I am contemplating returning to the hospital. I'm almost 50. I left a 12 hr day shift position 5yrs ago because I literally did not sit down the entire 13 hours I was there on a busy med surg floor with 7 patients a shift, even more if one was supposed to be discharged (even if they weren't my whole shift.) My knees and back were feeling the strain after a year and I was offered a full time school nurse job. Other than being overwhelmed and on my feet non stop, I loved the hospital job.
Now my kids are older and working in the summers so they don't need me home as much. My school nurse job is ok but I feel bored, unchallenged, and just tired of the same old thing. There is very little variety or room for growth. I absolutely hate working five days a week. I feel like all I do is work and weekends I work around the house and run errands trying to get caught up. I just hate the rat race I'm in. Every single day I count down to the weekend or next break we have.
So I was contemplating trying to find another job in the hospital where I could utilize more of my nursing skills. However, I know I won't be able to hack the non stop busyness and constantly being on my feet non stop for 12 hrs on med surg. I was just wondering which areas give you a better chance of at least being able to sit down and chart and not have to stay over, a chance to use the bathroom, etc. I don't mind being busy and I'm in good shape but I do not want to leave a relatively low stress job I know I can do easily until I retire for one that will make me pull my hair out. Are their any units you do not run around like a chicken with it's head cut off anymore?
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
I do not want to leave a relatively low stress job I know I can do easily until I retire for one that will make me pull my hair out.
Every time I think I'm not challenged enough, BAM! The universe calls the equivalent of a code in my school clinic. Have you considered ambulatory care (those doc in the boxes), public health? You could experiment with home health over the summer. You got a lot of good suggestions, but remember, the grass is greener where you water it, Tiny.
There are lots of psychiatric settings where there is no "security" to handle "physical situations."
OK.. not sure why you felt the need to use quotes... feels a little condescending, but your comment is noted.
911 would also be a valid option when a situation becomes physical. My experience is in inpatient. Nurses are not encouraged to do physical take downs because of safety/liability issues.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
There are lots of psychiatric settings where there is no "security" to handle "physical situations."
Yes. Ask my former classmate who was assaulted at a large psychiatric inpatient facility about how "easy" it was. To this day, she can't move neck normally. She suffers nightmares and terrors, classic PTSD. It happened to her 2 years in, when she "knew" the patients and her job.
A patient threw her up against a wall and choked and punched her. It only took seconds for him to go from passive and calm to trying to kill her. It took 2 security personnel to pull him off her and they responded quickly.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
There is no "easy" place to work in nursing. The demands are heavy and stressful, no matter you work. It depends on management really. Some med-surg units are hell on earth. Others much better, for just one example.
OK.. not sure why you felt the need to use quotes... feels a little condescending, but your comment is noted.
911 would also be a valid option when a situation becomes physical. My experience is in inpatient. Nurses are not encouraged to do physical take downs because of safety/liability issues.
Cleback - I'm genuinely curious how this worked with 911. I've worked (and still work per diem) inpatient psych and there isn't time to call 911 when a patient becomes violent (we don't even have security after 8p). That's like, a 2-5 minute gap. In that timeframe, I've had patients become quite physically aggressive with staff and/or patients, environmentally destructive, etc.
Hence, why we learn CPI et al.
Of course, the hope is that we de-escalate before that even happens. Sometimes, though, esp. in a psychotic episode, it isn't possible.
OK.. not sure why you felt the need to use quotes... feels a little condescending, but your comment is noted.
911 would also be a valid option when a situation becomes physical. My experience is in inpatient. Nurses are not encouraged to do physical take downs because of safety/liability issues.
I was using quotation marks because I was quoting you. I wasn't trying to sound condescending. I've worked in inpatient for many years, in several different situations, in a few different states, and I've never worked anywhere that it would be considered acceptable to call 911 for anything less than an active shooter situation. Psych staff dealt with the psych issues. Even when there was security available, they were back up for the psych staff, not a substitute for them. Everywhere I've worked, the goal and preference has always been to avoid physical takedowns through de-escalation, distraction, use of prn medications, time-outs, whatever, because that's safer for everyone and better clinical practice, but, when it comes down to it, the direct psychiatric staff, inc. the nurses, are the ones doing the physical interventions.
IR/VIR/Cath Lab all require a 40lb lead vest, because of the fluoro being used. She has back problems as it is, and you don't sit down in these procedures.
.
Not universally true. The lead at my last gig was 15 pounds for apron and vest total. There were also stools in each room to sit down, and the only time I wasnt seated during a procedure was when they were coming, going, or something unexpected came up.
Not universally true. The lead at my last gig was 15 pounds for apron and vest total. There were also stools in each room to sit down, and the only time I wasnt seated during a procedure was when they were coming, going, or something unexpected came up.
Hmm. Well....maybe you might give her your old employer's name and number--because I worked in radiology for 18 years all over the country before landing in ICU--and the lead vests are usually older---and during cath lab procedures, you don't sit down. Just because there is a STOOL there, your butt usually isn't in it.
She's 50, and she stated CLEARLY that she has back problems. Even 15 lbs extra hanging from your shoulders and/or waist is too much. Even if you're "sitting the entire procedure and only stand up when something unexpected happens".... the lead vest is STILL PRESENT.
You aren't getting off your rear to check ANYTHING during the procedure? You don't assist the Rad? No drips to titrate? No equipment to run? Wow. Not like any cath lab I have ever seen. Unless you spent your entire time in the control room and someone else was bedside. If you're talking VIR/IR--she will need SEVERAL YEARS of training.
Not sure the OP's original sentiment as to what she would like to do---"the least physically demanding" job in the hospital is really being considered with your statement. Unless this really was to just split hairs. There are always the one exception to the RULE, and I guess you hit the jackpot with your sitting down during all of the procedures job.
Telephone triage in my health system is a nightmare for nurses, very stressful. Not a lot of positions for an LC, and there is a lot of bending over and standing in that job. Just my 2 cents from my location and experience.
.thumb.jpg.de0b1803a7b639db80953e3a326388a1.jpg){kind=small}
.thumb.jpg.b42645233ea24cdc8dac2eea4a3ebc15.jpg){kind=small}
ruby_jane, BSN, RN
3,142 Posts
Every time I think I'm not challenged enough, BAM! The universe calls the equivalent of a code in my school clinic. Have you considered ambulatory care (those doc in the boxes), public health? You could experiment with home health over the summer. You got a lot of good suggestions, but remember, the grass is greener where you water it, Tiny.