[Yoda]

I am stable on my meds now and would like to go back to work per diem. I want to just work about four shifts/month; any more than that would affect my SSDI benefits. I worked in critical care for fifteen years before I had to stop working. I thought I'd be best to do critical care again because I did enjoy it and really liked cardiac. But I saw my pdoc today and he said, why not work night shift at a psych hospital? I said, I don't really want to interact with a large group of people and he said, they will all (most) be sleeping on nights.

So I was thinking, hmmmm, maybe I should consider that. I have a decent understanding of psych and psych meds so it would probably require less study time to prepare to return to work. And it would be easier on my knees to work psych.

Feedback? What should I consider, you think?

[blueparakeet]

I can't decide that for you. But there is one things to consider. I don't know if you've ever been inpatient before or might need to be one day....but make sure there is more than one psych hospital in your area in case one day you need to be admitted..,.it would be awkward if you have to be admitted to a place you work. But if you've never been admitted before and don't think you'll ever be, then just disregard that bit.

[winter4me]

Another consideration is if you would want to work the night shift. I have worked a good deal in psych; but, if you enjoyed what you did before, I would probably recommend returning to that. And, it is not true that all are sleeping...at night, a crisis will be handled by you---and, depending on the hospital, you may get admissions etc... Besides, if it is the kind of place where everyone sleeps---that can be stressful with its down time and boredom. As a nurse, I much prefer to be busy...
Having tried the night shift, I would never do it again.

[BadGirlBlues]

What about sleep hygiene? My doc said the worst thing i could do is work nights. It probably depends on diagnosis, though.

Edit: Do you think you could be triggered by possible dramatic events there?

[winter4me]

There are all kinds of psych settings also; mental health centers, hospital units (vs psychiatric hospital only), crisis intervention, you use your psych in any setting really...as a nurse. What do you want to do?

[Jolisse]

I would go where I was most comfortable. You'll be back in an enviornment that you know and are use to.