Second thoughts about my BSN :/

I'm imaging a prince, riding a unicorn, coming to whisk you away from the bedside. And although a lot of people would probably love that, it's typically not what happens. If you have half a brain, they'll push you to be charge at some point- no matter the letters behind your name. This happens in acute care, too.

You can still help on the floor as charge. In fact, you probably should in most cases.

If it makes you feel any better: The number one complaint I hear from BSN nurses is that it doesn't pay any more than RN. (Ok, I guess that won't make you feel better).

Second on that list: They got the degree to get away from bedside and have a snowballs chance in hell of accomplishing said goal. (There it is. See, I told you your fears are totally irrational. Doesn't that feel better? lol)

Hi all.. Question for my fellow bedside nurses..

I am currently an LPN and I work as a floor nurse at a SNF. I absolutely love it. LTC/subacute rehab is my niche. I love the elderly and I love the clinical and bedside experience. I also love my noc shift. Im pretty much completely happy and comfortable with my career right now and I don't want anything to change. But I am scared that changes will come soon, because I am about to graduate with my BSN.. So I'll be a BSN/RN. This sounds ridiculous as im typing it, like oh no I've advanced my career how horrible! Lol. Well I am scared that I'll be taken away from the bedside, unless I find another job in a hospital maybe. I see this happen at my job, where someone gets their BSN and then they are shoved into a charge position/ADON. I am a relief charge nurse on the weekends and i haaaate it with a passion. I love running around crazy busy with direct patient care.. That's my happy place. And politely declining doesn't seem to be an option. They'll either give an ultimatum or just blindly ease people into it. Before I became relief charge I was under the impression that I was only gonna do it when the charge and other relief charge were unavailable, then it turned into every other weekend.

I I worked in the hospital as a PCA, and I liked it. I am not anti-hospital nursing. But I saw the nurses being taken right away from the bedside with the EMR. I think im the only person at my job who loves paper charting (and night shift). Yeah the paper charts and paper MARS are a pain but I like that I spend more time with patients than at the nurses station.

Anyone else out there who can relate to this or make any suggestions? Thanks. Just wanted to vent.

I loved reading your post. It is so heartwarming to hear people say that they love taking care of and spending time with patients and love direct care. I'm sure your patients benefit from your attitude. i hope for patients sakes that you stay at the bedside as you accrue knowledge and experience. I think you are wise recognizing that you are happy where you are. You can make your intentions clear to people that taking care of patients at the bedside is where you want to be. The last time a family member was hospitalized they received care from an excellent experienced nurse with an MSN who wanted to take care of patients at the bedside.