Hi everyone, I am a new graduate nurse on the telemetry unit at a large academic medical center. This is my first nursing job after school and I'm on orientation. Nursing is a second career for me, my first job was in clinical research. I have a bachelor's degree in neuroscience and in nursing.
My goal after nursing school was to go back to clinical research. I was unable to find any jobs in the research field and I ended up accepting a position on the telemetry floor. The hospital I work for just posted a job opening for a clinical research nurse in orthopaedics unit and I want to apply for the position. But I'm afraid it may backfire on me if my manager finds out. I'm on the second month of a three month orientation period.
I enjoy interacting with patients, but I do
not feel intellectually challenged and I dread going to work each day. I feel like a glorified waiter at my current position and I think I would be much happier working in research. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
If you keep allowing nursing theory classes to dominate the coursework, you will keep getting inferior nurses, and they will make everyone else look bad.
I have had first-hand experience over the years with quite a few nursing programs, at all levels, either as a student or a faculty member, and I have never seen a program in which nursing theory classes "dominate the coursework." One course, yes. Some mention of it in the other courses, yes. "Dominat(ing) the coursework," not even close. And that's not what produces inferior nurses. Low quality nursing programs with low standards for accepting and retaining students is what produces inferior nurses.
I have had first-hand experience over the year with quite a few nursing programs, at all levels, either as a student or a faculty member, and I have never seen a program in which nursing theory classes "dominate the coursework." One course, yes. Some mention of it in the other courses, yes. "Dominat(ing) the coursework," not even close. And that's not what produces inferior nurses. Low quality nursing programs with low standards for accepting and retaining students is what produces inferior nurses.
Well, if you think that the quality of nursing coursework is not a huge issue for the future of nursing respect, scope of practice, and being seen as skilled work, then I fundamentally disagree. I am in a top ranked nursing school (nearly done) and it is a joke. As they all are. Look at my pathophysiology class and the pathophisiology class I sat in on with the Med students. There is no excuse for such a gulf in the scientific and educational rigor between the professions.
As for nursing theory. There are too many "theory" classes. Just too many. Perhaps have 1. 2 is too many. But taking one every term? Its a joke.
Well, if you think that the quality of nursing coursework is not a huge issue for the future of nursing respect, scope of practice, and being seen as skilled work, then I fundamentally disagree. I am in a top ranked nursing school (nearly done) and it is a joke. As they all are. Look at my pathophysiology class and the pathophisiology class I sat in on with the Med students. There is no excuse for such a gulf in the scientific and educational rigor between the professions.
As for nursing theory. There are too many "theory" classes. Just too many. Perhaps have 1. 2 is too many. But taking one every term? Its a joke.
How did you arrive at your conclusion that "all" nursing programs are "a joke"? That is quite a sweeping generalization.
There is actually a very good "excuse" for the difference between the pathophysiology course you are taking and the one the medical students are taking. Two entirely different disciplines, two entirely different scopes of practice, two entirely different educational processes. You want that level of "scientific and educational rigor"? Feel free to apply to medical school. How much of this did you research before you entered nursing school?
Nursing has been fighting an uphill battle for eons to change how we are viewed as ... husband seeking.
For the record, I've never once sought a husband.
Yikes... don't feed the trolls.
Topic at hand: Sounds like you're trying to run away from a job you don't 100% enjoy into the first thing that sounds better. This proposed research job is in ortho... but you have a prior degree in nuero? This isn't even really what you want, is it? My advice? Stay in your soul-sucking current job until you're past your probationary period. That's not nursing advice- that's life advice. I get that life is short and you should follow your dreams, yada yada yada- but some people got bills to pay. If you want to keep a job or prepare for another one you sometimes gotta do things you don't want to do and "pay your dues." That's what that means. If you're not being challenged by your current job I agree, as another poster said, that you aren't challenging yourself. Sorry you're bored. Part of the nursing job is customer service... surprise! You say you enjoy working with patients....but you don't like getting them things they want or need? I don't understand.
So put a smile on your face for three months and do the job. I mean really...it's only one more month we're talking about here. Take out stank garbage from your patient room. Keep your patient's rooms tidy. Clean up those food trays. Show people you are astute, you care, you show up on time you are a good employee instead of That Guy who is always complaining about not having a research job. Make friends and have people respect your work. Be that patient's favorite nurse. Get people discharged with everything they needed. Go the extra mile. Work hard. And prepare for a job in research with a glowing review from your current manager.
...Or apply and maybe it will all work out. Did you try and talk to HR about this new position?
Contradictory answers? Yes! What did you expect from asking about life advice on the internet anyway?
Amen, exactly what I was trying to say. Thank you for saying it so directly and elequently. I just joined this site to check it out and ask some questions about Being an OR RN (have only had experience in IVF OR till now and have lots of questions). I started today at a surgical center and am feeling overwhelmed already due to the previous nurse leaving next week (only 1 week orientation), and just the sheer amount of knowledge and skills necessary. It's Neuro, Ortho, Bariatric, and General surgeries and I'm just not sure which forum to ask these questions in since it's so many different specialties? Anyone have advice (nice advice?) Thanks in advance!
So put a smile on your face for three months and do the job. I mean really...it's only one more month we're talking about here. Take out stank garbage from your patient room. Keep your patient's rooms tidy. Clean up those food trays. Show people you are astute, you care, you show up on time you are a good employee instead of That Guy who is always complaining about not having a research job. Make friends and have people respect your work. Be that patient's favorite nurse. Get people discharged with everything they needed. Go the extra mile. Work hard. And prepare for a job in research with a glowing review from your current manager.
Not bad advice! Although if someone is particularly bored and waitressy-feeling, one could go completely over the top and even try to:
- Review and deepen knowledge related to the pathophysiology of patient conditions observed
- Memorize all important facts about medications being administered
- Become an expert analyzer of patients' lab results
- Learn to watch patients like a hawk in order to quickly observe the first signs of clinical deterioration
- Work on the nuances of patient psychosocial evaluations and interventions
- Become adept at therapeutic communications in the most difficult of circumstances
- Obtain extra certifications related to the position
Amen, exactly what I was trying to say. Thank you for saying it so directly and elequently.
Are you talking about my post? If so I'm flattered, if not nevermind. Otherwise, start a new thread with your question and I'll fill your head with all the crazy opinions I have...
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
What I am responding to is the "thou dost protest too much" offense taken, aspect of a lot of the comments. When people are secure in their ego's, their sense of purpose and worth they derive from work, they do not so easily take offense at other's dislike of their profession. Yet, on this forum, there is a very high level of sensitivity to any slight against the nursing profession. I have done many jobs, and if someone was to denigrate them, I would either agree, disagree or think that they are so wrong that it's not relevant to talk about. But I would not take it personally, because I am not trying to project something that does not exist. I am not sensitive to other's perceptions because I am confident I understand the limitations of the work I have done, and am proud of effort I put into it. No one takes it away by any words. I may disagree, but I don't take it personally.
But it seems the foundation of many nurse's sense of self and self worth in work is so fragile, that negative opinions are taken as personal slights, rather than negative opinions.
If my friend, an ID doc, is confronted by another ID doc that says, "being an ID doc isn't intellecually fullfilling etc".....do you think he cares? No. Why? Because he finds it fully intellectually fulfilling, and there is no opening for insecurity there. He is solid in this fact.
Many here, dost protest too much.
I wouldn't tell anyone that their line of work is "not intellectually stimulating". That's just plain insulting, no matter who you say it to. And when a new nurse says it about nursing, I think she's missed the boat someplace. Wonder what her managers, coworkers and patients think about her lofty intellect.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
I'm not trying to argue at all. I haven't even begun nursing school yet. I've read a few posts and it seems those that have years as an RN get very upset with anyone that expresses how their position has made them feel. The name of the site is ALLNURSES. not just seasoned nurses, new nurses, potential nurses. She has every right to express how the job makes her feel without being berated. Maybe direct patient care isn't her niche. Maybe she's the RN that does the research to improve the medications, processes, procedures, etc used by nurses such as yourself. We don't always land our dream job right the gate. If her niche is research she might feel like her role right now is less than glorious. Whereas if your niche is patient care, research might be like watching paint dry for you.
I don't think she was trying to bash anyone. She came here for the support and advice of others in the field...she figured your experience would be of value. She doesn't say anywhere that nurses that work with patients are glorified waitresses...she says that's how SHE feels. You like wool. She likes silk. You like silk she likes wool.
Just think there's a way to look at it from her POV. Not at all trying to be rude. Hope you don't get upset w/ me.
I think you've missed the point a bit. A new grad in any area who isn't "intellectually stimulated" is missing something. Research conducted by people who know what they're doing is a lot more valuable than research being done by novices in their field. A previous poster already stated what's wrong with rules and policies being developed by people with no personal experience in the field.
The OP might make a great researcher one day. But people a lot more knowledgeable than she is are telling her why that is a long shot for the moment, and that she might torpedo her career by looking to jump ship so soon after being hired.
WOW...WUZZIE...Talk about eating our young !!! She's absolutely correct for feeling like a "waitress" !! I'm an ER nurse and these patients ask for food in triage ! She's got every right to feel the way she does WITHOUT YOU making her feel worse !!!
WOW...WUZZIE...Talk about eating our young !!! She's absolutely correct for feeling like a "waitress" !! I'm an ER nurse and these patients ask for food in triage ! She's got every right to feel the way she does WITHOUT YOU making her feel worse !!!
I'm sorry but disagreeing with someone is certainly not "eating our young". I didn't attack the person. I didn't say she was a horrible nurse. I found what she said offensive but I was extremely polite about it. Not only that but I gave her the advice she requested. My biggest beef was with her statement about the job not being "intellectually stimulating". I'm sure the med-surg nurses here appreciated being told by a nurse with less than two months experience that they don't have to think while they're working. What about their feelings?
elkpark
14,633 Posts
I have had first-hand experience over the years with quite a few nursing programs, at all levels, either as a student or a faculty member, and I have never seen a program in which nursing theory classes "dominate the coursework." One course, yes. Some mention of it in the other courses, yes. "Dominat(ing) the coursework," not even close. And that's not what produces inferior nurses. Low quality nursing programs with low standards for accepting and retaining students is what produces inferior nurses.