Lower stress areas to 'get your feet wet' in nursing?

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I'm scheduled to start nursing school in the fall. This will be a second career for me - I'm 40 and recently divorced. I've always been a bit of a worrier/stresser, but the events leading up to and during the divorce brought out a new side in me - I had some panic attacks. I haven't had one in quite awhile, but dealing with the divorce fallout/being a single mom now - well, I'd say I'm more prone to anxiety than I used to be, and I'm not sure when or if that will go away. That being the case, I know starting out in Med Surg or ICU, for example, won't be optimal for me or the patients. I see posts on here about the first year being so hard/nurses feeling so lost and going home crying after their shifts, and I don't want to set myself up for failure, or risk falling to pieces.

I'm a hard worker, and enjoy being busy, but I don't want to feel constantly on the edge/out of control. Can anyone recommend some areas that might be good to start out in, where I can build some skills and confidence in a bit less hectic environment?

Thanks for your insight. :)

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

Don't work in LTC.

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I have to say that the first year of nursing is difficult not so much due to a particular specialty, rather because of the lack of experience.

I don't think that any specialty is going to be "easier" as a first year nurse. In terms of a less hectic environment, home health is generally speaking less hectic but that won't give you the broad experiences that new grads need.

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Specializes in LTC.

That's how you gain confidence in my opinion. "feeling so lost and going home crying after their shifts"

When I first started my job the inservice director said "Its normal to be nervous and anxious. You will feel lost and want to cry."

Its part of nursing, I don't think I have met a nurse yet who hasn't said the start of their career was stress-free.

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I'm getting ready to start as an RN and I really think I'd be just as nervous starting anywhere. Learn all you can then trust you have what it takes.

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"Its normal to be nervous and anxious. You will feel lost and want to cry."

Yeah, and that's just during Skills Checkoffs!

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Specializes in LTC.
Yeah, and that's just during Skills Checkoffs!

No she was referring to flying free on the floor.

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You COULD start off in a phycians office somewhere ...but it won't give the true nursing skills you need -- putting in foley's, IV"s, labs, dressing changes, etc. Then again, you might like and decide to stay and who cares about the rest of it.

I'm going to a rehabilitation hospital to chill out for about a year. It's not going to be critical, but we'll still do assessments, still do a full patient load, still give meds, etc. It might be a good area to START, but I wouldn't stay there long. Hospital nursing is where you learn how to deal with it all.

I was 44 when I started w/ LOADS of stress, a younger child w/ autism, etc. I went home crying sometimes ...but I put one foot in front of the other and kept going. After about 2 1/2 years I was comfortable, but the days are still highly stressful. Nursing is just stressful by nature ...you get used to it and almost start to thrive on it once you get control over it. Maybe work out some of your personal stuff first ...

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Specializes in General Surgery, Orthopaedics, ICU, ER.

I think a small hopsital in a med-surg area would be wise. Smaller hospitals are not so busy and anything that is too critical is transferred to a more appropriate facility. You'll need the med-surg area to gain knowledge and experience that you will require everywhere you work. Good luck in your studies!

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There are none.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-SURG,STICU.
Don't work in LTC.

I will agree with this post 110%. LTC is crazy, hectic, and the patient load is insane. You have to know what you are doing and what s/s to watch for in your residents. You are on your own when you work in LTC and you have to be the eyes and ears of the doctors. The doctors do not round on their pts in LTC like they do in the hospital.

Yes I know that the pt is suppose to be stable in the NH, but there are often times when they are not.

Nursing is a very stressful job, but can be rewarding. As far as which type of nursing is less stressful I do not know which type that would be. Each has its' own challenges, but I believe that it is the challanges that makes nursing such a awesome job.

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I agree with the others. If the patients are less sick, you just get more of them.

The marginally less demanding jobs are usually not available to new grads.

New grads are like new parents; the first year is going to be difficult.

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