What other nursing jobs….

[nasr69]

Hello

lm a new nurse (10 months) and I started out in the ER and moved to a Med/surg then I was put in the covid unit. I gotta say.. I HATE bedside… I am in a constant state of anxiety. It’s not getting better. I have nightmares and nauseous when I go into work. What else in the nurse field could I look into? Like where patients walk in and walk out or anything else. Would any of you offer suggestions that I could look into? As a side note the hospital staff and other nurses are very helpful so this isn’t a case of bullying or bad staff. I simply don’t like it  it’s not for me. 
thank you!

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

Clinics, sports medicine practices, Red Cross, veterinary or zoo, med device or drug sales, academic setting for research or ethics, consulting to advise attorneys ir trust officers… broaden your horizons, take some risks. There’s a list of nursing specialties at the top of the AN website-  go fool around in there and see what interests you.  

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

I am not at all minimizing the many challenges of becoming a nurse at this time, because it's a very difficult time to enter this kind of work. I do think it's important that you keep in mind that you've essentially had three jobs in 10 months. That's a LOT of different environments to adjust to in a short period of time! While I think that burnout at the bedside is more or less unavoidable at some point nowadays, is it possible that you will feel better once you've settled on one unit for a while?

In any case, if you eventually want to move on (which is perfectly reasonable!), maybe clinics would be a good environment for you? Same day surgery? Wound care (more 9-5, addressing one specific problem)?

[JKL33]

The organizational structure is important. As you are considering your options make sure to take note of employers that are structured differently than what you have experienced so far. Public health comes to mind. It definitely is not easy work, but as someone who has only ever known acute care I have been impressed with public health's different approach to working with their clients and their superior view of the people doing the work. They seem much more aware that limitations exist; they live in that philosophical space a lot easier than for-profit and not-for-profit corporations do. They don't crucify people for things they don't control such as resource limitations. At least that's how it is in my area.