What nursing specialty has the best work life balance?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello all,

What nursing specialty would you say has the best work life balance? By that I mean an 8-4 or 9-5 work week with wknds off (or occasional work wknds). Or three 12hr shifts that don't leave you drained to the point where you're unable to plan anything prior to or right after work. I've heard of group home nurses, psych nurses, school nurses, pharmaceutical consultant nurses, OR nurses who have a great work-life balance, job satisfaction & are not drained. What would you say are some of the branches of nursing that offers that great work life balance, no immense exhaustion but with decent pay?

I work in a surgeon's office. M-F 8:30 to 5. No weekends, no holidays. Although I miss that sweet holiday pay.

Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

I work in community mental health. Mon- fri 8 to 4. No weekends or holidays. I am on call one weekend every other month and on alternate months 3 to 4 weekday nights. The on call is generally handled over the phone.

It's pretty good. Not draining, and I love my team.

Public heath! Maybe the pay isn't what hospital pay is, but the work-life balance can't be beat - I work 8-4 Monday through Friday, leaving me with plenty of family time (I'm a single mom of two). Job satisfaction-wise, I love the fact that I'm reaching people before they are sick and keeping them healthy; no burnout here. To me, that all is worth more than more money.

Specializes in ER, HH, Case Management.

I worked home health and hospice for 6 years and I loved it (mostly home health). Good pay. Got to see the sun shine. I enjoyed going different places.

Some days I was home by 12. I just got really bored with it.

1 Votes

I enjoyed home health too, although the driving was challenging for me as I detest traffic! Are there NPs in Hospice in Texas? I'm in the Austin area and have always thought I would enjoy hospice/palliative care....

Endoscopy M-F 8a-430p, no holidays or weekends.

1 Votes
Specializes in Pedi.

For me, it's been my Mon-Fri community based jobs. If you find a true salaried M-F job, it offers an incredible amount of flexibility. Personal appointments and whatnot can be built into your day. I have done home health/case management, clinical liaison for a home infusion company (based at a hospital) and am currently doing complex care management for children in foster care. I have a panel of 25-30 kids that I see once/month. Several days/week I typically can work from home. If I have an earlier flight on a Friday evening and need to end my day early, I do. I have met my direct boss twice in the nearly 5 months since I started this job. At my last job, I was the only person from my company on site at the hospital I was placed at. My boss was in another state.

Specializes in med-surg, med oncology, hospice.

The trick is finding a nurse specialty that you love. The time goes so much quicker, you enjoy the job more, the patients and their families pick up on this and some will make your day!

Specializes in NICU.

Any area where you work three 12 hr shifts,will leave you exhausted,that first day off without all that caffeine are for pajammies,staring at the TV and being zoned out,this is ok,you need to recharge. Children do tire you out but with careful planning you might be able to stay home those early months.Your husband might think he is supportive but unless he is a nurse ,they have no clue as to what you go thru.My husband was a great cook but once the baby came he burned everything.

Specializes in Public Health.

For me its psych nurse case management. I work for the county and my schedule is Tuesday thru Friday 8-630pm. Pay is $75000 per year and its a super awesome job thats like 50/50 paperwork and attending psycj appointments/team meetings. I love love love my job, especially when compared to my previous 3 twelves in the hospital. No nights or weekends except six on call weekends per year via telephone.

Plus you get government benefits

1 Votes
Specializes in Med-Surg., LTC,, OB/GYN, L& D,, Office.

Through my own experience and others of my acquaintance, the best answer depends on your own situational condition. For instance single vs married, married with children, single with children, husband or significant other's occupation, shift, ability, or willingness, to contribute to caring for the home, childcare, shopping, cooking, and any number of extra activities. Then to the type of nursing that always held your interest vs. the openings available in the area you live or are willing to travel for a job, your particular shift preference, part-time, full-time, family, friends that can help or influence decision making etc. As made obvious by the posts I've read a variety of options exist when it comes to nursing Good luck in your search...

I am a nurse practitioner and do locum tenens only, which gives me the freedom to schedule work around the rest of my life. I think you can do that as a nurse too doing travel nursing, even in your own city. Only downside is if there is a dry period where there is no work which doesn't happen very often, and I don't get benefits.

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