Specialty with low/least stress?

feralnostalgia · Mar 5, 2009

haha *awaits replies with interest*

cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 5, 2009

*Grabs a bucket of popcorn and a Dr. Pepper* This should be good...

!Chris :specs:

RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2009

Depends totally on what you personally find stressful. One person may say ICU and ER are the most stressful but someone else maybe med/surg....I do psych and I think it is not stressful most of the time but have had others say psych would be stressful as they feel uncomfortable with psychotic and suicidal patients, the violence, having to "always know the right thing to say"....that kind of thing. So really it depends on what things stress you out. ICU yes you have like 1 or 2 patients in most places-- which many like cause they can focus their care to these 1 or 2 patients and not be running to take care of like 5-8 patients. But ICU has its own stressors--these people are really sick, they are critical and you can't miss details or people die. You have to be comfortable with the tons of technology that is part of the ICU. If technology intimidates you don't go with ICU....and people code a lot in these units, you need to have good assessment skills and be detail oriented. Some people love it, some hate it. Med/surg you are spread more, running more--well in a different way is maybe better said, then in ICU. You are spreading yourself among more pateints...yes they are usually more stable...but sometimes, I have found the ICU is busy so maybe you get one that is really needing to be in ICU still but is the most stable of the patients they have so they have to get someone out for a bed needed for a crititcal new patient.....They maybe be just barely stable and they need to be watched more closely, or a patient who is deteriorating and needs ICU but you have to keep until a bed is ready. These patients take a lot of time. Floor nursing can be very stressful. But again some love it!!

Maternity-- L&D yes more stress, post partum not as much.....really every one is different...........I would suggest you think about what areas actually interest you regardless of if you feel they are stessful or not-- go and shadow a nurse for a day. This will allow you to see what this area is REALLY like. Ask lots of questions and get a better idea of what each is really like. You might be able to handle more stress then you think. Don't underestimate yourself.....what is stressful to one person may not be to another..... So you really can't base this on other peoples takes on it.........

Hope this helps!!! Good luck.

FA to CRNA2b · Mar 5, 2009

Lactation consultant?

Diabetes educator?

There's a nurse at my airline whose job consist of performing random drug and alcohol testing for crews. Seems stress-free to me!

feralnostalgia · Mar 5, 2009

veterinary nursing is my vote.

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 5, 2009

Hmm...

Is there such a thing in this economy, really?

I would worry more about which hospitals were hiring, regardless of the 'specialty.'

Just my :twocents:

cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 5, 2009

I would have to agree with psychRNinNY, it all depends on what you find stressful. I know just in nursing school I have classmates who are scared sh*tless about the thought of going to clinical while personally I am more nervous about the classroom stuff then the actual clinical experience. Its all on what stresses you out and how you respond to the stress.

!Chris :specs:

GOMER42 · Mar 5, 2009

Not to discredit the contributions theses RNs make, but I think positions in the office/clinic would be the least stressful- pt. hx, complaint, vitals, maybe shots, you're pretty much done.

*personal opinion though*

RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2009

However many doctors offices look to hire experienced nurses only...........that may be true but you have to get in........And generally the consultant jobs require experience as well--most if not all lactation specialists worked for a while as a post-partum nurse first........ many of the "easier" jobs come after getting experience.....

loricatus · Mar 5, 2009

Just remember that some people, including me, find boredom extremely stressful and equate it to torture.

mfrancisco · Mar 5, 2009

I don't blame you for asking. Some nurses have health problems, or have a stressful home life, so they may be looking for a "low stress" position. I am not a nurse yet, but a very good friend of mine is an R.N.. She works as an advice nurse at an OB/GYN office, and says it's low stress. However, she did work in NICU for seven years prior to this position.