I am burnt out working at the bedside. I have worked CVIMCU, Burn ICU and Medical ICU. How do I use my nursing degree to do something else?
Take step back mentally for a moment. In the grand scheme of things is there something that is done in your unit or in your organization that you might want to explore? Process improvement? Quality?IT? Clinical Risk Management? About 16 years ago I was burned out in the ED. At that time I had a Bachelors degree and decided to go back for a Masters. My burn out got better while I was in school because I could see an end in sight. I think this is a good time to think about your career long term. Advancement is nice, but with it comes a lot more responsibility and accountability. Take advantage of mentoring and any educational benefits your organization provides and make a plan. Be patient and be ready to work hard…in a different way.
You can try to apply for Telehealth Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing, Mother Baby if you like. It looks like you want to change the type of nursing you are doing. Apply for jobs and tell them you are new to that field of nursing so you can get a good preceptorship in the new field so you can flourish. I also suggest you go on YouTube and research more different fields in Nursing.
Try floating to PACU/OR setting and see if these jobs are a potential fit for you, PACU especially is a post ICU job and many nurses are working in this department without ICU skills and it shows. We need ICU trained nurses bad. Also the ratio is 1:1/1:2 and you only have the patient for 30-60 minutes occasionally longer but then they go to their room or phase ll and home. I really like this job for the variety and I have been doing it for over 18 years.
I can completely understand the burnout. You chose some of the hardest nursing jobs!! You’ve got great experience to perhaps become a clinical educator for new grads, or perhaps clinical education for a medical device company.
I actually used my nursing degree to work in school health and found it quite rewarding
Absolutely! Work in Clinic setting or wound care!
You shoul work in a light area like Opd consulting clinic or radiology
Psychological support, wound care management
