I don’t know about anyone else, but being a bedside nurse isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Yes, I will admit that most of us make it look flawless or, at minimum like we’re true superheroes wearing a cape all the time. If only, right? I get it because I prepare for my exit every day. Nursing is indeed my ministry and passion. But I’m well aware that there are many areas I can utilize my knowledge other than direct patient care. The daily demands on a nurse’s mental and physical self can leave you contemplating what in the world I have gotten myself into. However, because you haven’t actually sat down, written out your vision and plan, things aren’t moving as quickly as you’d like. That is where I am right now.
I know that I have a business already that I have neglected quite a bit during this pandemic. Every day, I work and subject myself to a selfish, unforgiving, and overworked environment within healthcare. In return, every day, I prepare for my exit. I’m spending some time during this vacation preparing for my next steps. The most important being able to walk away from nursing full-time. I’ll still do it on my terms to maintain my nursing license, but nothing more than that. I have several things in the works, and of course, I’ll share them with you as they launch. But, for the nurse who feels underappreciated, underpaid, and stretched beyond realistic expectations, I’ll say this. Start preparing for your exit. Figure out your niche, determine what you want to do, address a problem within that arena and solve it for the people. It’s about supply and demand, and honestly, it may or may not have anything at all to do with nursing. For me, life is centered around nursing.
I can take anything and make it applicable. For example, nurses usually lack regular clothing because they’re always in scrubs. That means I can provide a business that sells scrubs or that sells clothing. There are so many things we can do that directly impact nurses and healthcare without standing at the bedside. I’m determined to write my vision, intentions, and plans. Then begin manifesting what I want through prayer, daily affirmations, and putting in the work to see it come to fruition.
So nurses, what is it you want to do? How do you plan to do it? And when will you leave the bedside to pursue your dreams within the dream of becoming a nurse. See, we’ve accomplished that much, so what’s next for you and me? As I stated before, I already have things in the works, but I want you to figure it out and go after what you want. If we learned anything from working during this pandemic, it is that life is short. Tomorrow isn’t promised to any one of us, and we need to live for today. So, what do you want to do today to get you closer to the tomorrow you see for yourself? Of course, this can apply to anyone within any profession, not just nurses.
Drop your comments below so we can encourage and uplift one another. Forget nurses eat their young. How about we nurture and take care of each other because we all know what it feels like to not have that. God’s blessings to you as you plan and prepare for the next chapter in your life. Feel free to reach out to me if you need to talk, vent, or work through any part of your process. My email address is sharon@shesthatrn.com. Let’s go get it…
Until Next Time,
ShesThatRNspiration 
I left bedside quickly! And have not gone back. It burnt me out way too fast. I am currently a clinic nurse and wouldn’t change a thing.
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Yessss….it’s unfortunate that we experience burnout and even more so when it’s fast. But I’m glad you were able to find your comfortable place 💕
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I have and I am so thankful.
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I recently finished nursing school and am now a RN, after recently passing the NCLEX-RN. I do bedside nursing because the jobs are abundant here. I only do casual relief pool hoping that it will prevent me from facing burnout. The nursing income supplement’s my husband’s, which is our main source of income. Now I am wondering if I should eventually switch into something else – like teaching. I’ve always wanted to become a nursing instructor. One of my nursing instructors didn’t believe in me and didn’t pass me on a clinical rotation. I would love to prove her wrong!
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Hi Hilary. First, let me say Congratulations on passing and beginning your journey as a nurse. That’s a huge deal and one that you should be very proud of. It’s nice to prove people wrong but trust me they could care less one way or another. The hard work you put into becoming a nurse is for you. Don’t let that bad experience accompany you for the rest of your career. The fact that you passed despite what she tried to do is payback enough. Since you’re new to nursing working in a relief pool is a great way to move around and see what areas you really like. You may decide to concentrate on a specialty, but if you like teaching then there are graduate programs that focus on nurse educators. Most colleges and universities require a graduate degree to teach, but that could be different depending on what area you’re in. But go for it because we need great teachers whose passion is teaching and helping students become qualified, compassionate nurses. Whatever you decide, I know you’ll be exceptional. You’ve overcome adversities to get where you are and I am so proud of you. Continue being a great nurse until you figure out what avenue you want to take. 🙂
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Thank you for your very thoughtful reply! I can see that you are a writer too 🙂 Love that!
Yes, I agree that the motivation should be intrinsic rather than extrinsic. This instructor who failed me made me repeat the entire semester/year and told me I had a “knowledge deficit.” I was so crushed when it happened and never saw myself going back to nursing school. It took me 3 years to finish vs. 2 years (it was an accelerated, degree holder program) and I didn’t get to graduate with my cohort. However, good things did come out of this – like landing a job right out of school, and spending extra time learning the material and having a good GPA overall. I may not have gotten honors due to failing a semester, but that’s okay.
Here in Canada we also need to go to grad school in order to teach, but the university offers to pay for it. It’s definitely something I’m considering down the road. It’s great talking to a nurse and getting insight on what this profession is really like! Thank you! 🙂
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