how long do I have to be a bedside RN???

1 Hi everybody! (hi Dr. Nick!)

Anyway... I'm having a rough couple of weeks. Long story short, at first I liked my job, now I absolutely dread going to work. and on my days off all I can think about is how much I don't want to go back. I don't really know what changed...

I haven't been working that long, but I feel like I want to get out of bedside nursing as soon as possible. I like working with patients and I don't really mind the job itself, it's more like I can't stand the hours (12 hour shifts are really like 14 plus the commute) I'm already missing my friends and feel isolated. Plus I don't like how RNs are treated where I work. Plus I see a lot of the older nurses (who I have a ton of respect for) that are in chronic pain and have crazy high blood pressure. I don't want that.

And the problem is, every out of the hospital type job requires like 3 years experience now. I just don't think I can make it that long!!!

Did anyone leave the bedside after 1 year? What are you doing?

would love some ideas.
I think that wholly depends on where you want to go from here.

i second that., i have 1 yr exp. i just can't get myself to get away from the higher pay i receive at the hospital.I dont despise my job, i just don't enjoy it. I keep my eye out periodically and if something pops up that catches my eye, i'll consider it.

My exposure to this situation is 10 years old, and jobs have changed a lot since then.I worked bedside nursing for 17 years, nights, weekends, holidays, etc. I finally applied for a job in out patient surgery. Out patient surgery is a wonderful area to work. Closed nights and weekends (but you might have to take call). Lower patient to nurse ratio. I was very annoyed with myself for waiting 17 years, when I heard fellow nurses in out patient surgery saying, "Oh, yeah, I worked the floor a few months after school, didn't like it and came here!"Today the job market has changed a lot, but there are possibilities out there. Keep your ears and eyes open.

I was only in the hospital for 7 months... . I'm now in pediatrics (clinic).

I've been a bedside nurse for the past 5 years. I want to do atleast 10 years bedside nursing, so 5 more years to go! Although I completely understand wanting to leave bedside nursing, I still have a heart for it, so I'm trying to consider areas where it's not as physically stressful with low patient to nurse ratios (ICU for me lol)

I would give my right arm to get back to bedside nursing....Oh well!

Quote from merleeI would give my right arm to get back to bedside nursing....Oh well!

Hang in there, most of us experienced that stress in out first year.

After years of working my way up the coperate latter, I had the corner office, but I missed what I had been trained to do, the good and the bad of it I've recently read a book, "A Nurse's Story" by Tilda Shalof, who tells my story much better than I can. "something for the Pain" by Paul Austin will tell you all about his horrors dealing with shift work.

I worked in acute care for about a year and then moved into home health nursing. I ended up going back to school for a master's degree and then I moved into various administrative positions in staff education and quality assurance. I now work as a state health care surveyor. I've been a nurse for 6 years. One of the great things about nursing is the variety of career possibilities. There are lots of options out there...it just depends on how motivated you are and how you market yourself to potential employers. Good luck!

It does get better. However, there is no across the board requirements for years expereince anymore. Stop stressing over the small stuff. Relax. It will get better. Easy way is not the best most rewarding way.

I left the hospital after 9 mos, prior to that I had 7 mos LTC. I currently work as a clinical review nurse for an imaging company. M-F, rotate 3 shifts latest is 5pm. No weekends/holidays. I love having my life back. This isn't my end all be all, I still want to work more with the well population something with holistic or educating, haven't figured that piece out yet. I did figure out that I don't need 3-5 years of hospital nursing for my springboard. What I do need is the drive and the will to work hard at whatever it is at the time and whatever goals I've set.Absolutely don't miss the hospital, sad b/c I enjoyed the work but not the conditions/staffing. I was told the same thing about it being a mistake to leave the hospital too soon and that I shouldn't bother looking for something else until I had so much time in. Good thing I didn't listen! As far as if you need more time to feel comfortable, you know yourself best. I know for me, no amount of time was going to make me enjoy going to the hospital, I knew I had to get out. I wish you the best.