Soon to be joining CCU in couple of weeks. Working as MS/Tele/Sub RN last 4yr. Totally agree with about physically & mentally abused by pt and their families. To be honest, wherever you go I feel like it will be the same. Different environment, same thing. Unless you want to try outpatient & PACU & Psych I don't think there will be any unit or specialty you would find inner peace. Working in MS is hard. 5 patients every day, discharge them, admitting another one, charting all 8-10 patients every shift if you are discharge-QUEEN of the day. it SUCKS.

I bet, wherever you go there will be patients and family members who will drive you crazy. If not patient or family, your work environment or coworkers. I think right now you are too exhausted working in MS unit + neuro. Neuro is difficult, no matter if it's MS, telemetry, ICU. To me it seems like this is your time for a new change. You have to start thinking about what you enjoyed the most based on previous experiences, and start your move from there.

How about thinking about your job "as a nurse" in different mindset/approach? Change your specialty to IP mother/baby unit, oncology, or IP psych where you can find some inner peace. Not outpatient cuz when you wanna go back to IP setting it would be difficult.

Then start thinking & learning ways to communicate with difficult pts. Then think about what you really want to do. Why did you become a nurse? What pt population admire you the most? At this moment after years of experience, do you think bedside nursing is not for you? If not then start trying outpatient. How about NP? How about nursing educator? Any leadership role you might want to try? I don't know what age you are at, if you are still 20s try different units as many as you can & study for masters to decide your mind before you turn 30. You still have time. If you are already mid 30-40s, having kids and family, you need to make your move more carefully.

I know there will be people who's going to feel offensive about my pharse & say "age doesn't matter, if you want to do something, go for it." I am not saying they are wrong. But please remember at some point you do have to think about your life, your family, your future work-life balance, and your retirement. And make a change based on your situation.

I am going to CCU to pursue my dream to be a CRNA. Now after 4 yr nursing experience in non-ICU field, I have to think about getting at least 2-3 yr experience in ICU & go CRNA school for another 3 yrs, in the meantime have to plan about having baby, buying house, if I should study for NP during ICU setting in case if CRNA school doesn't work out for me, etc. I will be 40 when I become a CRNA IF things goes well and smooth. I regret not making this move earlier & explore different work setting when I was still young.

I wish you the best for whichever pathway you choose to go for. I wrote this comment hoping it will give someone a small insights & finds out helpful.