Slow nursing jobs? So I can go back to school.

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Was wondering what slow paced nursing jobs may be out there? I'm interested in getting masters degree, and would like a slower paced job to possibly be able to study every once and a while.

Any help would be much appreciated!

Study on the clock? Seriously?

Yes!

It is done all the time in PDN.

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I work in an assisted living facility as an LPN PRN while finishing up my RN. 11-7 shift everyone is asleep and we just do hourly rounds, and help the ones get up in the morning who need the help. I study. Some folks watch Netflix. It's great money compared to my other friends who are LPNs in the area and not very stressful while I'm finishing this VERY stressful last semester of school. Good luck!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

Is this like the "I'm ready to get my Master's but don't want to do any work or actually learn anything" thread?

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Is this like the "I'm ready to get my Master's but don't want to do any work or actually learn anything" thread?

Nope. Not sure why you would think that.

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Yeah, please don't listen to the snarky strangers passing judgment when they don't know what kind of life you are living and only bring negativity where it is not necessary. I'm actually planning to go back to school myself at some point, but when the time is right; I don't feel it's quite right just yet. I live alone and support myself through my work, and this is something I still intend to do as I continue schooling. Between sleep, school, commute, staying healthy, maintaining one's household, and full-time work for self-support and covering education costs, how are you expected to squeeze in adequate study time? There is a reason programs strongly advise working no more than 20 hours, which for me would not be a feasible option. If you can get away with working less hours, please do. Well anyhow, during my many per diem nursing experiences, I have had a large variety of assignments, and some places are indeed slower than others depending on the work. There are some facilities where I'm so busy scrambling around that I wouldn't dream in a million years of checking my messages let alone sit down. And then there are other assignments where I complete all my tasks from the essential to the above-and-beyond way in advance, and then still find myself with quite literally nothing to do. The latter types are with some exceptions night shifts, and have been in home care with severely handicapped non-verbal children, as well as a halfway house, and a detox facility, to give you some starting ideas. I think a hospital or SNF even during the night still has too high of a degree of focused care required to do any studying while still being responsible to your clients. Also, I'd consider agency work if I were you, to give yourself the flexibility you need to work around a school schedule. I would plan not to work the couple days before an exam, as your brain would be focused somewhere else besides care. And to ensure education success, you can also carefully monitor your budget and only work just as many hours as you need to in order to get through the program. Of all the places where it'd be the slowest, I'd say home care doing night shift while the client is sleeping could be your best bet. I used to work a full-time home care assignment the summer after my school nursing one, but I found myself going stir-crazy since it was way TOO SLOW!! I was stunned when the mother gave me her wifi password without ever bringing up the subject, along with Netflix recommendations... I was doing push-ups and sit-ups in the room from time to time, I was that restless. I prefer doing SNF work, it being a better use of my expertise and skills, but when the time comes for me to return back to school, I'm likely to take up primarily home care again. Good luck with your choices!

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Don't apologize. Posters here are getting worked up over nothing. Totally ok to desire a position like that and occasionally do schoolwork on the clock as long as the patient and job duties come first.

Some ideas: Endoscopy, doctor's office, night shift in NICU or other women's services. I used to see NICU nurses studying school and reading magazines all the time when I worked there. Even where I work now, in ICU, some nights are slow and some of the nurses work on their NP schoolwork.

I work at a stand alone endoscopy center PRN. I cannot imagine having time to study on the clock. I barely have time to go to the bathroom. It's literally the fastest paced and most exhausting job I've ever had.

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I do not understand why people are so judgmental. Honestly, she did not have to give a reason why she was looking for slow pace nursing jobs. There are several nursing positions that are faster and slower than others. People's personal circumstances can be very challenging and you never know what people are actually going through. Instead of judging, why not give advice and help one another. Life is too short to make people feel bad for what they feel when it is not hurting anyone else. The way you judge others, someone is judging you the same way. Nobody is perfect.

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I work at a stand alone endoscopy center PRN. I cannot imagine having time to study on the clock. I barely have time to go to the bathroom. It's literally the fastest paced and most exhausting job I've ever had.

Oh, okay then. I mentioned that because my friend is an Endo nurse during daytime hours and she said there was a lot of downtime. Obviously it varies.

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Specializes in Nursing Ed, Med Errors.

How about weekend track? It's the most efficient use of your time; work your 24 hours, be paid full-time, with benefits, and have all week to do your schoolwork.

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SNF NOC shift as RN Supervisor...but not every night is "slow". Slower paced, yes.

*knock on wood*

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Yeah, please don't listen to the snarky strangers passing judgment when they don't know what kind of life you are living and only bring negativity where it is not necessary. I'm actually planning to go back to school myself at some point, but when the time is right; I don't feel it's quite right just yet. I live alone and support myself through my work, and this is something I still intend to do as I continue schooling. Between sleep, school, commute, staying healthy, maintaining one's household, and full-time work for self-support and covering education costs, how are you expected to squeeze in adequate study time? There is a reason programs strongly advise working no more than 20 hours, which for me would not be a feasible option. If you can get away with working less hours, please do. Well anyhow, during my many per diem nursing experiences, I have had a large variety of assignments, and some places are indeed slower than others depending on the work. There are some facilities where I'm so busy scrambling around that I wouldn't dream in a million years of checking my messages let alone sit down. And then there are other assignments where I complete all my tasks from the essential to the above-and-beyond way in advance, and then still find myself with quite literally nothing to do. The latter types are with some exceptions night shifts, and have been in home care with severely handicapped non-verbal children, as well as a halfway house, and a detox facility, to give you some starting ideas. I think a hospital or SNF even during the night still has too high of a degree of focused care required to do any studying while still being responsible to your clients. Also, I'd consider agency work if I were you, to give yourself the flexibility you need to work around a school schedule. I would plan not to work the couple days before an exam, as your brain would be focused somewhere else besides care. And to ensure education success, you can also carefully monitor your budget and only work just as many hours as you need to in order to get through the program. Of all the places where it'd be the slowest, I'd say home care doing night shift while the client is sleeping could be your best bet. I used to work a full-time home care assignment the summer after my school nursing one, but I found myself going stir-crazy since it was way TOO SLOW!! I was stunned when the mother gave me her wifi password without ever bringing up the subject, along with Netflix recommendations... I was doing push-ups and sit-ups in the room from time to time, I was that restless. I prefer doing SNF work, it being a better use of my expertise and skills, but when the time comes for me to return back to school, I'm likely to take up primarily home care again. Good luck with your choices!

Unmmm, paragraphs, anyone?

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It just seems in poor taste to look for a job that allows you to pursue a personal goal while on the clock.

That said, I have worked places that did have some down time once and a while. Usually a night shift job, not in medsurg. I would not bank on having down time consistently, though, with any nursing job... consistently enough at least to study for a master's degree.

I would instead look for work that complements your field of interest and career goals. Honestly, experience can be the best teacher and will help you more than reading during a slow shift. Good luck.

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