New RN, not interested in bedside nursing

Nurses New Nurse

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Hey everyone -

I recently obtained my RN license but have absolutely no desire to do traditional bedside nursing. I love working with people just not in a hospital setting. What alternatives are there for a BSN - RN prepared nurse with no clinical experience (outside of college clinical rotation experience)? I have heard about insurance companies hiring RNs to review cases, etc...however that sounds incredibly boring. I KNOW there are lesser known jobs other than traditional bedside nursing or pushing paper. Could you all give me some suggestions to look in to?

Thanks!!

Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

I would strongly suggest u consider at least one year in bedside nursing. The basic, sound clinical skills u develop will hold u in good stead for any future nursing positions u will apply for. I do think it is a good idea to be practical and realistic in this recessional type economy (but I'm not in the USA & we don't have a recession down under). And the time will fly when u r busy.

Try to see the bedside as a challenge. What can u learn 2day? How can u manage ur time better? Though u may not like all ur patients all the time, (none of us do I think!) u will be using more skills than u think that will help u in later years.

And I also wonder when people go into nursing school, what do they honestly think they will be doing? (not being sarcastic). I wonder if recruiters or schools put an unrealistic spin on nursing? I've met some young nurses who don't want to do shiftwork, don't want to clean dirty bottoms, don't want to wash people or change beds, think they can wander off & get cappucinos & stand and gossip on their mobiles when there's work to be done. What did they think they would actually be doing all day?

And u need that basic, solid experience to get into higher/better Nursing Jobs, well down under anyway. If u get onto a med/surg ward that will give u a great grounding for the future. Otherwise try mental health/psych, GP surgery maybe.

Hello! I am a senior student to be BSN graduate and looking at outside of bedside care options. I saw your posting about your fellow graduates becoming case managers. Can you elaborate more on how they did this? And what degrees they have that helped them get this position? Thank you so much for your help!

Hello, can you tell me more about the sales position your friends are in and what experience helped them to get the job. I would love for your feedback!

"OP, don't let ANYONE tell you what you are or to define you. Don't feel guilty for not doing what's not in your heart. I rather you stay out of the clinical floor, than to resent your job and for it to show in your quality of care.

You can get a job out of college in public health, corrections, etc. Floor experience does not necessarily benefit or lend to non-floor positions.

Good luck"

I could not have said it better. The person who said you are not marketable is a grouch and trying to make you believe that nursing is some sort of lucrative club with only certain positions available for certain people when fact is that the whole field is a crap shoot. Apply everywhere. I was hired in Home Health right out of school and was more prepared and skilled than when I left it and went to the Hospital thinking that was the only way I would be seen as a "real nurse". I went back to Home Health after putting in applications everywhere I could find and it was no time before I got a call back. You ARE marketable. You have your license and you are picky! Yay for picky nurses. Who wants a desperate nurse who hates their job?

I was lucky enough to do public health and start a clinic job right out of nursing school. Definitely worth pursuing...bedside nursing wasn't my cup of tea. Those positions can be obtained with persistence.

Specializes in public health.

I recently got a job as a new grad in my local county health department. Most public health nursing doesn't involved bedside nursing care. Give it a try if you are interested.

Hi nf87654 :) I'm brand new to this website & the title of this thread completely caught my attention. I'm in my second semester of nursing school & really do not see myself in a traditional nursing role in the U.S. at the bedside... Nursing is so complex & multidisciplinary - - I'm very passionate about community health, global health, teaching, education, research, case management, et cetera. Curious where your R.N. license has taken you since your original post! Don't get me wrong at all, nursing at the bedside is INCREDIBLE & I admire anyone who has the resilience, knowledge, skills, and empathy to do it. I realistically see myself contributing to the field of nursing in other ways, but it does seem like a difficult and uncertain path to take as a New Grad from a BSN Program. I'm still hopeful though!

I've actually thought about teaching abroad after earning my R.N. license or joining the Peace Corps... Is that crazy? ;o) Then returning to the U.S. to do another graduate degree (I already have my first one) in education, public health, or maybe even nursing one day. The obvious question I am asked is: "well why did you go to nursing school, if you don't want to work at the bedside or in a hospital?" For me, I have always thought nursing is inextricably connected to numerous, significant aspects of virtually any field. Maybe I was naive in thinking I would graduate & jump right into something not at the bedside... I've spent the last six years working at a really prestigious hospital and *my gut* tells me that bedside nursing just isn't the best fit for me.

All the stuff I read online about how awful the job market is didn't apply to me. I got several interviews and a job offer as a psych nurse before I passed the NCLEX.

If you don't want bedside nursing, go for it. Apply to SEVERAL jobs, not just a few.

Do do things that are outside the bedside while job hunting. Volunteer or intern with things like hospice companies, clinics, etc.

dont just apply to Nursing Jobs. Apply to things that are health care related.

If if there is some kind of assistant job in an area you would love to work in that pays less, take it but make it clear to them you are searching for a nursing job and you will be temporary.

You have to give yourself 6 months to a year to get a job.

dont listen to people who say you are less of a nurse because you don't want to work at the bedside. Nursing doesn't only happen inside the walls of a hospital. Something like 40-60% of nurses work outside the hospital. You have to be creative, patient, and persevere.

and don't listen to people who talk about he job market. I don't have a brilliant resume but I had no problems finding a job. If your resume and cover letter reflect dedication and passion, you will be fine.

What an encouraging post, babyboobooexpress! :) That's really reassuring & hopeful to hear. My only concern is keeping my R.N. License, if I were to work outside the U.S. in a non-R.N. position or working in a healthcare-related job not requiring the R.N. license. I know every state is different, but where there's a will, there's a way, right? It's just really comforting to hear that I don't absolutely need to get that "1-2 years of experience" as a R.N. at the bedside *everyone* insists a new grad should get in order to have that foundational clinical knowledge. I'm in no way criticizing / doubting the benefits of this to a new nurse of working at the bedside, but I really just don't think it's for me :-/ I've given this a lot of thought over the last decade, but I'm certainly open-minded & not ruling this out as a possibility when I graduate from my BSN Program in 2016 :) You truly never know where your nursing career can take you & what type of nursing you'll enjoy. I'll make sure to stay engaged in opportunities that are meaningful to me & try new things too while I'm a BSN Student.

As a new grad of this year, I took a summer camp nursing job before my current home health job. I believe that it was a fortunate decision because I also did not gravitate toward the hospital path that all my colleagues did. I don't practice all of my RN skills that I learned but I'm taking on more responsibilities in case management, setting up clinics, etc. which will really prepare a unique stepping stone to nursing graduate school or something more managerial in the community setting. I think it fits me and I'm happy and less stressed than I was in the hospital setting. It definitely is stressful and independent based but maybe you'd like something like this. I think everyone's cut out for a different kind of work. I am not sacrificing my social or mental health so I'm pretty content at the moment.

Hi nf87654 :) I'm brand new to this website & the title of this thread completely caught my attention. I'm in my second semester of nursing school & really do not see myself in a traditional nursing role in the U.S. at the bedside... Nursing is so complex & multidisciplinary - - I'm very passionate about community health, global health, teaching, education, research, case management, et cetera. Curious where your R.N. license has taken you since your original post! Don't get me wrong at all, nursing at the bedside is INCREDIBLE & I admire anyone who has the resilience, knowledge, skills, and empathy to do it. I realistically see myself contributing to the field of nursing in other ways, but it does seem like a difficult and uncertain path to take as a New Grad from a BSN Program. I'm still hopeful though!

I've actually thought about teaching abroad after earning my R.N. license or joining the Peace Corps... Is that crazy? ;o) Then returning to the U.S. to do another graduate degree (I already have my first one) in education, public health, or maybe even nursing one day. The obvious question I am asked is: "well why did you go to nursing school, if you don't want to work at the bedside or in a hospital?" For me, I have always thought nursing is inextricably connected to numerous, significant aspects of virtually any field. Maybe I was naive in thinking I would graduate & jump right into something not at the bedside... I've spent the last six years working at a really prestigious hospital and *my gut* tells me that bedside nursing just isn't the best fit for me.

The problem is that as a new grad nurse, you're not really qualified to do much of anything beyond being a bedside nurse.

Specializes in MedSurg, PACU, Maternal/Child Health.

Esperanza, you can do non-bedside as a new grad! Many I know in NYC had their first job in clinics, homecare, rehab centers, case managers at insurance companies, etc. VANurse, I don't know If your area hires new grads only as hospital nurses but to say someone isn't qualified for any other type of nursing is unfair. In NY and large cities of the east coast non bedside jobs are easier to get while hospitals don't hire many new grads. Esperanza, if you know your passion is non bedside go for it anf let your interviewers know that. Non hospital employers appreciate people that will stay a while and not leave as soon as a hospital offers them a position.

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