Please help...I need to get out of bedside nursing.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Apr 12, 2011

Moved to the post-grad forum (vs. the GN forum) to encourage responses.

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2011

Have you considered specialties that might not necessarily require a master's, like public health nursing or school nursing? Or working for an insurance agency, informatics, or something along those lines? I would try to solidify what direction I want to take my career before choosing a master's program, otherwise you could end up with a very expensive degree that you don't have much use for! Good luck!

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 12, 2011

I strongly agree with Purple Scrubs. You need to decide on the type of work you want to do BEFORE you start a new educational program. School will probably add more stress to your life, not less. So it is NOT the solution to your burnout problem. It may however, be a necesary step along the career path you choose for yourself.

If you hate your current job, you may have to deal with that immediate situation before you can "be in a mental place" that will allow you to choose a future career path. Then you can start taking the steps needed to get where you choose to be.

1. Can you take a vacation? Mini-vacation? Change your work hours? Transfer to a different unit? etc. -- anything to give yourself a mental break before you crack. Get plenty of rest ... exercise ... eat well ... etc. Give yourself the opportunity to think things through.

2. Investigate possible jobs that might interest you. What type of education do they require? Are there any attractive jobs that you could get with your current education and experience? etc.

3. Choose a direction and start taking steps in that direction.

But in the meantime ... take care of yourself by dealing with your immediate stress problem. Don't jump into something even more stressful or less satisfying than your current job just to get away from your current pain. Too many nurses make that mistake.

MagsMom · Apr 13, 2011

Agree with purple scrubs and the great advice from llg -

in addition to considering informatics you can also think about research nursing. I moved from an admistrative type position (pre-nursing school) and now work in research. I love it -and very low stress.

neonurse97 · Apr 13, 2011

Have you considered specialties that might not necessarily require a master's, like public health nursing or school nursing? Or working for an insurance agency, informatics, or something along those lines? I would try to solidify what direction I want to take my career before choosing a master's program, otherwise you could end up with a very expensive degree that you don't have much use for! Good luck!

Thanks!

vanurse07 · Apr 23, 2011

Have you considered specialties that might not necessarily require a master's, like public health nursing or school nursing? Or working for an insurance agency, informatics, or something along those lines? I would try to solidify what direction I want to take my career before choosing a master's program, otherwise you could end up with a very expensive degree that you don't have much use for! Good luck!

Or if you still want to do a grad program look into a master's in public health- it'll open up lots of career pathways

wife&mommyRN · May 6, 2011

Hi Neonurse97,

I agree with the above posters, there are other positions available that don't require a masters degree. I have less than 1 year of experience and I made the switch from bedside to PHN. I was originally in a position most would consider ideal, mother/baby/ NICU, but the hospital administrators r the problem, not the unit. It's by far the best decision I ever made, my new job makes me feel fullfilled and my passion for nursing was reignited. I honestly didn't know positions in nursing like this existed :) I didn't give bedside much time bc the opportunity came to escape and I took it. I was surrounded with nurses that are burnt out mentally and physically, well past retirement and the hospitals have absolutely no respect for them/ their years of service. My new position is the exact opposite, I feel appreciated and respected as a nurse. My position is a gov position, in an office setting M-F 8-5, no weekends/ holidays (way more gov holidays than in the hospital setting). The beauty is you could always be contingent @ the hospital during those times. I was considering contingent, but turns out my office offers continuous OT whereas the hospitals r trying to eliminate OT & work units short staff to save money. I would try that route 1st, then if nothing becomes available in your area, then consider other degrees.

Best of Luck :)