Why bedside nursing didn't work for me....

Why does everyone in the profession of nursing tell you it is a MUST you start your career at the bedside in med-surg? This is a well-spoken rule in nursing. From the professors that teach you to the many nurses you encounter during your clinical rotations. BE a bedside nurse they say. Bedside nursing will increase and strengthening your critical thinking. You aren’t a” true nurse” if you haven’t worked at the bedside. All statements I’ve heard along my journey from LPN to finally an associate degree RN. Engraved in my head I accepted my first RN job on what…...yes you guessed it a med-surg floor. Thirty plus years old working alongside the BSN 20 somethings of the world that apparently had it all figured out already. Spending a grand total of 2.5 years at the bedside I did not love it! One of those years spent I worked as an LPN in inpatient rehab, so I only worked 1.5 years at the beside as an RN. Yes, I liked it and learned a tremendous amount in that short period of time, but I didn’t get that wonderful sensation of loving what I did. Sure, I enjoyed the patient care aspect and making people feel better, but something was missing. I looked to my left and then my right and the 20 somethings of the world were thriving. Loving what they were doing, happy and smiling from ear to ear. I felt inadequate. Am I a failure? Why did I dread going to work? Let’s not get into the rotating shifts we were made to do, they were horrible! I missed my family and felt like my work life was taking over my world. I only worked 3 days a week, but they felt like the longest days of my life. Was there something different in the BSN prepared education that I missed? Why was bedside nursing coming so much easier for the 20 somethings? I was an LPN for 8 years prior doesn’t that count for something!! I was perplexed and didn’t understand. Did my nursing degree set me up for failure? Is BSN nurses better than ADN nurses? Why did I feel mediocre compared to the BSN 20 somethings of the world?

Truth is I did great work. I climbed the professional clinical latter just as they did. My skills were just as good. I just needed a better balance. A place where I wasn’t missing my family life and my children’s activities. I came to realize maybe bedside nursing was not for me. It wasn’t the patient care, it was simply the hours of operation. Working 12+ hours either day or night shift was slowly chipping away my love for the profession. In that short period of time I managed to miss several of kid’s activities. I missed sitting down at the diner table to discuss how everybody’s day was and tucking my kids into bed at night. At the facility I worked bedside nursing only offers one shift and that’s 12 hours, day or night! I loved the facility so leaving was not an option. Understanding that I needed structure and balance in my work and personal life was the turning point. Knowing that bedside nursing does not define my profession as a nurse. Learning to trust my path and doing what was best for my life. I had to be selfish for once and not listen to what others say about being a “true nurse.”

Fast forward to today, where I now work as an RN in the diagnostic radiology department. Working four 10-hour shifts, no weekends and no holidays. I am off everyday by 5:30pm. I no longer miss sport practices, extra-curricular activities, dinner at night and tucking my kids into bed. I still care for inpatients and now outpatients. I found my happy place in procedural nursing! The hours of operation worked best for my life and I loved it. I added to my current skill set, sedation certification, ACLS and PALs certification. I learned a different side of nursing, but yes still nursing! Those two initials are still behind my name and I am still caring for people. I even made my way back to school and have two classes left to finish my BSN degree. I now have a better balance and I’m still a “true nurse.” Chose your path and don’t let others force you into doing what they say is right. Bedside nursing is right for some but not all people and that's OK. I guess it depends on what stage of life you’re in. We all have one life to live and I chose to live it my way!