Looking Beyond the ICU

[ThanksForAllTheFish!]

looking for career advice from critical care or ex-critical care nurses nurses.

i am a second-degree rn. my first degree was in psych, and i worked 3 years in basic/animal research before entering an accelerated bsn program. i have been working at the bedside for 2 years in the icu. i love the stimulating environment of the icu - disease processes, gtts, lines, critical care issues, etc. however, i (i know i'm not the first) am tired of the long-shifts, the irregular schedules, and the stresses of the bedside (especially after working in research where i had some control over a variety of aspects of the job). for me, i am finding myself being all about work with no personal life. i need the money, but i don't work any overtime because i know that it will drain me. i have both anxiety/depression issues that are magnified by this kind of work schedule.

i have been looking into getting into clinical research (combining my experience in research with nursing)-but those opportunities are few and far between.

i was wondering what kind of non-direct care positions former icu nurses have found themselves in. i am not an adrenaline junkie; i just like the intellectually stimulating nature of higher acuity. going back to school for np or crna is not really an option (my two degrees have left me with no savings and lots of loans!).

any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[RN1980]

i think you are pretty much in the same boat as alot of icu nurses that have found the icu lifetstyle starting to wear them down. i like the unit cause of the same issues you have stated, challenging and good pay enviroment. however, the draw backs to this work can be rough and may even cripple (mentally and physically)some nurses. i do not have a easy answer for you, just know you are not alone by any means.

[ThanksForAllTheFish!]

Thanks. I know I'm not alone, but it's good to hear it sometimes! I guess someday I'll figure out what to do next; I just hope it happens before I go crazy!:hdvwl: