What am I qualified to do? OTHER THAN FLOOR NURSING!!

[Shackna13]

I recently completed my first year of nursing on a med/surg floor. I REALLY DISLIKE my job! I was a high school teacher for 12 years and decided that job wasn't hard enough (LOL) and got into something harder. I've found out that the lack of control in my days working on the floor really affect me. I just didn't factor in how much I needed to control my day...as a teacher i basically designed my days but as a nurse I'm at the whim of a call button pushing patient or assignment happy charge nurse! I just don't enjoy my days at work. I want to try other aspects of nursing but I really don't know what I may be qualified to do. I don't know what My 12 years teaching along with my limited 1+ year as an RN qualify me for. I really don't have a clue as to the types of jobs that are out there. Any help finding resources or suggestions/ recommendations would br really helpful. I have been considering teaching at a technical school or at a community college but the thought of staying on the floor for the 2-3 years it'll take me to get a masters just scare the hell outta me...

[Puncho72,RN]

Go on to be a Nurse Practitioner. A couple of paramedics I worked with did this. They lost a lot of freedom going from medic to RN. Gained a lot of it back going further.

[chacha82, ADN, BSN]

Before signing up for more school, I would personally try a different setting. Would you like to work in a specialty clinic or a doctor's office? Those facilities are less hectic than floor nursing and you certainly have more structure to your days.

[Mom2boysRN]

Former teacher (only for a short time though) turned nurse here. I'm in home health. It gives you some aspect of control over your day (if a patient isn't doing well and traffic issues can change that). I decide what time I leave, how many patient's, and set the pace for my day. If you have kids it's nice also because if I need to program a 2 hour break in my day due to something going on at the school I can do that.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I don't know what My 12 years teaching along with my limited 1+ year as an RN qualify me for. I really don't have a clue as to the types of jobs that are out there.

The insurance companies (Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United Healthcare, etc) have been on hiring sprees lately, especially for RN case managers. They're also willing to train, in many instances.

I'd browse the career sections of major insurance companies to see what positions they have open for RNs. In addition to case managers, they're hiring wellness nurses, telephone advice nurses, and other types of roles.

[greenerpastures]

What about hospice nursing or wound care? Both allow freedom to move about, either from house to house or pt to pt in the office.

[BlueDawnRN, BSN]

I know a lot of nurses who disliked med-surg nursing for the same reasons you do, but ended up loving floor nursing in higher levels of care such as ICU, PCU, CCU or peri operative such as OR, PACU etc. Also procedural nursing areas like IR, cath lab, endo (which you will need critical care experience for as far as I understand).

From what I understand those jobs are hard but there's more focus and less run-around, and lower nurse to patient ratios due to the higher acuity. In fact many of them were male and were able to obtain those jobs after one year in med-surg or tele by transferring within the hospital.

[mind_body_soul RN]

Home Health might be good for you - there's lots of flexibility on how you can structure your day. And home health is all about teaching patients and family members. Your year of floor nursing experience will be valuable as most home health companies require a year of exp. You're pretty much out there on your own, so you've got to have strong assessment skills and time management.

[Caffeinezoloftativan]

I work an Rn case manager for a hospice company. I love it. There is a lot of autonomy. Home health also has a lot of autonomy. Good luck!