Evening everyone, hope you all had nice weekend,

As the year gradually comes to close I have been reflecting and looking on my nursing career and come to realise that I'm not really happy with where I am and need a change. I can still do my job and maintain patient safety but in the long run I want a change of scenery, I just wanted to ask for some advice and guidance with the paths I have brainstormed.

Current situation:

I (31 M) currently work as a scrub/scout (RN4) in NSW and have experience in general peds ward, adult and peds scrub/scout and some adult anesthetics and recovery experience. Thing is I don't really enjoy scrubbing anymore, I don't hate it but I don't like the super pedantic nature of the job and an entire laundry list of other reasons. Also being in NSW the pay is one of the worst in the country and on top off that theatre nurses don't have as much opportunities to get penalties compared to other areas of nursing.

However I also have a small manageable mortgage that I can survive on NSW base rate and I live within walking distance of work so I save a lot of time and money commuting.

Option A

Out of theatres

The obvious thing to do would to just get a RN job outside theaters for a change of scenery and to get more penalty rates. Looking back on my new grad I did enjoy the patient interactions on the peds ward but I hated ward work in general (and chasing everyone and everything and being chased as well) and hated making the babies cry giving them NG tubes or needles and not knowing what they really wanted since well they're babies. Then there are days I want to give places like NICU a try or go to a adolescent ward where the bigger kids can at least communicate with me.

Option B

The nomad life

I talk A LOT about this but rural travel nursing is always at the back on my mind. I have no dependents holding me back, the pay could be so much better in any state but NSW and WA and the flexibility is so appealing. On the other hand Ill be away from family and friends for long period of times and there's no guarantee on the availability contracts. I'm still very on the fence about it and still need to think long and hard about it.

Option C

Just leave nursing

If all else fails, just leave nursing altogether for freedom and peace of mind. Problem is I don't know where to go and I feel trapped sometimes. I go through periods where I brainstorm a bunch of different career paths outside of nursing such as health informatics, health data, train driver, fire fighter or some office job in the public sector.

Anyway what are your thoughts ? Any advice and guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks heaps and have a pleasant evening.