Since I'm certain I'm not the only one who has come to this point in their career, I'd appreciate feedback from those of you that can relate and have suggestions. I'm interested in alternatives to working the floor.

6 years total experience and have been working MS/Ortho nights the past two years, the last 9 months I've been doing so as a travel nurse on nights. While I wouldn't mind working the floors per diem to keep the experience sharp, I'd like to try something different. 3 shifts is nice, but the high stress environment can be trying, and working nights comes with its own challenges especially when you get floated or have your days on/off broken up. The compensation, especially as a traveler makes it tough to let go but a less stressful environment and better sleeping patterns is a consideration to facilitate healthy lifestyle choices. I prefer environments with much more autonomy, not cooped up in a fixed location, less stress, but not getting up early in the morning. I am aware of the vast amount of choices aside from floor and/or bedside nursing. Unfortunately, some areas like home health, education etc don't pay well enough to save well for retirement the way I'd like. I realize there's going to be give and take when attempting to balance work quality and quality of finance. Ideas are appreciated.

Lastly, I see this forum is often a place people come to make smart-aleck remarks or offer criticism towards what people think or feel. IF that is you please save your comment. Respectable conversation is appreciated :-)

Are you looking for advice? Or making snarky remarks about the types of responses you may or may not get? When you post questions on an online forum, you get what you get. If you don't like the tone of responses you get, you might reconsider what you're putting out there.

I was going to suggest home health (I have no idea about the pay) or community health. But I'm sure you stopped reading after my second sentence.

Are you looking for advice? Or making snarky remarks about the types of responses you may or may not get? When you post questions on an online forum, you get what you get. If you don't like the tone of responses you get, you might reconsider what you're putting out there.

You actually made me chuckle haha!

One of my favorite jobs was as a correctional nurse! And our prison system actually paid better than the area hospitals with great benefits. Could be a route you'd want to investigate.