HOW MANY are STILL at the BEDSIDE???

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

I graduated from an ADN program in '96--there were 27 in my class that finally made it to that coveted "RN" title. Great people in my class, all wonderful nurses, all so enthusiastic, good as gold. Fast-forward to the year 2002. Though I have no exact figure, I would estimate that only 1/4th of my original class are STILL at the bedside. Many have left for home health, health department, supervisory roles, management, doctor's offices, aren't working, etc, etc. And I just realized that I (gasp!) have now officially left the bedside also, in becoming an RN clinical instructor (although I still work part time at my local hospital). I am very thrilled about my job change and look upon this as a great opportunity. However, as I look back on all that I went through, these past six years--- two nurse-eating units (one as a new grad that nearly destroyed me), one DISASTROUS hospital management change (slash--burn--rape--pillage) that took away my sense of trust and security, one very large "teaching" hospital that is as bureaucratic and anal as can be (just doesn't realize it) --- chaotic working conditions for its floor nurses. I realize that over the years, I became burnt out, worn down. Perhaps my age has something to do with it--I am 47. I don't know. These hospitals really need to become more HOSPITABLE to nurses, because nurses just aren't staying. :( Nurses have no REAL voice in these environments.

So, the question I am asking all of you--how many out of YOUR graduating class are STILL at the BEDSIDE????

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this would be an interesting study....

I graduated w/ BSN in 1974....

would love to know how many of us were still at the bedside!

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l don't have a clue about my class...but l'm still there, took a break from it for a while though....been back since 98.....outa school since 80......gawd l'm gettin old!...l'm considering leaving bedside tho....kickin the idea around........LR

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Out of my graduating class of 21 who graduated as BSNs in 1983 I am the only one who is still working in the nursing profession. But I work in management and am not a bedside nurse.

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Specializes in Corrections, Psych, Med-Surg.

Your age DOES have something to do with it. Since you have some life experience, it doesn't take you very long to see through what is actually is going on at so many nursing facilities. If you were younger and less experience and/or dumber, it might take you a lot longer. A search engine can help you find the number of active RNs vs the number licensed in your state, for another interesting comparison. The last I knew about California, well over 20% of licensed RNs were not working as nurses. I believe the figures for men, more in line with what you are talking about, is that about 16% of nursing students are men, but only about 4-6% of nurses are men. (The same percentage as it was before WWI). Men seem to take even less time to get out of the field. There seems to be no shortage of licensed people, just of licensed people willing to put up with all the crap and abuse. Sad to say. I left hospital nursing in 1992, myself.

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I worked at bedside as RN 17 years. I was forced out by deteriorating conditions and the fact that I did not feel well a little over 2 years ago. Have made attempts to go back. They don't last because I still don't fell well and conditions have not changed much.

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Just got away from the bedside last Nov. I worked at the bedside since 1974.

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I've been at the bedside since 1974 and I'm still there along with the med cart and good ole BCMA ...LOL! As long as I medicate myself with Motrin before I pound the linoleum, I'm fine. I wouldn't trade it for anything. It's what nursing is all about to me. Sometimes I wonder though, how much more can I take or give in this case. Some days are worse than others. :o Alot of the residents are younger than I and are more demanding now a days. God forbid that you even look at them the wrong way they report you to the HN and you end up transfered off the unit. It's really ridiculous sometimes, but I put up with it. I should go back to school and get my RN. Then I could get away from the bedside and do.....? Never really thought about it. If we have another buy-out, I can't go for it b/c I still don't have the age. When I do have the age, I'll get one of those jobs where you stand all day and hold that "stop/slow" sign. Only at that point, I'll do it in a w/c! :D As far as my classmates, I have no idea who's still doing bedside nursing...lost touch with most of them.

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I graduated 1995.

I don't know what too many of the graduate nurses are doing.

One remains in ICU.

Another got a teaching job.

One was a floor nurse but work in SICU.

2 are pool nurses....one works about once a month the other full-time.

Another is a floor nurse.

And I've worked on 2 different step-down units. I'm actively looking for a new job. Hey if anyone knows about a job in MI....tell me....he he he!!;)

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I don't know about all my classmates (I graduated in 1991) but from the ones I know of... we're two out of ten (20%) still at bedsides (ICU and ER).

The others have left the profession (2), work in community health centres (2), are pharmaceutical reps (2), one is a manager, and one stopped working to raise her kids.

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Haven't got a clue about my classmates.

But wasn't part of why many of us went into nursing to have options. And if nothing else, nursing gives you options. If there wasn't a need for nurses in all sorts of places as well as direct bedside care, lots of us wouldn't have jobs.

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Specializes in correctional, psych, ICU, CCU, ER.

Graduated in 73. left bedside nursing in 90 and wouldn't go back.

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