzy for me. Anyone that can clear up these roles for me?
And a background fear: what if I apply and get trained on these positions and hate them?
And are there any certifications or degrees that would help in the non-bedside nursing roles? I am willing to go back to school as well.
All comments are appreciated!! :redpinkhe
I feel the same way you do, I hate when people tell me, "oh it will be get better or just hang in there." Honestly, I feel like I am just settling, so are you. Please do NOT settle. Go find your niche!
Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.
I just switched to psych and I love it. You learn to deal with the manipulative people. I heard all the horror stories before switching as well, and while you do get some people who act out, it can get busy, I have found so far that they are what they are called... stories.
Also, as others have said, if you try PCU or something that you have less patients, you may like it. They are a bit more sick at times, but as others have said, when you have less patients it is easier to handle.
You may also like home health. You get more one on one time, so you really feel you are helping the patients. It's more at your own pace, so you won't always feel so rushed, etc.
Just remember you are new, so you have to find your way. Not saying give it time, it will get easier. If you don't like that area, you don't like it. Just give yourself time to figure out what you do like, and don't feel guilty for it!!
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i think it is hard for nurses, who are by nature self-less, to leave bedside nursing because of working conditions. i have almost 6 months in on a general surgical floor and i am finally going to admit that i want to leave bedside nursing. althought i am a new nurse, i have been struggling with this thought since i have started on the floor. and i mean struggling! i have to learn how to be selfish in this case, and it's hard for me. i say selfish in a sense that i have to think of my license and my family and my mental health above the unit. my first instinct is to tough it out, see if it gets better, and keep working/worrying/not sleeping/crying and having anxiety attacks, but it's just not worth it.
this is not why i went to school! i love working with the patients in a time of need and i really like teaching them, but i haven't been able to do as much as i've wanted and i feel like we are never staffed to the point where i think is safe. the ratio is usually 6 patients primary and 7-16 teaming with an lpn. we are lucky to get nas, and as soon as we discharge someone we get an admission from pacu. the anxiety of liability at the bedside is so high that is is consuming!
the problem i have is this: i know i want to get away from the bedside, but i am so young i'm afraid no one will hire me or that i won't like it. i have only ever been on a floor (as an aid for 6 yrs too) and i do not understand (nor have i been trained on) "background" things like insurance co.'s, case management, informatics, utilization review, or other terms that i have heard in association to non-bedside nursing roles that seem to be fuzzy for me. anyone that can clear up these roles for me?
and a background fear: what if i apply and get trained on these positions and hate them?
and are there any certifications or degrees that would help in the non-bedside nursing roles? i am willing to go back to school as well.
all comments are appreciated!! :redpinkhe
if i'm reading you right, you're a new grad who has been working as a nurse for six months. you hate your job, this isn't what you went to school for and you want to quit. am i right?
sounds like a typical first year of nursing story. give it a whole year. if you still want to get out, do so. but you'll have a whole year of experience rather than 6 months. you won't look like a job hopper. and you might have had that moment when everything "clicks" and you know you can do this. it doesn't sound as if you've had it yet.
This is not why I went to school! I love working with the patients in a time of need and I really like teaching them, but I haven't been able to do as much as I've wanted and I feel like we are never staffed to the point where I think is safe. The ratio is usually 6 patients primary and 7-16 teaming with an LPN. We are lucky to get NAs, and as soon as we discharge someone we get an admission from PACU. The anxiety of liability at the bedside is so high that is is consuming!
We see these posts of nurses leaving over and over again and yet the movement to improve working conditions is at a snails pace. And this is why the nursing career is failing to keep nurses. What we are taught in nursing school is not a reality on the job, there is no time. Hospital working conditions have to change. The ANA makes a statement about working conditions and nurse retention but nothing is done. The working conditions and not being able to practice they way were taught is what drive new nurses to work part time or in less acute settings. If the ANA wants to end the so called nursing shortage, we need to set national standards to improve working conditions.
OP I feel 100% exactly like you. People keep saying stick it out for a year, but I am not sure I can live this way in this kind of constant stress, dread, & anxiety for an entire year. I hate my job. When i am at work, I am barely keeping it together and when I am not at work I am just spending every minute dreading having to go back. Hospital nrusing is not for me. But to get any other job, I need a year of experience so I feel totally trapped.
Specializes in Oncology; med/surg; geriatric; OB; CM.
if i'm reading you right, you're a new grad who has been working as a nurse for six months. you hate your job, this isn't what you went to school for and you want to quit. am i right?
sounds like a typical first year of nursing story. give it a whole year. if you still want to get out, do so. but you'll have a whole year of experience rather than 6 months. you won't look like a job hopper. and you might have had that moment when everything "clicks" and you know you can do this. it doesn't sound as if you've had it yet.
amen! give it a year. i am a firm believer that after a year of med-surg, you can do anything in nursing.
i have been an rn for 16 years now (was an lpn before that) and have worked in many different capacities. starting out in med-surg gave me a good, solid background (and i had my "click" moment at about 7 months in) and that will make you more comfortable in changing clinical settings as well as more marketable.
don't give up--you made for 6 months--you can make it another 6 months!
WOW!! You made six months. You must have skills. You survived nursing school so I know you have been tried by fire! Now, don't feel special because you feel over worked and scared to death. Everyone is. Those who aren't scare me. Med-surg means you are not intimidated by the 4P's (Puke, poop, pus and pee). You are concerned for your patients and focus on safety. You are sound like an awesome new grad. Any unit will see your value and ability.
Please take a careful look at what is out there and see where you think your interest lies. A lot of us bounced around the first few years. I worked several jobs at a time the first few years and regarded it as an advanced clinical (What Nursing Will I DO 101). You will probably find several areas you like. Any position you grow in feels challenging or it will get boring. Nurses are problem solvers by nature and wilt without challenge.
You made it through school, boards, and six months on the floor. You are a success. Keep plugging and NETWORK like crazy. Nursing is a small community and someone you work with now may be your boss in another place.
I felt quite anxious myself at the bedside in medical.....not everyday, but many days. If the acuity is what makes you anxious you may like psych. You mentioned psych and worry about being manipulated.....I think maybe you should spend some time shadowing a nurse for a few shifts to get a better idea of what psych is really like. I found it much less anxiety provoking. Still busy, but its different.
I've been an RN for three yrs now and I loathed working med surg... I worked psych for 2 months and med/surg for three months, then took the leap into working home health and haven't looked back!
I wasn't afraid of the autonomy, but my skills/critical thinking had to be refined over time. Now, I only have an issue if I'm going into a home to do something I haven't done in awhile...even then though I just look it up real quick and I'm fine.
Everyone and their brother told me to work med/surg for one yr, it's probably sound advice, but I didn't, I couldn't...I was miserable. So as I said I started working for a home health agency and it's the best "fit" for me. I have found my "niche".
tyloo
128 Posts
I have been a nurse for eight years and my first year was on med-surg. I went there hoping to stick it out for two years but after one year I had my fill of patient load. I went to a cardiac floor several years later and found it to be easier. Let me emphasize it was not easy work but the patient load seem to be tolerable for the most part. I went to work being able to provide good care and that was a relief. I would still consider a specialty if you like bedside nursing. Remember it takes a few jobs to find one that you really like so good luck to you finding the right fit!!