In the meantime . . .

Warning: long

Posted something similiar in the Research Nursing forum, but thought I might get some responses here and from different backgrounds.

I am currently a second-degree ICU nurse (closing in on 2 years) with a previous career as a research assistant (animal models, basic lab bench work, etc). I have been hoping to enter the world of clinical research. I have been actively looking into clinical trials research positions (thus combining research and nursing). But the opportunities are few and far between. It looked like a great position was available at a local academic research center recently (that I had actually worked at during my life as a research assistant), but the position was pulled before anybody was interviewed.

I love many aspects of intensive care nursing (the disease processes, gtts/drugs, the lovely critical care "toys"/equipment) but I am already becoming burnt out (physically and mentally) on bedside nursing. There are many reasons but I believe the lack of regular schedule/hours contributes greatly to my state of well-being. My life/work balance is all out of wack. I am willing to wait to get into research, but I am trying to figure out what to do in the mean time. I think if I stayed with full-time bedside nursing until an opportunity in research arises, I might just go nuts! I would like to maybe maintain a prn ICU position for awhile, keeping some of my clinical skills up and enjoying critical care without letting it control my life. However, I have to have a full-time job for financial and benefit reasons (you know, like most people ).

My question is while waiting to enter the world of research nursing, are there any alternatives to bedside nursing I can pursue (of course those opportunites might be just as difficult to break into). Would working in a physician's office or as a casemanager for example hinder my chances of getting into research nursing? Who knows, I might just find my niche while waiting for a research position! Or would I be better off crossing my fingers and staying in the hospital as a staff nurse (And pray I can hold out).

Did anybody who left bedside nursing early in their career find that perhaps the grass wasn't greener or it was the same shade?

Any hints for finding non-bedside positions?

Any advice/suggestions/anecdotes would be very, very appreciated! Thanks!