Missed out on so much

Nurses Stress 101

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I am very sad. I tried to leave work to get to my second grader's music program at school. She had talked about it non-stop; how she would be on the stage with her class singing for flag day in front of the entire school. She was so proud. As I tried to leave, admissions to my unit show up. I was so late to the school that I missed the whole program. I've missed concerts, sports events, picnics. I can't volunteer or be one of those moms who's always there because of the demands of being a nurse manager. I am afraid that by the time I can afford to work part time- my kids will be gone and I'll just wish I'd chosen time with them over my career and having the extra money. I want to tell my kids "don't go into nursing". Chose anything else where your time and your family will get to come first.

Can you get a new job, like perhaps clinic nursing? The decrease in pay has always been worth it to me, I always get off on time and have time with my kids.

I'm looking to move to MDS, but we are down RNs right now and I have to work in this position until some are hired and trained. I can't afford the pay cut to the offices. The ones I've investigated are a good four to six dollars an hour less. I recently finished my BSN- which made me miss out on a lot because I had classes and papers to write. I just got accepted into a FNP program. I'm afraid I just have to stick it out. This even just meant so much to my little one, I felt like a jerk for missing it. So many nurses I know are in similar situations where they feel work intrudes on their family

Are you missing these events because you are working 12 hr shifts plus overtime and going to school?

I'm salaried. So no OT. I have tasks that must be completed before I leave, such as an admission. We have a supervisor that comes in off shifts, but to expect her to do a complete admission and cover the building is not realistic. It's just part of my position. Being a manager is kind of a 24/7 deal. I sometimes have to come in early to see the night shift, or stay late for evenings. Today I did a ten hour day because my new admit had to be sent right back to the ED. I only get paid for 7.5 hrs a day, so it's a big deal to me. I'm not currently attending classes, but I will start my FNP courses in August. Part time. I'm just feeling really guilty about missing out, and I'm looking for a position where I can stick to eight hours and leave work at work. MDS will give way more flexibility and less stress. I'm ANACC certified, shouldn't be too hard to switch.

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