Please help get me out of bedside/floor nursing!

Nurses New Nurse

Published

  1. Is bedside nursing for you?

    • 7
      Yes
    • 158
      No
    • 22
      I don't know, yet
    • 5
      Unsure

38 members have participated

Hi,

What are my career options in the field of nursing that isn't at the bedside/floor? Esp for someone who only has 1.5 years of experience (& their BSN) at the moment?

I worked for 1 year at a large acute care teaching hospital on tele step-down/ICU.

I am not at another teaching facility in the Surgical Care floor - trying to get 2 full years of experience.

Did some basic research, and at this point, I don't qualify for much beyond the bedside. (Case management...? ER...? Ambulatory care...?) Also, I would like to work in CA

How long did you last in your first new grad job and what are you doing now?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I don't see how your poll relates to your question.

If you are trying to position yourself for career advancement, you must distinguish yourself from the pack that also wants a 'better' job. You need to show potential employers that you are better, more qualified, motivated, talented, etc. Start by getting ANCC certified in your specialty. Then, become involved in activities that enlarge your knowledge base beyond the bedside. Volunteer for committees and task forces working on PI or professional activities. No, you probably won't be paid more for these 'extras'.. but that's exactly WHY they are important. You need to show that you are the type of person who doesn't just do the minimum.... you go the extra mile.

Keep a professional portfolio of your activities - stuff that doesn't really belong on your resume, but would provide a positive impression to potential employers. These 'extras' will also make you more visible in your own organization. So, the next time that a group of managers is discussing potential candidates for a new opportunity, they are more likely to think of you.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Great advice, HouTX.

Yes, wishing is rarely enough. The best career opportunities usually come to those who have gone "above and beyond" the minimal requirements. Those additional projects, committees, etc. also help a new nurses gain the types of skills necessary to succeed in those jobs beyond the bedside. In addition, those activities help the new nurse learn what types of skill sets suit him/her the most -- which can help you decide which other roles to pursue. Finally, those activities put you in direct contact with a larger variety of people who have jobs away from the bedside. Those people can be a great source of information, mentorship, and job recommendations.

My advice is to not wait for opportunity to come your way. Get engaged in your profession one way or the other. Get out there and start meeting people, working on projects, trying new things, etc. while you earn a living in your current job. As you do that, pay attention to the things I mentioned in the previous paragraph and alternative paths for you may start to become visible.

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Specializes in Family Medicine.

I've been in my bedside position for 2.5 years and hated it 85% of the time. The stress is too much for me.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

What is it that you hate so much?

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I was in the same boat as you after a year of bedside nursing in a long term care center I was burnt out. I applied for a night shift position at my current facility and they offered me a management position instead and I jumped on it. So far it's the best decision I have ever made and am so blessed that I was given this opportunity. I have learned so much more in this position about nursing and patient care than I ever did actually doing patient care.(who has time to learn when you have 30 people wanting their med NOW). Try getting into LTC and seeing if you can learn any MDS coding so you can maybe do MDS somewhere.

So hopefully you will have luck with that. I would say that if you want a quick route to getting away from floor nursing LTC is the way to go. I am glad I got into LTC vs a Hospital b/c I'd still be a floor nurse most likely.

Are there any insurance companies where you live? If so many health insurance companies hire RN's to answer pt questions and to assessments. Some factories hire nurses.

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Are there any insurance companies where you live? If so many health insurance companies hire RN's to answer pt questions and to assessments. Some factories hire nurses.

The nurses the insurance companies hire are generally ones with really good clinical experience and judgment, not one or two years of work. The ones factories hire are certified in occupational health nursing. :)

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And hey, have you looked to the top of this window to the yellow stripe and checked out the Specialties? Something there might strike your fancy. Not all of us work bedside, you know. :)

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Specializes in OP Hem/Onc Chemo infusion.

Well, let me tell you....I've been a RN for over 4 years and never got the "acute care" inpatient hospital floor experience because I couldn't get hired anywhere when I graduated. The economy crashed in 2008 and hospitals were (and some still are) only hiring nurses with hospital experience. I went into oncology nursing in the outpatient/physican practice - had to pay my bills somehow. Actually like it a lot, got ONS chemo certified and got my OCN, so I get to put extra letters after my name now. HOWEVER, because I don't have that "acute care" experience, I cannot get a job to save my life. Board certified and chemo certified with 4 years of experience and I can't get a full-time job. It's killing me. I don't have an answer for you; the job market for nurses is horrible, I don't care what they say. I have to laugh when people tell me, "you should have no problem getting a job as a nurse." Either you don't have the BSN or you don't have the acute experience. I give up. You are lucky to have that experience. It will get keep you eligible for jobs, jobs I can't get. Again, sorry I don't have an answer for you, but had to throw in my 2 cents.

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Specializes in ICU.
The nurses the insurance companies hire are generally ones with really good clinical experience and judgment, not one or two years of work. The ones factories hire are certified in occupational health nursing. :)

While this may be true, I'm sure they only have slim pickings. I used to work at a disability insurance company where they had RNs review cases (referred to them by claims examiners) to help the claims examiners further understand the claimant's disability. You can look into disability and worker's comp insurance companies for positions like this. They usually call them Medical Case Managers or something like that. It's a little different from traditional case management. A bonus - most of the disability companies have transitioned their claims staff (nurses included) to full-time work-at-home, all expenses paid by the company (i.e. computer, internet, phone, desk with ergonomic chair, etc). Something to look into.

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The nurses the insurance companies hire are generally ones with really good clinical experience and judgment not one or two years of work. The ones factories hire are certified in occupational health nursing. :)[/quote']

This is not entirely true of most insurance companies. Health insurance companies hire case managers and usually require a year of clinical experience. Some companies will let you telecommute from home.

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