tired of bedside care, options???

sun_chica · Feb 8, 2005

ha, ha...I'm not a great speller:chuckle

anyway... I haven't tried getting right into the ED b/c I know it's important to get a good foundation, since I don't like m/s, that's why I went towards PCU - more cardiac & resp issues. The whole PACU or ambulatory surgical centers I think wouldn't be too bad, but it seems that those jobs are few & far between & they prefer several years experience. I'm a quick learner, & as for the question of what my manager thinks, both she & the nurse educator for PCU seem to be quite impressed. I've done very well on the EKG strip test & the med/calc test. I'm getting along w/ the other employees, I'm compitent (except for my spelling), I just don't seem to enjoy my work. I know they (manager & educator) prefer that you stick at any position for min of 6 months, then if still not happy transfer. Right now, I'm kinda stuck where at this hospital for min 1yr b/c I'm the breadwinner as my husband finished his degree over the next year. He was the breadwinner as I went to school.

I find that most days I'm off, I'm soo exhausted from working that I sleep in & don't feel like doing much of anything. It doesn't help that I've been soo busy from working that I haven't made it to the gym in 1.5 weeks. I find myself complaining to my husband about work. the only good thing is that, so far, I DON'T DREAD going into work...I see that as a big improvement from the last hospital.

As for the 3 jobs, they've been at different hospitals & I'm currently at the third. Been there for a couple of weeks, probably 2.5 more weeks of orientation, then FT nights (not so much a nights person but I got my foot in the door & I expressed to my manager my desire for a FT days position if one becomes available (there are 4 pregnant girls at work).

I guess I'm just disappointed & frustrated that I'm so unhappy in my chosen profession ... & I've only just begun!

kat911 · Feb 8, 2005

I am a 24yo F, RN for ~6months. Did m/s for 2months before relocating to a new state (pt ratio 8-10 on nights). second job 4months on a tele floor w/ occasional m/s - horrible experience (7-10pts, usually 8-9). most nights DREADED going to work & ended up in tears. Now 3 wks into a new job in PCU (3-5 pt on nights), seems lil' better, but I starting to get that same feeling of burnout!!!! I'm always exhausted, ***** about my work, think I entered the wrong profession.
worked in an ER for 1.5yr as a unit clerk, loved it, trying to get good foundation on the floor, but HATE IT!! Don't want to be a NP or CRNA anymore, no manager, no home care (don't like thought of being on own at other's homes), LTC, no teaching nursing students (clinical aspect - too many students under my license). Think I might enjoy nurse educator or some office/paper/hands off nursing, but I'm finding you need a lot of experience or your master's. any input or advice as to other possible avenues would be appreciated. also, what some other jobs/titles truly entail. thanks!!:stone
one last thing, I have my AAS in nursing, so I'm leary about furthering my education in a field I might not stay in ... lots of time, energy, & money!!

You need to find out what it is you do well in nursing. What do you enjoy? I like one on one patient care, more than two patients and I'm nuts. If that's the case, ICU or ED is good. Only the ED loads can some times be daunting. I'm also a trauma junkie so ED work well for me, until I wanted a new challenge. Then I found transport nursing and absolutely loved it. I preferred ground transport, more time with my patient. Lots of autonomy. Need excellent assessment skills and ICU and ED experience. You must be comfortabel in your skills and knowledge and have the ability to act in place of a physician if necessary, you always have protocols to work from. You may also need to look at your personal life, some of the times I found myself frustrated or unhappy in nursing it wasn't the nursing at all! Find out where you belong and go there.

sun_chica · Feb 8, 2005

kat911-

thanks for the input... I worked w/ a girl in the ED that did flight nursing til she had a baby...she loved it!!!

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Feb 16, 2005

I'm an ER case manager. I love the ER. I like the fast pace and the excitement. Why not try that?

doesn't that take a LOT of prior experience? i bet a lot of people are fighting over those job openings.

sblanchet · Feb 16, 2005

It sounds to me like you simply went into the wrong profession. It's too bad you were not able to figure this out while still in school. Still, there may be hope that something will work out. I agree with other writers that you should try to find a hospital that will provide you with an ED internship; a true internship including class work as well as an extensive orientation with a preceptor. All areas of the hospitals are short and while some background in med/surg would be helpful I am not sure it is essential so long as you have some practical training as part of your orientation. Are you ACLS and PALS certified? Those certifications would be helpful to you. I would also advise you to calm down a bit. Just because you have learned how to do something doesn't mean it has to become boring. Nursing is not about performing a set of tasks in order to move onto the next set of tasks on a new patient. Try to look at your practice and skills as part of a whole. Patients are people and they all have varying needs and experiences they bring to their interactions with you. I have worked in a variety of areas of med/surg and have found oncology to be the most multidimensional; always new information coming down about treatments etc., psychosocial issues for patients and families, complex, multisystem issues for patients related both to the illness itself and the treatments and their impact on the patient and family's life. It is a great area.

DDRN4me · Feb 16, 2005

Could you be suffering from depression and not just career dissatisfaction???you say that you are "bored", but havent spent a large amount of time in any one area. ED may be for you but i think you do need some foundation to build on. Instead of sleeping too much, set the alarm and get yourself out to the gym or in front of an exercise video to get some endorphins going. I would finish my orientation and then see what you can do about the pcu job,it may be less boring when you are on your own...then look to what you seem to like best, the ER af ter you.ve given this a chance. a checkup with your MD wouldnt hurt either..maybe its something physical or psych going on that you cant recognize! best of luck!!

allnurses Guide · Feb 18, 2005

I do know one nurse who DESPISED med surge, but went to the ER to work and absolutely LOVED it. So, it might be an option.

If you want a slower pace, I've heard that Psyche nursing might also be an option, especially if you don't mind working nights. That's one area that I've been considering for some time. Home health is another. I really prefer a slower pace.

BETSRN · Feb 18, 2005

I do know one nurse who DESPISED med surge, but went to the ER to work and absolutely LOVED it. So, it might be an option.
If you want a slower pace, I've heard that Psyche nursing might also be an option, especially if you don't mind working nights. That's one area that I've been considering for some time. Home health is another. I really prefer a slower pace.

Home health has tons of paperwork!

alintanurse · Feb 18, 2005

I've been a home health nurse for 11 years,I don't know any agency that will hire a nurse with less than 1-2 years of hospital experience. The OP stated she didn't like the idea of being in someone else's home anyway.

lossforimagination · Feb 18, 2005

Home health has tons of paperwork!

Yes, but as someone has already said: "the worst day in home health is so much better than the best day working the floor". My sentiments exactly!

Blackcat99 · Feb 18, 2005

If you like emergencies and excitement try correctional nursing. When I worked corrections the inmates were always lighting their cells on fire.

Q. · Feb 18, 2005

doesn't that take a LOT of prior experience? i bet a lot of people are fighting over those job openings.

I have a friend who interviewed for a flight nurse position and it was highly competitive; and you needed I think at least 1-3 years of ICU experience.