What's a good job for L&D nurses who want to leave the bedside?

[quazar]

I've reached the point where I just have to admit that it's time to leave the bedside before I get really super burned out. I'm already at the point where I dread each shift and don't want to go in. Once I get there and get into taking care of my patient, I do fine and am able to give good care and bond with then. However, just the fact that I'm dreading going to work each shift is a sign to me that it's time to go. I know hard core burnout is coming, and I want to leave before I become one of those cranky old nurses that is always grouchy and mean. Right now I can still manage to turn my attitude around and be happy and helpful and a good team player. I need to leave while I still can do that, know what I mean? I really don't want to work at an office, and can't teach because I don't have a MSN but have no clue what else to do. I have submitted resumes for fertility clinics and utilization review positions to no avail.

It feels super weird to me to be asking this, when I see all these threads here with eager young nurses just dying to get into L&D and I'm dying to get out. I feel guilty.

Any suggestions?

[klone, MSN, RN]

Outpatient OB/Gyn

[ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN]

I know you said no office, but lots of nurses I worked with have gone to work at the perinatal testing center. Not sure if you have something similar. It is where the MFM and Perinatologists see high risk pregnant women. The nurses there do stuff like NSTs, glucola tests, assists with amniocentesis and other in office procedures, and a lot of patient education.

There is also Nurse Family Partnership. You do home visits with at risk first time moms (usually low income, teen parents, etc) while they are pregnant up until the kid is 2 years old and do stuff like education, making sure they are staying on track with their prenatal visits, eating right, etc.

You could also look into being a IBCLC.

If you want to get away from OB altogether you could work for an insurance company.

[quazar]

I am so specialized that it's really done me a disservice. Thanks for the help, I appreciate it.

[Upgrading_Status, BSN, MSN, RN, NP]

I know you said no office, but lots of nurses I worked with have gone to work at the perinatal testing center. Not sure if you have something similar. It is where the MFM and Perinatologists see high risk pregnant women. The nurses there do stuff like NSTs, glucola tests, assists with amniocentesis and other in office procedures, and a lot of patient education.

There is also Nurse Family Partnership. You do home visits with at risk first time moms (usually low income, teen parents, etc) while they are pregnant up until the kid is 2 years old and do stuff like education, making sure they are staying on track with their prenatal visits, eating right, etc.

You could also look into being a IBCLC.

If you want to get away from OB altogether you could work for an insurance company.

The Nurse Family partnership? Is that exclusive to one state or is it a national program?

@Quazar, I feel like you. I would like advance my career with a MSN, but in what I am not sure.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Oh, I second the suggestion for NFP. It's a national program (actually, international) but it's not in every state or county. It's typically county-run, through the public health department.

Careers | Nurse Family Partnership - NFP

[quazar]

You guys!! That sounds awesome! I love working with low income and at risk women and really making a difference. That is my HEART.