I think I'm done with nursing.

[MBrickle]

I've had a tough few weeks of self-reflection. My mind has gone back and forth over my preferred career path, and, ultimately, I think I'm going to bow out gracefully.

I am a career-change RN. After receiving two bachelor degrees in non-nursing fields, I realized what I had really known all along - nursing was for me. I worked hard, I worked full time, I put myself through school, I was at the top of my class....andddd...I got a pedi home health job. My ADN isn't worth the paper it's written on in the Northeast.

THEN, I blew my back out. Massive herniation, 6 months off work, and pain to end all pain. I deal with workers comp, I rehab (luckily no surgery) and I get back to work this past June.

My DREAM is to be an acute care nurse. I love working with high-acuity and in a fast-paced, think-on-your-feet environment...as someone who as always craved more 'excitement,' this is for me. BUT, I have an ADN. And even with a BSN, hospitals aren't hiring you unless you have previous hospital experience (usually already in the specialty you are trying to break in to,) and you can't get experience of any kind because nobody will hire you to begin with. Add to that a back injury, and I'm further limited to PICU, but preferably NICU as I really do not want to temp fate with my back...and REFUSE a future filled with spinal fusions and all that jazz.

I tried to convince myself to be an FNP. I even toyed with PA school, but I'm so frustrated by all of the courses that I will have to re-take since I am past my 10 year expiration for most schools.

I'm frustrated. I would be a STELLAR ICU nurse. I really would. I have fought so hard to get here and it's taken years. I just don't think I have much fight left in me. Moving isn't an option as my husband makes more than double what I do and has a job with a large pay potential.

It is just so discouraging to see that travel nurses are getting hired all over the place because they are cheaper from every angle. Local nurses need the jobs! I'm just over it at this moment. I am just treading water and getting sick of it. Hard work has officially gotten me nowhere and there is no silver lining in sight.

Just needed to rant/vent/sulk/express my frustration

May as well go back to my pre-nursing legal career where I made the same money, didn't have to do nearly as much work, and wasn't in a field that constantly tempted me to do more and be more, but knowing that the goals I have in mind are pretty unattainable.

:::END PITY PARTY:::

[VICEDRN, BSN, RN]

I'm feel quite sorry for your coworkers. It sounds like you are one of those people who go around saying "that's not my job" instead of helping. I'm by no means a glutton for punishment but if I just discharged someone and have a free sec you bet your hiney I'm cleaning that room! I love my housekeepers and am more than willing to help them out. That's part of being a good thoughtful employee.

Don't feel badly for my coworkers because I refuse to spend my entire shift doing their jobs for them. If I have a free second, I'm going to pee and maybe eat something. I might even go find a spot to take a few deep breaths and recenter so I can be emotionally present for my patients as a nurse. Because that's what i am in fact employed to do, be a nurse, not a housekeeper, not a tv repair person, it person, transporter, pharm aid, or resp therapist.

I love the housekeepers too. They're often good people to be around but lazy as all get out often enough and that doesn't make it my job to their job.

Thank you for proving my point though! Nurses will always be wallowing in it. Do you see anybody trying to do our jobs for us? Rushing to assist you? The rt? The md? The mid level? Nope, didn't think so. That's how you get ahead. By doing your job well. Not half butting it so you can do other people's jobs for them.

[VICEDRN, BSN, RN]

I'm feel quite sorry for your coworkers. It sounds like you are one of those people who go around saying "that's not my job" instead of helping. I'm by no means a glutton for punishment but if I just discharged someone and have a free sec you bet your hiney I'm cleaning that room! I love my housekeepers and am more than willing to help them out. That's part of being a good thoughtful employee.

Ps. I don't say anything about it! Just keep my mouth shut, keep smiling nodding and studying for the gre! Ain't no saving you people from yourselves. I've tried being outspoken. The housekeeper hides her bucket in the back closet, if you're asking. :-)

[SionainnRN]

Don't feel badly for my coworkers because I refuse to spend my entire shift doing their jobs for them. If I have a free second, I'm going to pee and maybe eat something. I might even go find a spot to take a few deep breaths and recenter so I can be emotionally present for my patients as a nurse. Because that's what i am in fact employed to do, be a nurse, not a housekeeper, not a tv repair person, it person, transporter, pharm aid, or resp therapist.

I love the housekeepers too. They're often good people to be around but lazy as all get out often enough and that doesn't make it my job to their job.

Thank you for proving my point though! Nurses will always be wallowing in it. Do you see anybody trying to do our jobs for us? Rushing to assist you? The rt? The md? The mid level? Nope, didn't think so. That's how you get ahead. By doing your job well. Not half butting it so you can do other people's jobs for them.

Actually yes, where I work we work as a team to help each other and the pt. I work in a busy ER and have had the docs, cna's, and housekeepers bust their asses to help me and keep the flow going. You have such a narrow view of what your "job" is. No wonder no one tries to help you out.

[VICEDRN, BSN, RN]

Actually yes, where I work we work as a team to help each other and the pt. I work in a busy ER and have had the docs, cna's, and housekeepers bust their asses to help me and keep the flow going. You have such a narrow view of what your "job" is. No wonder no one tries to help you out.

Be careful how much judge people you meet on an Internet board. You don't know the first thing about working with me or at the facilities I have been at. If I wanted to judge you, I would guess that you are that needy slow poke nurse that everyone helps because you are so slow the patients would never get anything unless everyone on staff helps you! (This is another way that nurses behave like codependents) But I don't know that you are, maybe you just have a nice job where everyone helps out.

For the most part, I draw all my own labs though we have a phleb, do breathing treatments or o2 as needed because it is the best thing for my patients. If tv people refuse to come, I even trouble shoot their tv but frankly, I remain aware that these are someone else's responsibilities. For the record, the phlebs love me as do the rts and the housekeepers.

I know enough to recognize a losing battle when I see one and I say nothing but plan my future. It's sad because again, nurses discredit themselves. Rushing through charting to clean a room so the next patient can be in it. What's left is a sloppy chart and proof that we are overpaid housekeepers yet people like you like it like that. Refusing to advance the profession.

[VICEDRN, BSN, RN]

Actually yes, where I work we work as a team to help each other and the pt. I work in a busy ER and have had the docs, cna's, and housekeepers bust their asses to help me and keep the flow going. You have such a narrow view of what your "job" is. No wonder no one tries to help you out.

Ps. Nobody can help you medicate your patients or do your charts. Not the mds, the cna or housekeepers so I doubt these people are doing much more than their jobs. Sad that you think they are "helping" you by doing their jobs.

I get and give plenty of help to nurses that I work with because again, I am a nurse and that's what I get paid to do and my loyalty is to help other nurses with nursing specific activities. This is the most productive use of my time, not cleaning rooms because the housekeeper is having a smoke with her buddies for the next 40 minutes or so.

[SionainnRN]

Be careful how much judge people you meet on an Internet board. You don't know the first thing about working with me or at the facilities I have been at. If I wanted to judge you, I would guess that you are that needy slow poke nurse that everyone helps because you are so slow the patients would never get anything unless everyone on staff helps you! (This is another way that nurses behave like codependents) But I don't know that you are, maybe you just have a nice job where everyone helps out.

For the most part, I draw all my own labs though we have a phleb, do breathing treatments or o2 as needed because it is the best thing for my patients. If tv people refuse to come, I even trouble shoot their tv but frankly, I remain aware that these are someone else's responsibilities. For the record, the phlebs love me as do the rts and the housekeepers.

I know enough to recognize a losing battle when I see one and I say nothing but plan my future. It's sad because again, nurses discredit themselves. Rushing through charting to clean a room so the next patient can be in it. What's left is a sloppy chart and proof that we are overpaid housekeepers yet people like you like it like that. Refusing to advance the profession.

And you also shouldn't assume. I never said anything about rushing through charting, or sacrificing my bladder to "do someone else's work". I specifically said if I have a free second I try to keep things moving by cleaning a room, this helps the TEAM by freeing up the housekeeper to do a terminal clean on another room. In the ER it's all about "moving the meat" so ALL of it is part of my job. And if you think all nursing is, is passing meds and charting, then you are missing the bigger part of nursing. If a manager is looking to promote someone, who do you think they are going to pick? Someone who pitches in to help the unit, or the person who has the attitude of "it's not my job" or "I"m not getting paid to do that"? Which trust me, people can see a mile away despite your assurances that you're not vocal about it, everyone can tell. Good luck with this attitude. I hope it serves you well and gets you what you want. I personally think you'll never be happy with your job with that attitude.

[VICEDRN, BSN, RN]

And you also shouldn't assume. I never said anything about rushing through charting, or sacrificing my bladder to "do someone else's work". I specifically said if I have a free second I try to keep things moving by cleaning a room, this helps the TEAM by freeing up the housekeeper to do a terminal clean on another room. In the ER it's all about "moving the meat" so ALL of it is part of my job. And if you think all nursing is, is passing meds and charting, then you are missing the bigger part of nursing. If a manager is looking to promote someone, who do you think they are going to pick? Someone who pitches in to help the unit, or the person who has the attitude of "it's not my job" or "I"m not getting paid to do that"? Which trust me, people can see a mile away despite your assurances that you're not vocal about it, everyone can tell. Good luck with this attitude. I hope it serves you well and gets you what you want. I personally think you'll never be happy with your job with that attitude.

Did I say you rush through your charting? Nope. I was implying that rushing through charting is what is promoted by doing everyone else's job for them. A lack of focus on nursing.

You join a whole host of people that confuse the Internet with reality. This is a good safe place to vent. In real life, I move my patients super fast by focusing on nursing activities, I build my reputation in nursing by helping my peers as a nurse do nursing activities and in my last review, was told that my greatest failing was that I need to spend more time on committees and teaching/precepting because I am just such an

Amazing resource as a nurse. I smiled and thanked the leader reviewing me, knowing I would never be around to do all this stuff. So, no, it doesn't show and I bet there's an army of nurses like me all over the place.

You won't ever find me cleaning a room. Ever.

I will never be happy bedside and i think thats sad because nursing could be so much more! i am too busy moving on for all that nonsense! Truly, there are plenty of people who don't need to rescue the whole world from their own jobs as and call it a job in and of itself.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

And you also shouldn't assume. I never said anything about rushing through charting, or sacrificing my bladder to "do someone else's work". I specifically said if I have a free second I try to keep things moving by cleaning a room, this helps the TEAM by freeing up the housekeeper to do a terminal clean on another room. In the ER it's all about "moving the meat" so ALL of it is part of my job. And if you think all nursing is, is passing meds and charting, then you are missing the bigger part of nursing. If a manager is looking to promote someone, who do you think they are going to pick? Someone who pitches in to help the unit, or the person who has the attitude of "it's not my job" or "I"m not getting paid to do that"? Which trust me, people can see a mile away despite your assurances that you're not vocal about it, everyone can tell. Good luck with this attitude. I hope it serves you well and gets you what you want. I personally think you'll never be happy with your job with that attitude.

Oh, so that's what it's like to work as an RN in the ER. Oh. Hmmm.

I dunno, I don't buy anything you've said. Just sounds like something a floor secretary who wants to be a tech would say for some reason. JMHO.

[SionainnRN]

Oh, so that's what it's like to work as an RN in the ER. Oh. Hmmm.

I dunno, I don't buy anything you've said. Just sounds like something a floor secretary who wants to be a tech would say for some reason. JMHO.

Wow really? Sorry I'm an RN, not a secretary, and I happen to work with a great group of staff who helps each other. Since you have nothing to contribute other than calling me a liar I have nothing else to say to you.

[Little_Mouse]

I think this thread is getting away from the initial topic at hand. What do the Mods think?

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

This thread is now divisive and off topic. I have alerted Admin already. The thread should probably be closed, since some people cannot stick to the original topic. Personal attacks are unnecessary.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Please remember our Terms Of Service:

We promote the idea of lively debate. This means you are free to disagree with anyone on any type of subject matter as long as your criticism is constructive and polite. Additionally, please refrain from name-calling. This is divisive, rude, and derails the thread.

Our first priority is to the members that have come here because of the flame-free atmosphere we provide. There is a zero-tolerance policy here against personal attacks. We will not tolerate anyone insulting other's opinion nor name calling.

OP came here for advice re back issues and desiring hospital position with ASN---somehow this has morphed into an entirely different discussion. Our members are served best when we offer pertinent advice pertaining to original topic, thoughtfully post and avoid name calling which only derails a topic and further drives a wedge between members....andour profession.