Who has the most "gravy" RN job ever?

[OnaTrek]

Just wondering... I know that most departments have their own share of good and bad. But if you could get any job/department/specialty out there as a RN/BSN (not CRNA or NP). Easy hours, easy patients, good (or not) money, good assignments, good co-workers, good departments, good hospitals. Besides good pay and benefits...What have you heard? What would that place be, that you would eventually want to end up in? Dream destination for RN? Who do you think has got it made? Thanks!

P.S. Personally, I am totally flexible and adaptable, I love the old and the young, manage emergencies and slow days just fine, going into nursing not for money, but for personal satisfaction and happiness.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I worked as a factory worker for three years while I was in my early twenties. I envied the occupational health nurses because they seemed to have plenty of autonomy, worked with no direct supervision, and worked in a comfortable office/clinic type of setting. They had their own offices and desks, and their working conditions seemed pleasant. They performed routine screenings on the factory workers such as blood draws for lipid panels, hearing tests, blood pressure checks, and vision tests. If one of the factory workers became injured or sick (which was not often), they would treat the injury and/or send the patient to the local ER if they deemed it appropriate. They also did plenty of patient education regarding topics such as ergonomics, lifting, and proper body mechanics.

Of course, this is the perspective of an outsider who was looking in. However, I must note that the head occupational nurse had been with the company since 1978. I left this company in 2004, so I can conjecture that she had a long career as an occupational health nurse with this particular workplace.

Also keep in mind that most nurses must do time "in the trenches" before landing that elusive "gravy train job."

[schack]

I have my "gravy" job, but it isn't always easy and the hours aren't great.... But I wouldn't trade OB for anything. I am just so thankful that I only spent 13 mo. in the "trenches"! Guess "gravy" is what you make of it

[llg, PhD, RN]

I think a lot of "gravy" jobs look better from the outside than from the "inside."

And I think that it has more to do with the specific people who are your coworkers and supervisors than it does the particular job.

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

Well I am not an RN yet but I think my job is pretty gravy by most standards. No nights/weekends, about 10 paid holidays off per year, no time clock, I see my boss about 16 hours a month, I make my own schedule, and I'm salaried. I have a 401k with a match up to 5% of my income, excellent benefits, and I got a 10% raise at my first annual eval. I don't ever have to wear scrubs unless I choose to either. In short, I will be taking my RN boards this summer and I would cut anyone who suggested I leave my current position. :)

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I think a lot of "gravy" jobs look better from the outside than from the "inside."

And I think that it has more to do with the specific people who are your coworkers and supervisors than it does the particular job.

I think this is so very true.

My goal was to do Labor and Delivery - and I did for 8 years. But you couldn't get me to do it again -

Another thing - it depends on where you are in your life. I want to be available for my son - so now I work part-time in hospice and love it.

I just finished an RN to BSN program with a public health certificate. Who knows what will be in my future?

(Sometimes I miss my rural ER time).

steph

[bunsterj]

Pageantnurse what is your job?

[Kei35]

I think I'm at my gravy job right now. I work in home care. I love it! Like all jobs it has it's ups and downs but it works for me and I rarely feel like I am "working" because I enjoy it.

[gr8rnpjt, RN]

Well I am not an RN yet but I think my job is pretty gravy by most standards. No nights/weekends, about 10 paid holidays off per year, no time clock, I see my boss about 16 hours a month, I make my own schedule, and I'm salaried. I have a 401k with a match up to 5% of my income, excellent benefits, and I got a 10% raise at my first annual eval. I don't ever have to wear scrubs unless I choose to either. In short, I will be taking my RN boards this summer and I would cut anyone who suggested I leave my current position. :)

This intrigues me. Are you working as a Graduate Nurse? It sounds like a good one!

Hard to beat, but I like where I am--home. I have worked managed care for 20 years. I have worked in an office setting, on site at hospitals, and a combination of both, but for the last 3 years, I have been working from home. I happen to work for a global company that has a policy to have at least 20% of the employees working from home. I had an extra bedroom which I have converted to my office. It's great when I log off the computer and realize that most of my coworkers are now fighting rush hour traffic and all I have to do is go out my office door. Nice. (and of course, managed care is steady daylight, weekends and all major holidays off)

[jillebean]

I'm just in my first semester, so I have a lot of learning to do, but at this point I'm interested in learning more about Hospice care. There's no telling what I'll end up doing once I actually get to experience a little of everything!

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

I am an LPN completing her RN. I work in the training department for a large company that owns/manages medical practices.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I am an LPN completing her RN. I work in the training department for a large company that owns/manages medical practices.

That's interesting. I work in the education department of an acute care hospital -- and I think that staff education jobs are among the better jobs around, too. I'm always amazed that so few young nurses want to go into the staff development field.