What made you leave bedside?

[angelsigns]

Hello, I am just wanting to hear from veteran and newbie nurses, what made you decide to leave bedside and why or what did you use to factor in your decision to leave?

I want to leave not because I hate it. I learned to love it. I had an up and down rollercoaster with bedside. Sometimes I loved it and other times I hated it and became bitter with burn out. After 4 years of nursing I have learned to even out my emotions and I currently love what I do.

My desire to leave bedside is because my father passed away the beginning of this year. His death really shook up my world and helped me to see things in a different way. After his death, I realized that I don't want to continue missing out on spending quality time with my family due to working weekends and holidays. I realized life is short and I want to spent the best part of my time with my family. I also had my own medical emergency recently and had to undergo emergency surgery. I had an alarming scare with my health (I am better now). These two events made me realize:

1.) Life is so short and valuable, why spend the better part of my energy and time working under high pressure, long work hours, inflexible work schedules, etc, all the while missing out on weekends and holidays with family.

2.) My health is important, I have chronic back pain among other health problems. I think to myself that I should get a less stressful job and not have to endure through bedside. I think might as well get out now.

The problem is my heart is heartbroken and I don't know what to do. I had just gotten a job in the cardiac icu (I had been trying to get into the CICU for a while now). I was on cardiac step down for 4 years where I worked as a charge nurse, preceptor, and responded to RRTs and Codes. I was so excited for my new transition.

I am currently out of work until November due to my medical emergency. Im not sure if this is my open door to leave now.

I would love to hear your stories or get any insightful advice.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I left because the level of stress and anxiety I was feeling day to day began to regularly outweigh the level of satisfaction I was getting from direct patient care. I still miss direct patient care. But I don't miss the stress and anxiety.

[AxelNewRN86]

I have been a bedside nurse for a year and half. I just started in a speciality and already considering going clinic as soon as my contract is up. I personally am having a hard time mentally. My hospital can balance my schedule as needed which makes childcare hard and worse is I am not getting my kids in other sports and activities. I think once my youngest starts kindergarten I want to have clinic schedule so I can have a better family life. It is something I am seriously considering despite starting my dream speciality recently.

[Meagan, BSN, RN]

The only reason I left the bedside was because I knew that CHF was a passion of mine, and I had to follow it. I will tell you, it took me a long time to adjust to working Monday-Friday and depending on where you work, it may not be any less stressful.. I actually think I spend less time at home than I did when I worked on the unit. You just have to weigh out the good and the bad. If you love the unit you work on, stay and enjoy your weekdays off while the Monday-Fridayers are at work! Good luck on your journey, I am sure you will make the right decision for you ?