What is the least stressful nursing specialty?

[sakiohma]

I worked as a CNA in the past and absolutely HATED it. The healthcare field seemed like a cesspool for bullying and the constant teamwork/patient contact burned me out since I am an introvert. I threw in the towel and gave up on my nursing dreams. However, my original dream was to go into psych nursing or maybe even forensic nursing. I've always wanted to go into the psychology field, but the years of schooling to be a psychologist scared me away so I thought maybe psych nursing would be best.

I'd hate to give up on a career because I didn't like working as a CNA because I know most people probably don't like CNA work. I love the flexibility of nursing and I'm hoping there are certain fields of nursing that aren't as stressful. And, when I say that, I don't mean that as an insult or "more easy". I just simply want to know what specialty of nursing, in your opinion, is less hustle and bustle, running, and/or less teamwork involved?

I know teamwork will be involved, but I mean on the comparison of 3 co-workers to 20 co-workers you have to directly work with.

[VerticalHorizon]

There have been several threads covering this topic, maybe they will help you.

https://allnurses.com/nursing-career-advice/least-stressful-nursing-903293.html

https://allnurses.com/nursing-career-advice/which-nursing-jobs-506198.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/most-stressful-and-793215.html

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

I will confess - I enjoyed a CNA better than I enjoyed being a nurse in some ways, and I didn't particularly enjoy CNA work. I enjoyed just having my job to do and being done with it, as opposed to nursing where everybody else's job is your job, too. I enjoy the critical thinking part of nursing, but nursing is so much more responsibility and problem-solving than being a CNA that it's just astronomical. Nursing is more teamwork than being a CNA ever was.

I really don't think you will enjoy being a nurse of any kind if you don't like teamwork or patient contact. You might want to consider a different field altogether.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

I will confess - I enjoyed a CNA better than I enjoyed being a nurse in some ways, and I didn't particularly enjoy CNA work. I enjoyed just having my job to do and being done with it, as opposed to nursing where everybody else's job is your job, too. I enjoy the critical thinking part of nursing, but nursing is so much more responsibility and problem-solving than being a CNA that it's just astronomical. Nursing is more teamwork than being a CNA ever was.

I really don't think you will enjoy being a nurse of any kind if you don't like teamwork or patient contact. You might want to consider a different field altogether.

Interesting. I was just recently thinking the same thing. I mean, we would still be doing what we do now ( pt care work) but not have all the responsibility.

Thing is, doesnt make sense to do that for 9 bucks an hour, when I could get a store or industrial job for that same pay.

Op , sorry I dont have anything to offer other than I agree with caiviana. nursing still involves cna work, especially when you work where I do and they keep cutting staff,so you end up doing a lot of cna work anyhow, in addition to your nursing work. Best wishes

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

Clinic based nursing

[llg, PhD, RN]

The most stressful field -- is any field you don't like.

The least stressful field -- is the one you like the best.

Stress isn't determined by the specialty. It is mostly a function of whether or not the work appeals to you. If you really like a certain type of work and/or patient population, you will find that field less stressful. For some people, it is ICU that is least stressful. For others, it is OR. For others, it is geriatrics. etc. etc. etc. If you hate the work, you will feel stressed being there.

The other big factor is the particular group of people who work there. That is not based on specialty. Regardless of what you think of the work itself ... working with great people will be less stressful than working with people who are horrible co-workers.

[amoLucia]

The other big factor is the particular group of people who work there. That is not based on specialty. Regardless of what you think of the work itself ... working with great people will be less stressful than working with people who are horrible co-workers.

So True!!! It's just the luck of the draw.

You could have the nicest, most supportive, professional 20 team co-workers or you could have the 3 worst, hostile demon coworkers from hell as your peers.

It's not the specialty standing alone by itself.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

OP, there truly is no one right answer. It's 100% subjective. Most days, I think I have the one of the easiest jobs in the world. I've worked with some people who barely lasted a week before realizing it was their nightmare job. What anyone else thinks is less stressful isn't really going to matter. You need to find a job that meshes with you.