NP School - taking a non-bedside role d/t physical limitations?

[speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I am currently a PACU nurse - I enjoy my job, comfortable with the surgeons and anesthesiologists, and absolutely love my team. It is the easiest bedside nursing job I have ever had (and by far the lowest stress!).

However, I have had fairly extensive health issues rise to the surface these last few years due to my EDS/HCTD and related multiple neurosurgical issues. As much as I love my job and team, I have very much considering pursuing a non-bedside nursing job, such as in education/staff development. The chronic pain/multiple injuries/potential neurosurgeries in the future has me realizing that bedside nursing is just not the greatest for my body. I am relatively young and have not had children - I want children in the next several years (even if it's through adoption) and want to be in well enough shape that I can take care of them/play with them/be their mom. I am concerned with the pace that my body is going that I won't be able to do that if I continue in the field I am in.

So what's the issue? I also want to be able to go to NP school (hopefully in maybe the next 5 years if I can get a grip on health issues). I am concerned that if I leave bedside/hospital nursing now that I will not be able to be a potential candidate for an FNP program. 

Has anyone ever gone to NP school after leaving bedside nursing? Or does anyone have any ideas of other bedside nursing jobs that are potentially less risky? The only other thought I had was to perhaps seek out shorter shifts at an outpatient surgery center with generally healthy patients. Thoughts? Not asking for medical advice - just asking about the possibility of NP school after leaving bedside nursing and/or other ideas.

Sorry for the crazy long post!

 

[compressionsock, LPN, RN]

Hi there, I am not entirely qualified to answer your question as I have not been to NP school however I know that in my area there are multiple FNP/AGNP programs that do not require bedside nursing experience. The programs that are in my area, actually, encourage their students to work as an RN in primary care offices since that is what the FNP scope/track is focused in (for that program). I am someone who has dabble in thinking about going to FNP school (either direct entry or sometime in my nursing career) and there is almost always little to no requirement for bedside nursing experience. It's usually the more "specialized" tracks that require you to have some if not recent experience (think: acute care NP, emergency NP, pediatric NP, etc). I hope this made sense!