Happy Mothers Day to all the mommies out there!! Don't forget verb wants to celebrate healthcare heroes! Use my link and you’ll get Verb’s starter kit for just $10; that’s one full bag of Verb bars + 4 samples of their top flavors and free shipping, visit: cen.yt/VerbEnergyMikiRai
I was an RN for 39 years before retiring. I worked, ICU, PEDS, PSYCH, Hospice Home Care, and Outpatient Surgery where I would get the patients ready for surgery, then recover them, give them DC instructions, and send them home. I also did travel nursing as a psych nurse and carried my hubby around with me. He was a grocery store manager and could be flexible with his job. We did New Orleans, Booth Bay Harbor Maine, Clearwater Florida, Hawaii, and Cedars Sinai in West Hollywood. Traveling was fun! Of all of those specialties, PSYCH and Outpatient Surgery were the most fun and the least stressful for me. I would still be working as a nurse, but I had a stage play produced, so I retired and now I spend my time living in my imagination, writing plays, and watching actors bring my work to life on stage. I am living my dream! Enjoy nursing. You'll never get burned out if you switch up your specialty every few years. - Chava Hoffman :)
I have so much respect for career bedside nurses. I went into nursing so I could go the CRNA route, and bedside is BRUTAL. CRNA is the easy way out at this point, I don't know how you guys do it. I really don't know who is going to take care of me if I ever end up in the hospital because it seems like a lot of nurses are leaving these days. Also, my back hurts, haha.
Thank you for talking about pre shift anxiety. This is something that we don't talk often enough about friends and colleagues so it's reassuring to know that we are not the only ones.
3 years as a bedside nurse. I’m so glad you talked about your anxiety about work cause it made me feel like I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Like everyday I wake up for work I get this anxiety that something might go wrong with my shift. Sometimes I even wake up in the middle of my sleep and realize that I forgot something or made a mistake. I totally agree that it is stressful and exhausting not just physically but also mentally and emotionally. You verbalizing your anxiety is making me re-think of starting on a different field. So thank you so much.
likewise :( But in our facilities, they don't tolerate being anxious.. they see it as a weakness for the one of the toughest job in the world.. Glad that I heard your story.
I started out as an outpatient dialysis nurse right out of nursing school and for some reason I thought wow I am not doing enough, I don’t feel like a “real nurse”. So I switched to bedside for 6 months to get more experience and I was so miserable, not sleeping, not eating and constantly thinking about work. Now I’m back in outpatient dialysis and I found a new type of passion for it and I can’t see myself doing anything else for a while.
OR nurse for 2years, then moved to NICU, been there for 6years & loving it. Bedside nursing is difficult but its totally worth it. Everything is difficult to begin with, but it does get better over time & experience. NICU is a completely different unit, & it takes courage to take care of our little 22, 23weekers. Whatever it is, i hope you can find your sweet spot. 💕 Im proud to say im a NICU nurse. I’ll carry that with me forever. 💕
I’m 3 months in to med surg/bedside nursing and absolutely hate it. I think it’s for some people and not for others. I knew in school that I would hate it, but I let people convince me that I needed it to be a good nurse. That was a lie. I’m about to accept a position in the OR that’s days, no weekend, no holidays and rotating call. Can’t wait.
How has your new job been??? I'm halfway done with an accelerated program and after a total of 5 months in medsurg rotations I've realized I will hate it. I'm just going to apply straight for outpatient after graduating.
Can you maybe make a video of different nursing jobs other than bedside? Just graduated nursing school and I def am more interested in outpatient because I know inpatient won’t be good for my mental health.
home care, public health, random contract jobs, school health, clinics, case management. there’s a lot out there and you absolutely DONT need bedside experience for many of these 😊
@@Erika-wf8tf totally! even though bedside is a good starting point, there’s no sense taking a job you know you’ll be miserable in just because it’s what “most” people do. a job you love and don’t experience severe pre shift anxiety should be the goal !
@@elohelhehe4502 thank you so much. i’m getting so close to graduation and this is eased my mind a lot. I was starting to think I chose the wrong career bc of my insane anxiety, plus I really disagree with the nurse patient ratios at the hospital. I can’t be the nurse I want to be with a ratio like that. r
Icu nurse of 4 years here. I don’t think the job satisfaction, pay, and work/life balance you get from bedside outweighs the physical, mental, and psychological stress. I give it up to those who can stay in beside their whole lives. The first time I worked in a hospital I was like this ain’t it sis
Especially working 12hr shift n fake smiling all day or all night. The toilet was my favourite place I go take few minutes to frawn which is how I really felt inside.
Same. I agree. I couldn’t wait to get out after 3 months of bedside lol I only stayed cuz I agreed to be there for a year. I hated my life...worst year of my life pretty much. Pay as a new grad is horrible too. I see all my friends as computer people making way more than me...made me feel even more defeated lol they have a four year degree too...yet they make way more and they stay at home and most of the time when I ask them how their day was, they say...well I gamed or napped most of the day. While I’m running around with my head cut off, getting yelled at by patients and their family, and not eating till 430-5pm because I’m slammed with discharges and admits back to back. Then I have to stay to finish charting. It’s stressful, especially when your patients get up and set off the bed alarm and are at high risk of falling...I worked on a neuro and ortho trauma unit at a Level 1 hospital...and it was pretty annoying. Then I finally go home and feel like I did nothing for my patients. Which is the worst feeling ever because I tried so hard...then I go home, eat, and crash and repeat it the next day. Did it get better throughout the year? Not really. It’s the same bullshit, just I got used to the bullshit. Not trying to be negative here but I’m so much happier now that I got out of bedside. You don’t have to be stuck...do what you love is my advice!!! :) Thank you bedside nurses for all that you do!!!!
@@nicolelam3223 If you don't mind sharing, what did you transition to? I'm in the process of pivoting my career. Now it's either try traveling or retrain in something else...
Recently finished school and haven’t worked fully yet and I already felt like “this ain’t it” and feel guilty and ungrateful and lazy immediately for having these thoughts :(
I’m a new grad and knew during my student clinical rotations that I didn’t want to be bedside. The nurses were overworked (because short staff), and upset that agency nurses were making more and in turn treated us terribly. I immediately told myself that I was skipping it even though everyone warned me not to. I accepted a position in the OB/GYN clinic at the same hospital where I was placed for my clinical rotations and I love it! A lot of patient teaching which I enjoy. It can take a while because my facility is in an area where there’s a big population of immigrants so a lot of translator video calls but the experience of being able to work with a culturally diverse group of patients is a blessing. Quickly realized that I loved women’s health, clinic hours, and holidays + weekends off. I will say that it does make me want to go to L&D at some point but for now, i’m so happy with my decision to skip bedside and go directly to outpatient. To the new nurses that are not sure if you should do bedside or not: do what’s best for YOU. Don’t let anyone tell you that you have to (or shouldn’t) do bedside. Trust yourself. I personally wanted outpatient but in a hospital so if I ever changed my mind, I could apply internally. Nursing has so many opportunities. If you have to try 10 different specialities to figure out where you want to be then so be it! You’ve worked too hard in nursing school to not love what you’re doing!
I can completely relate. I was only a nurse for 1 year before I quit and went back to school for computer science. I had severe anxiety, depression, and stress. I was crying all the time and just worrying about going back to my next shift. I was not happy and I could not imagine feeling like that for the next 30 years that I work. I'm graduating next semester and I couldn't be happier! Find what makes you happy, life is short, find a job you at least like bc 1/3 of your life will be spent there. Wishing you the best!
@@rachachaz I really like it. Lots of opportunity, less stress, and better pay. It's a big field so there is something for everyone. still mostly a male dominated field but I'm seeing more women getting into CS. There is a big learning curve in the beginning but if you got through nursing school, you can get through anything! Good luck and let me know if you have any more questions!
Hello, I’m considering both nursing and software engineering and I don’t know what to do. I’m scared to just pursue software engineering cause people r saying AI will replace software engineers and there’s been a lot of layoffs in the tech field this year. Could you give me some advice regarding that, it would be really helpful for me, thank you.
@George Encabo yes, both mentally and physically. But it goes away after you used to it. I am in final year bsc nursing and it’s quite rewarding career option.
I'm a bedside nurse in a pediatric cardiology/ cardic surgery yard for the past 3 months. first job in nursing, and im still finishing school this year. Its very stressful, but rewarding as she said in the video. you really have to like it, otherwise you will hate dealing with patients, especially their family. I can tell already I don't want to stay as a bed side nurse. I need a more calm environment
Yes!!! I was a bedside nurse for 6 years and man I can completely agree with you on the anxiety the day/night before your shift starts. It was extremely stressful and physically demanding. Lost so much sleep! Standing all day, stuffing down your lunch, full bladder, dehydrated and then having to deal with rude patients, families, even Doctors all while having to explain to the incoming nurse what you couldn’t get done on your shift. It was very rewarding but that didn’t make up for all the stress. Ugh! It was a bit much. After I hurt my back caring for a patient I knew I couldn’t be doing it for long let alone the rest of my life. I’m no longer a bedside nurse but a nurse clinical documentation specialist in a large community hospital. Bedside is not for everyone and no one should make you feel any less of a nurse. We worked hard and should be able to enjoy what we do and how we do it. Way to go!
THANK YOU for sharing about your nursing experience. I was nurse for almost 10 years, did adult ICU for 6 years, before I gathered the courage to ask myself is this what I really want for the rest of my life?! Total respect for bedside nurses, but I got real with myself and decided I could not do this until I retire. Long story short, I quit nursing after almost 10 years and became a pharmacist. Now, I love my job because I finally figured out myself and found a profession that was a better match for me. We don't always get it right the first, second, or even third time. Whatever it is, ask yourself the hard questions and be real with yourself.
Thank you so much for this video! I am a new grad about 6 months into working in a Burn and Traum ICU. It was the bada** job a dreamed of…. until I started. I feel very burnt out and stressed constantly, I have talked to people about changing to a different nursing environment (like the OR or out patient), but I always get the same response to “just stick it out till it gets better”. This video is really what I needed to see to validate my feeling of need a change of environment. Thank you again!
thank you for having the courage to step away from the bedside. So many of us, including me, are scared to leave bedside even though we know it's wearing us down and stealing our happiness. I love nursing and I love my patients, but nursing is hard and I don't know if it's for me anymore. who knows.
Not being in the ICU or bedside nursing does not make you a bad nurse. Trust me I’m like you. I need to be not stress. In my case I get very sick so yeah. My cousin is like a butterfly in the ICU it’s crazy, she loves it. I’m planning to do a school nurse, travel nurse, or delivering babies. Love the content!!
Nursing school only teaches us how to do bedside nursing, at least, in my experience. It’s all I knew in clinicals and classes. I always wished that nursing students were able to see the diverse side of the profession. In my last semester of nursing school, a lot of my classmates and I got pulled out of Christmas break to help with the Covid crisis. I felt burned out before I had even graduated... and I realized bedside nursing probably won’t be my future forever. I have the utmost respect for bedside nursing though!! 💕
@@__kikibunz__4285 She is really struggling in the hospital where she is at. I know that she was v/passionate about furthering her education, but my dad was jealous of her going forward.
I worked in labor and delivery for 2 years as a new graduate. Burn out is real, and hospitals don’t care. I currently work in fertility clinic and it’s a whole other world! Love it so much
Hey! I’m currently an L&D nurse (1.5 years) and would love to go into a Fertility Clinic. Does it ever get stressful? Also I’m still pretty crap at IV insertions, do you have to do a lot of IVs ?
You need not be stressed up ok. Its very easy for you to get NCLEX there after it will be much easier locating a job. I have a Dr who is a member of the NCSB and he can get you one as he did for me without you going via any exam process ok. If you are interested then contact me for details ok
I quit my my job as a registered nurse last two years ago after almost 12 years in the field. It was not an easy decision, but life is too short to dread going to work everyday. No amount of money can buy real happiness Lol 😁 but friends I'm not asking you to resign from your job or abandon your business but be wise!
@@fernevelle5325 while I was still in service I planned towards early retirement, my first Income I do a normal 9-5, my second income I put it back to work to make more money because I'm not just after the money but the freedom to live on my terms Lol
@@gracedaniels6172 yes I was able to make about 2/3k weekly as extra income from my Inve sting trying so much to build more side hustles and extra income
I was a MICU nurse for 3 years right out of nursing school and was so unhappy with that job. It was a level 1 trauma hospital, tons of codes and critical patients. Definitely was not for me although I am still grateful for that experience!! I've been working at an urgent care clinic the last 2 years which I have LOVED and will be graduating with my DNP degree next month to be a family nurse practitioner :) There are soooo many areas of nursing one can go into and paths to take so if you're in nursing school, do not get discouraged!
Hi ,can I ask u something am an Indian nurse and after clearing my NCLEX and shifting to usa ,how much experience do I need to get into DNP...... waiting for ur answer (and yeah congratulations)
@@u.s6838 That's awesome, good luck and congrats to you!! There are many programs in the U.S. that are BSN to DNP that do not even require any nursing experience, although most students work as RN's while going to NP school. I applied to my DNP program after 1 year of working and continued to work full time throughout. By the time I graduated with my DNP degree, I had over 5 years of RN experience. I had classmates who applied to the DNP program without any nursing experience right out of nursing school (experience was not a requirement at my school) and to me, that wasn't a big deal as they continued to work as an RN throughout school. Nursing experience prior to going back is always a helpful thing but in my opinion, not something necessary nor do I think that makes one a better APRN. At the end of the day, it's the experience as an NP that will make one a better NP versus years experience as an RN since they are very different job descriptions.
I'm a surgical nurse and love my job. Finishing up nursing school 6 years ago, i thought i made the biggest mistake with going into nursing until I did my rotation through surgery. I love the group dynamic between surgeon, anesthesia, surgical tech, and RN. We really become a team and learn to rely and trust one another, a dynamic I never saw on the floor. Things are for the most part routine... but constantly changing due to the patients status and type of case and were constantly moving. Its a "controlled" (for the most part) environment. In California at least, your earning potential can be quite impressive with the call assigned/required... which is an accepted part of my life... and accounts for 1/3 of my annual wages.
@@theresaswift1855 i did a 4 month residency. It was my way in. Find one... even if you have to commute a ways. Some pay you during the period, some are attached to your schooling (mine was attached). It was in essence an on the job interview. They liked me enough to open and offer a position.
Thanks for making this comment. I am graduating in December and the hospital I work for has a residency program. The OR has been looking attractive but I face so much discouragement mostly because people don't know about it at all. Your comment helps me gain confidence in my decision.
THIS! My last clinical in nursing school was in the OR. It was the only rotation I’d done where I could see myself working. They offered me a position at the end, but I let everyone convince me that I needed medsurg first in order to be a good OR nurse. Well, I’m 3 months into medsurg nursing and am MISERABLE (as I knew I would be)…called up the OR that originally offered me the job and am going in next week to work on a timeline of when I can start there. Days, no weekend, no holiday, just rotating call. And 5 minutes from my house and 2 minutes from my sons school. My biggest regret is falling for the “you need medsurg to be a good nurse” mentality. It’s 100% not true. Medsurg is not for everyone. There are plenty of other settings for someone to pursue. If we are doing this for the rest of our lives, we need to enjoy what we’re doing. My advice to a new grad from a new grad: trust your gut and don’t let someone talk you out of your dream job.
Girl this is so me! I graduated in May 2018 and went into inpatient OB/Maternity at busy main big-city hospitals. Literally had all the emotions and thoughts that you did. Fast forward to now, I am starting a new job this week as a pediatric digestive disorder clinic nurse in a children’s hospital. Ready for the consistency and work-life balance. I know 5 days a week will be challenging, but my pros and cons list I made says this is the better option for who I am and where I am in life. ☺️
I totally agree, I was sooo anxious and indecisive about what I want to do after med school and ONLY during practice I’ve realized that I don’t like to see patients and I don’t like all the stress that comes with it, I get attached to them and think about them all the time and when something bad happens to any of my patients, I become so depressed that actually affects my life and work .... so I’ve decided to match in Radiology and I couldn’t be happier 😭💕
I understand you completely. I started my nursing career as research coordinator thinking that it'll be a stepping stone being a bedside nurse since I am already working in a hospital. I planned to shift after at least a year. But then I started to love research then started to love reading data and making reports etc. So I continued with my work as a research coordinator then greater opportunities came. Now I am working as a Clinical Data Quality Officer in another hospital. But I am still a nurse. Being a nurse doesn't have to be solely taking care of patients when they are sick. There are many opportunities in this career and you are right you just have to see where you think you will excel at the same time have peace and joy in serving people. ❤️
Absolutely agree with you! I work as a monitoring and evaluation technical associate for an NGO. We do research as well, provide technical assistance to the underserved mothers and adolescents in the community. An yes, I am still a nurse.
I worked bedside for 12.5 years and just got overwhelmed with burn out and anxiety. I was going to quit nursing all together but then I decided to give it one more try (worked too hard for that license). So now I’m PAT at a surgery center and I love it! No anxiety or feelings of burnout. It’s tough in it’s own way but doable for me. I’m glad I didn’t just stop all together.😊
As a new grad, do you recommend doing bedside nursing for at least 1-2 years before moving onto something else? I just graduated this past May and will be taking my NCLEX in September but I’m actually dreading doing bedside nursing.
@@stephanie4388 Most nurses I know started out in med surg. I will say although difficult I learned most of what I know at the bedside in med surg those first 8 years. When I worked in postpartum I didn’t do half of what I did in med surg but I did enjoy working with the babies. My job now I try to utilize a lot of what I learned in med surg. I would suggest talking with nurses who did not start off at the bedside and get their perspective too. I hope my response helps.😁 Good luck with the NCLEX.
I absolutely needed to hear this. In the recent months, I have begun to feel so jaded at work, but also get this terrible anxiety prior to work to the point where it sometimes felt crippling. My stress would follow me home and I’d wake up thinking about what I had forgotten or what I could have done differently and a world of “what ifs”. I applied for charge nurse to see if that was the change I needed, but as naive as I am, it really got worse. I think it’s about time to leave, but I really don’t know where to go after this. But this video definitely gave me the courage to look out there. Thank you 🤍
The beauty of nursing is that we can decide our pace depending on the current circumstances of our personal lives. Sometimes I feel hardcore and I seek acute settings, and when that burns me out I take a break to see patients in an outpatient clinic, and when I feel rested again - back I go out into the world of pandemic! Get your rest as long and as hard as you need, and remember ICUs will be there when/if you feel like some action again 😉 Also, no nursing job is small- None, not at any levels - and we need so much more of them!
I can totally relate with the pre-duty anxiety. I worked in an ED as bedside for 5 years. The stress and the adrenalin are definitely there. Currently, I work as a Utilization Review/ Management nurse, still stressful, still gets anxiety but on a different level. I was thinking this anxiety thing is some kind of a “perfectionist” personality issue. Also, i think it’s good sign to feel “anxious”. It only means that you take into account that, in a way, the life of these patients depend on you. Because if you’re apathetic, how can you improve the lives entrusted to your own hands. Just a realization. Happy nurses’ week!
I went straight into the operating room after nursing school and I. LOVE. IT!! in school i thought i made a huge mistake and hated bedside nursing. i took a leap of faith and applied to an or internship after researching it and have been in it for 4 years now. no regrets. i love the schedule flexibility, the people i work with, the cases i get to see. so much fun all day. and i get to. build super. cool relationships with surgeons who are so thankful to have me circulate in their room!!
@@stephanie4388 I’ve been circulating in the OR for over a year now and I can 100% agree with OP. Every hospital is different when it comes to scheduling and how often they require you to take call, but a typical day for me starts around 6:15am when I start setting up my room for the first case. We have to be ready to roll back into the OR for 7 am. We get different assignments every day so one day I may be in orthopedic surgery and next day I may be in cystoscopy. We also do pain injections in the back/knees. As the nurse in the room, it’s my responsibility to set up the equipment, gather all meds needed (local, antibiotic irrigation, etc), count instruments and sponges with scrub tech. Then I check the pt chart to ensure all documentation is there and signed by MD & pt. From there we roll back with the CRNA, then assist anesthesia with intubation. After pt is induced and intubated, the nurse positions pt for whatever the case calls for and preps the surgical area. We start lots of foleys in OR as well. The main con of working in the OR for me is the lack of patient interaction. But overall it is a great area to work in.
I couldn’t agree with you more! When I first started nursing I was having so much anxiety before my shifts, couldn’t sleep at night, and always nervous! I did bedside nursing for a year and a half and left and went into a neuro rehab. It’s definitely not as stressful and anxiety inducing! You’re right - we work all our lives and it should be at a job we are comfortable with and can enjoy! Congrats and I’m right there with ya!
GO FOR IT, there are so many avenues open in nursing. Keep going and get ur Nurse Practitioner's. Been one for > 20 years, love it. I recall the grueling 12 plus hours bedside shifts, along with pre-anxiety before the shift.
Hi Miki, I really wanna express my appreciation for all nurses especially bedside nurses! During my grim hospital stay, nurses became my only source of light using their compassion, care, professional skills and patient.
Love this! Thank u! I quit bedside nursing 3 yrs ago, now I’m soo much happier being a home health/care nurse. Although people told me, I’m not a real nurse because i’m not a bedside nurse. Sooo ignorant! Anyways, my anxiety & stress level were so bad when I was working at a nursing facility! I had no life at all! I was always sick that time because of stress!! It’s our life, our body..let’s love ourselves & our mental health!
I love how honest you are. I started in adult med surg for 2 yrs, then NICU (which I thought was my dream job) for 2 yrs, and now I just complete an OR peri op 101 course and am doing OR nursing. People don’t consider OR bedside, but to me it still feels like it’s bedside. I love the change, my goal is to end up working in a Plastic Surgery Practice, out patient. I’m happy you are doing what you have to do to feel fulfilled in your career. A lot of nursing bloggers encourage that and that’s exactly why I have been following you. I feel that from you and I love your honesty.
Great for you. The point of life is to be happy, and if not, don't feel bad for wanting to be happy by switch positions. Wherever you go, you are still a great nurse. Plus, it's your life, so if someone doesn't like you moving, well then, why don't they become a nurse to see how hard it is.
I work as a circulating nurse and scrub nurse in the operating room and I love it! The hours are amazing and the rn/pt ratio is always 1:1. It’s definitely a unique type of nursing because while you do pay attention to pt care, a lot of the job is making sure the surgical team has what they need to perform the surgery safely and efficiently. I went to the OR right after nursing school last year and have no regrets!
Im ortho/neuro med/surg nurse and I absolutely love it! I defintiley go through waves where I am burnt out, but taking some me time helps me recover quick! I initially went into nursing because there were so many options you could go into. Everyone has their own special type they love and thats amazing! Because we need nurses everywhere 😊
Hi Miki! :) I’m an RN from Singapore, about to hit my 1 year anniversary since I’ve joined nursing. I just want to tell you how much you inspire me, especially when it comes to speaking up for mental health and wellbeing in the nursing industry. You’re an absolute beast of an representation for the younger generation of nurses, and we’re so thankful to have someone like you to journey together with :”) 💛 Sending you lots of love!
Wow I have never related to a video more than this one. I graduated nursing school and thought I needed a bad ass nursing job and ended up working in the NICU and it was so bad for me. I got so much anxiety and those 12 hour night shift wasn’t for me. I went to outpatient 9-5 and I honestly love it so much. I never realized how important it is to think about stuff like this and to not stick out a job just cause I needed to be this bad ass nurse working 12 hour shifts and having anxiety all the time. Outpatient doesn’t make me feel burnt out and the work life style is so much better. I feel you 100% and seriously never felt so relatable to a video before! Thank you so much for this ❤️
Miki, Thank you for sharing your story 🤍 I myself have been working outpatient for the past 8 years as a MA, Tech and now as an RN. I work in a hospital setting but I work in an outpatient unit and let me tell you - I LOVE IT! I got so lucky working in that unit and I love going to work every single day. I knew from the very beginning that I couldn’t do bedside nursing. It was just not for me. Even though many people told me to get into bedside nursing after school for the experience, I was happy I didn’t fall for that trap. Now I only work 4 days a week, I get weekends off, I get all holidays paid and off and best of it all, I work in the Bay Area, CA. I couldn’t be much happier mentally and physically.
Damn. I DEFINITELY NEEDED TO HEAR THIS. I'm 28 and currently in the middle of nursing school. I have been working in healthcare since I was 18 though. I always loved taking care of people and I have always known that working in healthcare was for me. However I've been struggling really hard with burnout and depression. I want to work in the IMC but I definitely know that I can't work in that type of environment forever. It's really cool to learn that there are so many other options available for nursing. And you are right! We have to work so much. We need to make sure they our occupation is also conducive to our mental health
Hi I'm from New Zealand, I graduated from nursing in 2022 and I am currently working as a theatre (operating room) nurse since April 2023. I love it. It is very different from bedside/ward nursing. Theatre nursing involves a lot of teamwork with other nurses including anaesthesiologists and surgeons. This was something I rarely see in bedside nursing, they often work by themselves and it can often feel very draining and overwhelming. When I was a nursing student, I was mostly placed in the ward so my preceptors would be ward nurses. I was exposed to a lot of bedside nursing and how awful it can be especially when taking care of a very non-compliant patient on top of all the other 5 patients you're taking care of. It was also very short staffed so I had to take a load of patients (even as a student) just to help my preceptor. Honestly, at first I was having second thoughts whether I wanted to become a nurse because of the workload I often see with bedside nursing. Thankfully I found out that there are other types of nursing jobs out there and that's when I found out about perioperative nursing. I loved it ever since. I know operating room nursing is not for everyone but I am grateful to find a work environment that suits me well. With that, I am also glad that you found a nursing job that fits you well too!
This was ME back in 2001, pre-anxiety before my ICU shift in one of the top univ. hosp in SoCal. I then switched to ICU dialysis and liked the autonomy but again no real LIFE-BALANCE. BURNOUT is real, ICU is not sustainable for everyone…and in 2005 after having my eldest , I switched to Case Management and loved it since then :) Good luck on your career journey!
I'm not a nurse but my two close friends are. Bedside nursing sounds incredibly stressful and often the student nurses are treated really badly, so it seems natural to transition into other areas if given the chance! Well done for making the scary decision to change pathways, definitely a really good decision
Yes I needed to hear this today! There’s some guilt from choosing what best for you! You definitely have to have that conversation and ask yourself what your needs and wants are. Balance is key 🌟 Thanks for the video and chat!! 🤩
This is so inspiring. Ive been here in the UK for only 10mos but my heart my mind and my body already shows how tired and stressed I am in my current ward (elderly care ward). Ive been doing bank shifts in an outpatient unit in the same hospital and i don’t feel the same. I am happy in the outpatient unit no matter how busy it can get. This video was shared to me by my friend and this is just so inspiring and mind opening.
All of your reasons for leaving peds ICU are so valid ! As nurses it’s definitely important for us to prioritize our mental health and work to achieve work life balance.
im a CNA who's currently in nursing school. Just by my CNA experience, I realized how much I do not want to work bedside nursing - if it's stressful in the position im in, i know it'll only be worse once I'm a nurse. I really want to work in more of a provider role so hopefully getting my NP or med school.
You need not be stressed up ok. Its very easy for you to get NCLEX there after it will be much easier locating a job. I have a Dr who is a member of the NCSB and he can get you one as he did for me without you going via any exam process ok. If you are interested then contact me for details ok
Late to the show but thank you for speaking out on this! I was a bedside nurse for 12 years ( 10 of those on adult med/surg/oncology and 2 in postpartum). I would wake up at 4am before my 7am shift just thinking about my day. The anxiety got better when I transitioned to postpartum but it really doesn’t completely go away. I left bedside nursing and the hospital at the height of COVID. Now I work in a medi-spa/infusion company and I love it. Thank you for bringing this issue to light because I felt like I was the only one and I did feel bad for having these feelings!
Happy nurses week! I 100% agree with all the things you’ve said about leaving the job because of burnt out. I was a new grad nurse and worked in a medicine floor. I have the pre and post shift anxiety every time and my mental health was suffering! I have a lot of call in sick coz I can’t sleep the day before my shift and I get a lot of migraines coz of stress. I stayed in that unit for 9 months. Now I am still in bedside but in a rehab unit which I really love! And it doesn’t make me less of a nurse by leaving the medicine floor, we just have to prioritize our own health to take better care of our patients.
Please do a video on different types of nurses, their salaries, pros and cons, work life balance and other stuffs basically your insight on being a nurse in difference departments (?) idk😂 but you got it, right love?! no? ok... love y'all and stay safe everyone 💕
I applaud you for knowing yourself and doing what you need to do. I'm a nursing grad student and an inpatient casual rn. I agree that beside nursing has its challenges.
I felt this to my core I went into adult ICU out of school and unfortunately found out it was not for me and it made me feel like a failure and I was always a nervous wreck....my mental health was so bad...I eventually left and it was the best decision of my life even though I felt like I was "giving up".... so glad there are so many different options!
That’s a beautiful story! I had a similar situation. Was killing myself bedside, anxious crying mess for about a year, randomly applied to an outpatient position in a major city and was hired and working within a month! I’ve been here 4 years. I’m so thankful for the versatility in nursing. And I totally relate to “not being a nurse anymore”. I think that stems from the knowledge that we know we have such a large range to choose, so therefore I need to push myself. And now I say, for what??!?!
I really appreciate you taking the time to share your life with the youtube community. Thanks for that. I know a lot of nurses who do leave bedside due to burn out when seeing a lot of patients distressed on an ongoing basis. They do self-reflect and realize, like you, that mental health and their own happiness should take first priority. Many of my colleagues left bedside for community nursing. They still see patients but not on the 12 hr rotation. Their working hours are 8 hr days 5 days a week.
I’m a licensed clinical social worker. I work in a level 1 trauma hospital in an inner city. I worked the same unit you did for 8 long hard years. I have worked on n every unit in the same hospital. With COVID19 in 2020, EVERYONE IN HEALTHCARE IS BURNED OUT! That’s a fact
Nurses are nurses whether you work inpatient or outpatient. Critical care or working with extremely sick patients isn’t the only thing that makes you a nurse. Nursing is so flexible!!. Do what makes you happy and always prioritize yourself and your mental health and if that means you have to step away from bedside, then by all means, do it! People feel pressured to work bedside cause it is “real nursing” but nursing is also administrative nursing, research nursing, outpatient nursing, educators, etc. You only have one life to live, always do you FIRST! 🤗🙌🏼
I admire your strength for doing the things you love. Always know your limitation and go with your gut feelings. You’re doing a lot already and you’re mature and strong too. You remind me a lot of myself in my early 20s that I would just eat and eat. Work hard and don’t forget to enjoy life as well. Always give yourself some “me” time. You and Kevin are great for each other! Sending you both lots of love and hugs!!!❤️
I 100% relate to this! For 6 years I worked as a bedside nurse and just before COVID found a new job at a specialist’s office and I love it. So much less stress and anxiety and I don’t dread going into work
I was pushed into the nursing field by my parents and at most times I feel like it isn’t the path for me. The pay is nice but I already suffer from anxiety and the high stress of the job is just another weight on my shoulders.
LOL I literally thought that I was crazy insane for realizing 3 months in that I can’t do this specialty at this hospital for the rest of my life 😅😅😅 this was such a relief to watch honestly!! I’m in PCCU right now and our ratios are insane right now for the level of care some of these patients require! I told a couple nurses I might wanna try L&D one day and they told me I was crazy and that I would hate it. This definitely gave me some confidence to eventually switch it up if I still want to 🥺🥺💛💛 love you!!
I’m still in nursing school and work as a certified nursing assistant in an outpatient medical center in the pre op and PACU. I love this work environment and I get to see people of all ages like children to teenagers, as before working at a rehab facility was mostly elderly.
Thank you for talking about this! It is exactly what I am experiencing right now. I'm a new grad RN working a full-time inpatient job of the specialty that has been my first choice since nursing school. But I quickly realized that the setting doesn't fit me personally. I noticed increasing anxiety which started to affect other aspects of my life but I don't know what to do since my NP school requires the experience. I told myself it makes sense to get at the minimal a year of inpatient experience but the stress is only getting worse :/
Miki! I'm so happy you opened up about this because I, too, am someone with SEVERE anxiety yet never gone to a therapist and im still in my freshman year of nursing so this gives me an idea really thank you!! 😭
Im from the uk I qualified as a nurse as got my first job as a bedside nurse and worked there for 4 years, I decided I needed something new and different as I was set in my ways that I didn't feel challenged and everyone came to me for help. I got a job as a community nurse in a 24hr service, they trained me up and now since August 2020 I am now a nurse practitioner in a community service and we provide 24 hour care to patients in their own homes, we are basically the a&e of the community and I love it. Not going to lie I still have alot to learn and I do get that anxiety feeling before a shift but I love it when I get there. I feel like I've made the right decision for me and I'm glad ur making the right choices for you too. I certainly can relate to u from your explanation and you are an amazing nurse and woman. Keep up your amazing work as.a nurse and a.vlogger, I love your vlog. Take care xxx
I’m glad I found your channel.. Been an outpatient and company nurse for 9 yrs and also used to be a nurse in Middle East. Until now I still feel nervous just thinking of working as a bed side nurse. But I’m happy as what I am doing and I think that’s ok. Though I feel less of a nurse sometimes. But I think this is where my destiny is. Happy Nurses Week to us and please keep safe and stay healthy. ❤️❤️❤️
I am not working in the healthcare system yet, I am in school to become an MLT. But I totally understand your feeling, because I worked as CNA before. I want to share that I was in ICU for more than 2 weeks last year due to Covid, then 10 days on the Covid floor. I am so thankful for the care the nurses gave me. Without them, I would not recover that quickly. Thank you for all of your hard works.
I am a community nurse working in genral practice in Australia and I love it!!! I agency in ward nursing from time to time but my passion is the community. It is a verfy different avenue of nursing I get to learn about different areas of health care and diseases and it continually changing
I'm a new grad, only been at the bedside for 6 months, and I hate my job and am depressed and miserable all the time. I just can't see myself doing this much longer. I'm already burn out, angry, isolating myself, and lashing out at the people around me after 6 months.
My outpatient nurses have been my super heroes!🥰 I don't think I'll ever forget my nurse after my csf blood patch at Cedars-Sinai. She was amazing and helped me through the painful procedure.💗
I started off in the hospital briefly, hopped over to outpatient, and now I’m back at bedside. I’ve only been a nurse for a year. I’ve had a hell of a journey my first year. I went back to the bedside because I only wanted to work 3 days a week, and because I wasn’t acquiring the skills I needed to feel confident in outpatient. I’m going to be starting NP school in the fall and I think I’m going to stick it out at the bedside until I graduate! I’ll then have the rest of my career to be outpatient as an NP. Just really feel like that bedside knowledge, even for just 1-2 years, is valuable to yourself, your practice/patients, and employers.
Hi Miki! I totally admire you for your honesty. As a matter of fact, I’ve been following you since 2019 I guess? and yup we’re completely on the same page. I graduated Nursing last 2018 and started working as an ICU nurse. It’s indeed a tough job. I used to always want the toughest and most challenging jobs and then I realized I have to work until I retire so yup! I’m kinda looking for a new job in a different department. Wishing you love and good health in all your endeavors.
I also started in the PICU as a new grad nurse. I think I relate to you in the sense of I like variables within a constant! I however had orientation extended (I was on orientation for 4-5 months). I had to have meetings with my manager,our coordinator and my preceptor about what I need to improve. Before this meeting was even scheduled I debated leaving for a clinic. After the meeting I floated to a few different areas in the hospital and it just wasn’t giving me any warm and fuzzies. Last ditch effort I applied to a pediatric clinic affiliated with my hospital and I finally got it! Things just kept moving along and it felt surreal. I start next week and I found your video while looking for what it’s like to work in a clinic!
Loved this post. Once I graduated - I thought I’d go on to be a hero everyday doing bed side nursing. Reality is - it was not sustainable. I had anxiety before my shifts. It just wasn’t what I wanted to do. Outpatient is more of my jam. I felt like a failure initially but now I love being a nurse and! I have time to enjoy other things.
I get that! I am a pharmacist (4th year of working). In my first hospital, we have this thing called passive on-call pharmacist where we work normal working hours but could be called in anytime after work. Normal days I enjoy being a pharmacist be it clinical, outpatient, inpatient but during my on calls, I feel like crying because I get so nervous about sleeping and I can't even eat. I realized I really can't do this as it is taking a toll on my mental and physical health. Hearing you say that we could get burnout even after a week, kinda soothes me as I am not the only one going through it.
Thanks for sharing Miki, it’s such a great reminder we should also take care our mental health when we are trying to make ends meet. Keep up the good work and looking forward to more sharing from you 😊
Thank you for this, Miki. I’ve been an ICU RN for 3 years and am now in an MSN program for acute care - I could have sworn it was my calling. COVID changed everything. Now I’m going through an identity crisis because, like you mentioned, I don’t know if I want to do acute care for the rest of my life. This is exactly what I needed to hear to feel better about my current situation. I hope, like you, I can find something that makes me happy! Lucky for us nurses, we have options!
Who cares what people have to say or what they think! This is your life and your happiness. Do what you need to do and do not apologize for it! Go out there and kick ass! Happy Nurses Week!
"The anxiety gets better every year but never really goes away" 😩 thank you for summing up my nursing school feels. I've got only a year left but I do get really miserable abt everything whilst I do want an undergrad degree cos Asians parents don't allow quitters 😂
I love this video, I could relate to a lot of the things you mentioned, especially pre-shift anxiety. It's so hard to explain to family and friends who haven't felt that emotion before just how challenging it can be. As a nurse who's only been in the profession for 2 and a half years, it's relieving to know that what I'm feeling has been felt by others too. I hope that all goes well for you! :)
Hi Miki. Im not a nurse but in a clinical position. I worked in hospital setting over 20 years and I have to agree with you. Outpatient work is much much MUCH better! The unpredictable ness of bedside work is stressful for some of us that like structure.
I've been a bedside RN for over sixteen years now. I worked over four years in the NICU (Neonatal/Newborn Intensive Care Unit) and then on a cardiac/ICU step down unit ever since. I still get a little anxious everything I go to work because you never know exactly what you're walking into. For example, are we going to be short staffed, is one of my patients going go code, but I'm pretty confident that whatever happens I can handle it and I know my co-workers will help me too. There are very tough days but I do feel I make a difference. Stay well! ; )
I quit bedside nursing last February as I reached the point of burnout especially with COVID. Then after 3 months, I realized bedside nursing is what I want to do and I have decided to return to my old job next month. :)
You do what’s best for you :) am a bedside RT in the ICU and for now I do enjoy being a bedside RT but I do get what you mean about anxiety and stress and burn out that comes along with it. Working in clinic is def on my radar in the future. As you said it’s important to think about what we need and where we work at doesn’t undermine what we do :) love your honest sharing!
Thank you so much for talking about this!! I feel like seeing this video was a sign for me because I was literally just thinking about what I want to do when I graduate nursing school and if I want to do bedside nursing or not. I think bedside nursing is really engrained in us in school and it’s all we know. We graduate with the expectation that bedside nursing is the way to go or else you’re not a “real” nurse. Today, for the first time, I considered what my career path would look like if I didn’t go into bedside nursing at all. It was a scary thought, but watching this video made me feel SO much better! Thank you Miki! Please do a video about different types of outpatient nursing jobs, it would be so helpful!
About your story about bedside nursing, same, I quit bedside nursing as well even though I thought I would love it I didn't. I exactly have what you had, the same feeling about it. I really respect all of the people that can do it and are good at it, but I'm not and that's okay. I was absolutely exhausted after 6 months, so I respect you for working for 2 years after quitting!
Happy Mothers Day to all the mommies out there!! Don't forget verb wants to celebrate healthcare heroes! Use my link and you’ll get Verb’s starter kit for just $10; that’s one full bag of Verb bars + 4 samples of their top flavors and free shipping, visit: cen.yt/VerbEnergyMikiRai
Kirsten Leigh could be your twin!!! Seriously! Go look her up, mind blowing.
hi nice to meet you ! i think you are extremely beautiful! are you still single?
@Wayne Kerr they suck because satanic USA has corrupted them even more. USA is in sharp decline and nothing is changing so screw you even harder!
@Jack Hoff Infantile comment.
Are u nepali?
I was an RN for 39 years before retiring. I worked, ICU, PEDS, PSYCH, Hospice Home Care, and Outpatient Surgery where I would get the patients ready for surgery, then recover them, give them DC instructions, and send them home. I also did travel nursing as a psych nurse and carried my hubby around with me. He was a grocery store manager and could be flexible with his job. We did New Orleans, Booth Bay Harbor Maine, Clearwater Florida, Hawaii, and Cedars Sinai in West Hollywood. Traveling was fun! Of all of those specialties, PSYCH and Outpatient Surgery were the most fun and the least stressful for me. I would still be working as a nurse, but I had a stage play produced, so I retired and now I spend my time living in my imagination, writing plays, and watching actors bring my work to life on stage. I am living my dream! Enjoy nursing. You'll never get burned out if you switch up your specialty every few years. - Chava Hoffman :)
Thanks for sharing the advice! Will definitely take this into consideration 😊
👏👏👏
I have so much respect for career bedside nurses. I went into nursing so I could go the CRNA route, and bedside is BRUTAL. CRNA is the easy way out at this point, I don't know how you guys do it. I really don't know who is going to take care of me if I ever end up in the hospital because it seems like a lot of nurses are leaving these days.
Also, my back hurts, haha.
Literally what I'm going to do.
that's incredible
Thank you for talking about pre shift anxiety. This is something that we don't talk often enough about friends and colleagues so it's reassuring to know that we are not the only ones.
the worst feeling ever and the nervousness seems to carry over into situations in daily life outside of nursing
@@rnhim2072 That can happen indeed. I wish you well.
I have pre, post, and during shift anxiety lol I’m always crying. Thank god for masks.
Oh… Good to know I’m not the only one… I don’t tell my anxieties to others, I endure them and they always appear as bad dreams…
@@lauraezovski8862 I am so sorry to hear, Laura. I hope there is someone you can talk to to make it better.
7:43 for her talking about quitting her nursing job!
ty!!
Ty x2
Thank you! She goes on and on about too much random stuff... smh.
Ty!!
tyyyyy
3 years as a bedside nurse. I’m so glad you talked about your anxiety about work cause it made me feel like I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Like everyday I wake up for work I get this anxiety that something might go wrong with my shift. Sometimes I even wake up in the middle of my sleep and realize that I forgot something or made a mistake. I totally agree that it is stressful and exhausting not just physically but also mentally and emotionally. You verbalizing your anxiety is making me re-think of starting on a different field. So thank you so much.
felt it too, i thought i was the only one :)
we’re a gang!!!!
I feel that way too.. I find myself reviewing what I did to my shift before going to sleep.
I could relate too😭🇵🇭
likewise :( But in our facilities, they don't tolerate being anxious.. they see it as a weakness for the one of the toughest job in the world.. Glad that I heard your story.
I started out as an outpatient dialysis nurse right out of nursing school and for some reason I thought wow I am not doing enough, I don’t feel like a “real nurse”. So I switched to bedside for 6 months to get more experience and I was so miserable, not sleeping, not eating and constantly thinking about work. Now I’m back in outpatient dialysis and I found a new type of passion for it and I can’t see myself doing anything else for a while.
OR nurse for 2years, then moved to NICU, been there for 6years & loving it. Bedside nursing is difficult but its totally worth it. Everything is difficult to begin with, but it does get better over time & experience. NICU is a completely different unit, & it takes courage to take care of our little 22, 23weekers. Whatever it is, i hope you can find your sweet spot. 💕 Im proud to say im a NICU nurse. I’ll carry that with me forever. 💕
I’m 3 months in to med surg/bedside nursing and absolutely hate it. I think it’s for some people and not for others. I knew in school that I would hate it, but I let people convince me that I needed it to be a good nurse. That was a lie. I’m about to accept a position in the OR that’s days, no weekend, no holidays and rotating call. Can’t wait.
How has your new job been??? I'm halfway done with an accelerated program and after a total of 5 months in medsurg rotations I've realized I will hate it. I'm just going to apply straight for outpatient after graduating.
Can you maybe make a video of different nursing jobs other than bedside? Just graduated nursing school and I def am more interested in outpatient because I know inpatient won’t be good for my mental health.
I graduate in five weeks and agreed. really need that. idk how i’ll get a job without going inpatient
home care, public health, random contract jobs, school health, clinics, case management. there’s a lot out there and you absolutely DONT need bedside experience for many of these 😊
@@elohelhehe4502 thank you! I don’t want to settle for anything right away just to get a job, I want to do something I will actually enjoy
@@Erika-wf8tf totally! even though bedside is a good starting point, there’s no sense taking a job you know you’ll be miserable in just because it’s what “most” people do. a job you love and don’t experience severe pre shift anxiety should be the goal !
@@elohelhehe4502 thank you so much. i’m getting so close to graduation and this is eased my mind a lot. I was starting to think I chose the wrong career bc of my insane anxiety, plus I really disagree with the nurse patient ratios at the hospital. I can’t be the nurse I want to be with a ratio like that. r
Icu nurse of 4 years here. I don’t think the job satisfaction, pay, and work/life balance you get from bedside outweighs the physical, mental, and psychological stress. I give it up to those who can stay in beside their whole lives. The first time I worked in a hospital I was like this ain’t it sis
AMEN
Especially working 12hr shift n fake smiling all day or all night. The toilet was my favourite place I go take few minutes to frawn which is how I really felt inside.
Same. I agree. I couldn’t wait to get out after 3 months of bedside lol I only stayed cuz I agreed to be there for a year. I hated my life...worst year of my life pretty much. Pay as a new grad is horrible too. I see all my friends as computer people making way more than me...made me feel even more defeated lol they have a four year degree too...yet they make way more and they stay at home and most of the time when I ask them how their day was, they say...well I gamed or napped most of the day. While I’m running around with my head cut off, getting yelled at by patients and their family, and not eating till 430-5pm because I’m slammed with discharges and admits back to back. Then I have to stay to finish charting. It’s stressful, especially when your patients get up and set off the bed alarm and are at high risk of falling...I worked on a neuro and ortho trauma unit at a Level 1 hospital...and it was pretty annoying. Then I finally go home and feel like I did nothing for my patients. Which is the worst feeling ever because I tried so hard...then I go home, eat, and crash and repeat it the next day. Did it get better throughout the year? Not really. It’s the same bullshit, just I got used to the bullshit. Not trying to be negative here but I’m so much happier now that I got out of bedside. You don’t have to be stuck...do what you love is my advice!!! :) Thank you bedside nurses for all that you do!!!!
@@nicolelam3223 If you don't mind sharing, what did you transition to? I'm in the process of pivoting my career. Now it's either try traveling or retrain in something else...
Recently finished school and haven’t worked fully yet and I already felt like “this ain’t it” and feel guilty and ungrateful and lazy immediately for having these thoughts :(
I’m a new grad and knew during my student clinical rotations that I didn’t want to be bedside. The nurses were overworked (because short staff), and upset that agency nurses were making more and in turn treated us terribly. I immediately told myself that I was skipping it even though everyone warned me not to. I accepted a position in the OB/GYN clinic at the same hospital where I was placed for my clinical rotations and I love it! A lot of patient teaching which I enjoy. It can take a while because my facility is in an area where there’s a big population of immigrants so a lot of translator video calls but the experience of being able to work with a culturally diverse group of patients is a blessing. Quickly realized that I loved women’s health, clinic hours, and holidays + weekends off. I will say that it does make me want to go to L&D at some point but for now, i’m so happy with my decision to skip bedside and go directly to outpatient.
To the new nurses that are not sure if you should do bedside or not: do what’s best for YOU. Don’t let anyone tell you that you have to (or shouldn’t) do bedside. Trust yourself. I personally wanted outpatient but in a hospital so if I ever changed my mind, I could apply internally. Nursing has so many opportunities. If you have to try 10 different specialities to figure out where you want to be then so be it! You’ve worked too hard in nursing school to not love what you’re doing!
I can completely relate. I was only a nurse for 1 year before I quit and went back to school for computer science. I had severe anxiety, depression, and stress. I was crying all the time and just worrying about going back to my next shift. I was not happy and I could not imagine feeling like that for the next 30 years that I work. I'm graduating next semester and I couldn't be happier! Find what makes you happy, life is short, find a job you at least like bc 1/3 of your life will be spent there. Wishing you the best!
how are you liking computer science? bc this is a similar situation I'm in
I still can’t figure out what i want to do in life. I’m a nurse but I find it stressful :(
@@rachachaz I really like it. Lots of opportunity, less stress, and better pay. It's a big field so there is something for everyone. still mostly a male dominated field but I'm seeing more women getting into CS. There is a big learning curve in the beginning but if you got through nursing school, you can get through anything! Good luck and let me know if you have any more questions!
Do you have any contact info?
Hello, I’m considering both nursing and software engineering and I don’t know what to do. I’m scared to just pursue software engineering cause people r saying AI will replace software engineers and there’s been a lot of layoffs in the tech field this year. Could you give me some advice regarding that, it would be really helpful for me, thank you.
I'm a student nurse and I 100% plan on being an outpatient nurse after I graduate.
@George Encabo yes, both mentally and physically. But it goes away after you used to it. I am in final year bsc nursing and it’s quite rewarding career option.
I'm a bedside nurse in a pediatric cardiology/ cardic surgery yard for the past 3 months. first job in nursing, and im still finishing school this year. Its very stressful, but rewarding as she said in the video. you really have to like it, otherwise you will hate dealing with patients, especially their family. I can tell already I don't want to stay as a bed side nurse. I need a more calm environment
what sort of outpatient nursing are you wanting to do?
@@foxhee Why do people keep saying that the family is the worst to deal with?
@@natashak8946 Because they blame the nurses if they dont like something. even if its about doctor being unable to see them now. etc
Yes!!! I was a bedside nurse for 6 years and man I can completely agree with you on the anxiety the day/night before your shift starts. It was extremely stressful and physically demanding. Lost so much sleep! Standing all day, stuffing down your lunch, full bladder, dehydrated and then having to deal with rude patients, families, even Doctors all while having to explain to the incoming nurse what you couldn’t get done on your shift. It was very rewarding but that didn’t make up for all the stress. Ugh! It was a bit much. After I hurt my back caring for a patient I knew I couldn’t be doing it for long let alone the rest of my life. I’m no longer a bedside nurse but a nurse clinical documentation specialist in a large community hospital. Bedside is not for everyone and no one should make you feel any less of a nurse. We worked hard and should be able to enjoy what we do and how we do it. Way to go!
THANK YOU for sharing about your nursing experience. I was nurse for almost 10 years, did adult ICU for 6 years, before I gathered the courage to ask myself is this what I really want for the rest of my life?! Total respect for bedside nurses, but I got real with myself and decided I could not do this until I retire. Long story short, I quit nursing after almost 10 years and became a pharmacist. Now, I love my job because I finally figured out myself and found a profession that was a better match for me. We don't always get it right the first, second, or even third time. Whatever it is, ask yourself the hard questions and be real with yourself.
Thank you so much for this video! I am a new grad about 6 months into working in a Burn and Traum ICU. It was the bada** job a dreamed of…. until I started. I feel very burnt out and stressed constantly, I have talked to people about changing to a different nursing environment (like the OR or out patient), but I always get the same response to “just stick it out till it gets better”. This video is really what I needed to see to validate my feeling of need a change of environment.
Thank you again!
thank you for having the courage to step away from the bedside. So many of us, including me, are scared to leave bedside even though we know it's wearing us down and stealing our happiness. I love nursing and I love my patients, but nursing is hard and I don't know if it's for me anymore. who knows.
You should do what makes you happy.Listen to your heart and your intuition.
Not being in the ICU or bedside nursing does not make you a bad nurse. Trust me I’m like you. I need to be not stress. In my case I get very sick so yeah. My cousin is like a butterfly in the ICU it’s crazy, she loves it. I’m planning to do a school nurse, travel nurse, or delivering babies. Love the content!!
Nursing school only teaches us how to do bedside nursing, at least, in my experience. It’s all I knew in clinicals and classes. I always wished that nursing students were able to see the diverse side of the profession. In my last semester of nursing school, a lot of my classmates and I got pulled out of Christmas break to help with the Covid crisis. I felt burned out before I had even graduated... and I realized bedside nursing probably won’t be my future forever. I have the utmost respect for bedside nursing though!! 💕
Same! I want no part of it. Im grateful for the experiences I learned about clinicals but no thanks
My mom is a bedside nurse and she had done it for over 30 years.
@@ginabindari5184 good for your mom. It’s just not for everyone.
@@__kikibunz__4285 She is really struggling in the hospital where she is at. I know that she was v/passionate about furthering her education, but my dad was jealous of her going forward.
@@ginabindari5184 please encourage your mom, it's worth it. Best of luck to your family. Your dad sounds like a big mood. Take care.
I worked in labor and delivery for 2 years as a new graduate. Burn out is real, and hospitals don’t care. I currently work in fertility clinic and it’s a whole other world! Love it so much
Hey! I’m currently an L&D nurse (1.5 years) and would love to go into a Fertility Clinic. Does it ever get stressful? Also I’m still pretty crap at IV insertions, do you have to do a lot of IVs ?
You need not be stressed up ok. Its very easy for you to get NCLEX there after it will be much easier locating a job. I have a Dr who is a member of the NCSB and he can get you one as he did for me without you going via any exam process ok. If you are interested then contact me for details ok
💪🏽
yeah!
I quit my my job as a registered nurse last two years ago after almost 12 years in the field. It was not an easy decision, but life is too short to dread going to work everyday. No amount of money can buy real happiness Lol 😁 but friends I'm not asking you to resign from your job or abandon your business but be wise!
I don’t like my job but I love what it provides for me and my family. This pandemic has people rethinking and working
You're right ma'am!! Were you a bedside nurse and how did you plan yourself before quitting
@@fernevelle5325 while I was still in service I planned towards early retirement, my first Income I do a normal 9-5, my second income I put it back to work to make more money because I'm not just after the money but the freedom to live on my terms Lol
@@millsjenna8606 yeah and 9-5 cant give you the freedom you need. An extra income stream passive income is a great option keep it up
@@gracedaniels6172 yes I was able to make about 2/3k weekly as extra income from my Inve sting trying so much to build more side hustles and extra income
I was a MICU nurse for 3 years right out of nursing school and was so unhappy with that job. It was a level 1 trauma hospital, tons of codes and critical patients. Definitely was not for me although I am still grateful for that experience!! I've been working at an urgent care clinic the last 2 years which I have LOVED and will be graduating with my DNP degree next month to be a family nurse practitioner :) There are soooo many areas of nursing one can go into and paths to take so if you're in nursing school, do not get discouraged!
Hi ,can I ask u something am an Indian nurse and after clearing my NCLEX and shifting to usa ,how much experience do I need to get into DNP...... waiting for ur answer (and yeah congratulations)
@@u.s6838 That's awesome, good luck and congrats to you!!
There are many programs in the U.S. that are BSN to DNP that do not even require any nursing experience, although most students work as RN's while going to NP school. I applied to my DNP program after 1 year of working and continued to work full time throughout. By the time I graduated with my DNP degree, I had over 5 years of RN experience. I had classmates who applied to the DNP program without any nursing experience right out of nursing school (experience was not a requirement at my school) and to me, that wasn't a big deal as they continued to work as an RN throughout school.
Nursing experience prior to going back is always a helpful thing but in my opinion, not something necessary nor do I think that makes one a better APRN. At the end of the day, it's the experience as an NP that will make one a better NP versus years experience as an RN since they are very different job descriptions.
I'm a surgical nurse and love my job. Finishing up nursing school 6 years ago, i thought i made the biggest mistake with going into nursing until I did my rotation through surgery. I love the group dynamic between surgeon, anesthesia, surgical tech, and RN. We really become a team and learn to rely and trust one another, a dynamic I never saw on the floor. Things are for the most part routine... but constantly changing due to the patients status and type of case and were constantly moving. Its a "controlled" (for the most part) environment. In California at least, your earning potential can be quite impressive with the call assigned/required... which is an accepted part of my life... and accounts for 1/3 of my annual wages.
I want to be come a surgical nurse as well. How did you get started??
@@theresaswift1855 i did a 4 month residency. It was my way in. Find one... even if you have to commute a ways. Some pay you during the period, some are attached to your schooling (mine was attached). It was in essence an on the job interview. They liked me enough to open and offer a position.
same :)
Thanks for making this comment. I am graduating in December and the hospital I work for has a residency program. The OR has been looking attractive but I face so much discouragement mostly because people don't know about it at all. Your comment helps me gain confidence in my decision.
THIS! My last clinical in nursing school was in the OR. It was the only rotation I’d done where I could see myself working. They offered me a position at the end, but I let everyone convince me that I needed medsurg first in order to be a good OR nurse. Well, I’m 3 months into medsurg nursing and am MISERABLE (as I knew I would be)…called up the OR that originally offered me the job and am going in next week to work on a timeline of when I can start there. Days, no weekend, no holiday, just rotating call. And 5 minutes from my house and 2 minutes from my sons school.
My biggest regret is falling for the “you need medsurg to be a good nurse” mentality. It’s 100% not true. Medsurg is not for everyone. There are plenty of other settings for someone to pursue. If we are doing this for the rest of our lives, we need to enjoy what we’re doing.
My advice to a new grad from a new grad: trust your gut and don’t let someone talk you out of your dream job.
Girl this is so me! I graduated in May 2018 and went into inpatient OB/Maternity at busy main big-city hospitals. Literally had all the emotions and thoughts that you did. Fast forward to now, I am starting a new job this week as a pediatric digestive disorder clinic nurse in a children’s hospital. Ready for the consistency and work-life balance. I know 5 days a week will be challenging, but my pros and cons list I made says this is the better option for who I am and where I am in life. ☺️
I totally agree, I was sooo anxious and indecisive about what I want to do after med school and ONLY during practice I’ve realized that I don’t like to see patients and I don’t like all the stress that comes with it, I get attached to them and think about them all the time and when something bad happens to any of my patients, I become so depressed that actually affects my life and work .... so I’ve decided to match in Radiology and I couldn’t be happier 😭💕
omg id love to hear about this!! how did you get into radiology? do you have to have extra education?
Wow radiology is so so cool!!! :)
I understand you completely. I started my nursing career as research coordinator thinking that it'll be a stepping stone being a bedside nurse since I am already working in a hospital. I planned to shift after at least a year. But then I started to love research then started to love reading data and making reports etc. So I continued with my work as a research coordinator then greater opportunities came. Now I am working as a Clinical Data Quality Officer in another hospital. But I am still a nurse. Being a nurse doesn't have to be solely taking care of patients when they are sick. There are many opportunities in this career and you are right you just have to see where you think you will excel at the same time have peace and joy in serving people. ❤️
Absolutely agree with you! I work as a monitoring and evaluation technical associate for an NGO. We do research as well, provide technical assistance to the underserved mothers and adolescents in the community. An yes, I am still a nurse.
I worked bedside for 12.5 years and just got overwhelmed with burn out and anxiety. I was going to quit nursing all together but then I decided to give it one more try (worked too hard for that license). So now I’m PAT at a surgery center and I love it! No anxiety or feelings of burnout. It’s tough in it’s own way but doable for me. I’m glad I didn’t just stop all together.😊
Before you quite please looking into other field beside health care field.
What is PAT?
@@nicolelam3223 PAT is a pre admissions testing nurse.
As a new grad, do you recommend doing bedside nursing for at least 1-2 years before moving onto something else? I just graduated this past May and will be taking my NCLEX in September but I’m actually dreading doing bedside nursing.
@@stephanie4388 Most nurses I know started out in med surg. I will say although difficult I learned most of what I know at the bedside in med surg those first 8 years. When I worked in postpartum I didn’t do half of what I did in med surg but I did enjoy working with the babies. My job now I try to utilize a lot of what I learned in med surg. I would suggest talking with nurses who did not start off at the bedside and get their perspective too. I hope my response helps.😁 Good luck with the NCLEX.
I absolutely needed to hear this. In the recent months, I have begun to feel so jaded at work, but also get this terrible anxiety prior to work to the point where it sometimes felt crippling. My stress would follow me home and I’d wake up thinking about what I had forgotten or what I could have done differently and a world of “what ifs”. I applied for charge nurse to see if that was the change I needed, but as naive as I am, it really got worse. I think it’s about time to leave, but I really don’t know where to go after this. But this video definitely gave me the courage to look out there. Thank you 🤍
Hope you get to find what works for you!
The beauty of nursing is that we can decide our pace depending on the current circumstances of our personal lives. Sometimes I feel hardcore and I seek acute settings, and when that burns me out I take a break to see patients in an outpatient clinic, and when I feel rested again - back I go out into the world of pandemic! Get your rest as long and as hard as you need, and remember ICUs will be there when/if you feel like some action again 😉 Also, no nursing job is small- None, not at any levels - and we need so much more of them!
I can totally relate with the pre-duty anxiety. I worked in an ED as bedside for 5 years. The stress and the adrenalin are definitely there. Currently, I work as a Utilization Review/ Management nurse, still stressful, still gets anxiety but on a different level.
I was thinking this anxiety thing is some kind of a “perfectionist” personality issue. Also, i think it’s good sign to feel “anxious”. It only means that you take into account that, in a way, the life of these patients depend on you. Because if you’re apathetic, how can you improve the lives entrusted to your own hands. Just a realization. Happy nurses’ week!
I went straight into the operating room after nursing school and I. LOVE. IT!! in school i thought i made a huge mistake and hated bedside nursing. i took a leap of faith and applied to an or internship after researching it and have been in it for 4 years now. no regrets. i love the schedule flexibility, the people i work with, the cases i get to see. so much fun all day. and i get to. build super. cool relationships with surgeons who are so thankful to have me circulate in their room!!
What’s the OR like? What’s your ‘typical’ day like your responsibilities.
@@stephanie4388 I’ve been circulating in the OR for over a year now and I can 100% agree with OP. Every hospital is different when it comes to scheduling and how often they require you to take call, but a typical day for me starts around 6:15am when I start setting up my room for the first case. We have to be ready to roll back into the OR for 7 am. We get different assignments every day so one day I may be in orthopedic surgery and next day I may be in cystoscopy. We also do pain injections in the back/knees. As the nurse in the room, it’s my responsibility to set up the equipment, gather all meds needed (local, antibiotic irrigation, etc), count instruments and sponges with scrub tech. Then I check the pt chart to ensure all documentation is there and signed by MD & pt. From there we roll back with the CRNA, then assist anesthesia with intubation. After pt is induced and intubated, the nurse positions pt for whatever the case calls for and preps the surgical area. We start lots of foleys in OR as well. The main con of working in the OR for me is the lack of patient interaction. But overall it is a great area to work in.
I couldn’t agree with you more! When I first started nursing I was having so much anxiety before my shifts, couldn’t sleep at night, and always nervous! I did bedside nursing for a year and a half and left and went into a neuro rehab. It’s definitely not as stressful and anxiety inducing! You’re right - we work all our lives and it should be at a job we are comfortable with and can enjoy! Congrats and I’m right there with ya!
GO FOR IT, there are so many avenues open in nursing. Keep going and get ur Nurse Practitioner's. Been one for > 20 years, love it. I recall the grueling 12 plus hours bedside shifts, along with pre-anxiety before the shift.
Hi Miki, I really wanna express my appreciation for all nurses especially bedside nurses! During my grim hospital stay, nurses became my only source of light using their compassion, care, professional skills and patient.
Love this! Thank u! I quit bedside nursing 3 yrs ago, now I’m soo much happier being a home health/care nurse. Although people told me, I’m not a real nurse because i’m not a bedside nurse. Sooo ignorant! Anyways, my anxiety & stress level were so bad when I was working at a nursing facility! I had no life at all! I was always sick that time because of stress!!
It’s our life, our body..let’s love ourselves & our mental health!
I’ve been ICU 34 years and love it but I’m glad you found what you but I love ICU.
I love icu as well
I'm a student nurse going into my final year. Watching your video really helped my anxiety about going into the profession. Appreciate your honesty 😊
I love how honest you are. I started in adult med surg for 2 yrs, then NICU (which I thought was my dream job) for 2 yrs, and now I just complete an OR peri op 101 course and am doing OR nursing. People don’t consider OR bedside, but to me it still feels like it’s bedside. I love the change, my goal is to end up working in a Plastic Surgery Practice, out patient. I’m happy you are doing what you have to do to feel fulfilled in your career. A lot of nursing bloggers encourage that and that’s exactly why I have been following you. I feel that from you and I love your honesty.
Great for you. The point of life is to be happy, and if not, don't feel bad for wanting to be happy by switch positions. Wherever you go, you are still a great nurse. Plus, it's your life, so if someone doesn't like you moving, well then, why don't they become a nurse to see how hard it is.
I work as a circulating nurse and scrub nurse in the operating room and I love it! The hours are amazing and the rn/pt ratio is always 1:1. It’s definitely a unique type of nursing because while you do pay attention to pt care, a lot of the job is making sure the surgical team has what they need to perform the surgery safely and efficiently. I went to the OR right after nursing school last year and have no regrets!
How did you go straight to OR as a new grad? Don’t you need experience or certifications first?
@@mollyoxy my school had a periop 101 clinical as one of the options for a final clinical and I applied and got in!
Im ortho/neuro med/surg nurse and I absolutely love it! I defintiley go through waves where I am burnt out, but taking some me time helps me recover quick! I initially went into nursing because there were so many options you could go into. Everyone has their own special type they love and thats amazing! Because we need nurses everywhere 😊
Hi Miki! :) I’m an RN from Singapore, about to hit my 1 year anniversary since I’ve joined nursing. I just want to tell you how much you inspire me, especially when it comes to speaking up for mental health and wellbeing in the nursing industry. You’re an absolute beast of an representation for the younger generation of nurses, and we’re so thankful to have someone like you to journey together with :”) 💛
Sending you lots of love!
Wow I have never related to a video more than this one. I graduated nursing school and thought I needed a bad ass nursing job and ended up working in the NICU and it was so bad for me. I got so much anxiety and those 12 hour night shift wasn’t for me. I went to outpatient 9-5 and I honestly love it so much. I never realized how important it is to think about stuff like this and to not stick out a job just cause I needed to be this bad ass nurse working 12 hour shifts and having anxiety all the time. Outpatient doesn’t make me feel burnt out and the work life style is so much better. I feel you 100% and seriously never felt so relatable to a video before! Thank you so much for this ❤️
Miki,
Thank you for sharing your story 🤍 I myself have been working outpatient for the past 8 years as a MA, Tech and now as an RN. I work in a hospital setting but I work in an outpatient unit and let me tell you - I LOVE IT! I got so lucky working in that unit and I love going to work every single day. I knew from the very beginning that I couldn’t do bedside nursing. It was just not for me. Even though many people told me to get into bedside nursing after school for the experience, I was happy I didn’t fall for that trap. Now I only work 4 days a week, I get weekends off, I get all holidays paid and off and best of it all, I work in the Bay Area, CA. I couldn’t be much happier mentally and physically.
Damn. I DEFINITELY NEEDED TO HEAR THIS. I'm 28 and currently in the middle of nursing school. I have been working in healthcare since I was 18 though. I always loved taking care of people and I have always known that working in healthcare was for me. However I've been struggling really hard with burnout and depression. I want to work in the IMC but I definitely know that I can't work in that type of environment forever.
It's really cool to learn that there are so many other options available for nursing. And you are right! We have to work so much. We need to make sure they our occupation is also conducive to our mental health
Hi I'm from New Zealand, I graduated from nursing in 2022 and I am currently working as a theatre (operating room) nurse since April 2023. I love it. It is very different from bedside/ward nursing. Theatre nursing involves a lot of teamwork with other nurses including anaesthesiologists and surgeons. This was something I rarely see in bedside nursing, they often work by themselves and it can often feel very draining and overwhelming. When I was a nursing student, I was mostly placed in the ward so my preceptors would be ward nurses. I was exposed to a lot of bedside nursing and how awful it can be especially when taking care of a very non-compliant patient on top of all the other 5 patients you're taking care of. It was also very short staffed so I had to take a load of patients (even as a student) just to help my preceptor. Honestly, at first I was having second thoughts whether I wanted to become a nurse because of the workload I often see with bedside nursing. Thankfully I found out that there are other types of nursing jobs out there and that's when I found out about perioperative nursing. I loved it ever since. I know operating room nursing is not for everyone but I am grateful to find a work environment that suits me well.
With that, I am also glad that you found a nursing job that fits you well too!
This was ME back in 2001, pre-anxiety before my ICU shift in one of the top univ. hosp in SoCal. I then switched to ICU dialysis and liked the autonomy but again no real LIFE-BALANCE. BURNOUT is real, ICU is not sustainable for everyone…and in 2005 after having my eldest , I switched to Case Management and loved it since then :) Good luck on your career journey!
Being confident is what keeps you going, never lose faith
Indeed
Thank you for taking the time to educate us on different types of nurses. It’s super enlightening and makes me appreciate you all even more!
I'm not a nurse but my two close friends are. Bedside nursing sounds incredibly stressful and often the student nurses are treated really badly, so it seems natural to transition into other areas if given the chance! Well done for making the scary decision to change pathways, definitely a really good decision
Yes I needed to hear this today! There’s some guilt from choosing what best for you! You definitely have to have that conversation and ask yourself what your needs and wants are. Balance is key 🌟
Thanks for the video and chat!! 🤩
I chose not to be a bedside nurse, I work in home care and love it! Happy Nurses Week!
This is so inspiring. Ive been here in the UK for only 10mos but my heart my mind and my body already shows how tired and stressed I am in my current ward (elderly care ward). Ive been doing bank shifts in an outpatient unit in the same hospital and i don’t feel the same. I am happy in the outpatient unit no matter how busy it can get. This video was shared to me by my friend and this is just so inspiring and mind opening.
Happy nurses week to you also.
I have been an RN for 18years and just got out of bedside about 6 years ago when I became an NP
@@mishellgomez3456 nurse practitioner
All of your reasons for leaving peds ICU are so valid ! As nurses it’s definitely important for us to prioritize our mental health and work to achieve work life balance.
im a CNA who's currently in nursing school. Just by my CNA experience, I realized how much I do not want to work bedside nursing - if it's stressful in the position im in, i know it'll only be worse once I'm a nurse. I really want to work in more of a provider role so hopefully getting my NP or med school.
You need not be stressed up ok. Its very easy for you to get NCLEX there after it will be much easier locating a job. I have a Dr who is a member of the NCSB and he can get you one as he did for me without you going via any exam process ok. If you are interested then contact me for details ok
Late to the show but thank you for speaking out on this! I was a bedside nurse for 12 years ( 10 of those on adult med/surg/oncology and 2 in postpartum). I would wake up at 4am before my 7am shift just thinking about my day. The anxiety got better when I transitioned to postpartum but it really doesn’t completely go away. I left bedside nursing and the hospital at the height of COVID. Now I work in a medi-spa/infusion company and I love it. Thank you for bringing this issue to light because I felt like I was the only one and I did feel bad for having these feelings!
actually doctors and nurses can understand that so so well I feel you sweetie don't feel guilty at all you're an amazing nurse love you 💗
Happy nurses week! I 100% agree with all the things you’ve said about leaving the job because of burnt out. I was a new grad nurse and worked in a medicine floor. I have the pre and post shift anxiety every time and my mental health was suffering! I have a lot of call in sick coz I can’t sleep the day before my shift and I get a lot of migraines coz of stress. I stayed in that unit for 9 months. Now I am still in bedside but in a rehab unit which I really love! And it doesn’t make me less of a nurse by leaving the medicine floor, we just have to prioritize our own health to take better care of our patients.
Please do a video on different types of nurses, their salaries, pros and cons, work life balance and other stuffs basically your insight on being a nurse in difference departments (?) idk😂 but you got it, right love?! no? ok... love y'all and stay safe everyone 💕
This please
this!!
Up!!
yesssssssss
I applaud you for knowing yourself and doing what you need to do. I'm a nursing grad student and an inpatient casual rn. I agree that beside nursing has its challenges.
I felt this to my core I went into adult ICU out of school and unfortunately found out it was not for me and it made me feel like a failure and I was always a nervous wreck....my mental health was so bad...I eventually left and it was the best decision of my life even though I felt like I was "giving up".... so glad there are so many different options!
Thank you for sharing your experience! What did you end up in?
Yeah what did you end up in??
@@Squeegees123 I have worked in a family practice clinic and drug addiction clinic and loved it!
@@Dasming I have worked in a family practice clinic and drug addiction clinic and loved it!
Same
That’s a beautiful story! I had a similar situation. Was killing myself bedside, anxious crying mess for about a year, randomly applied to an outpatient position in a major city and was hired and working within a month! I’ve been here 4 years. I’m so thankful for the versatility in nursing. And I totally relate to “not being a nurse anymore”. I think that stems from the knowledge that we know we have such a large range to choose, so therefore I need to push myself. And now I say, for what??!?!
I really appreciate you taking the time to share your life with the youtube community. Thanks for that. I know a lot of nurses who do leave bedside due to burn out when seeing a lot of patients distressed on an ongoing basis. They do self-reflect and realize, like you, that mental health and their own happiness should take first priority. Many of my colleagues left bedside for community nursing. They still see patients but not on the 12 hr rotation. Their working hours are 8 hr days 5 days a week.
I’m a licensed clinical social worker. I work in a level 1 trauma hospital in an inner city. I worked the same unit you did for 8 long hard years. I have worked on n every unit in the same hospital. With COVID19 in 2020, EVERYONE IN HEALTHCARE IS BURNED OUT! That’s a fact
Nurses are nurses whether you work inpatient or outpatient. Critical care or working with extremely sick patients isn’t the only thing that makes you a nurse. Nursing is so flexible!!. Do what makes you happy and always prioritize yourself and your mental health and if that means you have to step away from bedside, then by all means, do it! People feel pressured to work bedside cause it is “real nursing” but nursing is also administrative nursing, research nursing, outpatient nursing, educators, etc. You only have one life to live, always do you FIRST! 🤗🙌🏼
I admire your strength for doing the things you love. Always know your limitation and go with your gut feelings. You’re doing a lot already and you’re mature and strong too. You remind me a lot of myself in my early 20s that I would just eat and eat. Work hard and don’t forget to enjoy life as well. Always give yourself some “me” time. You and Kevin are great for each other! Sending you both lots of love and hugs!!!❤️
I 100% relate to this! For 6 years I worked as a bedside nurse and just before COVID found a new job at a specialist’s office and I love it. So much less stress and anxiety and I don’t dread going into work
I was pushed into the nursing field by my parents and at most times I feel like it isn’t the path for me. The pay is nice but I already suffer from anxiety and the high stress of the job is just another weight on my shoulders.
LOL I literally thought that I was crazy insane for realizing 3 months in that I can’t do this specialty at this hospital for the rest of my life 😅😅😅 this was such a relief to watch honestly!! I’m in PCCU right now and our ratios are insane right now for the level of care some of these patients require! I told a couple nurses I might wanna try L&D one day and they told me I was crazy and that I would hate it. This definitely gave me some confidence to eventually switch it up if I still want to 🥺🥺💛💛 love you!!
I’m still in nursing school and work as a certified nursing assistant in an outpatient medical center in the pre op and PACU. I love this work environment and I get to see people of all ages like children to teenagers, as before working at a rehab facility was mostly elderly.
Thank you for talking about this! It is exactly what I am experiencing right now. I'm a new grad RN working a full-time inpatient job of the specialty that has been my first choice since nursing school. But I quickly realized that the setting doesn't fit me personally. I noticed increasing anxiety which started to affect other aspects of my life but I don't know what to do since my NP school requires the experience. I told myself it makes sense to get at the minimal a year of inpatient experience but the stress is only getting worse :/
The most important thing is choosing what you like. Cheer up 👍🏿👍🏿
Miki! I'm so happy you opened up about this because I, too, am someone with SEVERE anxiety yet never gone to a therapist and im still in my freshman year of nursing so this gives me an idea really thank you!! 😭
Im from the uk I qualified as a nurse as got my first job as a bedside nurse and worked there for 4 years, I decided I needed something new and different as I was set in my ways that I didn't feel challenged and everyone came to me for help. I got a job as a community nurse in a 24hr service, they trained me up and now since August 2020 I am now a nurse practitioner in a community service and we provide 24 hour care to patients in their own homes, we are basically the a&e of the community and I love it. Not going to lie I still have alot to learn and I do get that anxiety feeling before a shift but I love it when I get there. I feel like I've made the right decision for me and I'm glad ur making the right choices for you too. I certainly can relate to u from your explanation and you are an amazing nurse and woman.
Keep up your amazing work as.a nurse and a.vlogger, I love your vlog. Take care xxx
I’m glad I found your channel.. Been an outpatient and company nurse for 9 yrs and also used to be a nurse in Middle East. Until now I still feel nervous just thinking of working as a bed side nurse. But I’m happy as what I am doing and I think that’s ok. Though I feel less of a nurse sometimes. But I think this is where my destiny is. Happy Nurses Week to us and please keep safe and stay healthy. ❤️❤️❤️
I am not working in the healthcare system yet, I am in school to become an MLT. But I totally understand your feeling, because I worked as CNA before. I want to share that I was in ICU for more than 2 weeks last year due to Covid, then 10 days on the Covid floor. I am so thankful for the care the nurses gave me. Without them, I would not recover that quickly. Thank you for all of your hard works.
You got a lot more natural light coming in!!! Really makes a difference in your mood as I watch this video
I am a community nurse working in genral practice in Australia and I love it!!! I agency in ward nursing from time to time but my passion is the community. It is a verfy different avenue of nursing I get to learn about different areas of health care and diseases and it continually changing
thank you for being vulnerable with us. it is very critical for us who are in the starting age of being an adult adult 😭😭 you’re so brave
I'm a new grad, only been at the bedside for 6 months, and I hate my job and am depressed and miserable all the time. I just can't see myself doing this much longer. I'm already burn out, angry, isolating myself, and lashing out at the people around me after 6 months.
My outpatient nurses have been my super heroes!🥰 I don't think I'll ever forget my nurse after my csf blood patch at Cedars-Sinai. She was amazing and helped me through the painful procedure.💗
I started off in the hospital briefly, hopped over to outpatient, and now I’m back at bedside. I’ve only been a nurse for a year. I’ve had a hell of a journey my first year.
I went back to the bedside because I only wanted to work 3 days a week, and because I wasn’t acquiring the skills I needed to feel confident in outpatient. I’m going to be starting NP school in the fall and I think I’m going to stick it out at the bedside until I graduate! I’ll then have the rest of my career to be outpatient as an NP. Just really feel like that bedside knowledge, even for just 1-2 years, is valuable to yourself, your practice/patients, and employers.
Hi Miki! I totally admire you for your honesty. As a matter of fact, I’ve been following you since 2019 I guess? and yup we’re completely on the same page. I graduated Nursing last 2018 and started working as an ICU nurse. It’s indeed a tough job. I used to always want the toughest and most challenging jobs and then I realized I have to work until I retire so yup! I’m kinda looking for a new job in a different department. Wishing you love and good health in all your endeavors.
I also started in the PICU as a new grad nurse. I think I relate to you in the sense of I like variables within a constant! I however had orientation extended (I was on orientation for 4-5 months). I had to have meetings with my manager,our coordinator and my preceptor about what I need to improve. Before this meeting was even scheduled I debated leaving for a clinic. After the meeting I floated to a few different areas in the hospital and it just wasn’t giving me any warm and fuzzies. Last ditch effort I applied to a pediatric clinic affiliated with my hospital and I finally got it! Things just kept moving along and it felt surreal. I start next week and I found your video while looking for what it’s like to work in a clinic!
Loved this post. Once I graduated - I thought I’d go on to be a hero everyday doing bed side nursing. Reality is - it was not sustainable. I had anxiety before my shifts. It just wasn’t what I wanted to do. Outpatient is more of my jam. I felt like a failure initially but now I love being a nurse and! I have time to enjoy other things.
Work as a CNA first so you know what you're getting into. Nursing school is a long road. Make sure you know it's what you really want to do.
I get that! I am a pharmacist (4th year of working). In my first hospital, we have this thing called passive on-call pharmacist where we work normal working hours but could be called in anytime after work. Normal days I enjoy being a pharmacist be it clinical, outpatient, inpatient but during my on calls, I feel like crying because I get so nervous about sleeping and I can't even eat. I realized I really can't do this as it is taking a toll on my mental and physical health. Hearing you say that we could get burnout even after a week, kinda soothes me as I am not the only one going through it.
Thanks for sharing Miki, it’s such a great reminder we should also take care our mental health when we are trying to make ends meet.
Keep up the good work and looking forward to more sharing from you 😊
Thank you for this, Miki. I’ve been an ICU RN for 3 years and am now in an MSN program for acute care - I could have sworn it was my calling. COVID changed everything. Now I’m going through an identity crisis because, like you mentioned, I don’t know if I want to do acute care for the rest of my life. This is exactly what I needed to hear to feel better about my current situation. I hope, like you, I can find something that makes me happy! Lucky for us nurses, we have options!
Who cares what people have to say or what they think! This is your life and your happiness. Do what you need to do and do not apologize for it! Go out there and kick ass! Happy Nurses Week!
"The anxiety gets better every year but never really goes away" 😩 thank you for summing up my nursing school feels. I've got only a year left but I do get really miserable abt everything whilst I do want an undergrad degree cos Asians parents don't allow quitters 😂
I love this video, I could relate to a lot of the things you mentioned, especially pre-shift anxiety. It's so hard to explain to family and friends who haven't felt that emotion before just how challenging it can be. As a nurse who's only been in the profession for 2 and a half years, it's relieving to know that what I'm feeling has been felt by others too. I hope that all goes well for you! :)
Hi Miki. Im not a nurse but in a clinical position. I worked in hospital setting over 20 years and I have to agree with you. Outpatient work is much much MUCH better! The unpredictable ness of bedside work is stressful for some of us that like structure.
I've been a bedside RN for over sixteen years now. I worked over four years in the NICU (Neonatal/Newborn Intensive Care Unit) and then on a cardiac/ICU step down unit ever since. I still get a little anxious everything I go to work because you never know exactly what you're walking into. For example, are we going to be short staffed, is one of my patients going go code, but I'm pretty confident that whatever happens I can handle it and I know my co-workers will help me too. There are very tough days but I do feel I make a difference. Stay well! ; )
I quit bedside nursing last February as I reached the point of burnout especially with COVID. Then after 3 months, I realized bedside nursing is what I want to do and I have decided to return to my old job next month. :)
That is not a job. That’s your passion :) Im so proud of you
Thought I was the only one experiencing anxiety before every start of my shifts in icu.
You do what’s best for you :) am a bedside RT in the ICU and for now I do enjoy being a bedside RT but I do get what you mean about anxiety and stress and burn out that comes along with it. Working in clinic is def on my radar in the future. As you said it’s important to think about what we need and where we work at doesn’t undermine what we do :) love your honest sharing!
I ended up hating bedside nursing after only 2 years, now I work in the operating room and I love it!!
Thank you so much for talking about this!! I feel like seeing this video was a sign for me because I was literally just thinking about what I want to do when I graduate nursing school and if I want to do bedside nursing or not. I think bedside nursing is really engrained in us in school and it’s all we know. We graduate with the expectation that bedside nursing is the way to go or else you’re not a “real” nurse. Today, for the first time, I considered what my career path would look like if I didn’t go into bedside nursing at all. It was a scary thought, but watching this video made me feel SO much better! Thank you Miki!
Please do a video about different types of outpatient nursing jobs, it would be so helpful!
About your story about bedside nursing, same, I quit bedside nursing as well even though I thought I would love it I didn't. I exactly have what you had, the same feeling about it. I really respect all of the people that can do it and are good at it, but I'm not and that's okay. I was absolutely exhausted after 6 months, so I respect you for working for 2 years after quitting!