I feel stuck in my nursing career!

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

Specializes in Progressive Care Nursing.

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Hello! I've been a bedside nurse for 3 years. I currently work in a hospital on a Step-down/Progressive Care Unit, where I've been for the past almost 2 years. Right now I'm PRN/per diem and I love the flexibility. I've been only picking up 8-hour shifts instead of 12s.

However, I hate bedside nursing. My dream was to be in women's health, however I have other interests like case management and dermatology. Or even cath lab or endoscopy where I think scheduling could be a little more flexible. I'm pregnant and due in June, so I know I couldn't really change positions until after I'm back from maternity leave. However, my current PRN flexibility would probably be great while taking care of a baby. 

I just want to move on with my career and get away from bedside, but I still want flexibility, and I have no idea which direction to go in. Right now I guess my two options are FNP (family nurse practitioner) school (could work in women's health or dermatology with that), or get a CM (case management) certification and do that. I don't wanna regret my decision. Scheduling flexibility and work-life balance are very very important to me. I also would like a career where I'm not running around like a robot, and can take a nice lunch break, and use the bathroom, and not feel like I'm being pulled in 10 different directions at all times. 

Does anyone have experience with any of these fields? If you've gotten this far, thank you so much for reading my rant!! I'm just so lost and have no direction!!

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I don't really have any advice other than the CM I usually have worked with are often understaffed and seem to be "pulled in 10 different directions". It's just 10 different directions than bedside nurses. 

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You qualify for utilization review/ Management. Check out the job boards for insurance jobs . You would be working from home. You would still need a sitter, as most work from home jobs will not allow you  to care for your kids while working. I did note that several of my colleagues had kids running around.. but an infant is different.

 Best wishes.

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Specializes in Home Care, cardiac, respiratory.

Home care visits, 4-6 patient visits per day, about 1 hour each. Can concentrate on one patient at a time. 

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