Advantages of Bedside Nursing

12 1. I get paid hourly, and when at work the meter is running. When on OT, the meter runs even faster

2. I know when the shift starts and when it ends.

3. When the shift is over, it is over and I am under no further obligation to my employer.

4. If I have a crappy shift, it eventually ends. Someone else takes over and I go home. Unlike many of those in managment or other white collar jobs, who have to face the same set of problems the next day, I come to work the next day to a different set problems.

5. Unlike many white collar workers, when I go on vacation, the work is getting done and not piling up for me to do when I get back. When I am on vacation, I am on vacation and am under no obligation to communicate with my employer in any way, shape, or form.

6. When it is my day off, I am under no obligation to respond to my employer. If they call, I ignore it and let the answering machine pick it up. And no, I am not interested in working an extra night shift.

7. If I need some extra cash, I work extra and make some cash. Where I work OT almost always available.

8. I work .75 which is a perfect balance and I am under no obligation to work more if I don't want to.

9. It is a great fall back position to have if I want to do something else. I can cut back to part time if I want have more time to do something else. Most white collar positions are full time or nothing. In nursing I can work as much or little as I want to.


Now some of you people who are new grads might be reading this and because you are having a difficult time finding a job, think I am full of it. Not so. Once you have some experience and something to offer a whole new world will open up.
I loved working the floor1/ It was exciting and never boring2/ The day went very very quickly3/ I knew I was doing a worthwhile job, and felt job satisfaction4/ I worked with great co-workers, who were always there to back me up and visa versa5/ Total patient care is very satisfying6/ You get to go home and forget about work7/ I worked 3 12 hour shifts and had 4 days off every week8/ It's true when you have an awful day you get to hand over to somebody and go home9/ I honestly felt valued10/ I laughed a lot and it felt good

Great post!

I loved bedside nursing (and/or being in charge on a med-surg/ortho floor that also got pediatric patients and EOL palliative patients- LOL). Patient contact was why I miss nursing so much. Yeah- it's hard work. It's busy. Some shifts are nuts. But it was fulfilling in a lot of ways. I've been fortunate that when I found a job I wanted, I'd get it- and when I got tired, I'd find another one- and keep from feeling "stuck" (not so easy to do that now). I also loved MDSs, drug/alcohol rehab, LTC, adolescent psych, and pediatrics (though that was the hardest emotionally). But actually taking care of patients is what I went to school for.

WELL SAID!!

It is good to see some positivity on here about bedside nursing too. Everyone should be able to share both sides of the coin and this helped pull me out of the dumps I've been in for a little while with my med surg job! Thankyou Op!

My first career was teaching and I HATED that I was never done with work, brought home papers to check every night. I LOVE that now when I clock out I'm done, I can forget about work till I go back and I can fully give myself to my family. I will never go into management with nursing... or at least I don't plan to at this point. Though I have my complaints about my employer I am paid well for what I do. I also get a lot of satisfaction because I feel what I do matters. I currently mainly work on the dementia unit and I spend lots of time comforting some residents that are realizing they are forgetting (which is very distressing to them) they don't remember me or what I did, but I know in that moment I have helped ease their suffering and that is so meaningful to me.

It's so wonderful to see the positive side of nursing. I am a new grad who has yet to find a job, but seeing all the rant posts sometimes scare me a bit. And as someone who has received more than a few calls from work while on vacation, the thought that that won't happen is comforting.

I agree - I'm about to graduate and it is encouraging to hear from nurses who love nursing

I loved the bedside. My body, unfortunately, "broke". HOWEVER , I've been able to do other nursing that doesn't require a healthy bone structure, which has been a huge blessing in my life. I love being able to see that I can make a difference in another person's life. That I can help someone feel better. I loved it when, at the bedside of sick babies, they got better, due, in part (at least, I like to think so) to my care. I loved seeing a new mom who was struggling with breastfeeding "get it" , while I was helping. Now, I love being able to go to places where healthcare is very poor, and knowing that for those brief moments that I am with a patient, that patient sees that I care, that they are valuable.

Woot!! Love this post, it's absolutely true!

its refreshing to see a positive post up here. good job!

As someone who transitioned not so long ago from bedside nursing to an office job, I have to say that I agree with nearly everything in your post. Item 5 about work not piling up when you're on vacation rings especially true for me -- now that I have a desk job, there's a big old pile of stuff in my inbox whenever I get back from a vacation, plus a whole bunch of voicemail messages. There's another PHN in our program, who can cover stuff that absolutely cannot wait till I get back, but most of it does just pile up for me. The only item I would take issue with is item 6, at least for me. It's still true in my office job that I'm under no obligation to talk to my employer when I'm off from work, in fact this is even more true in my current job. In my hospital job, it's true I didn't have to answer the phone (and I didn't), but in my current job, there's no reason anyone would ever even call -- in fact, management doesn't work weekends either, so there's no one to call me.But yes, bedside nursing definitely does have advantages! For me, the M-F 9-5 schedule actually works best, but I can understand the attraction of 3 12's and 4 days off!