pedi outpatient RN (3 yrs). Started here after grad. Love my job, but I am not learning anything new or enhancing my skills. I am being offered the position of an Epic Principal Trainer, would it be a mistake to take on this role?

If you love what you do, that’s important. Don’t listen to those who might make you feel nursing is about working in med surg. Not everyone will know everything. As long as you’re good and efficient in your current position, that’s nursing! Take the position and if you don’t like it, move on or go back to your old job. I’ve worked in the OR all of my nursing career; I don’t know much about med surg but I know OR, and those in med surg don’t know OR, and that’s ok bc we all specialize in something and that nursing takes different roles. Good luck.

It depends… if you stay away from the bedside for 2-3 years it will be challenging to return to a clinical position ( unless you know someone). It’s nice to enhance your expertise but understand an epic trainer is tech/software experience . Might lead to a new career path

Are you ready to leave bedside nursing after only 3 years? Is there nothing more you can do within your area? A certification that could help get you more experience, opportunities or responsibility. Have you asked management for ways to move up?

Hi,

Well, it depends on what are your career endeavors? What is your end goal? Any new role you take on will only enrich your knowledge base and experience; but it sounds like perhaps you wish to strengthen/expand your clinical skills. If that's the case, it sounds like it may be time to switch gears and seek other employment opportunities that will provide you with the experience, challenges you desire. Albeit, again depending on what are your career goals?

Ask a lot of questions before accepting this position and be sure to read the job description. I’ve worked in this position for a large healthcare system and they worked us to death. We had to know and use several of the disciplines, for example, if training Stork we also had to know and be able to use Anesthesia, Clin Doc, Postpartum, etc. because they interface with Stork patients. We also developed curriculum for doctors, nurses, ancillary staff, and updated all curriculum as changes were made to each platform. We used to joke that we were chained to our desks, so beware and talk to others who have held this position and left for something else.

This one depends on what your goals are. If you would like to be more independent and train and not so much patient facing this would be the perfect fit. I have found that extensive experience as a trainer/mgr and with EPIC enhances the chances of getting an interview.

Do you like pediatrics? Maybe get more experience in other fields if you are not sure. This way you have a better feel for what you want. If you like Pediatrics than take it. But I would be prone to learning about other fields. Your choice...if you decide you do not like the new roll you can always try something different.

nursing informatics is incredibly lucrative now, takes high qualifications! Go for it! Congrats