More Autonomy?? No more hourly wage grovelling!!

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Specializes in Pediatric nursing: ED, forensic, neuro, triage.

Does anyone have any thoughts on nursing positions with more autonomy? I've been in the hospital system setting (including clinic) for 10 years and am starting to feel annoyed at having to have someone approve my every little move! My son is getting older and so am I! I am not sure I want to spend the next 10 years of my nursing career like this. I actually really like my work environment, however, I don't like having to grovel for permission to attend a school function ir go to an appointment!!

Any thoughts? Insight? Advice?

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

I'm confused about your use of autonomy. You're wanting more autonomy in your personal life (meaning time off work to attend functions and stuff?) This isn't in regards to more autonomy in your nursing career?

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Specializes in Pediatric nursing: ED, forensic, neuro, triage.

It is indeed regarding my nursing career.

I'm curious about if their are nursing roles out there that allow the nurse to have a bit more autonomy with scheduling.

I have 10 years of experience working in child maltreatment/forensic nursing, pediatric emergency nursing and most currently, pediatric epilepsy.

All areas have really shaped my nursing practice, but, have always kept me in the typical clock in, clock out, 12 hr, 8hr, 10 hr, find your own replacement, working holiday type schedule......

My current role gives me quite a bit of autonomy making nursing decisions.... But.... I'm looking for something that allows me, as I said in my previous post, autonomy to make choices about my schedule without being micromanaged. Does that nake sense?

So, do you have any insightful feedback to give based on your own career and practice?

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Specializes in Critical care.

Management.

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Specializes in NICU.

But not middle management, then you still have to answer to the higher-ups. Maybe if you became foot-care certified and opened your own foot care business? Or, I know a nurse that started her own ECG training company....she goes around offering classes on how to interpret ECGs. Something like that I'm guessing would be the only way to answer to yourself...unless you work somewhere with a really accommodating manager.

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Everybody works for somebody. Go start a business and grovel for 80 hours per week. with 100% autonomy

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

The only way I was able to manage something kind of like this was to go PRN and therefore have much more say in my schedule from month to month. This is not doable for everyone because PRN/per diem often means no benefits and in some places, a cap on how many hours you can work. But the pay rate is often higher. Other than that, if you work for someone, you will almost always have to deal with the obligation of following a schedule that works for them as opposed to working best for you. Even working from home requires certain structured hours, but they may be more flexible. I don't know about that and it might be something you could look in to.

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Self employment. The trade off for the guaranteed hours, benefits and stability of being and employee is losing some autonomy.

If dealing with long hours for uncertain returns, lack of financial stablity and going in to debt for business failure isn't for you, then a per diem nursing job might be for you. If you work somewhere that lets you self-schedule, you have some freedom to work around family issues.

It helps to befriend a nurse who is willing to switch or take up part of your shift too.

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Specializes in Pediatric nursing: ED, forensic, neuro, triage.

Indeed!! I'm just curious about roles that are a bit more flexible. I used "a bit" and "less micromanaged", mind you. I didn't say I wanted to be paid to do nothing. I have been with my hospital for 10 years and for the most part, have appreciated the leaders I have had. And despite working all kinds of imagineable and hard shifts (night, swing, day, mid, and 8-5's) The work and experience that has come out if those weird hours is immeasurable.

That said, as I edge into my 40's I'm wondering about new ways of doing things and don't think it's unreasonable for good nurses to have some flexibility as they get further into their career. What Thanks!!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

PRN comes to my mind too as you could self-schedule. Maybe home health? Insurance work?

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Specializes in Oncology.

The people that have the most control over their personal free time are those working 36 hours per week in a 3 12 hour shifts type job where they have a ton of seniority. I did that for years and as soon as I tipped the scale into the upper half of seniority I could pretty much name my schedule.

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Specializes in Pediatric nursing: ED, forensic, neuro, triage.

Indeed!! I'm just curious about roles that are a bit more flexible. I used "a bit" and "less micromanaged", mind you. I didn't say I wanted to be paid to do nothing. I have been with my hospital for 10 years and for the most part, have appreciated the leaders I have had. And despite working all kinds of imagineable and hard shifts (night, swing, day, mid, and 8-5's) The work and experience that has come out if those weird hours is immeasurable.

That said, as I edge into my 40's I'm wondering about new ways of doing things and don't think it's unreasonable for good nurses to have some flexibility as they get further into their career. What Thanks!!

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