Floor Nursing

I always wanted to work med surg, then was given so many pts to care for (never less than 9) that I ran from it- but I'd still love to do it and learn all those skills- if only I could have just 4-5 pts.

I tried some week-end home health while keeping my hospital job, but went back to the floor. I just didn't like being on my own all the time and I missed the drama and working with other people. You could try a prn hospital job on the side and see how it goes.

I thought about doing PRN, but then I would be working almost everyday. The patient load is why I left too. The load was WAYYY too much. And since I left, they have increased it even more.

My passion is pt care. After three years in home care I realized I was becoming stagnant in my skills and technologically way behind. Went back to med-surg and have not been sorry. It helps to "only" work three days a week, even if they are 12 hour days. I can't imagine having to work 5 days a week again!

I do miss the floor, but it was just taking too much out of me. Now that I work in an office, my feet are healing, my back isn't killing me all the time, and I'm not in constant fear that I'm going to lose my job every day because some family member decided that I'm not fit to live and management backed them instead of me.

I really respect you guys who can do home health. I just know it isn't for me. I was an EMT for about 5 years and one of the reasons I left (besides the fact that I much preferred my work as an RN!) is that I was tired of going to nasty people's nasty houses! I know that not all home health assignments are not in these types of homes just like not all of my EMS calls were there either (just about 90% though!) but just the thought of the potential for bugs crawling all over the place...ugggh. The people I know though that do it absolutely love it. I really like being on the floor. In fact, I really love being in a teaching hospital. There is always the opportunity to learn and to teach. And it really is as much your team as your work. I don't know if it is because people who work in Peds (nurses, residents, attendings, RT, PT, OT, and everyone else!) is just different but we all get along together in a team and really collaborate. I have heard so many stories from other nurses that say that they never talk to their residents and attendings for fear of being yelled at. I have experienced some of that, of course, but for the most part it is great. I have enough autonomy to satisfy me but also have the support of my peers and my team.