I hate nursing

[Neezy84]

I may get yelled at or get the usual "find another profession" comments. But I have to say it.. are there any LPN's who love their job? I have been a LPN for 12 yrs and i have hated every moment of it. I noticed that Im subjected to nursing homes, abuse clinics peds and home health. I moved from up north only to relocated to florida and get paid far less for a job that is worse. Never wanted to be a nurse it was a family trait. All the women in my family are nurses. I have no life no husband no kids and i spend almost every day at a place i hate. I have been working on my RN and at this point I dont feel like its worth it. I have tried hospitals and I have tried other avenues. I left the profession only to return and realize you can leave the job but you will NEVER stop being a nurse. So Im not sure what to do is my RN worth it or will I be just as miserable? I was never a smoker I find my self smoking and unable to sleep. I cry before work every day and get a upset stomach before my shift. and this is at every nursing job i held. Im sorry if this sounds negative or sad or just complaining. i know the senior nurses are gonna read me my rights. But I need to know if anyone feels the same way?

Additional info: I was recently attacked by a patients husband during a home healthcare assignment. I have anxiety PTSD and really just dont like or trust people any more nursing has been nothing but sad experiences for me. My friends and family im sure are tired of my complaints and most people say " just leave" they will never understand....you dont just leave nursing its in you.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

You may not love nursing, but you do love drama. If you're not happy, do something else. It's human to complain, but if you complain while continuing to do the same thing for twelve years, it gets old.

This is a colleague you are speaking to. She deserves respect. Do you have any constructive comments for her?

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

Neezy, I feel compelled to respond. My advice is to get out of nursing, take baby steps and find something you love and figure out how to make it a reality. I've been a nurse twice as long as you and I can relate to your struggle. In all honesty, I wish I hadn't made the decision to become a nurse. Don't get me wrong, some parts of my career have been extremely fulfilling, but yes I regretted becoming a nurse almost from the very start. I do my job very well, but I am as burnt out as a crispy critter. This profession has chewed me up and spit me out too many times to count. Sometimes I look at the 'business people' and the 'bean counters' and become jealous. Although I feel honored to take care of my patients, I look at the 'other side' and wish I didn't have the overwhelming stress of people's lives in my hands and that my job didn't feel so...I don't know the word for it. But I am encumbered, I have so many loved ones that are counting on my paycheck and insurance, I can't leave nursing. I don't think I'll ever be able to leave at this stage in my life and I'll be in this profession until I die or retire (whichever comes first). So again my advise is to get out now, before you marry and before you have children that depend solely on you. Although I feel privileged to have met and cared for so many lovely people and that I have had so many unique experiences, I do wish to work without the particular stress, pressure, and BS that comes with the nursing profession.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Neezy I feel compelled to respond. My advice is to get out of nursing, take baby steps and find something you love and figure out how to make it a reality. I've been a nurse twice as long as you and I can relate to your struggle. In all honesty, I wish I hadn't made the decision to become a nurse. Don't get me wrong, some parts of my career have been extremely fulfilling, but yes I regretted becoming a nurse almost from the very start. I do my job very well, but I am as burnt out as a crispy critter. This profession has chewed me up and spit me out too many times to count. Sometimes I look at the 'business people' and the 'bean counters' and become jealous. Although I feel honored to take care of my patients, I look at the 'other side' and wish I didn't have the overwhelming stress of people's lives in my hands and that my job didn't feel so...I don't know the word for it. But I am encumbered, I have so many loved ones that are counting on my paycheck and insurance, I can't leave nursing. I don't think I'll ever be able to leave at this stage in my life and I'll be in this profession until I die or retire (whichever comes first). So again my advise is to get out now, before you marry and before you have children that depend solely on you. Although I feel privileged to have met and cared for so many lovely people and that I have had so many unique experiences, I do wish to work without the particular stress, pressure, and BS that comes with the nursing profession.[/quote']

Well said dream'n.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

You do not have to be a nurse. There are a million other things you can do. Why stay doing something that makes you this unhappy? Yes, you are a nurse, but that does not mean you have to work as a nurse. There are lots of other jobs where you can help and nurture without actually being the nurse.

[missfreda]

I understand your frustrations and feel the same at times. However, I have learned that self-preservation is the first rule of survival. Perhaps a temporary change from nursing may be better for you. I do travel nursing periodically because of the stress nursing can bring. Invest in personal insurance coverage for your license. It will cover any injury related to your work. Personally, I would file criminal charges against any person, (patient or family member) and seek civil damages as well, if an assault or abuse occurs. Hopefully, things will get better. Hang in there.

[guest52816]

If you read through the posts on this web site, you'll see that MANY people feel exactly the same way that you do. Many nurses on this site are anxious, burned out and question their choice of a profession.

But only YOU can answer the question as to whether or not you should remain in the job. As one poster suggested, if you don't already have positive outlets for your angst, get some. It will help tremendously. You need to take the time to care for yourself.

I am also a proponent of finding your nursing spot. For example, I recently started a psychiatric nursing job. The position is so much more enjoyable than my previous job in a large teaching hospital. During my 8-hour shift, I carry none of the constant stress that I carted around as a cardiac nurse.

Of course, I have a new set of worries being responsible for severely depressed and suicidal patients, but welcome the challenge. Your post states that you have tried working at different facilities. But maybe you haven't found the right spot for you, just yet. Or maybe, you should find another career.

Just know that you aren't alone. And yes, there are plenty of 'mean girls in scrubs' out there. But ultimately, only you can possibly know what is the right move for you. It is so unhealthy, both physically and mentally to be as unhappy as you stated you are for 12 years!

I truly hope that everything works out for you.

[DeeAngel]

Retrain to do something else if you hate it instead of complaining on the internet. LPNs are treated horribly all over the place.

[Ginger45]

Amen! Well Said Neely 84

[Ginger45]

Wow! Whatever happened to compassion to other nurses?

[Buyer beware, BSN]

Posters, if you haven't read the Davey Do post I urge you to do so. I won't reference it because I don't wish to steal his thunder, suffice to say it's a hard act to follow.

Now for the mundane:

From my own experience I urge all novice or otherwise veteran nurses that work in the pits to have security pat down some of these inmates (patients) before asking them to hop-up on the gurney while simutaneously witnessing the gun or bowie knife falling out their waistband with a resounding thud onto the vomit, blood, urine, excrement soaked floor. ("don't worry sir, ma'me, it's not loaded")

Maintain a safe environment above all things.

This is the one thing of true value I learned in nursing school and it has served me and my charges well down through the years. Thank you Adelphi.

[Neezy84]

I should have said senior nurses would understand! It's only been 12 years and I do feel burned out. Thank you for your input so much it is very appreciated I agree now is the time to make changes best of luck to u and again thank you so much

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Keep going! It doesn't matter that you cry every day before work, have hated every moment of your job for the past twelve years, have no life, and bore your friends and family with your constant complaining. None of us get to decide how to live and you were simply born to suffer.

I also keep myself wrapped in imaginary chains. It's just who I was meant to be.

Is that more what you were looking for?

Your screen name is so apropos, SL. Why do you always have to be hateful?

For OP - it sounds like you need some counseling for the PTSD. Also, may I suggest you involve Law Enforcement and an attorney. Whatever else is going on, you were assaulted, for God's sake, and that has to be addressed. That type of violence is huge and negatively impacts our lives in a big way for a long, long time. Even if you've already done the foregoing, get more counseling.

Also, you need to explore what other choices you have as far as work. There are lots of different careers in the world and you need to explore them. Is there a Community College near you? Check to see what lines of work they could teach you.

Talk with people who do work other than Nursing and make a list of at least 2 dozen different lines of work. Then start exploring each one. What does each one pay? Could you find a job in these areas or is the market saturated? What is a typical day like in each area? Etc.

Figure out how you would tell high school students about each type of work. When you are teaching someone else, you have to really learn the subject matter, so this framework/viewpoint will help you learn about each line of work.

No law says you have to stop being a nurse and yes it is in you after 12 years. But you could be employed in a different line of work. Nursing comes in handy, but if you don't like it, you have to explore other things.

Are you artistic? Athletic? Good at writing? Love kids? Babies? Older folks? Good at math? Like to work with tools to fix things? These are just a few ideas that come to mind. What are your strong skills, your interests? Can you sew? Do you want to be your own boss? Do you like to work with people or do you prefer more solitary pursuits? Do you like animals? The outdoors?

It's scary, perhaps, to think about change, but just take a little time and do some exploration. It's sad to think you might spend your whole life being unhappy and that you would grow bitter over it.

Go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and look up their Occupational Outlook Handbook. It could give you lots of ideas for careers you've never really thought about. I wish you well and hope you will follow some of the recommendations. Just ignore the people here who give you rude answers.