I want to do something else

smileysenior · Dec 24, 2006

Thank you for all the support! I do have some issues that I could work on like not taking things personally, saying no and not feeling guilty about it, dealing with toxic people beter, stop working so much, change my schedule, acknowledge the progress I have made, and explore other avenues of nursing than just bedide to name a few! Well, I am going to transfer to a calmer unit at the end of January and we will see how thazt goes.......it's much calmer,less busy, but still plenty of good experience. I know its tough but I can do it.........and I really appreciate the support, its nice to know I am not alone!

DolphinRN84, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Dec 24, 2006

Good for you smileysenior :) What kind of unit is it? Yeah you definitely worked too much and it was a very toxic environment. And you already have a decent amount of med/surg experience already- 7 months is not bad at all. All the best and happy holidays!

Lucyinthesky · Dec 24, 2006

I am not a nurse yet (I have chosen this as a second career) but my only advice is to realize that alot of the problems you wrote about do occur in areas other than nursing. Lack of respect, drama with coworkers, being taken advantage of, dealing with rude people, etc. can occur in other fields also. Giving up your career without at least trying to work in a different area of nursing should be a last resort. I know I have had many types of jobs over the years and realize now that the grass isn't always greener and sometimes it's hard to know that without experiencing it. Good luck in finding your niche.

Liddle Noodnik · Dec 24, 2006

Lack of respect, drama with coworkers, being taken advantage of, dealing with rude people, etc. can occur in other fields also.

That's a very good point, one I hadn't thought of before. And callouts, low staffing, poor employees, etc... are all universal. So are personal issues that others have affecting their work - and our own issues coloring how we react.

Thanks Lucy :)

Trauma Columnist · Dec 24, 2006

Hi SmileySenior - first congrats on being a nurse. You have been given some excellent advice here. My only thing to add is don't jump out of nursing too fast without changing what you can change. I am a very impulsive person and too often have found myself making decisions quickly that perhaps would have better ones had I explored more options.

My very first RN job (I was an LPN before in LTC) was at a VA. I worked 8 hour shifts and every week rotated, sometimes I rotated daily - working all three shifts was a killer. I only did it for six months until I found something I liked better - ICU, 12 hour nights.

At any rate, I hope that we have provided some support for you. Just like at work, you have naysayers but overall we are a pretty supportive bunch. I hope you make a good decision and stay in nursing.

tddowney · Dec 24, 2006

Thank you for all the support! I do have some issues that I could work on like not taking things personally, saying no and not feeling guilty about it, dealing with toxic people beter, stop working so much, change my schedule, acknowledge the progress I have made, and explore other avenues of nursing than just bedide to name a few! !

One last piece of advice.

Don't worry about changing everything at once.

Prioritize which one will make the biggest difference to you in the short term and put your energy into that change. Look week to week, not day to day, to measure progress. You may find that some days you slip, but over the course of a week or so, you gain ground on your goals. In my experience, this helps to not get discouraged because you have a bad day.

Meanwhile, enjoy the holiday, and have a great new year. Hope your new position goes well.

PedsRNBSN · Dec 26, 2006

Find an area that you love...I did the hospital thing for six months(and it was not that bad)...then found day surgery to be where I need to stay. The hours are great, (four days 9s-10s) off every weekend for three days, no holidays, or nights, challenging days-but WAY less stress compared to hospitals-and I have FUN at work. Try looking for something that makes you happy-not all nursing is like this.

TXNurseBSN · Dec 26, 2006

Smileysenior---

My heart so goes out to you. I believe most of us here went to nursing school because we like patient care and wanted to touch people's lives. Unfortunately, the current state of nursing does not allow us to do just that. Understaffing, heavy patient loads, long hours, limited time to spend with patients, lack of respect, etc., etc.

I just graduated this past May and already felt burned out and disillusioned from what I experienced in clinicals. I went to work on a med/surg floor and hated it so bad that I practically threw up before every shift. I was too busy pushing meds, hanging IV's, dealing with paperwork and so much other BS that I felt like I barely saw the patients I was there to help. What happened to therapeutic communication, empathy, patient teaching? There was simply no time because I had too many patients. I got pregnant...my BP skyrocketed and I started bleeding. After only 4 months, I threw in the towel for my unborn baby's sake.

At first, I felt like a failure. I had really wanted to stick things out for a full year. But, as soon as I was away from that job..my problems with my pregnancy ceased.

I decided to give school nursing a try (the only clinical rotation I really enjoyed in nursing school). Now, most of my classmates did not consider school nurses "real nurses". That is why I did not do it right after graduation. But guess what, I feel more like a nurse now than I ever did on that med/surg floor. No, I do not start IV's anymore. However, I am an advocate for the kids I care for. I tap into a myriad of resources to improve their health. I spend a lot of time teaching. My assessment skills have greatly improved. I love my job and I look forward to going to work.

My advice...........don't give up on nursing altogether, just keep looking until you find your niche. I bet it is out there somewhere....something led you into the nursing profession and you are needed!!

Sheri257 · Dec 28, 2006

I'm a recent grad and haven't started working as an RN yet, but I have been externing for the last two years. My first job really sucked. When I was in a toxic environment, it did tend to make me very negative about the whole profession.

If I had based my decisions on that one job I would have quit nursing school all together.

Then I changed jobs. It was still floor nursing, but the environment was completely different. Even the MDs were nice and supportive. It made a world of difference.

The next time I find myself in a toxic environment, I won't hesitate to quit and/or switch to another floor/unit because I learned that not all jobs are bad.

A lot of it, IMHO, depends on the management and there are some well managed units and facilities out there. Even changing units with the same employer can sometimes make a big difference, if that unit has a different manager.

:typing

AussieKylie · Dec 30, 2006

I have been working on an extremely busy med/tele unit for about 7 months..........and I hate it. Nursing is not what I thought it was. I dont have to explain y, you guys already know. I am looking into other careers that may pay less but that I may be happier with. I envy people who enjoy their jobs and have careers they love.........I can't quit because I need the money. But I am trying to save so I can work towards another career that I would love. I know people say that you should try to stay for a year in one place because it looks good and I am going to try to stick it out that long but I just want to be honest with myself, this is not something I see myself doing for much longer. Anyone who is considering a career in nursing, RUN and fast!

I agree with you alot. This is how I am feeling all the time and I started my Grad Program August 06. Maybe nursing isnt my calling but then I think maybe its the ward I am on, maybe if I am on another ward I may enjoy it, but thats another chance to take. I agree with you how other people enjoy their nursing careers and you wonder how, why is that so, why cant it be me. I am thinking of doing something else. Possibilities: Police force, customs inspector, Social worker? There has to be something that really fits the the jig piece to our puzzle.

We can only think about the positives in life and what we want to accomplish and that will be another lot of hard work, however I believe its possible.

silly1982 · Dec 30, 2006

HEY BECOME AN OR NURSE. NO PERSONAL CARE, NO FAMILY DRAMA, LESS RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE DOCTORS ARE RIGHT THERE AND MUST MORE ENJOYABLE.

I WAS JUST LIKE YOU...I HAVE 2.5 YEARS OF EXPEREIENCE AND HAD TO GO ON A MONTHS STRESS LEAVE AFTER 7 MONTHS OF WORK. SO THEN I LEFT MY CRAPPY WARD AND WENT TO THE OR. IT SUCKED, SO I WENT TO ANOTHER OR...MUCH BETTER.

Never give up.

newbiern2006 · Dec 31, 2006

i, too, am working on a busy tele floor and have had similar problems - and i'm leaving this facility, but not nursing. i posted to another thread similar to this one that i am going into homecare - i was an hha prior to this, and only worked in a hospital to get so-called "experience." i could have done quite nicely without this experience, thank you. please don't leave nursing - there are so many areas for you that you'd do well in and probably love. if you're smart enough to get through nursing school, and obvously you are, you're smart enough to find a place that fits. we need good nurses in every nursing venue, not just hospitals. prayers to you!