Healthcare workers already work long hours in stressful situations. However, the pandemic increased the emotional burden, with many patients isolated from visitors. Thus, nurses provided emotional support to the patients and their families as they said goodbye to their loved ones via video conference. These hardships created the perfect storm to push clinicians out the door.
Are you thinking of leaving bedside nursing? I was one of those clinicians who left bedside nursing (and midwifery). Since the world is obsessed with the concept of quiet quitting, let’s talk about doing the actual deed. I am glad I did. Becoming a nurse writer improved my work-life balance in a beautiful new career.
Leaving Beside Nursing
Nursing is a beautiful career, but working 12-hour shifts is exhausting. The pace is relentless, with countless shifts without a meal or bathroom break. Currently, nurses and other medical professionals are leaving bedside nursing at a higher rate than ever. A 2022 report shows that 1/4 of all bedside nurses left their position within the last year. That same company found that in 2020, 23% of all new graduate nurses left bedside nursing after their first year.
However, there are other options to provide health education and empower others. Read about my experience leaving bedside nursing here. Luckily, there are many alternatives to working in a busy hospital unit. Becoming a freelance nurse writer was fulfilling and gave me a work-life balance.
The Daily Schedule of a Nurse Writer
It’s crucial to start your day with a morning routine. For some, it may be journaling or a walk, while others benefit from creating these steps to an abundance mindset.
My daily schedule varies because I do a little of everything, never to be bored. A typical day involves:
- Dropping my children at school.
- Sipping coffee as I check my email.
- Creating my game plan for the day.
I will hop on my spinning bike or lift weights if I feel energetic. Finally, I start my work and write while my brain is the most creative.
I use a calendar app to set my availability for client meetings to start a new writing project, discuss progress, or wrap up the campaign. I write medical content ranging from blogs to email campaigns to nursing tests. These calls are essential to writing in the client’s tone and meeting their vision. My clients include:
- Large health systems.
- Nursing test prep companies.
- Post-secondary education institutions.
- Digital health companies.
After lunch, I research and outline upcoming articles. I take a break to pick up my children and start homework. After dinner, I recheck my email and do a few hours of medical editing or consulting.
Instead, depending on the day, I may do some virtual teaching, telehealth or remote patient monitoring, or email pitching. I can always attend dental and doctor appointments because my career offers flexibility. I can walk while listening to a podcast for research or write from a balcony overlooking the ocean. In fact, I’ve done both in the last few weeks!
Final Thoughts
The biggest problem about being a nurse is that it feels more like a piece of your identity than your job. If you’re asking yourself, “Should I leave bedside nursing?” Trust me, you are not alone.
Walking away can feel like you’re letting down your co-workers, family, or childhood dreams.
There are many ways to be a nurse, and not all require being at the bedside. If you like the idea of working the daily schedule of a nurse writer, follow the path that best works for you.