Low/moderate stress nursing jobs???

[Genista]

I am curious as to whether any of you have experienced "low to moderate stress" nursing jobs??? I imagine that there are no "low stress" nursing jobs...I'm not looking for no stress...just a LOT less than what I'm experiencing in acute care.

I am also looking for some of the following perks (maybe I'm a dreamer, but let me have that dream anyway):

* Mon- Friday regular daytime hours

* No holidays

* a real meal break guaranteed every work day (without 1,001 interruptions)

* working directly with people/patients at least some of the time

* being able to collaborate with peers or colleagues

* a slower pace (not a slow pace...I don't mind busy, I just am tired of the frenzied pace of hospitals)

Okay, now nurses, quit laughing! :rotfl: Am I crazy? Is there such a dream job? Do you have it? now fess up, because I want to know!

[FredericksX]

Well I finally bit the bullet...just this morning in fact. Yep, I put in my notice on the tele floor where I work. I'll be going to work in a cardio office. While I'm scared of missing that direct, hands on patient care at the hospital, I am so looking forward to this much needed change. I'm so sick of feeling stressed out most of the time at work. Going back to 5 days a week is going to be an adjustment, but I still think I'm gonna love it.

I too bit the bullet and gave my notice in a couple of weeks back, although for a Med-Surg floor. My reason was, basically "it's way too stressful on the floor", and when I told one of my assistant managers that some days it's so bad I'm actually feeling chest pains on my way to work/while on the floor she came back with "well, all nurses feel that". ! And that means I have to live my life like that how? The acuity of patients are ridiculous, I often felt like I didn't have enough support to maintain proper patient safety, and management was great at coming down on nurses when perceived mistakes were made but never acknowledged all the hard work we put in. Enough was enough.

[Itshamrtym]

I too bit the bullet and gave my notice in a couple of weeks back, although for a Med-Surg floor. My reason was, basically "it's way too stressful on the floor", and when I told one of my assistant managers that some days it's so bad I'm actually feeling chest pains on my way to work/while on the floor she came back with "well, all nurses feel that". ! And that means I have to live my life like that how? The acuity of patients are ridiculous, I often felt like I didn't have enough support to maintain proper patient safety, and management was great at coming down on nurses when perceived mistakes were made but never acknowledged all the hard work we put in. Enough was enough.

:yeah: Good for you!!!! Your health is more important than that job....

Good luck to you!!!! What are you going to do now????? take care

[NurseCherlove]

I too bit the bullet and gave my notice in a couple of weeks back, although for a Med-Surg floor. My reason was, basically "it's way too stressful on the floor", and when I told one of my assistant managers that some days it's so bad I'm actually feeling chest pains on my way to work/while on the floor she came back with "well, all nurses feel that". ! And that means I have to live my life like that how? The acuity of patients are ridiculous, I often felt like I didn't have enough support to maintain proper patient safety, and management was great at coming down on nurses when perceived mistakes were made but never acknowledged all the hard work we put in. Enough was enough.

I'm curious to know what kind of floor are you working on to think that med-surg will be less stressful? I ask because I found myself having CPs at work sometimes when I worked med-surg, not to burst your bubble. Are you changing facilities altogether - maybe that could make the difference.

[FredericksX]

I'm curious to know what kind of floor are you working on to think that med-surg will be less stressful? I ask because I found myself having CPs at work sometimes when I worked med-surg, not to burst your bubble. Are you changing facilities altogether - maybe that could make the difference.

Ha, no - I'm LEAVING a Med-Surg floor, not heading back to one (at least, not in the forseeable future). And, Itshamrtym (cute name, btw), I'm heading into public health nursing. Steadier hours, imo.

[JaneyW]

I am working as a school readiness nurse and it is heaven. I come from L&D, so the pace is much slower. I am not saying it is never stressful, but the difference is big. Part of it, IMHO, is finding a job that isn't stressful to you.

[rnboysmom]

I agree with Aimers, usually government types of nursing jobs meet these types of qualifications you mentioned. Hospice nursing is definitely out. Education types of jobs are usually lower stress too.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

I work in an OR at a small hospital and work Mon-Fri 7-3. The only problem is that I'm stinkin bored to death and am lucky to get my 40 hours in because we don't have many patients. Wish I could find that perfect job where I'm challenged for the whole 8 hours I'm there and go home content.

I work in a level 1 trauma OR so every single day has stress. Not complaining though-I worked per diem in a surgicenter for a while and was bored out of my skull. I think a trained chimp could have done that job...it was literally the same cases all day, with the same equipment.