I am trying to get out of nursing. My parents will feel terrible if I do.

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Long story short. I have been a self taught web designer and computer programmer for many years. I am making just as much as I am right now as a Nurse. I am still doing both jobs at the same time and I feel like nursing is just taking too much of my life away.

When I am at work I feel like a slave. My schedule when I work:

1. Wake up at 5:30 a.m go to work.

2. Home by 7:30. Too mentally and physically tired to do anything. 12 hours of stress and suffering.

3. Sleep at 10 and repeat the cycle the next day.

What I am trying to do is make as much money as possible with my web design business. I also have a big business plan that I am working on. I do not want to say what is it. I believe it will be very profitable.

My question is. Do I wait for this new online business to start bringing in additional revenue before I quit nursing?

Also my dads main concern about staying with nursing is the insurance (medicare and retirement etc..). I really want to get out of nursing so badly. Is there any other insurance plan and retirement plan I can get myself?

I feel like getting into nursing was the worst mistake I ever did in my entire life. I feel like a very stressed slave. Help me please.

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Specializes in Hospice.

If you are self employed or working as an independent contractor for a client, and paying the taxes on your income, you should be paying medicare and SS tax as part of that. (That's why self employed people often pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes)

As far as health insurance, once the ACA kicks in and the exchanges are in place in your state, you should be able to purchase somewhat affordable insurance on an individual basis. (You'll pay a lot more than you would if you were receiving health insurance through an actual employer)

I'm assuming that you are an adult, so your parents wishes really don't matter.

Now, with that out of the way, if you hate nursing that much, and you can support yourself with the web design / programing gigs, then please, get out of nursing. Nothing personal, but if you are that unhappy, it probably shows in the care you are giving, or in the way you interact with patients / families / co-workers.

Why be miserable when it's obviously not what you really love doing? Life is too short to spend time doing something you hate.

There are lot of people out there who are nurses because they love the profession, and are looking for jobs. Make room for one and go do what YOU want to do.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

At 30, what your parents want for you really shouldn't matter. You are grown and have to do what will make you happy. Reading back on your previous posts, nursing has never really made you happy and you second-guessed your decision before.. This is really a personal decision and only you can answer if you should leave..

As far as the rest, well it should fall into place re: insurance etc.. If you are making money, able to save you can save for your retirement as well.

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Nothing personal, but if you are that unhappy, it probably shows in the care you are giving, or in the way you interact with patients / families / co-workers.

I have received numerous compliments by the DON and nurse manager about how the patients love me. I have also gotten the highest amount of customer satisfaction cards these passed 2 months. I am great at making patients happy.

I guess what bothers me is that my job is very stressful. I am very good at hiding how I feel so i am sure nobody knows that I do not want to work there anymore. When they ask me how I like it so far I smile and say "I love it".

The job I have now is very stressful. :down:

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Nursing in general is stressful.. This is true for just about all major areas of nursing from the ED, floor, ICU, LTC, urgent care as well as offices.. When dealing with sick people, or people in general; stress is part of it :) You can try different areas of nursing before you decide too.

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Nursing in general is stressful.. This is true for just about all major areas of nursing from the ED, floor, ICU, LTC, urgent care as well as offices.. When dealing with sick people, or people in general; stress is part of it :) You can try different areas of nursing before you decide too.

What is the least stressful nursing job even if it pays the lowest possible that an LPN can be paid? I would prefer to be less stressed and get paid less.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

That too is personal, what is stressful to me might not be for you.. I found the floor very stressful but have loved the ICU since day one. Others have found the opposite to be true..

Happy hunting in what ever you decide :)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

OP, I'm not sure what your intentions were when you decided to become a nurse, but from your posts here and other posts on AN, you have been straddling the fence. You haven't even been a nurse for a year.

Nursing, especially in the first year is stressful, no matter where you start. When I was a new grad LPN, I started in Home Health AND Post-Acute Rehab..very stressful, but I learned so much in terms of decision making, thinking on my feet, etc, reinforcing teaching, Drs asking for suggestions to POC, etc. I was assertive in learning as much as I could because I wanted to succeed, and I enjoyed the work, and it got better. Fast forward about 7 years, I am now a new RN, and still have the "new nurse" feeling all over again. It is stressful; however, I KNOW that it will get better.

OP, you have to decide if nursing is for you...other posters suggested if this not for you, to leave nursing, yet, you go on to state that you are good in it, yet you "don't like the stress".

I was going to suggest becoming an independent contractor as a nurse, however, you need a little more experience under your belt; but that is "stressful" too...you have to learn to arrange paying your taxes, putting money towards retirement, insurance, etc. the flexibly is great; however could you handle that "stress" if you are between jobs???

I'm just trying to give you a perspective of that life is pretty stressful, it's how one is willing to cope and handle it.

I think you really need to do some soul searching. You are an adult, and can make your own decisions...see if you need some assistance in handling stress as well, find other outlets away from work and your business if you decide to stay in nursing.

Best wishes on whatever you decide. :yes:

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I know it is hard to do things that go against the wishes of one's parents in some families, even when the son or daughter is an adult.

However, I would have been miserable today if I had followed my mother's wishes back when I was a younger adult. I was working a low-paid job as a cashier at a grocery store at age 19, and she wanted me to remain at this job for the long term with the hope of becoming a store manager someday.

I hated working at the grocery store. I disliked my coworkers. Many of the customers disgusted me. There was no way I would willingly stick with this job for years to come. Also, my pay was less than $10 per hour.

In addition, I realized there could only be one store manager. It wasn't going to be me because I refuse to work 6 days per week for a set salary stocking shelves, pulling heavy pallets, setting up grocery displays, dealing with call-offs, hiring and firing people, and adhering to a strict budget.

My point is that you are an adult with wishes and desires independent of your parents. It is your life, not theirs. You only have one life and you must live it as you wish.

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I know it is hard to do things that go against the wishes of one's parents in some families, even when the son or daughter is an adult.

However, I would have been miserable today if I had followed my mother's wishes back when I was a younger adult. I was working a low-paid job as a cashier at a grocery store at age 19, and she wanted me to remain at this job for the long term with the hope of becoming a store manager someday.

I hated working at the grocery store. I disliked my coworkers. Many of the customers disgusted me. There was no way I would willingly stick with this job for years to come. Also, my pay was less than $10 per hour.

In addition, I realized there could only be one store manager. It wasn't going to be me because I refuse to work 6 days per week for a set salary stocking shelves, pulling heavy pallets, setting up grocery displays, dealing with call-offs, hiring and firing people, and adhering to a strict budget.

My point is that you are an adult with wishes and desires independent of your parents. It is your life, not theirs. You only have one life and you must live it as you wish.

Thank you! My dream is to continue growing my web design business and start another local business that will hopefully bring even more income.

I do plan to get out of nursing if this new business idea is a success.

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Perhaps once your business takes off, you can take a contingent position where you won't be required to work so many hours. You could work about 4 shifts per month. This is just a suggestion in case you need to return to the field one day for whatever reason. It would help you to maintain your license. Life tends to happen. Although I pray that you have success in your business venture, there's never anything wrong with having an ace in the hole. Godspeed.

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I'd like to point out that being self employed can be extremely difficult, stressful, and time consuming. Statistically speaking the odds are stacked against the success of your business. 95% of all small businesses fail within the first 5 years. You must use this knowledge to thoroughly plan, and then plan some more. You need to be aware that if your business fails that you may have very large debts and even if you form an LLC or S/C corp you can still be held personally liable for these debts.

Being a great web designer can get you a long ways but running a business is what most people fail at. Their business fails because they simply do not have the knowledge or resources for long term growth and profitability.

BUT, I'd say you are in a good position to start your dream company and I think you should go after it if you fully identify the risks and set out a thorough plan. Contingency planning is also important. If it doesn't work out you'll have nursing to fall back on. Make sure you are able to keep your license current at least until you surpass 5 years in business.

My advice would be to find out your start-up costs. Then take that number multiplied by 1.5 and then save that much money to start your venture. Do everything you possibly can to minimize your debt load. Since every business needs a website you could barter services with an attorney, an accountant, a tax professional, and other services you will need. Try to establish a good relationship with a credit union. Start with small loans, pay them back quickly, and you will eventually have nice lines of credit to utilize when you want to expand.

Best of luck to you. Follow your heart and don't let anyone deter you from your goals.

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