Lost on where to nurse next

[Lasanga123]

Hello all

So I've been an RN for 4 years I worked 2 years on a cardiac ward, then left for ER because i wanted higher acuity and to be part of the action. After working in Emergency for two years I can pretty much say i hate it. Not to mention i have a bad back/neck from a bad car accident, the standing non stop for 12 hours really takes a toll on my body. I really want to leave Emergency but I have no idea where to go ? What I hate most about ER is the lack of appreciation and respect from people, the drug seekers, drunks and violent psych pts and how there are such high expectations with little room for error. I know the general population cannot make life choices for me, but I'm just wondering if anyone has any ideas on what different routes I could try?

[adventure_rn, MSN, NP]

The most important thing for me is saving my back. Patient appreciation would be nice but it's not the be all and end all. I just want to be in best health i can be so I can deliver the best care. Not to mention the bullying from management that happens with increased sicktime

I've found that NICU tends to check a lot of those boxes. It's generally less physically demanding than adult care because the patients are so small, and I spent a lot of time sitting down (either to feed babies or to chart). I worked with plenty of NICU nurses who were in their 60s, and even a few who were full time in their 70s.

NICU is also fairly rewarding relative to many nursing specialties. For the most part, the kids tend to get better and go home. You get the occasional disgruntled parents, but on the whole, families are incredibly appreciative. I have parents who contact me every year on their children's birthday to thank me for the care I provided in the NICU.

[Have Nurse, ADN, RN]

Home Health is good, but if you do Case Management, beware regarding hours. Most of them are salaried and not hourly. And be prepared to be bothered in the off hours as well. I enjoyed Case Management myself, but I seldom had a day when I didn't get a phone call in the off hours, or had so much extra charting to do that my day was pretty well spent waiting for MD calls, labs, etc. It's not for everybody. Just a thought.

Being a Visit Nurse and paid hourly is better if you can get enough visits.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

your back is done ,your hips are "killing you"

why you still working and doing more damage to yourself,Im just asking ,like how much pain are you in ...and then

I think you are referring to my post, and not the OP's. I have to work to pay the mortgage and I just found a new job, but I don't start until September, so until then I shall suffer. I will probably have to see my PCP because of my hip pain and a history of hip dysplasia as a baby, I am wondering if I still have it and that is the problem.

Annie

[dumbnurse, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN]

so you are physically compromised now, psych is completely out of the question and you want to care for people that respect you, have no issues with alcohol or drugs, hmmmm. Gonna be tough finding that place you fit in at. Maybe you need to ask yourself this question...why did I become a nurse? When you can answer that it will become clear again!