Okay so I know that I may get a bunch of responses that I am not looking for with this post, but I wanted to get opinions about nursing jobs or specialties that are not extremely stressful. I am aware that nursing is a stressful profession and everyone experiences some deal of stress on any job, however I currently work in critical care which is downright physically and mentally exhausting. I am looking to move into a specialty that doesn't require so much physical labor as well as a slower pace, and patients with lower acuity.
I am not interested in Medical Surgical nursing, as I already tried that and did not enjoy it.
No need to read this whole thread. The least stressful jobs in nursing are the ones where you don't have to take responsibility for your own decisions. May I suggest management. Otherwise, lacking the interpersonal skills necessary for a "leadership" position, you could choose nursing education.
Wait wait wait.....How is being a school nurse not on this list? I've never been one but all I remember was my school nurse doing was reading star magazine while kids faked being sick.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
My second job is a PRN gig as a floor nurse at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital. I'm enjoying it so far because the stress level is lower when compared to working at a nursing home/LTC facility. The patients, who are medically and clinically stable most of the time, spend a good portion of their days at the rehab gym with PT and OT, which gives the day shift nurses a break. Since the patients have worked out at the rehab gym much of the day, they are too tired during the night for much of anything, which gives the night shift nurses a break.
The job can get somewhat physical when repositioning or transferring patients, but I am really liking inpatient rehab at the present time.
How did you get on this floor in the first place? Did you know someone? Any floor in the Acute Care setting is going to be fast paced, and require one to be on the feet all day. Bottom line, it takes someone who does not mind to work hard. You might try a Doctor's office.
wait wait wait.....how is being a school nurse not on this list? I've never been one but all I remember was my school nurse doing was reading Star magazine while kids faked being sick.
OMG this is so funny:p... I'm a school nurse... For the most part i'm not stressed out... But there are a few days every once in a while that are stressful... Like the student i had, that stop breathing, after aspirating on some juice:uhoh3:... By the time i made it 2 her class room she was blue... But thank GOD for good old fashion CPR!!
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
You sound like you are burned out. With your experience, maybe a clinical educator position would feed both your desire to be in a clinical setting along with sharing what you know as a critical care nurse.
I would also suggest to you to look into hospitals that have disaster programs. My husband is the commander for our state's medical disaster team, and he is always looking for nurses to teach disaster management to the incoming teams. It is mostly comprised of gathering data from previous disasters (like hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes) and implementing a plan for deployment. You would only be stressed out when there is a disaster! It is a good position, and you have the coolest toys to play with! Seriously though, I feel your pain...I think all of us reach a point where we want to have a slow paced job in which we can implement our experience and skill effectively.
Good luck to you! I hope that you find what you are looking for, and if you need any help regarding disaster management (if you are interested), let me know in a PM.
Whoever said home health nursing has obviously not done it. The stress is quite a bit different than inpatient settings, but I can assure you that it is plenty stressful. Patients and physicians call you at all hours, you rarely get a real day off, spend most of your day running between patients and criss-crossing town, and then have a load of paperwork to do when you get home.
Woodenpug, BSN
734 Posts
No need to read this whole thread. The least stressful jobs in nursing are the ones where you don't have to take responsibility for your own decisions. May I suggest management. Otherwise, lacking the interpersonal skills necessary for a "leadership" position, you could choose nursing education.