10 Tips for Finding Low-Stress Nursing Jobs

waistedmdev on October 1, 2022

Stress in nursing is one of the biggest issues in the healthcare industry. Although many people who start to work in this profession feel passionate about nursing, they might soon feel overwhelmed due to the many demands placed on them. Luckily, there are a wide variety of positions available, and a good nurse coach can help you find low-stress nursing jobs so you can keep doing the work you feel passionate about without burning out.

To get started, you’ll have to determine what factors are causing you to feel stressed about your job. For example, it might be the time pressure, the many administrative tasks, or the attitude of your coworkers. Then, you can speak to others who have less overwhelming jobs in the nursing industry. The more insight you have into how to find a low-stress position, the better your chances of finding your perfect nursing job.

10 Tips for Finding Low-Stress Nursing Jobs

1. Talk to a Nurse Coach 

Nursing is an extremely challenging profession, and almost everyone who goes down this path needs some support. If you’re a new nurse or you’ve been feeling burned out lately, the best thing you can do is ask for a consultation with someone who has the necessary experience and insight to help you figure out your next steps. 

Dr. Feyi is not only an experienced nurse, motivational speaker, and consultant, but she also has a Ph.D. in Nursing Research. With this background, she understands the demands placed on nurses every day, and she can help you figure out what conditions you need to thrive. She focuses on the external elements such as your environment, but she also helps you work on your confidence levels and self-love, which are essential tools for success in nursing.

2. Consider What Factors Cause Stress 

There are various reasons why nurses might feel stressed. One of the most common issues is the fact that there is too much to do in too little time, so nurses often have to take on long shifts and sacrifice their social life. Some additional stressors might include an irregular schedule which includes night shifts and emotionally challenging work with patients and families under stress.

In some cases, the attitude of coworkers and superiors can add to the stress nurses experience. If there isn’t enough support from peers, you might dread going to work, and you might worry about your performance even when you’re not on the job. Additionally, some nurses are stressed by the mountains of paperwork they have to complete. Before you can find your dream job, you have to determine which of these elements is causing you the most stress.

3. Speak to Others in the Field 

Once you’ve identified what the core problem is, you can think about what kinds of nursing jobs could be suitable for you. For instance, people who have trouble with night shifts could work at a doctor’s office, where there are set hours, or they could find a job in a school. Similarly, people who have difficulties with their coworkers could start working independently, either at patients’ homes or as consultants. 

Come up with a list of nursing jobs that could suit you. Then, try to find people who work in these positions and speak to them about their experiences. How did they get their job? What has it been like? Are there any disadvantages you might not have thought of? Asking the nurses all these questions can help you determine whether your expectations are realistic and whether you’d like to find a similar position.

4. Become a Long-Term Care Nurse 

Working in a hospital can be extremely stressful because you have to work with a constantly changing set of patients. In contrast, a long-term care nurse deals with the same people all the time. This professional often works in a nursing home or similar facility, where patients live full-time. They might conduct regular check-ins, administer medication, and make sure that patients are comfortable throughout the day. 

Not every long-term care position is relaxed, especially because the patient-to-nurse ratio can be high due to understaffing. However, some nurses prefer this kind of work because they can build up long-term relationships with their patients. If you have trouble dealing with the high number of new patients at a hospital, you might enjoy this type of work.

5. Apply for a Job in a School or Camp 

Your nurse coach might recommend getting a job at a school or in a camp if you enjoy working with children. Many educational institutions hire a nurse to take care of the children’s medical needs throughout the day. The job is often quite relaxed because the children in question are usually healthy, so they often only need first aid care when they fall or get injured. However, some children might also need to have allergy medication administered. 

Working in a school can be a great option for people looking for low-stress nursing jobs because the hours are regular. You’ll only ever work Monday to Friday, and you’ll be able to go home at a reasonable hour. If you accept a job at a camp, you might have to sleep there, so this isn’t ideal for nurses who have young children or those who don’t want to travel for work.

6. Search for Positions at a Doctor’s Office 

Another good option for people who would like regular hours is a nursing position at a doctor’s office. Unlike hospitals, where patients have to be taken care of day and night, most doctor’s offices are only open throughout the day, and they might even be closed on Sundays. Additionally, appointments are generally scheduled ahead of time, so you’ll always know what’s coming next, and there will be few surprises. 

This can be relaxing for someone who struggles with the unpredictable nature of hospital work. Nurses working at a clinic generally have to answer phone calls to determine whether patients need an appointment, draw blood, administer medication, and educate patients on various health-related topics.

7. Train to Become a Telehealth Nurse 

If you want to be location-independent, you should consider completing further training and getting a job in telehealth. This is a growing field of medicine that involves diagnosing and treating patients over the phone or via video consultation. Because almost everyone has a device that allows for these kinds of interactions now, more and more nurses are needed to field calls.

Telehealth professionals often have to deal with a high number of patients every day, but most people who call in have minor health concerns, which is why this job is less stressful than some other options. As a telehealth nurse, you might give patients advice about common health conditions, monitor patients with ongoing concerns, and communicate with in-person physicians when necessary.

8. Become a Lactation Consultant 

Compassion fatigue is a serious problem in nursing. It happens when healthcare professionals are exposed to traumatic situations on a regular basis until they are no longer able to feel a high level of compassion for their patients. If you’re worried about experiencing this issue or you have trouble handling challenging situations in a hospital, you should consider changing to a niche field like lactation consulting.

A nurse who specializes in lactation helps new mothers with issues such as latching problems or pain while breastfeeding. This can be a very rewarding job for those who love to accompany young families entering a new stage in their lives.

9. Become a Nurse Administrator 

Do you feel that patient care is overwhelming you? Would you like to keep working in a healthcare setting but without direct contact with patients every day? If so, you should consider becoming a nurse administrator. This job involves planning and coordinating care and directing health services. Some administrators who work in large organizations might also have to organize nurse training sessions and meet with other healthcare administrators. 

Whether this job is stressful depends on what kinds of tasks you enjoy doing and why you chose nursing in the first place. If you love working with patients, this won’t be a good fit. However, if you find administrative tasks engaging and don’t mind paperwork, this could be a lower-stress option for you.

10. Work In Education 

People who have been nurses for a long time have a wealth of knowledge and experience to pass on. Becoming an educator or a motivational speaker could be a great career path for nurses who have served their communities for several decades. 
If you’re interested in sharing your passion for nursing and showing others how to do well in this job, you should consider working in education. Many educators work part-time or in a self-employed capacity, so they can set their own hours and enjoy a more relaxed work week. 

A high percentage of nurses feel burned out after only a few years on the job, but it doesn’t have to be that way. With the help of a nurse coach like Dr. Feyi, students and nurses can figure out why they are feeling stressed and then look for a job that better suits their needs. Get in touch with WaistedRN to book a consultation with Dr. Feyi or to book her as a motivational speaker at your institution.