Wrong Career Choice

[drea61487]

Currently wondering what else I could do with my nursing degree. While I am thankful that God saw me through nursing school, I have been miserable ever since I graduated in 2012. I know that I have only been a nurse for approximately 2 years, I am just not satisfied with my career at the moment. After graduating I obtained a position on a Med-Surg unit where I spent about 6 months until I reached my breaking point, it was just too stressful plus my mother was very ill at the time, so I ended up quitting and took another job as an Adolescent Psych nurse, which I can say I kind of enjoyed, despite having to do my job and everybody else's. I worked as a psych nurse for 7 months until I was terminated due to another nurse making false accusations against me (due to the fact that I had recently reported her for not completing her work which was always falling on me). So after being terminated I kind of took some time to myself as I had also just experienced my mother passing a few months before I was terminated. After a few months I went back to Med-Surg PRN and also picked up a home health position. I just don't think nursing is for me anymore and I don't know what to do. I feel stuck in a career I don't love.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

rsal27, Yes I have a BSN. I will definitely look into those areas you mentioned. Do you know where I could find more info on other careers where I can utilize my nursing degree. Because I want to try and use the degree I already have because I worked so hard for it and I don't want it to be a waste. I know that sounds crazy right, but I've tried searching online and can't seem to come up with anything.

If you look at the yellow bar at the top of the page and click "Specialties" you will have more reading than you can do in a week. Browse around in the various fora, see if anything piques your interest. Don't skip any of them-- you really don't know what you'll see.

And I agree c Esme-- don't do anything without resolving your feelings of bereavement, at least enough that they aren't getting in your way. Even if you mom wasn't in hospice, call one and ask to meet with the bereavement counselor. They are there for people like you, too.

[drea61487]

Thanks again rsal27!!! I was thinking about school nursing but it's so hard to get on at the schools in my area due to the qualifying years of experience required and the lack of available positions. However, I have read on some of the discussions that new grads have ended up in school nurse positions. I will still give it a shot if something becomes available.

[naptimeRN]

I feel the same way as you do quite often (in terms of feeling like I made the wrong career choice). I guess you don't know until you try. I've been a nurse for a couple of years too. I work med-surg and outpatient. I thought outpatient would be a huge breath of fresh air, but honestly, I don't enjoy it so far either. Maybe it's the specialty. Maybe it's the duties I have to do there. The boredom at times. The whole dealing with billing. etc. But then in med-surg, as you know, there are lots of cons Both have pros and cons. I'm happy I tried outpatient. And I don't think I want to go back (more than per diem as I am now) to a hospital floor anytime soon (if ever), but I also don't feel like my current position is for me.

Like I said, you never really know until you try. You can read a job description, chat with the manager, etc. but until you get hired and start working, you really don't know what it's like and if you will like it. There is no harm in trying. Dealing with your mother's passing may also be adding to your feelings right now. This job is stressful and mentally taxing enough and to be dealing with such a difficult time with something in your home life may be making it feel even more unbearable. It can sometimes be difficult catering to the physical and emotional needs of others for 8 to 12 hours when we are hurting inside ourselves.

There is no shame in realizing you don't love what you do for work. I am beginning to come to terms with that myself. For now, I need this job but hope to keep searching for something that makes me not regret this career choice. Best of luck to both of us At least we know we aren't alone:)