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?
I have never worked cath lab, but I have observed more than a few procedures while considering the switch (admittedly years ago). Those nurses weren't often sitting, and I would never had thought to describe cath lab nursing as not physically demanding. Perhaps it has radically changed.
Just the fact of cath lab nurses being called in at 2 am, yet still expected to show up for their normal shift at 7 was what finally had me saying, "no, I think I'll pass."
This is an interesting thread for me, because some of the suggestions did indeed used to be "easy" but aren't anymore. I would specifically note the telephone triage ideas and inpatient psych. I have done both jobs years ago and more currently.
Psych has become a physical nightmare and I find working on a med/surg floor easier. I also worked places recently with zero security and many nurses being hurt. The meth use and similar drug use, has made patients far more violent (IMO).
Telephone triage used to be a piece of cake, but I haven't seen one of those old jobs with the reference book and phone to answer, for many many years. Employee health seems to still be "easy" but it probably depends on where you work.
Since all of the "easy" jobs pay much lower, I would suggest trying to work only two 12's a week or something on a medical floor. You'd probably make the same money and places now will often give some benefits for 24 hours a week. I am 50 myself, so good luck!
Do you do couplet care? I floated for awhile a long time ago on postpartum and liked it but now they call it couplet care and it seems a much broader job description. Is that the case?
Dialysis you run the risk of carpal tunnel. There isn't always a service worker around so you have to be able to carry the jugs.
Day Surgery or Short Stay? Run around constantly. With short stay you will still be required to transfer. Day Surgery depending on the unit, you are admitting, receiving post op and doing discharges all on the same shift.
If OP has been out of the hospital for years, her chances of getting into the day unit will be low. It's a hard unit to get into. In my hospital they try and place duty to accommodate staff there because of the perception it's where old nurses go. The reality is very different.
At my psychiatric facility, we have no security. Staff does all the restraining, physical holds, etc. I would not recommend psychiatry as a non-physically demanding department.
Horseshoe, BSN, RN
5,879 Posts
I have never worked cath lab, but I have observed more than a few procedures while considering the switch (admittedly years ago). Those nurses weren't often sitting, and I would never had thought to describe cath lab nursing as not physically demanding. Perhaps it has radically changed.
Just the fact of cath lab nurses being called in at 2 am, yet still expected to show up for their normal shift at 7 was what finally had me saying, "no, I think I'll pass."