LillyFish

Yes, it's all of the above! I'm not a fan of the baths and fluids (who is?), but mostly it's the fact that I'm new and already feel whittled down to a nub at the end of the sustained intensity of my 12 hour shifts. Lifting/turning/etc. is hard on my body, but that's minor because I can usually get help. I've only spoken to friends, family, peers rather than educators/managers/professors because right now I'm sort of in the phase of just trying to figure out IF there's something out there better. I'm thinking probably not given that most of those jobs require experience. I think I've resolved myself to sticking it out and sucking it up for a few years to gain the necessary experience to be able to move on into that niche I so dream of. You and others have offered up several great options for non-bedside positions that I will continue to explore. I can begin networking now and laying down those foundations for later employment.

I was asking for work that wasn't hospital bedside, not work that didn't involve patient contact or zero standing. I went into nursing because I wanted to care for patients. Just not quite the intensity that bedside nursing offers, which as most nurses know is rather demanding/exhausting. It's not really that odd that someone would want to work away from the bedside. I wasn't surprised at all that nursing would involve caring for patients. (;

@ loriangel14 What I thought was, since nursing is such a wide and diverse field, as many nurses told me before I went into the profession, that one could get a job in a dr's office, research, informatics, outpatient clinics, public health, home health, schools, etc. What I thought was...that one doesn't have to work in the hospital as a bedside nurse if one doesn't want to. As I have already admitted, I was naive in my thinking. Or perhaps, under-informed. I'm not sure what your intent was when you posted your response, but I suppose I should have expected at least one nurse to say "Duh, what were you thinking?!" when I asked for advice. Ah, the field of nursing...such diverse personalities as well. (: To everyone else who offered advice, I am grateful. Thank you! Lots of different options to explore.

I am a new grad currently working in the hospital. But I really, really do not like it. I'll admit I'm not as excited to be a nurse as I'd hoped. I'd really like something non-bedside but it seems those jobs are rare for new nurses. I don't have enough hospital experience yet to move on to something better, but I also do not have the mental and physical stamina to be at the bedside for a year or two. I'm not young, I have a family, I'm a career changer, and I was naive in thinking I could get an 8 hr/day job. I'd really appreciate any advice or recommendations anyone has on finding something outside of the hospital. I'm not opposed to a desk job or something behind the scenes. Maybe it's a fairy tale, but I'm hoping for less stress, less standing, less lifting, more potty breaks, more opportunities to eat like a normal person, less patient contact, etc. I'd love to find my niche, I just don't want to wait 2-3 years. Maybe if I was younger...

Tell me more about SANE nursing if you don't mind. Hours per week, typical call, etc.

GrnTea-that's part of my problem. I do not want to work in a hospital. (I know, I know, I'm probably going to make a lot of people mad by admitting that). I am a career changer and never envisioned myself in a hospital setting. In my area, most non-hospital jobs require at least 1-3 years experience so it may be next to impossible for me to find a job I enjoy. And I do want to enjoy it. I don't want all the stress, crying, worrying, and martyrdom of first year nurses in the hospital. I am not someone who considers that a rite of passage, or part of the profession that others seem to think of as normal. I guess being a career changer, I expect some degree of adjustment, learning, discomfort, etc., but I'm simply not willing to suffer for a year or more in my new profession. To GrnTea or anyone willing to answer-What was your experience in finding a non-hospital job? I know there are many nursing areas outside of the hospital, but what, if anything, would you suggest as being the most opportune places for new grads?

Thanks! I've looked on my state's BON site and found minimal info. I will be contacting them directly. I ask my hypothetical question because in this difficult period of finding a nursing job, if an opportunity comes up outside of nursing that will pay the bills, I'd be tempted to take it. I'd like to know where I'd stand if such a situation presented itself. Of course no one can predict the future, but if anyone has left nursing for any period of time and then returned, I wondered how difficult it was. I think your idea of volunteering is wise.

Yes, this person definitely will of course. But my question is - will cont. ed. credits be enough to keep the license, and what is the likelihood of returning to the profession after inactivity? Has anyone here had experience with this?

Dear StuckInTheMiddle, If you're still reading, I just wanted you to know that I hear ya. Some people who are career changers and go into nursing, go because they think it'll be a good fit. No amount of researching and exploring could have prepared you for what the nursing profession actually is. Unfortunately for some of us, it just isn't a good fit for our personalities, lifestyles, etc. It's not at all what we expected. It's not just the patients, it's also the environment, especially in the hospital. I get it. I truly do. And so do others. I'm sure there are a lot of nurses on this forum who are contemplating their options. And others who have left this forum because they figured out what to do with their lives outside of nursing. Best of luck to you.

Let's say someone graduated nursing school, got their license, but decided to take a job offer for something non-nursing (for whatever reason that may be). How does one go about keeping the RN license just in case they want to someday return to the profession? Continuing ed credits? I know that varies by state, but is that enough? And...if one were to return to the profession after not having practiced for 6mos or longer (say years), is that even possible?

As a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, most positions in my area are PRN. Does anyone have experience in a PRN position and also work part time elsewhere? Is this common or just not really feasible?

I was just reading a book on nursing and our introductions to our patients. It brought up an interesting point. Physicians usually introduce themselves as Dr. Xyz but most nurses usually introduce ourselves by our first names these days. I'm curious, what do you do? And what if we (professional nurses that we are, mind you) were to introduce ourselves as such: "Hi Mr/Ms Smith. I'm nurse Xyz' or 'I'm Mrs. Abc and I'm an RN. I'll be with you until 0700.' I think instead of writing just my first name on the board from now on, I might be inclined to write my full name and credential. Not to be puffy or haughty, but to show my patient who I am and to perhaps work toward minimizing the professional inequality. Something to think about...

I definitely see the need to scrub the hub, no doubt. But in between med pushes/flushes? I'm a recent grad and I was taught that evidence based practice is to scrub for at least 15 seconds (when I started school it was 30 sec) at the beginning, and again only if the hub is put down or touches something. I work at a hospital where central line infections are very, very low, and my nursing textbooks as well as instructors have taught one scrub at the beginning. I too am interested to see the evidence on multiple scrubs. I appreciate your input! :)

I think putting it down on an alcohol pad is a good idea. I've done that when I've only brought one flush. Glad to know someone else does it too.

I have witnessed several nurses performing saline flushes on lines when administering meds, drawing blood, etc. I'm hoping someone can tell me if this is correct procedure because I don't want to be doing something wrong: First, the nurse prepares the prepackaged flush by removing the air in the syringe. He/She takes the cap off the end, careful not to touch it to any surfaces, pushes the plunger until the saline is at the tip and air is expelled, then replaces the cap. (seems safe to me, no contamination). Next, cleans the access cap to the patient's line with alcohol, uncaps the flush and pushes anywhere from 3-5 mls saline into the line, then removes the flush, lays it on the bedside table tray or the bed (this is where I'm concerned), pushes the next syringe of medicine (ok here-no comtamination), and then picks the flush back up and flushes the line again with 3-5mls. My problem is with the second flush. Is it, at this point, contaminated? And should a nurse technically be bringing two flushes to the scene? I have also seen a nurse draw up meds into a syringe, take off the needle, and haul it uncapped to the bedside to administer. I have personally left the needle on and capped, and removed it at the bedside, making sure to throw it away when I'm done. I feel like the fewer times I recap something, the better. Thoughts?