Most satisfying nurse job

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Here's the deal. I'm a 51 year old nurse (albeit I've only been one for 3 years). I'm working on a tele floor at the moment and love the staff I work with. Just not sure how long and can or want to do floor nursing. I understand this is an open-ended question, but for you veterans out there; what do you think are the most satisfying nursing jobs out there? I got into nursing to help people and do something meaningful. While floor nursing CAN be that, it isn't always. I look forward to your wisdom. Thanks!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Truthfully, my most satisfying jobs have been private duty with vent-dependent peds patients. Because you have all the time you need to give excellent care and not skip or skimp on anything. Plus you get to see your patient grow and develop. Participating on vent weaning which will enable a kiddo to finally crawl, then walk, then run was tremendously satisfying. For me, the very best part was when they no longer qualified for home nursing care- thus putting me out of a job. I got to see one of my former patients play T-ball a couple weeks ago. He was in NICU for 15 months, then home on the vent for another two years. Now- he rides the bus to school every day with all the other kids. Best. Job. Ever.

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This isn't to avoid answering your question, it's just sort of food for thought:

Any patient who is sick/in need enough to have landed an inpatient bed these days needs an excellent nurse. Therefore if you can focus on patients, your work is meaningful separate from and regardless of all of the other hoopla that is currently making acute care feel like a fool's errand.

The issues that can sometimes make direct-care nursing not feel meaningful exist in many different areas/kinds of nursing - which is why it's important for each of us individually to practice in a way that is meaningful to ourselves and meaningful with respect to patients' well-being. If we could only determine meaning based on our current "measures of success," I'd just throw up my hands. I leave other people to measure whatever they want to, and I've just decided to go back to basics: Take good care of people.

Maybe after research and thinking it through you'll eventually choose another area in which to work, but in the meantime my vote is for acknowledging the meaning in what you are currently doing.

Take care~

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Thanks! I do find meaning in what I'm doing but honestly, in the time I'm allotted with current ratios, it can be hard to connect with patients on night shift. I do assessments, pass meds and frantically try to get charting done before I get an admission. If I'm lucky, I'm done charting by midnight and all of my patients are sleeping. If they aren't, most want to be sleeping and aren't in the mood to discuss health education. I've been thinking about hospice honestly, but I'm open to any and all suggestions.

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Specializes in Adult Primary Care.
Truthfully, my most satisfying jobs have been private duty with vent-dependent peds patients. Because you have all the time you need to give excellent care and not skip or skimp on anything. Plus you get to see your patient grow and develop. Participating on vent weaning which will enable a kiddo to finally crawl, then walk, then run was tremendously satisfying. For me, the very best part was when they no longer qualified for home nursing care- thus putting me out of a job. I got to see one of my former patients play T-ball a couple weeks ago. He was in NICU for 15 months, then home on the vent for another two years. Now- he rides the bus to school every day with all the other kids. Best. Job. Ever.

OK, this made me cry!!!!

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Specializes in Adult Primary Care.
Here's the deal. I'm a 51 year old nurse (albeit I've only been one for 3 years). I'm working on a tele floor at the moment and love the staff I work with. Just not sure how long and can or want to do floor nursing. I understand this is an open-ended question, but for you veterans out there; what do you think are the most satisfying nursing jobs out there? I got into nursing to help people and do something meaningful. While floor nursing CAN be that, it isn't always. I look forward to your wisdom. Thanks!

I LOVE primary care.

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Specializes in nurseline,med surg, PD.

It boils down to what YOU, want. At the end of the day do you feel that you made a differnce? Do you look forward to going To work? Are you happy? Not everyone wants the same job anymore than everybody wants the same spouse, or house. If you're happy then whatever job you're doing is the best job.

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Well, I'm honestly not sure what I want. There are so many facets to nursing, I honestly don't even know what's out there. I do look forward to going to work, but I'm not sure night shift floor nursing is my "destiny". Posted this to find out what jobs people really like.

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I'm currently working in informatics. I work in an off-site office and consult with the clinicians when they are having issues with their EHR or need training. I also work with the IT staff on technology projects that affect the clinical staff. The larger health care companies in my areas hire RNs on their IT teams. Something to consider.

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Public health! Prevention is way more satisfying (to me) than acute care, the hours and working conditions are more humane, and your coworkers are mostly nerdy do-gooders, my favorites :) Of course the pay is often less, but to me it's worth being able to eat, sleep, and enjoy other humans instead of rushing around like a maniac.

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