What are you doing since you left the "bedside"

callnurse · Jul 18, 2001

I, too, am in my 50's. I left bedside over 7 years ago. Since

then I have done telephone triage, which I did enjoy. As with

any other nursing situation, management always turns what

could be a very pleasant career move into a constant battle

of will and wit. I have gotten "burned out" in several past

nursing experiences. One of the least stressful options, is to work

for an agency, which gives you the choice of where and when

you want to work. I've been there, done that as well. I recently

left a triage advice center after 6 years because I just got

fed up with being micromanaged and manipulated by management. That is when I decided that I wanted to work for

myself. So at 55, I decided to start an internet business. Although, I have signed on with a large company, who hosts my

website, I am given total autonomy in how I want to run it my

online business. Eventually, I will be able to just work from home,

and use my nursing skills and experience to give nursing advice

as well as healthcare advice from my site. If you like, you can email me for more information.

rninformatics, DNP, RN · Jul 21, 2001

Not 50 yet! but sometimes feel like it.

I'm 38, have been a RN for 16 years and left bedside nursing 6 years ago. I've practiced in the areas of Oncology/IV therapy, Med-surg, Telemetry, Ortho. 6 years ago I began to make the transition from hands-on care to Nursing Informatics. Prior to that I did home health and telephone triage.

Continue to keep my skills up by volunteering at a local clinic.

For more info on Nursing Informatics see

my home page:

http://informatics.nurses.nu

NI Career articles:

http://nursing.about.com/library/weekly/aa070401a.htm?once=true

http://healthcare.monster.com/qanda/lewis

http://www.ania.org/networking/ni-story5.htm

MQ Edna · Aug 30, 2001

My background is Pediatric Cardiology Nurse Clinician, NICU Flight nurse, and ECMO specialist. I felt very accomplished in what I had done with my nursing career, and didn't mind working hard. AFter our two babies were born, I found it impossible to focus on anything else than the extreme sadness I felt EVERY DAY, leaving them at daycare. I would not apply my make up until I got to the hospital, because I would cry all the way into work. I was so strapped in that job, because there were still months that we were living pay check to pay check. I was also overweight, from two babies in three years. I found a natural product, and lost 42 lbs, (from a 20 to a 12), and people wanted whatever it was that I had used. So, I started ordering them product. I was certainly open to doing something else, that would make more money, hoping I could just cut back my committment at the hospital.

I have been very blessed, a great career, healthy children, and fortunate enough to find a company that I can work for, from home, that in one year has matched what I worked 13 years to create in the hospital.

I would love to share with anyone what I am doing, and who I am working with. I remember how sad I used to be, and now, I know how fulfilling and extremely blessed I feel to be a "mommy" everyday!!

Thanks. Kathy.

maikranz · Aug 30, 2001

:)

'morning!

I left full-time acute care 8 years ago for education and outpatient ambulatory care. I enjoy it, but in order to keep current with hospital practice and with patients, I work prn. My biggest gripe is with those nurses who seem to feel that the only "true" nurse is the one at the bedside. Period.

I ignore those persons.

I have been doing this for ~24 years (a quarter of a century-yikes!) in many settings. I probably won't return to the bedside full-time just yet, but I do think about it.

Good luck in whatever you chose to do!

h vigliotti · Sep 27, 2001

hello! i feel your pain sister! (or brother) i'm a travel nurse and i'm quickly becoming frustrated with hospital nursing. i too, am looking for options to explore. i think heavily of advancing my education at some point, but exploring the alternatives is on my mind. i'm even curious about holistic nursing. i like to spend time with patients, but don't think i would prefer home health, which they have time constraints too. good luck!

Originally posted by 3651bht
I just turned 50 this. Yes, I'm above average . I would like to leave bedside nursing because of the multiple stress factors involved there. Any ideas or new adventures out there. All replies will be given serious consideration....TTFN

:)