Thinking of changing from IMCU to mother/baby... need advice

[OregonRN512]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the site, have been working on an intermediate care unit (IMCU- step down from ICU) for 3 years (my whole RN career :)). While this has been great experience, I have recently been thinking about making a switch to Mother/Baby. I'm not as excited about critical care anymore, mostly due to the high demands of our unit and stress. I know every unit has their own form of stress, but I hate the fact that I come home after work and am consistently tense and crabby because of my day.

My only reservation about leaving the critical care area is that I might not be able to get a job in the OR or PACU down the road if I wanted to... Doesn't seem that there would be a whole lot of areas to go to after working in Mother/Baby.

I really need some advice from you seasoned RN's out there, trying to save myself before I'm totally burnt out!! Thanks!

[Nurse ABC]

If you think you'd like it then I'd try it. No one says you have to be stuck in it forever. As long as you're working and gaining experience as a nurse you shouldn't have trouble getting to work in other areas. That's what is great about nursing-the variety.