Leaving Bedside Nursing for Telenursing

[Skakuntala]

Hi, I've been a nurse for more than a year now and I admit I do enjoy the little tasks, such as drawing bloods, inserting foley catheters, injections, dressings, briefly I do enjoy the technical and hands-on part of the job. However I hate the heavy patient load, having to do dressings in 3 seconds because I have 5 other patients waiting on me. Not having the time to think as I am always short on time. I am always stressed before going to work on this heavy GI surgery floor. Anyways, I have been staying on this floor with the only purpose of eventually switching to obs, but in the end-game I'd want to either do foot care or work in a safe injection site.

Long story short, I have gotten a job offer in a telenursing company working for various pharmaceutical companies, as a Nurse Consultant, it's a stable schedule, good pay, less stress, possibility of working one or two days from home, uses my computer skills (which I love doing). I accepted the job due to the huge increase in income for me. I have also worked so hard to cope with the surgical floor that I almost feel bad for leaving all those efforts I have put into it!

Do you guys find I am making a monumental mistake by leaving the more physical/technical sides of nursing?

I am sorry for the ramble, I am so lost in what I want...what I need...

Thank you!

[GBC_Student, BSN, RN]

1 hour ago, Skakuntala said:

I am always stressed before going to work on this heavy GI surgery floor.

I think this is the most important thing you wrote. Nursing can be stressful, but I think if every single day that you go to work causes you stress before you even walk in the door it might be smart to take that other job. Plus, you've now got that surgery job on your resume. If the Telehealth job doesn't work out you can always try your hand at another bedside job.

[Wolf at the Door, BSN]

I would keep a bedside per diem job or at least do agency 2 days a month.

[Jose9, BSN]

I think I would take the telenursing job. You have 1 year experience as a medical/surgical nurse which will look great on your resume as most places ask for minimum 1-2 years experience wherever you apply. You can always go back or apply to different med-surg units if the telenursing job isn't what you expected. Also, it seems like telenursing isn't a common job because I don't see much postings about those position. So I think try the telenursing and see how it goes.

[Skakuntala]

I did take the job and it's the complete opposite of bedside nursing! I am slowly completing my BSN online as I have more time to do so with more stable hours. I do feel that I will eventually try and apply to an agency to go into clinics like one Saturday or one Sunday per week (just in case and also because I do miss performing skills sometimes! hehe). But I am taking my time and really giving this a good try as bedside nursing was never for me! Thanks everyone! ?