I'm a nurse, and believe it or not, I want to be a tech/assistant

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I've talked to another nurse about this but she told me to quit playing around. So, perhaps I should have posted this topic under nursing humor. But I'm serious, I'm about done being a nurse.

I have been a nurse for almost a decade and I am one of those that is very unhappy with my career choice, no matter what unit I work at. The nursing responsibilities are killing me slowly.

I have realized years ago that I have no interest in medications, calling the doctors, or delegating the techs. I am a follower, not a leader. When we are short a tech and too many nurses, I get so excited to be the tech for the shift. I love the hands on experience, I feel like I've helped them more, than passing meds then charting from a desk far away. I love being there for patients, I like talking with them, I don't mind the physical labor, and especially the the pay decrease.

I just want to be happy with my job. as silly as it may sound... If i were to give up my license and become a tech, would i be hired or would I "over qualify" due to being a nurse. Does anybody know someone who did this.

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Perhaps a different nurse role would fulfill this type of wish you have? Maybe you could work in a doctor's office or something? I may be this way too which is why I like being the resource nurse on our floor. Get to do all the hands on things without the annoying responsibilities. And not much charting ?

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Specializes in Psych, HIV/AIDS.

Uhs, I loved your post! It rang so true with me. That is exactly why I became an LPN! It's not that I didn't have the smarts, and get many questions from RN instructors of why I wasn't in the RN program; it's because I wanted to have bedside, 1 to 1 patient contact! And that is exactly what I got and was super satisfied and happy!

I ended up specializing in psych and then on to HIV counseling and testing, which turned out to be my dream job.

I don't know if you would be considered 'overqualified' by an employer, all I can say is you could try to apply in a different hospital. Perhaps psych would possibly be an area you could try. The RN's I worked with in psych, did have to pass meds, etc. etc. (and so did I) but they definitely got 1:1 contact with their assigned patients

Best of luck in finding the job you want and need!

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Home health? Private duty? Hospice? School nurse? Think outside the box/hospital.

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

I am a leader not a follower! I am a unit manager but the best part of my week has been providing personal care to a beautiful 80 year old man with a delirium, sepsis and dementia. I managed to get his pain and temperature under control, food into him and washed including the caked in dirt from his fingernails.

However I also enjoyed the trouble shooting of a roster crisis, in charge shift, arguing with fiance and all the other boss duties.

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

I totally get this. I really enjoyed my job as a hospice aide pre-nursing school. There is something very fulfilling about leaving your patient clean and comfortable at the end of your shift. Like you, I also enjoy playing tech for a day.

I've found that I do like the education and puzzle-solving that comes with nursing. How can I make this patient feel better? How can I talk this guy down from escalating to aggressive behaviour? What's happening to this patient that's making me feel like something isn't right? That is SK very gratifying too.

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.

You'll still have to deal with doctors, and the responsibility is great, but you'll do a lot of hands-on care in the NICU. Like all of it, unless baby is stable and parents are there to help. And unless you're a charge nurse you won't really be a leader per se.

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What about wound care? Lots of hands-on but still using RN skills.

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

Doesn't sound silly at all to want more quality time and interaction with patients, that's a wonderful quality. As others have mentioned, you may find other opportunities in nursing that allow you to use both skill sets and make you happier. Consider home health, private duty or even long term care in a facility with good staff ratios. I hope you find what makes you happy, and if it's being a tech, go for it. I think most people would encourage you to pursue a different nursing environment just because you'll probably take a pay cut going to tech work.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

Clinic nursing can be fun too. I feel like there isnt a ton of charting, mostly hands on stuff.

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Work in extended care home health and you will be doing the HHA (tech) functions in addition to the nurse functions during your (usually) eight hour shift. As a matter of fact, most of your time will be taken up with ADL's on many cases. Explore this area of nursing before you make any other drastic changes. And of course, check if working as a CNA, HHA, or PCT is allowed for someone with a nursing license in your state. In some states you can not do this, while in other states, all you must do is to find an employer willing to hire you as such.

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I know someone that quit being a nurse and started working private duty in the home. He seemed really happy with his decision!

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