Informatics RNs, do you ever miss the bedside?

[nightingale1969]

Hi all,

I just interviewed for an informatics position at my hospital. Nursing is my second career; I was a computer professional (tech support, QA, project leader) in my past life. :) Our hospital's informatics department is relatively new, and they have a long way to go, but are progressing well. Though the job responsibilities seem very challenging because I haven't done this kind of work in years, I think my combined experience in nursing and computers will fit the bill.

I do recall, though, feeling burned out in my previous career for various reasons, and bedside nursing was a refreshing change...at first. Nursing is almost the exact opposite of what I used to do, in so many ways. But long story short, there are things I love about patient care, and other things that I don't love so much (all the things that other posters on allnurses.com talk about, that get in the way of our jobs). Our floor is very busy, and I have been feeling burned out for a while, and only a few years into my nursing career. But I'm sure that if I get this job, there are things I will miss about bedside nursing, and about that feeling of making a difference, *right there* at the patient level.

So are there any of you out there who have made the switch to informatics, but you miss bedside care? Do you find you are willing and/or able to pick up occasional shifts, just to keep your skills up (and get your patient care fix, if you need one)? I'm thinking that if I'm hired, I will still pick up a few shifts for those reasons, as well as to see how well we are implementing the changes made in informatics...to take on the end-user role, if you will :)

Thanks in advance!

[rninformatics, DNP, RN]

Surprisingly enough many informatics clinicians are still practicing clinicians.

This maintains their clinical skills and lends continued credibility to the informaticist as a current and experienced clinician.

Just make sure you truly keep your clinical and informatics practices seperate.

By that I mean make sure everyone knows that if your old floor/area is short a nurse you will not stop working your "desk job" and "float" to the floor.

Sure, pick up an occasional weekend shift q month to keep your clinical skills fresh or better yet pick up a shift in a totally different dept say you were working on the med surg unit, what about doing a weekend in home health or in outpt clinic?

Other part-time options to keep your clinical skills current are:

-Teaching or precepting at your local community college

- Working agency nursing or temp staffing

- Teaching CPR or advance life support courses for the Red Cross

- Health Fair, School, Walgreens, Camp, Cruise Ship, Employee Health, College Campus or Sporting Events Nurse

Hi all,

So are there any of you out there who have made the switch to informatics, but you miss bedside care? Do you find you are willing and/or able to pick up occasional shifts, just to keep your skills up (and get your patient care fix, if you need one)? I'm thinking that if I'm hired, I will still pick up a few shifts for those reasons, as well as to see how well we are implementing the changes made in informatics...to take on the end-user role, if you will :)

Thanks in advance!

[nightingale1969]

Hi rninformatics,

Thanks for your reply. I've been looking forward to seeing what you have to say, as you are the guru of this forum!

"Cruise ship" sounds good, where do I sign up?

I will know soon if I have the job or not, so you might be seeing my posts more often. This would be my first foray into nursing informatics, and I will have a LOT to learn...it's a little scary, but exciting. I just hope I can cut it...but I figure I've made it through just about anything else I've set my mind to, so this is just another stop on the journey. Trying to stay confident...

~nightingale1969