Burnt Out - Hospitals are Stressful!

[Lovethenurse2b25, ASN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

I currently work per diem night at a hospital after working full time night for the past two years. But I don’t see myself being able to do it much longer considering that my hospital has a waitlist for days. (Its a small hospital with little to no room for growth). I have no desire to work nights anymore. I have a school age child. It was only convenient during virtual learning during the pandemic. My per diem requirement is 4 shift per month. 2 of them have to be weekends.

I also kept my rehab hospital job per diem but the workload is not good. 8 patients with no tech. Nurse are doing complete care all the time. Lots of Hoyer lifting, sliding board, and toileting of stroke, ortho pts etc. We also are required to pass out trays for dietary. Much of it takes away from my nursing duties. Management is no help and watch us all drown.

I was fortunate enough to land a traveling opportunity in my area and have been doing it at a longterm care facility for the past year on dayshift. The facility recently sold and the new owners first day is today. I know that they will eventually get rid of the travelers right now 85% of the building is travelers. 

I want to know how to branch out to other areas of nursing like school nursing? All the school nurse positions require experience Or even insurance nursing. Im looking for hours around 8-4 or even 9-5? I have experience in home health, long term care, subacute, med surg. Home care in my area is joke the pay is not good at all.

Ultimately, I want to work one job only. Preferably 8-4 because my help with my child is limited. 

[Lovethenurse2b25, ASN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Any suggestions would be helpful.

[Daisy4RN]

You said HH is a joke there but just wondering if you tried private duty. You would have a pt that you stay with all day. As far as the rest you mentioned I would just start looking and applying. Even if you don’t have the experience they state they are looking for you never know and they may be willing to train (insurance, case management etc) and then you may have more flexible hours and maybe some work from home. Look on job posting site and see what is available in your area, good luck!

[Lovethenurse2b25, ASN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

4 hours ago, Daisy4RN said:

You said HH is a joke there but just wondering if you tried private duty. You would have a pt that you stay with all day. As far as the rest you mentioned I would just start looking and applying. Even if you don’t have the experience they state they are looking for you never know and they may be willing to train (insurance, case management etc) and then you may have more flexible hours and maybe some work from home. Look on job posting site and see what is available in your area, good luck!

Yes I have explored private duty nursing. The pay was super low. The pay is an lpn rate in the $20 range. And short hour cases with hopes of building a schedule. 

[toomuchbaloney]

Do you have your resume out online? 

[aok7, NP]

Office nursing, as where I work in an outpatient clinic the RN is inherently lead for medical assistants and in general.  Hours are the great benefit and not with the physical work which sounds as though you have put in your time.  Pay overall is less but as I see lifestyle is the reward.

[DaniannaRN, ASN, BSN]

If you don't want to do hand on nursing anymore, apply at insurance companies.  I work for one now, and have for the past 12 or so years.  All positions are Mon-Fri, 9a-5p, no weekends, no holidays, FULLY REMOTE (or hybrid), optional OT (you're not penalized if you say no).  I am the biggest advocate of insurance companies.  They have their issues too, but at least you're working from home.

You can do case management at the insurance company.  Your hospital/clinical experience will be a huge asset since you'll be helping people with chronic conditions stay out of the hospital.  Or you can be a field nurse for the insurance company, going to people's homes and assessing what home services they need prior to authorization.  You can even be an "embedded case manager" at a hospital, processing any patients who come to the ER that have your insurance.

I got out of hands on nursing years ago and never looked back.  If you have a family, or even if you're tired of the nonsense in the hospitals/nursing homes, look at any health insurance company, even if it's not in your area since most are remote.

Good luck.

[Lovethenurse2b25, ASN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

On 10/2/2022 at 11:03 PM, toomuchbaloney said:

Do you have your resume out online? 

Yes on several job sites

2 hours ago, DaniannaRN said:

If you don't want to do hand on nursing anymore, apply at insurance companies.  I work for one now, and have for the past 12 or so years.  All positions are Mon-Fri, 9a-5p, no weekends, no holidays, FULLY REMOTE (or hybrid), optional OT (you're not penalized if you say no).  I am the biggest advocate of insurance companies.  They have their issues too, but at least you're working from home.

You can do case management at the insurance company.  Your hospital/clinical experience will be a huge asset since you'll be helping people with chronic conditions stay out of the hospital.  Or you can be a field nurse for the insurance company, going to people's homes and assessing what home services they need prior to authorization.  You can even be an "embedded case manager" at a hospital, processing any patients who come to the ER that have your insurance.

I got out of hands on nursing years ago and never looked back.  If you have a family, or even if you're tired of the nonsense in the hospitals/nursing homes, look at any health insurance company, even if it's not in your area since most are remote.

Good luck.

I have applied to several insurance companies. Now that many nurses want to leave bedside I feel like non-bedside nursing positions are even harder to find. 

[toomuchbaloney]

2 hours ago, Lovethenurse2b25 said:

Yes on several job sites

I have applied to several insurance companies. Now that many nurses want to leave bedside I feel like non-bedside nursing positions are even harder to find. 

You have to sell yourself on paper and then in the interview.  Insurance work is not as fulfilling for some because the priorities of the insurer aren't always patient focused and you aren't necessarily being paid to be a patient advocate.  

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

1 hour ago, toomuchbaloney said:

You have to sell yourself on paper and then in the interview.  Insurance work is not as fulfilling for some because the priorities of the insurer aren't always patient focused and you aren't necessarily being paid to be a patient advocate.  

I've heard this as well. A former coworker of mine tried and he left after a year. He said it was so depressing have to decline many claims for patients because each had to fit in all the check boxes in order for it to be approved. But if you look at as just a job, computer, and clicking/paper stuff I can definitely see it being an chill job from behind the desk. I honestly think I could do it myself as I'm able to separate myself from work/patients completely.