Non Direct Patient Care

jjjoy, LPN · Jan 19, 2009

Stating you 'earned' your RNs with such an appalling attitude to people is the ultimate insult to nursing.

I don't see that it's an insult. Just because she feels that way doesn't mean that her behavior was in any way inappropriate so as to "insult" the profession by her ability to earn a nursing license. She clearly was able to get through school despite her conflicted feelings, so I take that to mean that she was able to perform professionally. And since graduating she's tried to make it as a bedside nurse more than once and has discovered that she's just not suited for it. I agree with another poster that ideally nursing students would have some hands-on experience prior to starting; but it's not the students' fault that schools are more than willing to accept students without a strong hands-on background. It's also not potential students' fault that school recruiters often flat out say that nurses don't have to work at the bedside and that there are many other options for those with nursing licenses. Yes, students should research the field before taking the leap, but sometimes, no matter how much info you get, you just don't know how well you will take to a job as a day-in, day-out livelihood until you have had the chance to try it day-in and day-out for awhile. My own experience volunteering and working as a nursing assistant still didn't give me enough insight into myself to determine that I wouldn't take well to nursing. The OP has already graduated so there's no point in scolding her about what's in the past. It IS frustrating to see someone "take a spot" in a program who doesn't really want it, but we don't have crystal balls to see the future and many people who were uncertain during school in the end DO find a fulfilling niche in nursing.

Anyway... pnurse, it is a tough position to be in. I personally chose to pursue more clerical/administrative type work in health care. It meant a pay cut and funny looks from hiring personnel (why wasn't I applying for a nursing position?); but I'm happy with my work now and ultimately believe that I have more room for professional growth now because I like what I'm doing.

Mr Ian · Jan 20, 2009

jjjoy - a very valid and plausible point - but one I instinctively simply cannot agree with in this case. I found the condescending, derogatory and demeaning vernacular unnecessary and offensive.

I re-read the OP openly - and only one part annoys me - but to such a degree it seriously influences my whole take.

"the disgusting smelling patients...."

The comment was, IMO and especially in a nursing forum, unnecessary. I originally ignored it but her second post that admonished people who had actually given her good advice, but passed a restrained comment, narked me some more - especially when I think the reply comments were justified and not at all offensively written - so I merely retaliated.

Getting back in my box now.

AlsgalRN · Jan 20, 2009

You could also look for a position doing telephone triage. That is what I did while I was taking chemo/radiation treatments. A position like that usually requires some experience, though, so I wish you good luck.

After having some dental work done, I told my dentist that felt sorry for him because he had to work in nasty, stinky mouths all day. I said that I did not think I could do his job. I had been his wife's labor nurse. He said that he had often thought that he did not want MY job with screaming women and all that goes along with a birth. We both got a good laugh. I think it is a case of different strokes for different folks.

I wish you good luck in quickly finding your niche.

Regards,

AlsgalRN

patrick1rn, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 20, 2009

what can i say, that has not been said.

Shame on everyone for berateing the poster.

You all think you are perfect, knowing well

that you had to take care of a smelling disgusting

patient yourself, and that other choice words were used

to describe those patients.

RNperdiem, RN · Jan 20, 2009

I detected not only a lack of love for nursing(we all have those days), but a lack of respect for nursing.

If respect is gone, it is truly time to look at other professions.

Vtachy1 · Jan 20, 2009

Marry a rich man, quit your job, and live a life of leisure.

That is actually good advice. Nothing wrong with that.

Although, this RNper diem was bashing me in the other post for always putting everyone else first. Which I do, without a doubt and I am glad that I have this personality trait. I have always put everyone else first and I won't stop. I don't believe in all the selfish ideas in this society. Its always "Me first", I guess I'm just a old fashioned prude. And unashamedly.

Now this person sounds sarcastic in the opposite direction. Maybe just a sarcastic person????

tombrx2001 · Feb 2, 2009

Hi I'm on the same boat. I would like to know my options for a non-direct patient for an RN. Does anybody know anything about Nursing Informatics? Please reply if you have any info. Thanks.

VYisgod · Sep 9, 2009

...What type of things could a person with an RN degree (with a psych degree, and experience as a patient registrar) do in the health-care field that has nothing to do with touching/being near/ patients?

Check it out.

http://healthcareers.about.com/od/nursingcareers/p/NonClinicNurse.htm?r=et

Non-clinical Job Options for Nurses:

Nurses have a variety of options from which to choose. Many options for nurses are similar to some of the non-clinical careers for physicians. Below are a few options:

* Healthcare recruiting

* Healthcare Information Technology (HIT), Nursing Informatics

* Teaching, training: Nursing school, science teacher, medical certifications, etc.

* Medical Writer

* Patient advocate: nurses often serve as successful patient advocates due to not only their clinical knowledge, but also their knowledge of how the healthcare system works.

* Healthcare Executive, hospital administrator, Chief Nursing Officer.

* Medical consulting - nurses may consult with medical practices,insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, law firms, or hospitals on a variety of areas of expertise within the medical and nursing fields.

* Legal Nurse Consultant: nurses may provide clinical expertise and analysis on medical liability cases, or criminal cases needing medical forensic analysis or medical expert testimony.

* Business owner, independent consultant - Some nurses may incorporate themselves as a business, and provide a plethora of services incorporating many of the above roles into their business.

VYisgod · Sep 9, 2009

And here's one more useful link from City-Data.com - Any suggestions for non-patient care nursing jobs? (paralegal, companies, health insurance)

pookee · Apr 2, 2011

I am kinda in the same boat with pnurse and some of you out there are a bit harsh! I love medicine, people, not so much. My story is that I became a nurse by default. I went to my university open house and asked about being a Physicians assistant (I went back to school at 30 and felt I was to old for medical school). I was told that the program was so demanding that I would not be able to work and go to school. I informed them that mommy and daddy did not pay for my first degree and sure as heck would not be paying for this one either. I asked about other medical related programs, and was told nope, nope, nope. But that, "many of our nursing students work and go through the program." Since I was working a minimum wage job at the time, I said, sign me up! But, unlike pnurse, I love nursing in that it is so deversified. I have been a nurse for 14 years and have done a variety of jobs. I have been a travel nurse for four years now. So, if your not crazy about patient care, don't do it. There are still plenty of jobs out there for the non-traditional nurse.

whoa-now · Apr 6, 2012

Hello all, it has been a while since I've been on allnurses.
I earned my RN May 2006, was on a surgical floor for 6 months, tried psych nursing for a month, left nursing for a clerical job for 8 months, and now I'm working at a nursing home (basically doing LPN med pass-type work). I like the educational, knowledge-obtaining aspect of nursing but I totally despise the actual bedside-nursing aspect of nursing. Once again I'm thinking about getting out of nursing for something more clerical. I basically hate nursing and have ever since I entered my nursing program, but my student federal loans were running out and I was in my mid-20s and needed to start working. I've only been at my current job at the nursing home for 5 months. I hate everything, the patient load (30 patients), being pulled in a million different places, trying to perform miracles for demanding/sue-happy familes, staying late to do incident reports of our constantly falling patients, the disgusting smelling patients.... everything. Bedside nursing is not in my personality.
What type of things could a person with an RN degree (with a psych degree, and experience as a patient registrar) do in the health-care field that has nothing to do with touching/being near/ patients?

So sorry to hear about your experiences, but they sound OH SO familiar! Only I had a simple hysterectomy after graduating 6 years ago turn into necrotizing faciitis which was an 18 month long nightmare!! So for 4 1/2 years now I have been busting my butt mostly at SNF's and also home care. My body can't keep up with the demands of direct patient care. I do actually enjoy taking care of people and interacting with their families. But between the rather large caseload daily plus having to stay late for documetation, falls and other incidents plus call offs and having to double. My body simply can not do what it used to. Since being "let go" from my last job doing home health for "poor work performance" after about 6 months. I had to come to the realizatiion I have to pace myself and take things slower now. (always on the Deans List at school) not used to "failing. But now-a-days emplyers want you to do your job, PLUS. It's about getting the most productivity out of the least amount of emplyees UGH! So now I am on the hunt for something that does not involve patient care and the demands it places on body that doesn't work like it used to. I am kinda lost. In nursing school they don't tell you about all the opportunities out there. It seems they kind of push uou in the direction of signing onto a near by hospital. I know there are other fields to get into as an RN but don't know where to start. LOL. So here I am with my story too. Any advice??