What's going to happen when we ALL leave the bedside?

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

I am getting really worried about the state of nursing and where we are going. Conditions seem so bad in the hospital setting that good nurses are flocking to non-hospital positions, and others are leaving the profession completely. What is going to happen when ALL the good nurses are gone? I know realistically not all will want or be able to go, but some nurses leaving the bedside is just going to make staffing and working conditions even worse, which in turn may encourage even those nurses who love bedside nursing to leave. There are already so many threads on this board about nurses who are suffering from extreme stress, anxiety, and depression much of which is directly related to nursing. Others who are just very unhappy and long for a change. Many posts that I read I end up thinking "get out, get out now!" I also tend to shy away from posts from excited newbies or students who seem so happy to be getting into nursing, just as I was before reality set in and I became disillusioned with the whole profession.

It begs the questions, if all the nurses leave the bedside, who is going to be left to care for myself and my family if/when we are in need?

I am one of those nurses who left the bedside. I am a school nurse, and unless I am forced to I do not plan on ever returning to the hospital setting. Eventually I may get out of nursing all together, once I have paid some bills out and my student loans. I do, however, feel some "survivor guilt" for my sisters and brothers who are still in the trenches. I think I have mentioned that on this board before. I feel bad for not being "strong" enough to put up with the terrible conditions and stick it out. I know my leaving the hospital just made it that much harder on my co-workers, but on the other hand I had to do what was right for me. Does anyone else who left the bedside feel this way?

[mama_d, BSN, RN]

I'm still at the bedside, and can't see myself leaving it, no matter how high I climb in degrees. Unless some magical managerial position where I'm actually able to make a difference comes about, or my poor body finally gives out.

But I can totally understand why you and others have left, and you all go with my blessings (and some envy, to be honest). So you just forget about that "survivor's guilt" and live it up away from the bedside. It takes all kinds to make the nursing world go 'round, some of us fit in different niches, and if you've found yours, more power to you!

[sunray12]

Well you say you avoid posts by anyone who isn't negative about nursing so if this is your reading m.o. you never see the posts by anyone who's positive about it. Hospital nursing isn't for everyone but not everyone is going to leave the hospital either. And there will always be new people coming into the mix - some of them will like it enough to stay so there will always be some good nurses at the bedside.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

I didn't say I avoid posts by anyone who is not negative about nursing, that is putting words into my mouth. I avoid posts by the students/brand new nurses who still have on the rose colored glasses, same as I used to. For example the happy "I passed the NCLEX" and "I got my first job" threads. I don't think that in any way says I am not seeing the posts by people who are positive about nursing. Many of the threads on this board are vent threads, and we all need the opportunity to vent. But the reality is many if not most of the nurses I know in "real life" either have left the bedside or want to badly, so my thoughts are not based solely on this discussion board.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

Thanks mama_d, I hope you and nurses like you are going to be there for me and mine when we are in need!

[Butterfliesnroses]

Like others have said, bedside nursing isn't for everyone. I'm an aide in LTC and there are many previous co-workers who are shocked that I'm still where I'm at, still toughing it out. But for me I love my job and I love the residents and couldn't imagine doing anything else right now.

[Bugaloo]

Something happened yesterday to a co-worker of mine that reinforced my decision to get out of bedside nursing, if not nursing all together. I can't really go into it, but trust me, it was bad.

Life is too short to have a career that makes you unhappy. I myself have struggled with the feelings of guilt caused by no longer loving what I do.

But everyone has to decide for themselves what makes them happy.

[llg, PhD, RN]

We are already in the middle of the scenario/question posed by the OP. Many of the best nurses have already left the bedside and many of the best students are not planning to stay any longer than they have to at the bedside. (Yes, there are still great nurses at the bedside. So, please, if you are at the bedside -- please understand that I am not insulting you at all.)

As more and more good nurses leave the bedisde, hospitals and government will look to fill those positions with people -- with anybody -- with any remotely qualified body. Techs, assistants, etc. will be hired to replace RN's. LPN's may be hired to replace RN's. Nurses from overseas will be recruited. Funding will become available to support schools who can "meet the special needs" of students and hospitals who want to people with a license in their hand -- including "quickie" educational programs that may not provide as thorough an education as more traditional programs that take longer to complete and are more expensive to provide.

Older nurses will become increasingly frustrated having to deal with all the new grads who are not well prepared to enter the workforce. There will be high turnover among new grads as they confront realities of practice that their quickie educational programs did not prepare them for.

All of the frustration -- of the older nurses who long for the "good old days" (that never were all that wonderful, but which were in some ways better than now) -- and of the new grads will result in a workplace bubbling with stress -- causing more people to seek employment elsewhere and continuing the vicious cycle.

Everyone will blame everyone else. Society will pump money into "producing more nurses" to solve the problem -- but it won't really solve the problem because those new or expanded education programs will only produce more nurses who will become equally frustrated as the previous generation. Those programs will not address the underlying issues of frustration and stress IN THE WORKPLACE that drives the nurses away.

Doesn't that sound familiar? Isn't that where we already are?

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

Thanks, llg. That is exactly the situation that terrifies me. It also angers me that many nurses have to resort to medication to treat their anxiety/depression in order to remain at the bedside. Is there any other profession where this is common?

[Aneroo, LPN]

I think about it too.

I left bedside to become a school nurse too.

Now I'm looking at going back to the hospital (budget cuts have cut my salary big time and we can't deal with that financially).

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

I plan to work in bedside as soon as I become a NURSE ! I currently work in school health and I can't stand being in the a " school nurse" when I actually become a nurse.

[John20]

Then I'll have all the jobs and overtime to myself!!! BOOOWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!