Actually thinking of returning to Med/Surge...

Specialties Psychiatric

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

I have a rather different question for you folks...

Have any of you ever made the switch from Med/Surge to psych, and then went BACK to Med/Surge? That is what I am very much considering doing.

Psych is an area that has ALWAYS intrigued me, and I always thought I'd like to give it a shot. I'm just finding that it's not my cup of tea and, for numerous reasons, I'm not terribly happy with my new job.

I just, almost feel like I'm crazy for wanting to go back to Med/Surge. It's such a grueling job both physically and mentally. However, it's so strange... I'm finding that the things that I thought I hated about it... are things that I'm missing the most. Does that make any sense at all? I thought I would like the slow pace of psych. I'm finding that I'm not crazy about it. I thought that I would like a little less direct, physical patient contact. I'm finding that I miss it. I thought that I would like less noise, less constant beeping and buzzing. I miss those things. And so on and so on.... In addition, I am the only RN on a 22 patient unit on the late night shift. I'm in charge of one LPN and 4-6 MHT's, and I'm supposed to be calling the shots. I'm really finding that I don't particularly like being in charge and I'm also finding that it's hard to get some of these long time employees to listen to me. I miss being basically in charge of one or two CNA's.

In addition, I don't have to tell you guys that psych has its own stressors that are unique to the field.

Maybe I should stick it out a little longer, as it is such a big change and an unfamiliar (still) setting after 2.5 months. However, it would be very beneficial to me financially, to seek re-employment with my former employer at this time. Mind you, THAT is certainly not the only reason that I want to go back as I clearly mentioned above, but it has been a biggie.

I would actually really prefer to go back to my old employer and work in the ICU instead, but I don't know how much I really want to orient to a brand new job AGAIN right now, both right after orienting to one new job, and right before I'll be going on maternity leave in about five months.

Anyway, what are your thoughts? Thank you in advance!!

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I loved how you wrote that psych has its own stressors unique to the field. You are not a kidding. I work as a consultant in psych and indeed it does have its own stressors. Frankly for me, I can understand where you are coming from. If I were younger I'd do one day CCU ,the next day psych then one day CCU- I actually DID that for a few years and the variability was great!! Now if you did geriatric psych you surely would get plenty of hands on-but that is a whole other story . In retrospect, developmental disabilities nursing was a relatively decent combo of skills plus psych. You would be a shoe-in with your background.

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Specializes in L&D, PACU.
I'll be going on maternity leave in about five months.

Anyway, what are your thoughts? Thank you in advance!!

Take it from a Mom of four...if you're that close to needing maternity leave, don't make any huge changes. you're about to go through a major change as it is. And it doesn't matter if its your first child or your fourth...things change. Have your beautiful baby, adjust to that new little life...then think about change. just my two cents, everybody has different takes on things. I was just amazed at how my outlook on life and goals changed with every child. Good luck!

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Specializes in Pediatrics (Burn ICU, CVICU).
I have a rather different question for you folks...

Have any of you ever made the switch from Med/Surge to psych, and then went BACK to Med/Surge? That is what I am very much considering doing.

Psych is an area that has ALWAYS intrigued me, and I always thought I'd like to give it a shot. I'm just finding that it's not my cup of tea and, for numerous reasons, I'm not terribly happy with my new job.

I just, almost feel like I'm crazy for wanting to go back to Med/Surge. It's such a grueling job both physically and mentally. However, it's so strange... I'm finding that the things that I thought I hated about it... are things that I'm missing the most. Does that make any sense at all? I thought I would like the slow pace of psych. I'm finding that I'm not crazy about it. I thought that I would like a little less direct, physical patient contact. I'm finding that I miss it. I thought that I would like less noise, less constant beeping and buzzing. I miss those things. And so on and so on.... In addition, I am the only RN on a 22 patient unit on the late night shift. I'm in charge of one LPN and 4-6 MHT's, and I'm supposed to be calling the shots. I'm really finding that I don't particularly like being in charge and I'm also finding that it's hard to get some of these long time employees to listen to me. I miss being basically in charge of one or two CNA's.

In addition, I don't have to tell you guys that psych has its own stressors that are unique to the field.

Maybe I should stick it out a little longer, as it is such a big change and an unfamiliar (still) setting after 2.5 months. However, it would be very beneficial to me financially, to seek re-employment with my former employer at this time. Mind you, THAT is certainly not the only reason that I want to go back as I clearly mentioned above, but it has been a biggie.

I would actually really prefer to go back to my old employer and work in the ICU instead, but I don't know how much I really want to orient to a brand new job AGAIN right now, both right after orienting to one new job, and right before I'll be going on maternity leave in about five months.

Anyway, what are your thoughts? Thank you in advance!!

I just read your post from Sept. 05, just one year ago. Go back and read it, maybe refresh your memory a little and see if it is still something you want to do. Did you ever do what you *really* wanted to do (home health, etc)? Do you think you would *really* be happy back in MedSurg after your Sept 05 incident?

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/i-am-absolute-state-panic-right-now-need-help-119415.html

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Heh... :) You are talking to someone who, quite honestly, REALLY would rather be a SAHM/full time artist than anything else. But, the bills have to be paid. I didn't go back and reread that post yet but I can tell you that home health is only one area of nursing that I've considered in the span of my career, not really the one area that I've ALWAYS wanted to do, or anything like that. Home health is still something that I might consider trying, though.

Iiiiiiii, dunno. I am, at this point, sticking to this job until after the baby is born at least, and then taking a look at my options.

And I'll leave it at that for right now. Can't think of what else I want to say right at the moment...

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Specializes in community, mental health.

Yes, I do know a RN who made the switch from psych to med-surg, then later went to cardiac step-down. Next, she went to prison nursing at an all-female prison, returned to the hospital to do more med-surg, and is now about to enter home health!

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with psych there is not usually the lifting and physical work that there is on a medsurg flooor maybe during your pregnancy it would be better to stay where you are at for the time being

as for your coworkers they propably have been there for a long time and use to doingthings their own way...evaluate what needs to be changed and don't insist that everything change all at once

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