Moving out of hospital bedside nursing

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.

I'm just wondering for those of you that have moved out of the bedside hospital site nursing, did you have trouble at first making the decision to do so? I'm sure we've all seen the discussions about people feeling that nurses who do other work are not really nurses.

It seems like it just becomes so pushed on you during nursing school, and beyond that hospital nursing is the way to go. So when thinking about moving past that, it can be a difficult choice to make. I've been working ICU for 8 months, after 5 years of M/S type floors. I'm not really loving it. I've always planned on going to ER, but now question if I really want to, if I would be happy. I have otherfields of interest I am debating on pursuing. But I just feel like it's this "fear" or some feeling I can't explain when I think about actually leaving the medical acute care setting.

Anyone else ever feel this way?

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Your gut is telling you something. Listen to your gut, it tells you some things you sense but are not consciously aware of. Small nuances the subconscious picks up and records are for the most part...a 6th sense. Leaving security is always frightening. Some choices are always difficult especially in this job market.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.
Your gut is telling you something. Listen to your gut, it tells you some things you sense but are not consciously aware of. Small nuances the subconscious picks up and records are for the most part...a 6th sense. Leaving security is always frightening. Some choices are always difficult especially in this job market.

I wouldn't be leaving without having another job. I'm on the fence with psych or ER. I really am not happy where I am, but have always felt I should stick it out for a year. We were planning on moving to a new state in a year, but DH has now been promoted to a manager, so its looking like we will stay here a while. If we are not going to move, then I need to start making a decision and looking in the next couple months. Having an "end point" and just planning on sticking it out at this job until we moved was one thing... indefinetely is totally different.

It's just making the decision of which direction to go:confused:

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Specializes in Med-surg, OB, school nursing.

I didn't have trouble deciding-just jumped at an opportunity to leave the hospital because of the great hours. I even liked what I was doing-just hated the forced over-time. Well the grass isn't always greener and I've always missed it and regret not staying at least part-time to keep my foot in the door. Now I can't get my foot back in the door. Try the ER. It sounds like maybe you just need a change but aren't really ready to leave acute care. However, it doesn't matter where you work as a nurse-you're still a nurse. You just use different sets of skills and I've never heard anyone around here looking down on nurses that don't work in the hospital.

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ICU/ER/PACU/Teaching.

I have been away from the bedside for at least four years. I can tell you that I do not miss it at all. There is a lot you can do, HOWEVER...if you decide to go back to the bedside after being away, they will not hire you because you do not have "recent" experience.

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I just left bedside nursing in the hospitals to go work for an insurance company as a case management RN. I had plenty of good reasons to make this choice. I start Tuesday, so I can't tell you yet how it will go...but I can already tell you, it will be A LOT less stressful. With the economy, the hospitals have become freaking battle grounds for nurses. I am happy to be out and try something new.

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@Inme, "recent bedside experience" is the lamest excuse I have ever heard. Where do they get these interviewers? Standards of care and scope of practice are available online. Technology changes, paper work changes, but the human body has remained the same for at least 200 yrs. Yes, there are new drugs every year but that is an ongoing process. I was turned down for a job because I had been out of the field for a few years. Sorry, but that is so much hockey. I could challenge that DON in any aspect of this specialty.

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.

I think about leaving nursing on a daily basis. And I get the same "gut feeling" you speak of when I do.

That gut feeling is your rational (vs. your emotional) side telling you its not time to leave a job that is giving you a steady paycheck. Thats what my head tells me anyway. I've looked into various possibilities for something different to do, and none of them really are that appealing when you take job opportunities into account. I've resigned myself to the fact that I must squat down and take whatever is thrown at me for now. Then, when the time is right, my nursing career will be a thing of the past.

I envy your situation though. You were at least able to get out of the M/S setting. I have not been able to. I interviewed for a CCU and ICU position at my current hospital but was not brought on because I was a little too honest about also wanting to get away from working nights at some point. The night shift on my M/S unit is, on most nights, 9 levels of hell. But, I continue to handle it and I have a very happy home life. Just would like to get to a career that doesn't cause me to go into a mini depression when I have to go in that night.

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@eriksoln. Honesty is not what interviewers want to hear. You must play the game by their rules to climb the ladder. I see a strong correlation to politics/nursing. You have to present a positive upbeat personality in the face of reason. It's just the way it is.

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Specializes in CVICU, ED.

Evaluate what it is specifically about the ICU you do not like. If it is something universal to bedside nursing, it may be time to step away from the bedside. If it is something related to the ICU specifically, then check into psych or ED (personally, I would go with ED; your ICU experience will serve you well and you will get enough psych patients to determine if psych may be your thing).

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.
@eriksoln. Honesty is not what interviewers want to hear. You must play the game by their rules to climb the ladder. I see a strong correlation to politics/nursing. You have to present a positive upbeat personality in the face of reason. It's just the way it is.

Thats part of the reason I am leaving nursing as soon as it is convenient for me. I've never been the type to win the popularity contest at work. Maybe I don't smile often enough, don't have enough common interests to get involved in the "chat" that impresses management, w/e it is, I've always been considered not much more than a warm body. Now, when work needs done........its a different story. When that difficult patient no one wants is on the unit, I'm everyone's best buddy, but only while that pt is there. I've learned to not be so free with my criticizms of management but that hasn't helped much.

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Thats part of the reason I am leaving nursing as soon as it is convenient for me. I've never been the type to win the popularity contest at work. Maybe I don't smile often enough, don't have enough common interests to get involved in the "chat" that impresses management, w/e it is, I've always been considered not much more than a warm body. Now, when work needs done........its a different story. When that difficult patient no one wants is on the unit, I'm everyone's best buddy, but only while that pt is there. I've learned to not be so free with my criticizms of management but that hasn't helped much.

Remember, lots of unemployed people out there. Convenience is not always available. Burnout is common, went thru it myself. Took some years off, worked in a different field. Got driven back into nursing due to the economy, the stock market, the real estate market collapse; everything I invested in took a dive. There is a place for you out there. Just keep looking for something less hectic and shorter hours.

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