"Those who can, do. Those who can't..."

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I changed careers and decided to go into nursing without really knowing what a day on the floor was like. I spent a lot of money and time to earn my degree, and I thought I wopuld eventually "get it". But after a disastrous preceptorship I feel like I cannot do the job. I am working in psychiatry now, and I can manage that. But I don't see that I will ever be able to manage a patient load on a med/surg floor. I am seeking the opinions of experienced nurses as to what career paths within nursing I should investigate.

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You mean one that doesn't include a pt load? Admin, infection control, utilization review, for starters.

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Legal nurse consultant, nurse esthetician,and nurse freelance writer

for a few more suggestions.

Good luck!

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I couldn't do med-surg either. There are lots of areas of nursing. What about OR? Or NICU like me?

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Psych reimbursment and length of stay will soon be governed by DRGs.

I could not tolerate nursing conditions and was trying to find a way to leave direct pt care, when I became a traveler. That is my niche.

Have you tried LTC? It's still a ton of hard work, to be sure, but the pts don't come and go all the time. You get to really know them and can pick up on changes in condition more easily.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

Med/Surg isn't for everyone. It doesn't make you any less of a nurse.

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You mean one that doesn't include a pt load? Admin, infection control, utilization review, for starters.

Without any actual nursing experience? I think not.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Nursing has a lot of options. you'll find your niche! :icon_hug:

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Specializes in NICU, Psych, Education.

What did you do before nursing?

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Without any actual nursing experience? I think not.

Please tell me you did not mean to insinuate that a psych nurse is somehow less a nurse?

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Specializes in Intensive Care.

I hated medical, maternity and surgical. I found my niche in the ICU and pediatrics. Eventually, I will combine the two and move to a PICU. Keep looking, your niche is out there.

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Hated med/surg and ortho/neuro. Loved psych and now postpartum. Keep looking.

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