What field of nursing would you NEVER consider working?

Moho · Jan 1, 2004

:eek: :lol2: It is definitely PSYCH. I can't even spell it? I had the most horrifying experience during my clinicals that I had to finish out stuck to one of the male students leg the rest of the semester. Ok that didn't sound right. I meant I was never apart from his side (I'm 5' and he was 6'4"). My problem was I thought one of the patient's was a worker until the true colors came out and he came after me. I talked with him for 30 minutes and he showed me the (ropes) of the institution???????? scarey, Scarey, SCarey, SCArey, SCARey, SCAREy, SCAREY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It left a lasting impression. I have had to deal with some psych OB's and it was an experience, but nothing a little medication wouldn't fix.

Moho

RN-PA, RN · Jan 1, 2004

I work Med-Surg and like the variety of ages and ailments; could do it forever if the nurse-to-patient ratios would only decrease. Although there are lots of options for nurses, there are many I would not consider working (unless there was no other way to earn a living as others have said).

The "NEVER's":

-Psych (Psych patients scare and drain me and would eat me alive)

-Corrections (See Psych reasons above)

-Peds, NICU, Newborn Nursery (Not comfortable working with babies/children)

-OB (I've read too much here at allnurses to know it's not for me)

-ER (Again, read too much on allnurses to know it's not for me, and prefer getting to know a patient and the continuity of care)

-OR (I like talking and interacting with patients too much)

-Burn unit

-Neuro

The "NEAR-NEVER's":

-Ortho (Got pulled to Ortho floor this past Wednesday, 3-11-- pain issues galore, epidural problems, heavy, awkward CPM machines... Ugh.)

-ICU, CCU (I would consider it for the learning opportunities and decreased ratios, but am put off by the high-tech, titration of drips, etc.)

-Alzheimers unit

I salute and admire all who work in my "NEVER's" and "NEAR-NEVER's" lists. The patients need all of us, and I'm thankful there's (usually) a niche and a fit for most everybody in nursing.

nursefiggy · Jan 1, 2004

burn unit and pediatrics. Both are way too heartbreaking and i vowed I would always be able to leave work at work. I can't do that if I am emotionally traumatized everyday and i don't want to stop being compassionate.

cadeusus2004 · Jan 1, 2004

Pediatrics is something I'd never, cannot, do. Kids are almost alien to me in their medicine with everything different than adults.

I have the highest respect for Pediatric Nurses and sonder how they do it. I didn't do well in it at college because of several reasons, not the least of which was that the instructor was very mean to males and considered them inappropriate for the specialty and the fact she handed me some of the worst cases which I could not do anything with like "Santori's" and "Batten's II". One other is that I cannot stand to see really sick kids who are dying, and knowing that they are, look at me in this pleading way. Kills me. Its the only specialty where I can truly say, "That one is too tough for me." Hats off to Pedi Nurses.

fiestynurse · Jan 1, 2004

I find it interesting that so many have mentioned Correctional Nursing as their least desirable choice of nursing jobs. Fear and safety issues are stated as the reason.

There are more safety issues when working in ERs, Locked Psych facilities, and LTC facilities that house mentally challenged, confused or demented elderly. In a Correctional setting you have an extremely well trained custody officer close by at all times. They are ALWAYS watching your back.

How good is the security at the hospitals and longterm care facilities that you work in now?

Plus, Correctional nurses have a great deal of autonomy and use their assessment skills more than any other specialty. I agree it's not for everyone, but many nurses have preconceived ideas about it that just aren't true. Not that many nursing schools discuss it as a career option, yet it is one of the fastest growing areas in nursing today.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2004

Originally posted by chad75
LTC = Just not my thing, my personal beliefs are against things like feeding tubes for 90 year olds and other such devices to keep someones body alive why their mind is barely there. The mind starts letting go, but in western society we can't accept the fact that death is just as natural as life so we do everything possible to keep grandma's "BODY" alive. While I run in to that aspect in my current field its not as prevailant as it is in nursing homes. ( I worked in LTC for years, and had to do "care" on people that totally went against my personal morals. Won't go there again. Hellllllo Nurse)

OB any aspect: I have no desire to work in that area lol.

MedSurg: I will never go back, I did my year and learned a lot but unless my state suddenly decided to make mandated staffing ratios 1:4. I don't ever forsee myself working medsurg again.

I did only a couple of months in med-surg, but unless mandated 1:4 ratios are in place, I will never go back.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jan 1, 2004

Originally posted by Hellllllo Nurse
I did only a couple of months in med-surg, but unless mandated 1:4 ratios are in place, I will never go back.

If our ratios are ever at 1:4, guess what? someone is sent home. Why? To keep our "productivity" numbers high.

The lowest number our nurses ever see is 5, and being the "bed ahead" for the new admission. Ratio is usually 1:6 or 1:7. Luckily Anyone with 7 usually has a group of self-sufficient patients.

USUALLY lol.

fiestynurse · Jan 1, 2004

The new state mandated ratios in California call for 1:6 in 2004 and 1:5 in 2005 for med/surg units. These are minimum requirements. Some of the better hospitals do have a 1:4 ratio on day shift for med/surg.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2004

As a new grad, I had 9 pts in med-surg, no unit clerk, one truly awful CNA, very unsupportive environment.

Needless to say, total nightmare.

Lat year, I posted my resume' on a mega-jobs website. I got flooded w/ replies. One recruiter even managed to get my home phone # and called me at home (I did not include my phone # on my resume').

I told all who contacted me that I required a one to five ratio in order to work in med surg. I also updated my resume' to that effect. Know what? I've not heard a peep of interest since.

PMHNP10 · Jul 18, 2005

I just had to bring it back. I came up with another field in health care I could never do...social work (yes I know social work isn't nursing, but it's close enough and this is my thread so I can slightly hijack it ifns I wanna )

Anywho, here's my reason: I am a crisis worker at the hospital I work at. I absolutely love it. Definitely one of my 2 favorite jobs of all time. I could go on for days about how much I love it, but that's not the point here.

So last night a lady comes in suspected of an OD. It so happens she drank a bottle of wine and mixed it with her lexapro and ativan, so it wasn't an overdose per se, rather an error in judgement. The reason she did so was because the previous night her husband of 6 yrs almost choked her to death (if the son hadn't walked in). It should be no shock that this wasn't the first time. She reported multiple incidents of hitting, kicking, biting, pushing etc.

I am as direct and honest as I can be without getting too emotional; I listen to her sobber about how she hates him and wants him to leave, etc. I offer her any bit of help I can (eg. with filing restraining order, pressing charges while he's in jail, etc, etc.) She's aware of the reality that he could very well beat her into a vegetative state or even to death; he's not going to change without much much help; etc.

So I tell her that I can talk to her for hours about how she's making a horrible mistake and what she needs to do, but it'd be a waste of time unless she has decided that she is so tired of the situation that she's ready to do whatever it takes. I offer to make some calls and do whatever I can to get her the help she needs. Then I say "so are you ready to do this for yourself or do you want to go home and continue to live as you have been". She then says she wants to go home. I knew that was going to be her choice, but that doesn't mean it didn't make my stomach drop.

Fortunately this is only the second case of DV I've had to deal with and it so happens the previous one allowed me to make the calls and get the process started for the restraining order, etc.

So for the social workers out there I salute y'all because I'm sure what I've seen doesn't near compare with what they see when the children are the victims. At least the adults have a choice.

pie123 · Jul 18, 2005

#1 Psych, too much BS for me
#2 Med/Surg floor, poor nurses are so overworked there
#3 Peds, I can't deal with the families and especially if a kid is abused
#4 Homehealth, I have trouble with directions and am afraid I would never find my patients.

Me too with the Homehealth!!! My husband says I get lost in our driveway. I would get too frustrated! Plus, I truly dislike doing a lot of driving in general, but especially during hot summers & cold winters!!!

pie123 · Jul 18, 2005

I find it interesting that so many have mentioned Correctional Nursing as their least desirable choice of nursing jobs. Fear and safety issues are stated as the reason.
There are more safety issues when working in ERs, Locked Psych facilities, and LTC facilities that house mentally challenged, confused or demented elderly. In a Correctional setting you have an extremely well trained custody officer close by at all times. They are ALWAYS watching your back.
How good is the security at the hospitals and longterm care facilities that you work in now?
Plus, Correctional nurses have a great deal of autonomy and use their assessment skills more than any other specialty. I agree it's not for everyone, but many nurses have preconceived ideas about it that just aren't true. Not that many nursing schools discuss it as a career option, yet it is one of the fastest growing areas in nursing today.

I often wondered about the capability of the security guards at a former hospital. They were VERY elderly. Honestly, I didn't feel safe when they came to the unit to deal with psych issues. I guess I shouldn't underestimate their abilities though.