Leaving Med/Surg

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I've been an RN working Med/Surg for 7 years since graduation-- nights. Recenty I got fed up with it and switched to days, although I knew I'd be far busier and taking a pay cut. Well I'm much, much busier and the pay isn't worth it. Now I want out of med/surg as well, but that's the dilemma. I've got a mortgage and all the other bills that come with a steady job of 7 years. I've checked into forensic nursing but that seems sporadic at best. So my question is, what have some of you done, to have enough room at work to breathe yet still make good money? For the record I work in Anaheim CA and make about 35 an hour.

-thanks in advance.

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Specializes in ER, Occupational Health, Cardiology.

What about ER or short stay surgery?

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Specializes in ICU, Med/Surg, Ortho.

ICU. I did five years of med/surg then changed to critical care. It's amazing how much less stressful things are with only 1-2 patients. Yes, they are sicker. But you have so much more time to devote to them.

If you can find a hospital that doesn't have a trauma center, the pace is a little slower and it's an easier transition to critical care.

You will have to relearn some stuff that you've probably forgotten but a good hospital will have CE courses and reviews.

Try asking at your hospital if you can spend the next month cross-training in the ICU. If it works out for you then transfer permanently.

Hope things go better for you.

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Specializes in Government.

No clue if this is helpful or not but I'll toss it out anyway. When I was ready to leave hospital based nursing, but still pay the mortgage, I answered an ad for a maternity leave fill-in RN at an occupational health clinic. I worked full time there for 6 months, really getting paid to learn. When that was up they had another RN go on maternity leave so I got a full year in, full time. By then I'd made contacts in the industry and took another 6 month gig at an industrial plant as a now experienced Occ Health nurse!

The maternity leave coverage jobs enabled me to get experience in a tough to crack field and I still paid my bills. I don't know about California but in my area once you leave hospital work the pay goes down pretty dramatically. I did make good money as a case manager for Blue Cross but I've found generally that's the exception. Best wishes to you. Most of us have been where you are.

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You sound just like my girlfriend, she worked med/surg days for 5 years and switch to night because of too much work with no room for breathing. She changed to nights and developed chronic headaches b/c she couldn't sleep during the day. Transfered to psych days and she really likes it and is doing very well.

Maybe you should try psych like my friend.

Goodluck and hope to hear from that something else is working for you.

PS Remember the are so many avenues in nursing

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.

Just this week I left Med Surg.....been in it for 24 years!! I'm now working at a Wound Care Center and absolutely love it!

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