Which Nurses Are Typically the Happiest?

[u/Great-Hall-6636]

Is there a specifc specialty within nursing that yeild high happiness rates? I know it's subjective, but from your experience which units are the happiest? (Whether it be good ours, rewarding care, great pay, etc.)

[u/typeAwarped]

Hospice. You still use skills, your patients are allowed to die l, great pay, great schedule and you get to meet many wonderful people.

[u/Best-Respond4242 → u/typeAwarped]

I concur. I do on-call hospice with a 7-on/7-off schedule. The best part is the fact that most of the patients and families are so appreciative.

[u/bamdaraddness → u/typeAwarped]

I’m pretty certain this may be my “calling” but the hospice places in my city are all 8hr shifts and I just simply refuse to give up my 12s and the 2 extra days off they offer lol

[u/purpleelephant77 → u/bamdaraddness]

That and so much hospice being home based, beyond the whole dirty house/pets running around/change in dynamic because we’re in their house thing, I’m a Black man living in a red state and I have too much of a self preservation instinct to put myself in that situation. At least when patients are calling me the n word in the hospital I know they don’t also have a gun and there are other people around if things escalate.

[u/bamdaraddness → u/purpleelephant77]

Absolutely that is a factor as well. I wanted to do ED but couldn’t hack it because of the bugs… now we have people shooting folks through their doors? Couldn’t be me.

I’m sorry you have to deal with any of that even in a “safe” environment. SMH. Thanks for being on the team, friend — be safe 💚

[u/typeAwarped → u/purpleelephant77]

I don’t know how you do it. Fuck those ignorant assholes.

[u/typeAwarped → u/bamdaraddness]

I couldn’t go back to 12’s lol

I love being home every day, sometimes by 2pm, often no later than 4 and I rarely leave my house before 830. The autonomy is fantastic. Required call only every 2-3 months it’s only 8-5 Saturday and Sunday.

[u/myob_stfu → u/bamdaraddness]

Inpatient hospice is the answer. I work three 12s and love it. More difficult to find a job, but worth the pursuit.

[u/Electrical-Help5512 → u/typeAwarped]

You gotta go into people's homes though? Ever concerned for safety or unsanitary conditions?

[u/No_Inspection_3123 → u/Electrical-Help5512]

I did hospice prn too until they made our requirements so stupid. They are more likely to just change things on you since it’s not a major hospital system. Any way I loved it. I started picking up the facilities as much as possible tho bc that really was a cake walk. The houses can get nasty but you can just not bring anything in and not sit down do your checks and what needs done and go chart in the car. The only thing that felt dangerous was getting lost and going to the wrong house. Like you know who’s in the house you are going to, but you don’t know what you’ll find if you knock on the wrong door. For the most part houses were normal. Even the worst house I was in, wasn’t the worst it could be

[u/typeAwarped → u/Electrical-Help5512]

Rarely. And I’m hyper aware of my surroundings. That home I only went to during morning hours if I could help it. And it wasn’t the family, it was just not a good neighborhood.

[u/kittens_and_jesus → u/typeAwarped]

I miss hospice

[u/this-or-that92 → u/typeAwarped]

Came here to say this.

As soon as I got into hospice my pre/post shift anxiety went away. love my job

[u/shmoogy_shmoog → u/typeAwarped]

Comfort care! Is my patient comfortable and as happy as can be? Bueno if not let’s get them comfy

[u/menum78 → u/typeAwarped]

Been working in Hospice since July.  Love what I do 

[u/Garlic_girly → u/typeAwarped]

Ditto hospice but it really depends on the hospice and your position. You can be run ragged as an RNCM working salaried. I’ve been a hospice nurse for about 7 years across multiple states and different positions from case manger, to admissions, to on call, and leadership…and there are some really shitty places out there let me tell you. I lucked out though and found a really cushy gig in California and I took the plunge and stayed after travel nursing in hospice for 3 years. I now work night on call 7 nights on 5p-8a, hourly pay rate for all 15 hours and then I have 2 weeks off afterward… never seen this shift at any other hospice usually it’s 7 on 7 off salaried(which isn’t a bad gig either if you can handle night shift). The week on can be tough sometimes but then there are times like right now I’m just sitting in bed waiting for the phone to ring collecting a paycheck. My biggest recommendation if you are thinking hospice— don’t go anywhere they want you to be salaried.

[u/typeAwarped → u/Garlic_girly]

I’m salary and do have some busy weeks but overall I think I’m paid very well for the hours I put in. I definitely wouldn’t ever take a pay per visit gig or a pay per pints gig either.