Hating Hospital work. What next?

MJPN2012 · Nov 7, 2016

Update: Anyone have any suggestions on positions that afford more leeway in your nursing practice? For example, in some office positions, you do the work at your own pace. I really think I would prefer something like that. I hope that doesn't sound dumb. Does that exist, with decent pay?

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Nov 7, 2016

There are many threads here on your topic. Start researching here on AN and the job boards.

You have many options, it takes work to find a position you can live with.

Best wishes in your journey.

NuGuyNurse2b · Nov 7, 2016

Update: Anyone have any suggestions on positions that afford more leeway in your nursing practice? For example, in some office positions, you do the work at your own pace. I really think I would prefer something like that. I hope that doesn't sound dumb. Does that exist, with decent pay?

I'm sure it exists but I'm not sure if the pay will be competitive to what the hospital offers.

RNperdiem, RN · Nov 7, 2016

You mentioned that you did home health. Why not work home health again as an RN? You have both hospital experience and previous home health experience. I am not sure how pay compares, but if it is lower, maybe a prn hospital shift could be worked now and then to make up the difference?

Libby1987 · Nov 7, 2016

Our home health agency is competitive with our local hospital straight pay, without the OT and differentials.

As a case manager, I made 104K plus about 6K in mileage reimbursement. M-F days. I would have made an extra 3.5K if I took call but the part timers loved to take it for me. That was on a paid per visit pay structure. Sacramento region.

Home Health for an RN today is more challenging than ever with med surg type patients and a huge push on avoiding hospitalizations. Much more disease mgmt oriented than tasks, though the tasks are still there. I loved it personally because catheter changes, protimes and even wound care got too routine for me after so many years. You will feel like a broad based nurse and use all of your assessment, decision making, and problem solving skills.

MJPN2012 · Nov 8, 2016

I've always worked continuous care home health with peds patients requiring 24/7 nurses so I work with one patient for months or years at a time. I would make more money on a visit to visit basis but I've always had a fear of walking into an uncontrollable situation, like a hostile family member or something. I just have that fear. Do you ever see any situations like that?

Libby1987 · Nov 8, 2016

I've always worked continuous care home health with peds patients requiring 24/7 nurses so I work with one patient for months or years at a time. I would make more money on a visit to visit basis but I've always had a fear of walking into an uncontrollable situation, like a hostile family member or something. I just have that fear. Do you ever see any situations like that?

I have over 15 yrs in the field. Have been bit by a dog once. I can think of 3 situations in all of that time that made me nervous and nothing came of them. I worked in a small town/rural area which lacksed some of the issues with urban areas.

I grew up in it though, I started with I was early 20s and invincible. It feels completely normal to walk into any home, I must have been in 3,000 of them by this time.

I've never had a truly hostile patient or family. Grumpy ones, resistant ones yes but never hostile.

nutella, MSN, RN · Nov 8, 2016

If you like working in the community - look into home hospice / home palliative care - it might be a good option for you. It is somewhat different from regular home care in that your productivity is slightly less though computer work can be a lot. But - because there is a need for nurses in home hospice - I have noticed that some companies started to offer really great benefits. The pay may be less per hour but you usually get much more vacation days/days off and some places started to offer pensions again...

LaneyB · Nov 8, 2016

I really like my job as a public health nurse. The hours are good, and the work is enjoyable. If you have an interest in that type of nursing, maybe you could also pick up prn shifts at your hospital to make up for the loss in pay. Then you would also have more control over your hospital schedule. The only problem is public health nursing is usually 5 days a week, so you might not feel like picking up any prn shifts.

cyc0sys · Nov 8, 2016

Try Long Term Care/ Rehab. You may be able to transition into a Risk Manager, Training Coordinator, or an MDS position doing chart review. You may also end up running back to the hospital before it's all said and done.

VegGal, BSN, RN · Nov 8, 2016

I've been having this internal struggle for a while. Even made a post or two about it previously. I've been an RN for 1.5 yrs now with that much med/surg experience. I hated the first Hospital I worked at bc of overwork, chaos, and high pt loads. I like the hospital (med/surg) I've been at now for a month, I like the employees, I like the docs. But even now, I have a gut feeling that this isn't what I want to do. I LOVED nursing before I got my RN (was LPN) and before I started work in the hospital (previously did home health). I also really dislike the schedule I always get at the hospitals. All of this causes me to become depressed and dislike my career altogether. But I do need the money the hospital offers.
Has anyone else ever felt this way? And what did you do?
-Sincerely, a bummed out Nurse.

If you loved Home Health as an LPN, why not return to it as an RN? You'll have much more responsibilities including overseeing LPNs and CNAs, as well as your own patient load, and maybe greater job satisfaction?