PTSD

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Specializes in NICU.

I have PTSD from working in the neonatal intensive care unit for many years and also for a personal tragedy. I really want to return to nursing but am limited in areas I can work now. My doctor has said that I may have to leave nursing altogether and I think she may be right, unless it's the right nursing job. Any suggestions for nursing with little patient contact (or at least not with a reasonable possibility of dying) or something out of nursing in which my nursing experience could be of help. If anyone has any ideas it would be greatly appreciated! I love nursing but am open to options at this point.

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There are more areas than not of nursing that does not involve death and dying.....from clinics to home health (not hospice obviously) to insurance companies to doctors offices, dialysis, flu clinics...etc. Conduct an online search and research on here....plenty of options.

If you want completely out of nursing, think about school nursing or working in a day care or preschool where your nursing background would be a plus but you wouldn't be about critically ill children.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

1. Case management

2. Research

3. Clinics

4. Public health

Dialysis not so much - sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a very real phenomenon and I deal with codes frequently and without all the fancy stuff that the hospital has.

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Specializes in NICU.

Thanks for your input. Part of my issue is being afraid to do somethink new as I still have some issues and frequently feel "unmarketable". I will continue to look in areas that you have suggested.

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Specializes in Oncology.

Blood banking would be another area to look into. You're dealing with healthy donors and saving lives.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

What about nursing education? Each state has different requirements...but you could be a clinical instructor (states that I have lived in required a BSN) or you can become a nurse educator at a hospital or other places. You'll have patient contact but of course there is emphasis on teaching. There is also school nursing or camp nursing.

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Specializes in Public Health, L&D, NICU.

Insurance companies, Poison Control, phone triage, instructor, diabetes educator, case management, quality control, risk management. Those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head. I'm sorry to hear you are going through all this. NICU is a tough place to work.

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Specializes in NICU.

Thank you. I loved it but it really bit me in the butt. By then there was so much consistent high adrenalin and holding dying babies that it was too late and my whole body has taken a beating with it. I have looked for some of the nursing suggestions and will continue. Some physical things have to be taken care of first but I'm aggressively looking now.

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