Need advice from experienced RN's

[bamaRN34]

I have been an OR nurse for two years at a smallish hospital (six OR rooms + one cysto - no major neuro, trauma or heart). I went into the OR straight out of school - no floor experience. Now- I'm burned out with the OR, and I want to go somewhere else - ICU, floor, step-down unit, I just don't know.........What do you think? I would really appreciate your imput. I work with an organ procurement group now, but the hours are killing me, and I would like something with independence, but it is not necessary. How about home health, or hospice? I would really like some advice from those of you with much more experience than me.

Thanks in advance for the great advice I know is coming!!!

[rita359]

Update: I have just been offered a job in the SICU at a larger hospital. I have worked there with organ donor management last month, but I couldn't get a good feel for the atmosphere. I believe everyone would be very helpful, but after reading posts about new grads in the ICU (which I feel like one right about now!), I am a little worried about moving straight there. Thing is, I am a surgery nurse. I am used to one patient at a time. Eight to twelve (gasp!) on the floor would swamp me! I don't think I could handle that - or could I? Please help....

I would not think your patient load in a surgical ICU would be 8-12. That might be on a med surg floor but if my patient load in an ICU was that high I would run the other way fast. I work med surg and cannot imagine a ratio more than 8 even there. Have done 8 and worked at staff meetings on getting that ratio reduced. Now we have 7 which is better but still not good.