Returning to med-surg

[cn2007rn]

Hi everyone, I currently have been working in home dialysis for 3 years, before that I worked in med-surg I felt it was so stressful, never knowing what to expect with codes and falls and crazy pt's. I think I am getting bored and burnt out from home dialysis, tired of being on-call, tired of pt's always calling and texting. Tired of money hungry mgr's and the push to increase census. I also work mon-Friday, not having time to do anything.

I miss 12 hour shifts, more like I miss 4 days off. I feel like going back to med-surg might be calling my name, I feel like I will be better at med surg this time because there is so much autonomy in home dialysis so I make judgement calls all the time.

What should I do? Do nurses actually go back to med-surg???

[advicenurse1, ADN, BSN, RN]

I worked med surg for about 10 years, left about 10 years ago and just started a new PRN job in med surg at a local hospital about 1 week ago. I was nervous at first because I have been out of bedside nursing for so long. Im starting to get a feel for things and a lot has come back to me since starting the new job. Of course after 10 years of being gone ALOT has changed. Im only brave enough to do 2-3 days a month, My full time job is a desk nursing job with no face to face patient contact. I enjoy my 2-3 days a month on the floor, it pays extremely well but I would never go back full time. Think that decision through before you act. A lot has change but a lot has not (short staffed, call ins, rude patients and families, holiday inn mentality, rude physicians). Good luck

[aksti1018]

Op curious what you ended up doing. I am in the same boat now doing home health. I love it but soo tired of ALWAYS working and I have such social anxiety I can’t stand when my phone rings! Lol