Burned out and hate nursing

Nurses Stress 101

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Since I was a little girl, I have always wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to help people. I wanted to heal. Now 4 years out of nursing school, I HATE nursing with a passion. I am a med/surg nurse with a BSN.

Reasons I hate nurses (in no particular order)

1. Most days I feel like a pill-pusher. I don't feel like I make a difference.

2. Doctors feel they are perfect.

3. Patient satisfaction scores.

4. Patient sense of entitlement. (see #3)

5. Family at the bedside dictating what they want...like I am their personal servant. I have to comply (see #3).

6. Lack of appreciation mized with how much more work can they give us.

7. Nights, weekends, and holiday. I don't want to give everything I've got only to see no return in work satisfaction.

I don't want to be a case manager. I don't want home health nursing. I really want to be outside of the hospital. Quite honestly, I want to be away from people. I would be quite content to work on a computer and have email interactions. Preferably work from home. Any suggestions?

Specializes in Pedi.

Medical supply companies hire RNs to train people on the use of their equipment/supplies. Before I left the hospital, I remember getting an in-service on the new thermometers we were going to be getting and it was provided by not one by TWO RNs. Their job was to go around to every floor and teach us about the product. Seemed like a sweet and fairly stress-free job to me.

ETA I imagine jobs like this are fairly hard to come by though.

Have you ever thought about working for a health insurance company? There is a very large corporate insurance company near where I live that hires experienced RN's for 9-5 type office jobs. I'm not sure exactly what the job entails, but I would venture to guess it involves reviewing medical records/cases. There was even a nursing student in the cohort that graduated before me that works for this particular insurance company, and they paid for her entire tuition in order for her to work for them as an RN. Just thought I'd throw that suggestion out there for ya since I hadn't seen anyone else mention it yet!

Research Medical Writing or Legal Nurse Consulting. After taking the course, you can start your own business from home and both pay pretty well. Just remember that you will have to have enough clinical experience to draw upon as an expert, should you need to testify in court about your medical record review/opinion. Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

Specializes in geriatrics.

I can relate. I enjoy nursing for the most part, but for many of the reasons you've listed OP, nursing can be very draining. Management and co-workers can also make the difference, for better or worse.

I am currently looking to relocate, and many of the postings I see I don't want. There are certain areas that I know will make me content, and I'm not settling.

Otherwise, it's back to school. I took a careful inventory and thought long and hard over the period of months to determine areas of interest. You may benefit from the same. Some things are worth a compromise, others are complete deal breakers for me. For each of us, this is different.

Consider another specialty or perhaps insurance, sales, teaching in some capacity, or clinic work. Floor nurses tend to burn out quickly.

Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

Sorry you hate nursing.

Many of us love it, inspite of bad employers and work conditions.

Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

I was in your shoes a few years ago. I left nursing to stay at home for almost 5 yrs. I hated my profession and never, EVER wanted to work in it again!

Long story short, I had to go back due to my husbands health. OMG, I felt like I was being condemned to hell.

Only when I found a wonderful hospital that allowed me to have an opinion in my work environment did I realize it wasn't nursing I hated, but my previous hospital.

I have been back for almost 4 yrs now and I love my job. Yes, we have those crazy days, but it's a far cry from the crap hole that I used to work at.

Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

Have you tried anything besides M/S? I'm hoping next month to try something different.

No. Quite honestly nothing else seems appealing. I would rather go back to customer service.

Op, I feel your pain. I've been working med-surg for 4 years now and have been a charge nurse for a year. I am well and truly burned out! I am looking in to going back to school to obtain my BSN and I feel like I should stay where I am for now since the job market isn't great. Med-surg can be tough and the best of nurses can get burned out. Keep your eyes open for opportunities in different departments...a little change might do you good:) Good luck!

Totally get this, RN1023. After all, more nursing education, gets you what?

More nursing, and nothing else for your money. So you go through BSN or higher and you are where you started, unhappy. Maybe if you are lucky, a bit better, but still nursing. How about go for a non-healthcare degree?

I have thought about a non-healthcare degree, but I have no idea what to do.

I know of two new grads in my area - friend families, who are in Finance and Accounting who instantly were hired by big firms in the City (Chicago) near me with absolutely no effort on their part - they had multiple offers.

I have also heard these two areas are on the comeback, but without proof, like nursing you never know. But they said that that sector seems to be hiring and classmates had no trouble.

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