Need ideas/suggestions for future nursing career

[randa77]

Hi all! I need help in deciding what I can do with a nursing career. I have been employed as an LPN for four years. I want a management type career. I don't want to be an RN in the true sense of an RN. I don't want to work the hours, weekends, and holidays that are required. I did this at the skilled nursing facility and hated it. It took a toll on my family life, and I will NOT do that again. I have no problem getting my RN if need be. Any ideas or suggestions on what path I should seek. No judgement please only advice. Thank you for your help!

[cleback]

If you don't want to work nurse hours, don't get an rn. The nurse management positions I've seen go to long standing nurse working the floor who have earned the respect of colleagues. You are likely asking the wrong crowd if you are seeking non-nursing management opportunities.

[TriciaJ, RN]

You know I quit coming to this website for advice, assistance, and help a while back. I have seen the way a lot of people on here attack and criticize posters for no apparent reason. I feel sorry for each of you. Your life must be miserable. I came back needing advice, assistance, and direction hoping that things had changed. Only a few offered words of help. I don't know who else to ask or what to do, but I will definitely never come back here! You people are disgraceful. If you behave, in the real world, as you act on this discussion board, I would be embarrassed to call you my co-worker and friend.

A degree in healthcare administration might be your best bet and you will have to do more research to find out if it will get you want you really want.

You did come on a nursing forum and present yourself as "I don't want to be a grunt nurse like all of you. I'm destined for a much better life. If you're not willing to cheer me on, then you're all dirtbags."

This is a NURSING forum. If we've disappointed you, we'll probably just keep on doing so. Best wishes.

[Kallie3006, ADN]

I must be confused like the true sense of confused. You are willing to get your RN if need be but are not willing to put forth the footwork to advance into management, in the true sense of management. The managers that are worth their weight know exactly what it is that is expected of us and are skilled in the area they are over. Having not had any experience as a RN and seeking a role that utilizes that experience as a backbone to build upon, I personally do not see the respect and leadership needed in taking on a role such as this. You might want to talk to people you work with or other people in the management role because I am afraid that your perception of the job duties may be a little off base. The management staff puts in more than 40 hours a week, cannot hang their title on Friday and reapply it on Monday morning, holidays is not a guaranteed day off and interruptions to family life are inevitable and can take a toll for someone unprepared for the responsibility of the role for which they seek. Or are you wanting just any type of management in general? Like a Wal-Mart manager for instance, then whether you were a RN, but not in the true sense, it would be a moot point?

[AnnieNP, MSN, NP]

You know I quit coming to this website for advice, assistance, and help a while back. I have seen the way a lot of people on here attack and criticize posters for no apparent reason. I feel sorry for each of you. Your life must be miserable. I came back needing advice, assistance, and direction hoping that things had changed. Only a few offered words of help. I don't know who else to ask or what to do, but I will definitely never come back here! You people are disgraceful. If you behave, in the real world, as you act on this discussion board, I would be embarrassed to call you my co-worker and friend.

WOW, time to grow up.

[BrisketRN, BSN, RN]

It seems like you might need to test out or shadow some "alternative" nursing/health care options. It would be difficult to get into management without experience, and I think most of us wouldn't want a manager who didn't have the experience or knowledge of what their employees are facing on a day-to-day basis. A few ideas of some alternatives to nursing in a hospital or LTC: school nursing/one-on-one nursing for students with complex medical needs during the school day, clinic nursing (even doing a flu shot clinic short term could open up a lot of doors for you), hospice/home health nursing.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

A degree in healthcare administration might be your best bet and you will have to do more research to find out if it will get you want you really want.

You did come on a nursing forum and present yourself as "I don't want to be a grunt nurse like all of you. I'm destined for a much better life. If you're not willing to cheer me on, then you're all dirtbags."

This is a NURSING forum. If we've disappointed you, we'll probably just keep on doing so. Best wishes.

I was going to say this. So many nowadays want the privileges without the responsibilities, or paying the dues that everyone else has to. Sorry, OP, but you most likely knew that this was how this would pan out when you were writing your post

[TX.RN.Shannon]

Look, you came on here and asked a question that was kinda tough---you want to be a manager, but not have certain manager responsibilities. I answered, as I have experience as a RN and manager.

Sorry that it wasn't what you wanted to hear. I was just trying to answer truthfully.

It is great to come here and ask questions--I have learned lots. But having strangers interpret your question and provide an answer sometimes sucks. I've had some salty, messed up replies to my posts.

BTW, I'm not miserable; I have a pretty damned good life. And you'd give your left pinky toe to have me as a coworker or friend---I am damned great at both roles!

[Golden_RN, MSN]

I get what you're saying. You want to work in the nursing field, but more 9-5 job. These jobs definitely exist. I have one now in informatics! But first I had to further my education and I worked about 20 years on the floor and as an instructor (working odd nursing hours). I couldn't do my current job without the background of understanding what the floor nurses experience. In my BSN program I learned a lot in clinicals about home health, public health and management, and in my MSN program I learned a lot about teaching. I don't think there is a short cut to these 9-5 jobs. You may want to think about school nursing. In my area they require BSN + credential.