What is the least stressful high paying nursing specialty?

CardinalFanRN · Aug 7, 2015

I hear the prisons pay pretty decent, and if you're willing to work A LOT of overtime you could make a good amount of money. I'm not sure about the stress level there though.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2015

I don't think it's fair to snark the OP for being an LPN, if she's thinking about specialties such as midwife she probably plans to further her education.

Oh, no, I'm not snarking about her having an LPN! I'm snarking at the idea that someone who is a new graduate LPN is asking for jobs that go to RNs who have quite a lot of experience....and even then, don't typically have low stress. Midwife....low stress?!

I mention the license because she seems to not realize that what she seeks she won't get until she has more to offer than she does now. It's the "I have no experience and yet want to earn six figures by doing very little" that causes the snark.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Aug 7, 2015

Why did you get into this field if you don't want a stressful job but want to make a lot of money? Nursing & low stress don't go hand in hand. If you want to be rich but low stress, marry a multi-millionaire. But like a PP stated you will have to be pretty much a run way model to land *that* gig.

prncaffinated · Aug 7, 2015

Oh, no, I'm not snarking about her having an LPN! I'm snarking at the idea that someone who is a new graduate LPN is asking for jobs that go to RNs who have quite a lot of experience....and even then, don't typically have low stress. Midwife....low stress?!
I mention the license because she seems to not realize that what she seeks she won't get until she has more to offer than she does now. It's the "I have no experience and yet want to earn six figures by doing very little" that causes the snark.

I see! I realize now OP wants a nursing job where she won't be "running around" or "pulled in all directions" and would like "one patient at a time" as well a 6-figures. I really do have nothing.

School nursing: you can move at a slower pace, focus on one kid at a time (until another one vomits all over your office), but it's one of the lowest paid.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Aug 7, 2015

Any nursing position with the potential for a 6-figure income is going to be stressful, or require long hours, experience, and training. I'm curious why you used midwife as an inquiry in your post? Midwives work on call 24/7/365. I was also told by an instructor that OB and anesthesia are the highest litigated medical specialties. If that's true, I would think midwives (advanced practice OB RNs) would get sued a fair amount as well. Just speculation.
CRNAs make good money, but only after some years of ICU nursing and very rigorous graduate program...and then the work can be stressful. Legal nurse consultants can make good money, but again after experience...and the court room is stressful.
Sorry, I got nothing.

Anesthesia is also essentially trying to get your patient to and keep your patient is the correct stage between life and death that you want them in. Nothing stressful there.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Aug 7, 2015

I work with a lot of CRNAs and they do make a good salary. But they all seem pretty stressed out. And it took a lot of time, effort, money, education, and STRESS to get to this point in their careers!

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2015

I would like to try working in Student Health Services at a college or university.

I may be wrong, but it sounds like a nice environment with good benefits. Some even provide tuition for employees and their dependents.

TriciaJ, RN · Aug 8, 2015

I would like to try working in Student Health Services at a college or university.
I may be wrong, but it sounds like a nice environment with good benefits. Some even provide tuition for employees and their dependents.

It is fantastic. Everything you said, except for the 6 figure part. Not even close. Oh, yeah, and sometimes there's even stress.

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2015

I would like to try working in Student Health Services at a college or university.
I may be wrong, but it sounds like a nice environment with good benefits. Some even provide tuition for employees and their dependents.

All true but the pay stinks. I mean 68k for an NP stinky

caliotter3 · Aug 8, 2015

Why did you get into this field if you don't want a stressful job but want to make a lot of money? Nursing & low stress don't go hand in hand. If you want to be rich but low stress, marry a multi-millionaire. But like a PP stated you will have to be pretty much a run way model to land *that* gig.

Look what happened to V. Stiviano, Donald Sterling's lady friend. They made her move out of the house and give back any of the money she had not yet spent. Taking care of rich men can be stressful too.

ambr46 · Aug 8, 2015

I might be the only one on here that isn't completely offended by this question. I don't know how many nursing jobs out there are low stress as and high pay as I haven't encountered this dreamy combination but it certainly doesn't hurt to ask. The quality of life for nurses in the workforce needs so much improvement. It's one of the only proffesions that on a daily basis you will encounter a fellow employee crying in the breakroom, putting in their notice, or having a panic attack. Nursing is not for everyone but why can't we boost the standards a bit for those who want to do this kind of work?

TriciaJ, RN · Aug 8, 2015

I might be the only one on here that isn't completely offended by this question. I don't know how many nursing jobs out there are low stress as and high pay as I haven't encountered this dreamy combination but it certainly doesn't hurt to ask. The quality of life for nurses in the workforce needs so much improvement. It's one of the only proffesions that on a daily basis you will encounter a fellow employee crying in the breakroom, putting in their notice, or having a panic attack. Nursing is not for everyone but why can't we boost the standards a bit for those who want to do this kind of work?

Improving quality of working life for nurses is a worthy (but uphill) goal. To make any difference at all, you have to be in the trenches a few decades, belong to your union and encourage your colleagues to stand up for themselves. Or work your way into a leadership position and try not to be beholden to corporate. Or any creative strategies you can come up with.

The OP did not express interest in improving working conditions for nurses. She seems to want to skate through life and rake in the dough. Can't fault her; we would all like that. But eventually we all had to grow up and get serious.