Sick of floor nursing, what now?

[r0seRN]

I'm getting tired of floor nursing. And I'm getting burnt out on night shift.

I've only been nursing for a year and a half. We're always told that med-surg is where you should start to get your experience. I just don't know where to go from here. What do you do when you don't WANT to advance to another area (within the hospital)? I don't want ICU/ED/L&D/Mother/baby/PACU/OR/Charge nursing/Case management.

I love everything about the job of night shift, but it's killing my body. I miss sleeping normal human hours, and being awake for the day. I miss the sun. However, it's not as simple as switch to days”. No way in HELL I would work dayshift on the floor. Less pay, more stress, more families and doctors and discharges. No thanks.

The only non-hospital options I can come up with are all ones that include a paycut, but I'm seriously at the point to where the money isn't worth the physical and mental exhaustion anymore. I'm considering home care, clinics, doctors offices, or one of those work from home insurance approval positions.

I don't need the excitement or challenge that drive some people. I like stable, steady, routine. I want to do my job, know that I helped someone in some way, and go home. I don't want to feel like I'm spread so thin that I barely get the tasks done, not able to give a patient quality care because I have to rush off to another, walking on eggshells, and sit here on my days off dreading the next day.

I feel stuck.

I would appreciate advice from those like me who have made the change from floor nursing to other positions, and how it turned out for you.

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

I'm kind of in the same boat, so I can't speak from personal experience here, but a former coworker recently started a job as a school nurse. It is at a school for developmentally delayed children, some of whom do depend on her med-surg skills (tube feeds, etc). She loves it! Summers off, coincides with her kids' schedules, and (per my mom, a former ICU nurse with over two decades of experience) makes big bucks! Needless to say, I am stalking that school's job openings.

Also, maybe occupational health? Maybe you wouldn't even have to change work places, just transfer departments.

I totally feel you on this, though. I'm working a job in med-psych, and it has turned me from someone who was mildly anxious into someone who who is panicked pretty frequently and now takes medication to vote with anxiety. (Like I said, I was anxious before, but the past few months have really pushed it over the edge. I'm not ashamed! Just amazed at the change, not in a good way.)

I've determined that I like the psych patients, but am terrified of having peoples' lives in my hands. I am always scared that this will be the day I make a mistake that costs someone his or her life. Partly, this makes me a prudent, conscientious nurse; but now I feel like I'm losing MY life over it.

I'm thinking about moving to straight psych nursing, or just getting my Masters in Counseling (my BSN is psych, fortunately). I'm enjoying reading these comments. I'm not convinced that I'll stay in nursing forever (although I'm supposed to start a BSN program this month...), but it's a good reminder that there is a fantastic amount of variety in this career.

[eham89]

I was a med-surg nurse for 11 whole months before it became a nightmare to my soul. I transferred to a perioperative area and thrived. I stayed in that position for 4 years until new management led me to find something less stressful. I am now a Research Coordinator for a biotechnology company and have found my home. Although I do not necessarily use "nursing skills" everyday, I am still able to create patient relationships and use critical thinking. Just wanted to put out there that nursing can be used for much more than the hospital and long-term care setting. Hope you find your calling soon!! :)

[Apollo617]

Try dialysis. Specifically Davita. I'm a tech there and love it. Our nurses seem happy. It's very rewarding but a much slower pace. Our nurses typically work 5 am until about 3 with three days off. The late shift they have about once a week is 12-8p

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I don't want ICU/ED/L&D/Mother/baby/PACU/OR/Charge nursing/Case management.

I'm considering home care, clinics, doctors offices, or one of those work from home insurance approval positions.

I know you said you do not want case management. On the other hand, you would consider a work-from-home insurance approval position.

I also grew tired of floor nursing and accepted a position working for an insurance company from home. However, I do case management from home...in addition, the pre-authorization nurses (read: INSURANCE APPROVAL) at my workplace are classified as case managers.

You might wish to reassess your views on case management. It occurs in settings outside the hospital or nursing home. It might be what the doctor ordered for you. Good luck to you!

[Sherryajack,RN]

I recently left Neuro ICU and am working at a surgery center in their PACU. I really enjoy it. I now work days, no nights, no weekends, and no holidays. It is 10 hour days. This is such a good option. I'm like you. I don't need the adrenaline rush, just opportunity to care for my patients. It's been a great change for me and my family.

[abouttimeRN]

I left the floor to do hospice nursing. I am a liaison who goes into hospitals to evaluate and sign patients up for hospice care to get them home or to their NH. It's M-F and normal daytime hours with better pay than floor nursing...something to think about :)

[BetsyOverlord]

You sound like me! I decided to go to home health. I worked weekend nights in the hospital. I easily make double what I made there doing home health. I generally work 745-3, paperwork and hour or two in the afternoon, and every 4th weekend on call. Love it, but I'm wanting to get my masters now.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I got sick of floor nursing and took an outpatient position. It was heaven for a year while I decompressed. Now I am bored and returning to acute care in a different role (professional development/clinician).

Sometimes it is worth a pay cut to regain perspective. You won't know until you try.

[ms_sgr, BSN, NP]

I worked in Pediatric Home Health, Adult Home Health as an infusion nurse, Hospice, rehab, and private duty. You can work in the following areas: pharmaceuticals, insurance company, medspa, wound care, doctors office, department of nursing, Operating room, work from home as a triage nurse, informatics, psychiatric, cath lab, PACU, Dialysis, flu clinics and health screening. The opportunities are endless.

[Andrews778]

A lot of hospital systems have home health positions, see if yours does. I am somewhat in the same boat as you, been on tele/step down for 6 years and am very dissatisfied with it. I've applied to PACU, case management and clinics within my hospital system because I can't afford the pay cut either but I know some that have dropped it all and found home health that pays almost as much so it depends on the company and the area. Good luck to you.

[lauranurselaura, BSN, RN]

I was in the EXACT same boat as you. After a year and a half, I was completely miserable and working nights made me feel terrible. I refused to work days on the floor for the exact reasons you explained. I decided that a year and a half was all that I could take and that I gained enough experience on a med-surg floor for future jobs. I ended up hopping around from clinic to clinic hoping to find a specialty that I liked. While I loved and needed the stability, routine of working M-F, 9-5, I wasn't passionate about any of the specialties. And then I found clinical research! I got a job as a research nurse (study coordinator). I've been doing that for 7 years now and have loved it. It's a great combo of desk work and patient interaction. It's routine and stable. The flexibility is great too as you're not seeing patients every single day, so if you need to come in late or leave early, you can. Do some google searches on it and think about. Research saved me!

[ShayRN0217]

I love, love, love Community Health/Public Health. I'm a Community Health Nurse. No call, only weekends very occasionally IF I want to. I make my own schedule and can flex my hours as I see fit. I work in the community, perform outreach, and work in the clinic. It is a pay cut but it was worth getting my sanity back. I used to have to work every third weekend, and even then it wasn't very fair at my last job. With this job I have all holidays off, paid vacation, paid sick leave, tuition reimbursement, and excellent benefits. I did take a pay cut but ultimately it wasn't too bad. I did stay PRN at my old job in case something comes up and I need to work extra shifts.

I'm curious how you found your community health job? I am interested in community health, but haven't been able to find any in San Antonio, TX