What job has most teaching of the patient?

[ebart03]

I'm absolutely miserable in my job as a bedside nurse. The hours, the stress, high patient loads, the physical lifting and rotating shifts are literally taking years off my life. I don't think I'm really cut out for this and feel very uncomfortable with high pressure situations.

But I have found one area that I really like and think I'm good at...patient education. I'm good with people and am able to break more complex concepts into relatable instruction. I get compliments from patients and family members on making them laugh and feel comfortable, that I really listened and heard what they needed.

I know I absolutely cannot continue the bedside for much longer. What jobs focus on patient education, are more low stress and don't involve heavy physical demands and what experience/education do you need for them? TIA

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

I'm a post partum nurse. 80 percent of my shift I spend educating parents on how to care for themselves and their new born

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

Ostomy nurse, Diabetic educator, lactation consultant

[Mom2boysRN]

A huge component of home health is teaching.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I used to assist the WOCN at an LTACH, and it was a lot of physical work...esp if a big pannus was involved. Plus bending to assess/dress the wounds, pushing the cart, etc. Just so you're aware.

My first thought was a diabetes educator.

Also, the first hospital I worked at had an entire patient education dept. Everyone with a new dx went, pts who were being discharged with medical devices or a new PICC line, pts dc'ing on TPN or tubefeeding, etc... all went and had appts with a nurse-educator. I loved it; the pts got the full attention they needed, and the busy floor nurses didn't have to rush or figure out what teaching still needed to be done. Maybe check with the bigger hospitals in your area and see if they have a system like that?

[sourapril]

public health nurse

[cleback]

Ditto to all the suggestions so far.

One to add: Heart failure nurse. They teach HF patients about diet, weighing themselves, medications, etc. Often seeing them before they leave the hospital and after they're home.

Have you considered going back to school for CNS? Diabetic nurse educator, HF, lactation consultant are all good suggestions but I imagine teaching one subject could get monotonous after a while. CNS would allow you to teach other nurses about a variety of conditions. If you have a knack for explanation, go for it!

[floridaRN38]

Teaching about stroke or ask the education department of your hospital if there are any options. Also in my ED we have two clinicians that get all the new hires going. I help them out sometimes and put projects together. Last one we did was on DKA.