Transition from ICU nursing

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I was hired as a new grad into the ICU a little over 2 years ago. Since starting I am definitely starting to feel the burnout. I currently work night shift and really struggle with the schedule. However day shift is twice as busy and twice as stressful. I've been thinking about transitioning out of the ICU into a different area. I find myself interested in home health/hospice. I deal with palliative care/end of life frequently and feel like it might be an area I can further help reach out to others. I'm just wondering if anyone can give me any insight into home health/hospice care. The schedule of home health is appealing and i feel like I can make some meaningful connections with patients and their families. Any ICU nurses out there that have made a similar switch?? I would love everyone and anyone's input! Thank you!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I never made that switch, but I know a LOT of ICU nurses who did .... they loved Home Care but not the cut in salary or lack of access to additional resources. A couple were also very frustrated by the difficulty they encountered with contacting physicians. It seems that they have all spent a while (1-2 years) in home care before returning to ICU.

If you need time to decompress, it would be a good fit for your skill set.

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