Who's leaving nursing?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Just wondering if anyone else is actively leaving or contemplating leaving the profession altogether. If so, I'm also curious as to what other fields/careers you're pursuing. I'm seriously considering returning to school to get my master's in library science. Anyone else in similar circumstances??

Specializes in Med surg, Critical Care, LTC.

As soon as I can't think of or find a position that pay's close to what I'm being paid now, I'm GONE!! Totally burned out. I'm looking every day for something else. I'm hoping that once the economy picks up, opportunities will too. :typing

Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

I left nursing after 17 years - I was bored and followed what I thought was a dream. I worked in the business world for 3 years (as an apprentice landscape architect) and never felt comfortable in my new career (it's all about the money in the business world). Plus I was making less money and working more hours (50 - 60). So I returned to nursing and knew immediately that it was where I am supposed to be - I know it, I'm good at it, and I realized that I missed interacting with patients.

That said, I am in my mid 40's and have another 20+ years to work. I am currently working as a staff nurse and have applied to FNP school. Because I do want more of a challenge, more autonomy, perhaps a bit more money and less physical stress. I will say both the hospital and the floor I work on are really good. 90% of the nurses, CNA's etc... really work hard and care about the patients.

For those of you who are unhappy in your current situation before you totally leave nursing, try working in another setting. Sit down and think about what made you get into nursing to begin with and perhaps that will help guide your next choice. Also, going back to school for a higher degree ie BSN or MSN will open even more doors.

Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.
...The horizontal violence and open hostility from other nurses and staff just makes an already difficult job completely impossible.In addition using the customer service model enables pts and their families to do whatever to the staff and we're just supposed to take it. We're not supposed to protect ourselves,we're completely expendable.:scrying:

Could have written this myself. I can't get out completely. I'm in my 50's and don't want to go back to school. Fortunately I've been able to go casual. I'm working only a few shifts a month now.

Good luck to you.

Specializes in Labor & Delivery.
I'm out,sadly. I've worked in acute hospital settings(ICU,CVICU,Burns). I got out for a while to pursue other things. When I got back into nursing the change was palpable. The horizontal violence and open hostility from other nurses and staff just makes an already difficult job completely impossible.In addition using the customer service model enables pts and their families to do whatever to the staff and we're just supposed to take it. We're not supposed to protect ourselves,we're completely expendable.:scrying:

Horizontal voilence is an excellent way to describe it. Usually s**t flows downhill, but in nursing its definatley a horizontal flow as well!:banghead: Oh and also...I ride a Harley...I've had many days where I think that i'd much rather work at the Harley store here in town that the hospital. The employee discount alone is worth it in my household!! lol

Specializes in outpatient, inpatient.

I've been a nurse for over 15 yrs, and to agree with one of the above posts "the change is palpable". I have never encountered so much viciousness, backstabbing, fear for your own safety at times, in all my years of working. I changed areas where I worked, have worked in many varied settings thinking if I could only find that one place then everything would be ok and I could continue in nursing. I finally came to the realization that I was hitting my head against a wall, and needed to find something else. While money and paying your bills are important, your health and quality of life are equally as important. I am going into real estate as well as considering a specific franchise. Continuing to explore options. I am also not a young nurse, but truly believe if you want to change things in your life, there is a way. Best of luck to every nurse in a similar situation! :p

I am working on getting back to school next semester. I want to go for physical therapist because I do like helping people, but nursing is just a lot of politics to me, I hope this path is better and a little less stressful.

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I'm not leaving nursing, but I am looking into other areas of nursing, and considering advancing my education as well. I don't want to be working the floor when I'm 60.

I am seriously considering another career. I like taking care of people and see them get better but i am sick of all the politics. I've never worked with so many backstabbing, sabotaging, jealous, bipolar, caddy, verbally/mentally abusive individuals. Some nurses and doctors can be downright MEAN, especially to new nurses. I've only been an RN for 2 years and it is starting to get to me. Doesn't help that our hospital doesn't support out nurses either. I have talked with other co-workers and some share the same feelings. I feel stressed, irritated, and sometimes depressed. I have no motivation to do anything when i get home from work. All i want to do is lie down on my bed and be a vegetable. I've gained 30lbs since i started nursing and my health is not as good as it used to be. I don't know if its the area of nursing or if its nursing in general. I refuse to do med/surg because of the patient to nurse ratio. I have no desire for ICU. Emergency room is too busy and too stressful. I don't know. I'm at loss because i really do love the medical field. I've been thinking about physical therapy or computers.

I am, at present, making plans to retire from nursing within two years, assuming other options come forth. My "career" has been an absolute disappointment, and going from an LPN to being an RN with a BSN didn't help me in the end. I have become largely disillusioned with nursing and my experiences with it. I don't know for sure what I'll be doing, but after trying to resurrect my "career" last year, and getting one door after the next slammed in my face, and despite being in the process of reading a book about managing a nursing career, I have one foot out the door, and the other is itching to join it. Were the economy not so bad at present, I'd be out the door sooner.

Im leaving nursing as soon as my 2 year contract finishes. Going back to school for cardiovascular perfusion. It would be expensive since its a particular university, but all it matters is to be happy with what you do... :)

I know the feeling IsseyM, all you describe there its true. I am disappointed and :( , all the work that takes to be and RN.

I've been out of bedside nursing for 2 years, getting fired from the AL charge nurse gig I had for telling the executive director to f*** off because he wasn't replacing any of the CNAs who left. Lucky for me, I found a new career doing end user support for electronic medical records.. The pay is MUCH better and no pressures. Just an ocassional a**hole doc who yells and screams about the system. My reply to their tantrums is, "maybe so...but I know how to use the program." :smokin:

+ Add a Comment