How to get out of patient care?

[lockheart678]

I've been a nurse in the OR for 4 years now. I'm very good at what I do, and I do like the OR environment, but I've been having some neurological problems (walking and balance issues) that are getting to the point where I'm afraid I can't do my job much longer. I would love to find a job as a charge nurse and possibly go into management one day, but any openings for that always require charge experience, and I have none. I do have a BSN, but it doesn't seem to do me a bit of good because I don't have the kind of experience anyone would want. I'd get out of nursing and take a desk job somewhere if I could afford it, but I can't take that much of a pay cut. Just FYI, I can walk just fine, but one leg/foot starts to drag when I get tired, and unfortunately it doesn't take very long for that fatigue to set in anymore. If I've given it some time to rest, I'm ok until it happens again. I just can't be up walking around for long periods of time. Are there any options for someone like me who hasn't had the chance to develop any kind of supervisor experience yet?

[mappers]

If I were you, I'd start talking to the surgeons you work with to see if they need any care coordinators in their practices. I know a lot of surgical and cardiology practices hire nurses to help coordinate surgery and procedure schedules, get surgical clearances, manage post-op care at home, educate patients, etc. There is also case management in the hospitals and telephonic nursing for insurance companies. Also, look into teaching, maybe at a school with a surgical tech program? Good Luck!

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

Poison control nursing.

http://www.discovernursing.com/specialty/poison-information-specialist#.ULKgRsX4JHc

Phone triage.

http://www.discovernursing.com/specialty/telephone-triage-nurse#.ULKf_cX4JHc

Legal nurse consulting.

http://www.aalnc.org/?page=WhatisanLNC

There are other areas, but these are the ones that came to mind.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Look into working for an insurance company.. good luck to you. We have a nurse that uses a walker, and the insurance company is putting in a handicapped bathroom.. just for her.

[DoeRN]

Have you thought about case management?

Depending on where you are charge you may have an assignment. I would quite often especially if we were short staffed.

[CalicoKitty, BSN, MSN, RN]

Look into working for an insurance company.. good luck to you. We have a nurse that uses a walker, and the insurance company is putting in a handicapped bathroom.. just for her.

It's not handicapped, it's accessible!

[LVN2RNMom, ASN, BSN, LVN]

Try Case Management, MRU or Grievance & Appeals Nurse within an insurance company or IPA or hospital. The pay & benefits are generally good. The downfall is you are watched by big brother at the insurance companies & you are on production.

[jennilynn]

Maybe look into some large corporations by where you live. A lot of times the businesses, especially manufacturing companies, will hire nurses to handle their work comp claims and company employee health.