Please Help...CM or Clinical Nurse?

[cdk_bsn]

Hello everyone,

I've been on this site before but never really posted a thread like the one I'm about to write- I'm dearly confused and would love input from anyone who is kind enough to spare some time.

I graduated with my BSN in 08/2010 and passed my boards on 10/2010. Since then I've worked/volunteered at a clinic site for a few months but then tried my luck with working in a SNF for a week. That one week was seven days too long- without going into much detail (as many already know of the complexities of a SNF), the facility was practicing in ways that I didn't agree with both personally and professionally, so I left. My thought at the time was to return to school and get my MSN in administration or FNP. Well during this time I was given a job offer for Worker's Comp Field Nurse Case Management. The job is tolerable and as much as I want to say I love the work...I don't. I soon realized that I went to school to become a clinical nurse- a NICU, L&D, or Mother/Baby nurse to be exact.

Now my question goes to all of the experienced CMs or experienced RNs...am I right in my mind to think this? Or am I in the whole, "the grass is greener on the other side," phase. Should I be thankful for the job I have and roll with the punches? Or should I work and concurrently pursue my dreams?

Please be kind in responses- I'm not looking for a huge debate, just some guidance. Thank-you in advance to all those who are willing to respond, it is greatly appreciated.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Your challenge is that you are no longer a new grad but you have no meaningful clinical experience as a nurse. Think carefully about why you want to give bedside nursing another try, and strongly consider taking a refresher course to renew your skills.

And I'm kindly suggesting that you not pursue a management or nurse practitioner role if you find that you are unable/unwilling to gain some experience as a bedside nurse.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

now my question goes to all of the experienced cms or experienced rns...am i right in my mind to think this? or am i in the whole, "the grass is greener on the other side," phase. should i be thankful for the job i have and roll with the punches? or should i work and concurrently pursue my dreams?

i have no desire to be a bedside nurse ever again.. as an example, today, i was working on various floors performing my ur duties and responsibilities when i overheard a charge nurse discussing a difficult patient with the primary nurse. the primary nurse told her off in front of everybody. i do not know all of the details going on between the two of them or the incident that made the conversation the-straw-that-broke-the-camel's-back because i do not work bedside on that floor. however, that incident along with other incidents today (such as, a doctor chewing out a nurse in front of her collegues then yelling at the charge nurse about the primary nurse's incompetence because she choose to use her clinical judgment based upon a vague order that provided room for clinical judgment using established protocols) are reminders to me as to why i have no desire to return to bedside nursing......

i suspect that the grass is greener for you because you have not actually worked bedside long enough to know that it is not what your "dreams" are all about. the reality of bedside nursing is probably more in-line with your nightmares no matter the clinical specialty.

[cdk_bsn]

Your challenge is that you are no longer a new grad but you have no meaningful clinical experience as a nurse. Think carefully about why you want to give bedside nursing another try, and strongly consider taking a refresher course to renew your skills.

And I'm kindly suggesting that you not pursue a management or nurse practitioner role if you find that you are unable/unwilling to gain some experience as a bedside nurse.

Thank-you and I agree that u shouldn't assume a management or FNP role without bedside experience. I was actually hopin that the education will make potential employers overlook my orig grad date and allow my upper education to help me be qualified for bedside nursing.

[cdk_bsn]

i have no desire to be a bedside nurse ever again.. as an example, today, i was working on various floors performing my ur duties and responsibilities when i overheard a charge nurse discussing a difficult patient with the primary nurse. the primary nurse told her off in front of everybody. i do not know all of the details going on between the two of them or the incident that made the conversation the-straw-that-broke-the-camel's-back because i do not work bedside on that floor. however, that incident along with other incidents today (such as, a doctor chewing out a nurse in front of her collegues then yelling at the charge nurse about the primary nurse's incompetence because she choose to use her clinical judgment based upon a vague order that provided room for clinical judgment using established protocols) are reminders to me as to why i have no desire to return to bedside nursing......

i suspect that the grass is greener for you because you have not actually worked bedside long enough to know that it is not what your "dreams" are all about. the reality of bedside nursing is probably more in-line with your nightmares no matter the clinical specialty.

wow, really? that's so dreadful...did that nurse turn out ok) i can only imagine the frustration she is feeling...well i don't know then my friends, you have both advised very valuable points...so is it safe to say i should remain with brig a cm? i work nearly 12 hr days, 5 days a week. and even thought it's not mandated, if i don't work at this rate, i fall behind and the workload increases to mass mounds!

[cdk_bsn]

Sorry for all the typos, i was typing on my phone