What do I do if I don't like direct patient care?

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Specializes in LTAC, OR.

Hey guys,

I'm a nursing student graduating from a BSN program in May. And I've realized that I really don't like direct patient care. When I was at med-surg clinical all I wanted to do was leave! I just kept thinking, "Ugh! I don't want to go in there again to turn that sweaty guy!" So now that I've admitted that, I'm considering my options. I've really enjoyed my experiences in the OR, so I was thinking about applying for that, or even becoming an RN First Assist at some point. And during my peds clinical there was a sedation room on the floor where they did minor things like colonoscopies and bronchoscopies, and I liked hanging out in there too.

Anyway, did anyone else find themselves in a similar situation? Do any of the options I mentioned sound like they would work for me? I really don't think I would do well in a managerial position either, in case anybody was going to suggest that. :)

Thanks in advance for all your help!

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

It sounds as if you know what you do like, as well as what you don't.

I'd say go for it; apply for OR, minor surgery, outpatient surgery, whatever. I would expect most employers to have pretty extensive orientation programs; maybe some of the OR nurses on here can tell you more.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Nurse Manager, Med-Surg, Instructor.

How about teaching CNA's or LPN's? Insurance companies, doctor's offices, camp nursing (pediatrics), working with kids with ADHD, psych nursing....there are SO MANY choices for nurses, even new grads! I've always kept my mind open to new opportunities and did lots of different things in my career. Nursing can be fun if you find the right place for yourself. I knew a physician years ago....found that he didn't want to work with LIVE patients after graduating so he went into pathology and did autopsies everyday and loved it. There's nothing wrong with a desk job, maybe telephonic nursing; receiving calls about health problems, medicines, etc, and answering questions all day. Could be just the thing for you. Good luck!

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Look into clinical research jobs. I work in "Drug Safety" at a clinical research organization and I have no desire to return to direct patient care nursing.

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The ideal option is to get a few years of acute care clinical experience. That would give you the most leverage all things being equal. It can be big disadvantage to not have that experience. And you'll probably find your credibility questioned more than someone with the clinical nursing experience.

However, all things often aren't equal. If you really dislike direct patient care, you may not make it through a few years of full-time acute care clinical nursing or hate the experience so much that you want out of health care althogether. If a great, non-clinical position lands in your lap, it might be worth it to you to forego the venerated acute care clinical nursing experience.

If you think there's a clinical job that you'd be okay with for a year or two, then I highly recommend trying that first. It's much more difficult to get a "new grad" position and to make the transition to full-time clinical nurse if you graduated several years ago and haven't had any recent clinical experience. Since you haven't enjoyed direct patient care, though, you'd want to take extra care to find a work environment that you think would suit you as opposed to just taking whatever first job is offered.

I know it frustrated me that so many great nursing alternatives were paraded before me as a pre-nursing and nursing student, but it wasn't until just before graduation that they started adding the caveat... these great alternatives usually required, or at best strongly preferred, at least a few years of acute care clinical experience... which I didn't take to either.

I avoided clinical nursing at first and later returned just to prove to myself that I'd given it a go. Still didn't like it, though I was proud of myself for the effort. And in even more awe of the nurses who do that day in and day out. Now I'm working with clinical data which is much more up my ally. My job is most definitely not nursing. But my experience with nursing and my educational background does give me an advantage over those who don't have that. Those with that experience may have an advantage over me... but only if they also have the other skills, traits and affinity for what I'm doing that I have.

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There are a lot of alternatives to traditional bedside nursing, but as Jjjoy already stated, the vast majority are going to require at least a year of clinical experience. That is not to say that you shouldn't try, because you may get lucky. I found my first non-clinical nursing job after working as a nurse for 10 months. I don't know if I would have landed that job without any nursing experience, but it's a possibility.

Like you, I knew while I was in my senior year of nursing school that I did not belong at the bedside. I dreaded clinicals and I hated being in the hospital setting. Even though I despised the 10 months I spent in the ED, I'm still thankful that I have that experience. I found a job as a community educator and stayed there for about eight months before giving bedside nursing one more chance. I decided to go back to the bedside because I was enrolled in an FNP program and I felt that the experience would be useful. Again, I was completely miserable and so I left that position after a few months and I am now very happy working as a rep for a home care agency. My position does not require a nursing degree, but I believe that it is helpful.

My advice would be to pursue OR nursing if that is an area that you think you may enjoy or at least tolerate. Stay in that position for at least a year and then many more doors will open. Even if you eventually end up in a position that doesn't require nursing experience, you will always be thankful for your background.

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Specializes in ER, Renal Dialysis.

I am surprised that some people dislike direct patient contact at all, especially being a nurse. But I can understand why.

I am working with 70+ patients in a chronic haemodialysis setting and much more patients in other places, each and everyone with their antics that do drive me up the wall. So much at times that I once snapped. And before that in ER of a private hospital, mostly dealing with rich patients that demand top notch service just because they pay more with consideration of how crazy my work is. So basically I can tell you much about people in both acute and chronic settings. We are not even discussing relations between radiographers, techs, labs and yes, the specialists.

I am proud at the fact that I endured all of that, though I admit that there are times I was close to breakdown and quitting altogether. When I was a student, I also hated the clinicals and ward. I just hate nursing after graduation and lietrally forced myself to work for experience wise - and besides the fact that I need to do something with my BSN degree.

My advice is - it takes time to know if this field is for you. I am loving this job after 4 years - the rest of the time I just have to drag myself to work. And the understanding of why and how people reacted the way they are will be most helpful. Patients are fussy and easily irritated - but I guess most people are when they are sick. Just my two cents.

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