Members are discussing the stress levels and compensation in various nursing specialties. Some members mention that nursing is a practical means to earn a living, while others share their experiences in different nursing roles such as hospice nursing, med/surg, and occupational health nursing. There is also mention of the importance of clinical experience, finding one's niche in nursing, and managing stress through coping mechanisms and self-care.
This is my first post here so bear with me. I am a current RN student and while my main focus right now is finishing the program I am nevertheless interested in finding out more about different specialties from nurses who have been there.
I have yet to decide on a nursing specialty for sure. To be honest money is a big motivator for me..but a post I read from forum member THE COMMUTER really struck me as exaclty how I feel. It stated id rather love my personal life and tolerate my job than tolerate my life and love my job. By this I mean im never going to enjoy work, I mostly enjoy traveling, exploring , cars..etc..(hence money motivated).
So begs the question...what nursing specialty out of the seemingly hundreds...would be very low stress on a daily basis and very good pay ( even if masters level as I have considered the NP route after RN school).
Any suggestions? ( I know im kinda asking for the best of both worlds here but im looking for things closest to what I seek). Thanks in advance everyone.
No kidding..... I don't think it's possible to have a least stress job in nursing. As a nurse you are responsible for your clients welfare. It's a pretty big responsibility, maybe she/he should have gone into real estate or finance where it really is all about the money.
I would tell you if you're looking for something that won't be physically taxing and potentially minimal stress perhaps clinic nursing like a doctors office might be a way to go. Keeping in mind that they don't pay all that well. Honestly, for any kind of nursing position with the exception of clinic RN you are going to have to have some experience under your belt. Even for a UR (utilization review) nurse you need to have some background and knowledge. I don't know what state you are in so pay is a relative term. In California, most RN's are union so a new grad could potentially make upwards of $60/hr to start in some areas.
I wish you the best in figuring out the health and your career path. Anxiety is a given when going through nursing school. Look at it this way, having the experience yourself, aids in having a greater understanding for what patients go through while in the hospital. Use it to your advantage, allow it to make you more empathetic and have more compassion for your patients even as a student.
Fascinating thread. Like many posters here, I have done all sorts of nursing roles. Currently, I am a flight nurse and a critical care NP. Because I live in the mid-Atlantic region, my NP pay is barely more than my RN pay and honestly, I like my RN job MUCH better (apparently, that is rare?) The acute care NP role, since the roll-out of the consensus model, has turned into a perpetual second year resident job. In other words, I am the fellow and attending's b!t@h. It stinks and I hate it. I'd go back to the ER in a heartbeat if I could.
As far as the original post, I think it's really OK to ask the money question. People seem to get offended by it, but it's a very real concern, especially with the debt load so many new grads carry. When I teach undergraduate clinical, I am always very open with students about this, mainly because it's taboo. I see no reason for it to be a forbidden topic, nor am I offended by the fact the OP is asking the question. Pay seems to be very regionally dependent. Only the individual can determine what is enough for his/her lifestyle. That said, I work with two PAs who are in their 20s and they are extremely difficult to deal with when it comes to scheduling. I would caution you against being too demanding about your schedule. You will get immediate push back form senior nurses who are still doing the every other weekend and rotation shift grind after years and years. We all want a work life balance, but adjustments and compromises will need to be made.
As far as stress, I agree with many previous posts. It really depends on how much you like the specialty. I worked ER in a very busy Level I that also included burn and pediatrics. It was very stressful but also very energizing and exciting. It was a great 10 years and I have no regrets, but as I aged, it became too exhausting. The hospital, corporate BS and lack of support is really what ground me down. My coworkers were nothing short of phenomenal and I hold them in high esteem to this day.
So, to the OP, as you finish school, it is a great time for introspection. During the next few months, I would suggest a journal. When a thought pops into your head and after clinical jot some thoughts about what your ideal situation. Describe the picture in your head and document how you reacted to those experiences. Every week or so, go back and review what you spontaneously wrote and eventually it will come into it's own form. It's a little extra work, but it will actually give you some energy back because all of those thoughts won't be taking up rent on your head. Through this, you will be able what stressor are good and motivating and which are toxic to you. Best of luck!
Well, I'm not going to quote the guy that gave us the Great Wall of Confabulation, because I'm pretty sure you all know who I'm talking about (plus I got really tired of scrolling). But this is squarely directed at him:
Sir, there's a reason you have 10 posts and zero likes. Please stop trying.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
supakimchee said:
Well, I'm not going to quote the guy that gave us the Great Wall of Confabulation, because I'm pretty sure you all know who I'm talking about (plus I got really tired of scrolling). But this is squarely directed at him:
Sir, there's a reason you have 10 posts and zero likes. Please stop trying.
Chinpop
16 Posts
I've been a nurse for 3 years and in the ER for less than 3 years. My take home pay is roughly 108k a year. That's take home I didn't mistype.
the stress I would feel on the job is outweighed by my compensation.
work smart work hard. In that order.