Did I make a mistake in choosing nursing?

[mjscan_07]

I'm really starting to have doubts if I made the wrong career choice. I have been a nurse for about 8 mths. now. I work a combintation of 7p-7a and 11-7. I work resource at a 300 bed hospital, so I cover a ortho/neuro floor, gen. surgical, med/oncology, general medical, skilled nursing, and special care rehab units. I rarely go back to the same floor day after day. I just hate going to work. Even on the good nights, I don't want to go back and the bad nights I absolutley don't want to go back. I just feel so overwhelmed and stressed. I had one major anxiety attack so far. I feel like I do a horrible job, even though the staff that works with me tells me I do good work and they enjoy working with me. I just feel like they talk about me negatively behind my back like they do everyone else. I've made a couple minor mistakes nothing major thank goodness. My supervisor tells me I am doing fine whenever I ask (I had to ask for my three month eval) and am still waiting on our mid-year eval that was supposed to have been done awhile ago, but everyone says that she won't say you are doing something wrong until it is too late. My major concern is I work all these different floors and not one is something that I can really see myself doing and enjoying. I also get stressed because I often carry 10-14 pts with an LPN as the team lead. We do team nursing at our hospital. I have started to look for other jobs, but there is just nothing open in areas besides the floors that I already work on. I am just really doubting right now if I made the right choice in becoming a RN. I dread the thought of going to work. I worked as a CNA and a restaurant and enjoyed work there so it not that I hate working. I dont know what to do.

[leslie :-D]

is it all the bouncing around, from unit to unit, that you're having such difficulty in acclimating to? i know i could never adjust to that....not knowing where i was going to be working. you haven't really been in any one place long enough to establish a routine, to get comfortable, to get established.....period. not belonging to any particular dept/unit would drive me nuts! can you obtain a job on a more permanent basis on one of the floors? i honestly don't think you've been in nsg long enough to decide that it is or is not for you. i think you need a different environment, a different position and not a float. where do you see yourself?

leslie

[Fonenurse]

I agree with Leslie - it could be the floating - I only did this for six months when I first qualified, and it was long enough. You need to put some roots down, get a sense of belonging and to feel part of a team - that will make a lot of difference.

The other thing you mentioned is the shifts - perhaps you are a day person rather than a night person? This can really affect how you feel - being tired and run down is enough to make you miserable, cranky and dare I say it - not rational at times - you could be suffering from sleep deprivation too!

I think it's time for a reality check - what do you like doing - specialties, patients etc. What do you hate doing? Can you get to work on one floor and get a good orientation there? Sounds like you need a period of working in one place with some supportive staff around you, then make the decision about giving up or not - now is perhaps not the best time to make huge decisions about changing careers.

Whatever you decide - I wish you all the best - I love nursing, and wouldn't swap my career for the world.

[dafodil71]

NO you probably did not . there are alot of other kinds of nursing besides "hospital nursing. Had you thought about finishing out a year of med- surg purely for your formation. It is a good starting point for a lot of other kinds of nursing- i really enjoyed home care nursing as you had to use your creativity to solve problems, you made your own schedule( mostly daytime weekday hours) you get to know your patients and they also look forward to seeing you. Had you thought of psych nursing? There are alot of kinds of nursing besides hospital based med surg.

Sue

[K98]

I did.

[Fonenurse]

K98 - I am sorry you feel this way - nursing isn't for everyone, but if you want to elaborate a little more, it might be helpful to you or the original poster?

[K98]

Nursing will be a second career for me, if I elect to stay in it. I am due to graduate in about three months, and I'm questioning why I took this route for the first time. We get a fair amount of clinical time, and I have met only a couple nurses that actually enjoy their jobs. The rest complain incessantly about scheduling, mandantory overtime, patient loads, etc.. I have NEVER been around a more unhappy group during my entire 28 years in the workforce. I enjoy nursing, I enjoy the patients, but I find it tough to stomach the attitudes of most of the nurses I have met. Luckily, I have other job skills and education. I don't have rely on nursing to make a good living. I may just chalk it all up to experience. It is easy to see why the turnover is so high, and why there is (from what we hear, anyway) a shortage.

[Pekoe-RN]

To K98 - Nursing is also my 2nd career, entered well into my 40's. While I did encounter quite a few in school who did say - RUN NOW - I didn't listen. I've worked in legal and finance before - and there were plenty of miserable folks there as well. I guess I have simply accepted those who weren't happy as just that - they will probably always be miserable people, no matter what the profession. And if you hate your job that much - and ESPECIALLY in a healthcare field - get out. You're not doing yourself, your family and especially any patients you encounter any favors.

To mjscan07 - I agree with other postings; you need a place to settle and get grounded first before you make any "life" decisions. And that is a huge patient load for a newbie; besides, hospital nursing is not for everyone - don't close your eyes to other possibilities in the profession.

I am also very new to nursing (4 mos in); this is truly the hardest thing I have ever done. And I often have doubts - but mine are that I will never be as good as those I work with, or those who have cared for my parents. I have such respect for the "really good ones" - I really want to be that nurse. So I STILL have all my nursing books next to my bed, on the kitchen table ..... I am constantly still learning. And I always expect to .....

Good luck to both of you.