What was I thinking

Malefocker, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2011

First of all anyone who can work as an RN for 30 years deservers a medal... as most get burned out after 6 months! :) You could always try and get a job on the corporate side of things crunching numbers and making a good salary... with your vast knowledge of how the system works I would assume you would be an asset to any upper managerial position. Plus you could sit in an office all day! Even if you needed to receive a MSN you could probably find a program that is online in your area. Either way good luck. I am just starting out in this profession and 30 years as an RN seems like a really long time! :)

CathyLew · Feb 15, 2011

what do you do? floor nursing? what do you not like about it? There is always QA, Education, Core Measures, lots of stuff that isn't hands on patient care. Insurance physicals, Case management.... or do you want out of healthcare totally?

itsmejuli · Feb 15, 2011

There are desk jobs for experienced RNs at medical, life, and worker's comp insurance companies.

79Tango · Feb 15, 2011

Infection Control, Nurse Educator, Instructor, Medical Equipment Sales, Home Health or you could always do a Travel Assignment!

Creamsoda, ASN, RN · Feb 15, 2011

I hear ya, ive only been a nurse 6 years, but I have been wondering the last year how long I can possibly do this for. 6 months ago I took a position where I still do bedside care some days (im in a float pool), but otherdays (most days that im working) I am the Rapid Response nurse so I get to sit at a desk for a good part of the day, looking at charts on the computer and checking up on the questionable patients. Its really made a big difference in how much I like my job, this has been the best one for me yet. So I would suggest trying a whole new area in nursing where you dont have to get so burnt out on the floors. Kuddos to you for working as a RN for so long! I dont know if I will ever be able too. I dont hate patient care, I hate everything surrounding it it.

RPN_2012 · Feb 15, 2011

Wow 30 years, that's awesome. Congrats! Honestly I don't think you hated it that much if you could hold it out for 30 years!!! :rolleyes:

But hey, you can always get one of hose office nursing jobs if you want to work in an office, you don't have to go become an accountant at this point. :rolleyes:

(Personally I cant imagine anything worse than siting all by yourself in an office, crunching numbers all day (and I consider myself somewhat of a loner/introvert most of the time). I've worked in an office before and it was so monotonous and boring that I literally wanted to kill myself against those cubicle dividers... it was boring (in terms of flack of mental stimulation, not the amount of busy work I had to do), not to mention completely unrewarding, I felt like I wasn't making any difference in anyone's life, and therefore felt completely useless... :crying2: I'm so happy I found nursing! :yeah: No I just need to get through the nursing school part, and I'm good! )

meghan91 · Feb 15, 2011

Congrats on being a nurse for 30 years! i know a lot of peope who are also burned out so dont feel alone i hope i dont gget burned out too quick when im a RN

you could try a doctors office (a little less stress than a hospital or LTC), maybe try education( a lot of community colleges will hire you without having a masters), try working with a lawyer who deals with health issues, become a case manager (more office work, usually more pay), try a different area of nursing, home health( i know people who do it thought and they say they feel llike their job i snever done but its worth a try)...goodluck and keep up the good work!= im sure your a great nurse and just ned a little bit of a change!

rita359 · Feb 15, 2011

Look into info technology. Everybody is going to computer everything and know people who knew very little about computers now working in it. All your experience would be very helpful making programs that really work in the real world of nursing.

whodatnurse · Feb 15, 2011

But you CAN be an accountant if that's something you really want to do. Community college is still relatively affordable and you could even dip your toe in the metaphorical pond by keeping your well paying day(night) job while you taking classes toward a book keeping or tax preparation certificate.

Congratulations on a successful first career. I have no doubt you can use it as a secure base from which to launch career #2. Best of luck!

mustlovepoodles, RN · Feb 16, 2011

I know what you mean. You're burnt out. I've been a nurse for 34 years and i've come to the conclusion that nursing is a young person's game(or affliction, as it may be.) At this point I'm 54 and unwilling to go into debt to change professions. so the only way out was to change jobs within the profession. I was burnt out on hospital nursing. four years ago, I plunged into school nursing and I couldn't be happier. I have about 400 little kids who love me. The staff appreciates me. I go in at 8, get off at 2:30. I get an uninterrupted lunch over 90% of the time. I almost never work overtime. Weekends, holidays and summers off. Ahhh, this is the life. Of course there is a trade off. In my district school nurses aren't paid diddly-squat. But that's okay with me. I love my job and i'm willing to live on less.

Best of luck to you. As another poster said, it's not too late to switch to another job or even another profession, if you want. I can't imagine working another 10 years at a job I hated.

Mrs. Sparkle Pants · Feb 16, 2011

I agree with pp, find yourself a nursing desk job! You surely have quite the resume to back up your job search! Good luck, and I truly hope you find your niche.