Career-changer, floundering in the hospital

Nurses Career Support

Published

I changed careers and went to nursing school in my 40's, with the idea of blazing through in a few years to become an MSN/FNP. I'm rethinking the whole thing, and looking for ideas.

I started out working in a big level-one trauma ED. I had worked in ED's in other roles before and loved it. As an RN I performed fine, but was surprised that I disliked the job - the pace was unrelenting, I did not enjoy the trauma stuff, and I was completely exhausted (and crabby!) even on days off, even after months. I switched to an inpatient unit - the setting is a bit less hectic and the patients are more predictable, which helps. Yet again, I'm performing just fine but unhappy in the work.

I like the patients and my coworkers. I like taking care of people. I think I'm just worn out from the hospital environment and 14 years of high-speed jobs (hospital Spanish interpreter, ER social worker, RN). I feel like a different cog in the same machine. I'm tired of the overstimulation, the constant interruptions, the poor behavior of (a few) doctors, the noise/alarms/calls, the worrying about leaving some detail undone, the pressure to crank through patients as quickly as possible, and the constant unsolvable complaints by everyone from the cleaning staff on up.

If I were 25 years old I might do this for several more years, but as it is I think I've had enough...and I'm only one year in. I would like to sit down like a human being and eat lunch calmly, instead of grabbing the highest-protein food I can find and cramming it into my face. I would like to urinate on my own schedule. I would like to start and finish tasks without always being interrupted. I would like to chat more often with my patients and coworkers, instead of grimly rushing from one task to another. I would like to stay awake past 9PM and enjoy my life at home.

I recently had an interview in public health for an epidemiology job. It's office work mostly, doing research and writing - which is something I enjoy. It's appealing to me, but I realize I'd be limiting my options...it might be difficult or impossible to get into acute care later on (but would I even want to?). And where could I go from epidemiology, if needed?

What else should I consider? Is it any better in outpatient clinics? I appreciate any ideas. I've had two jobs in only a year, and I'll switch again if I can, but it would be better for my mental health and my resume if I could find something suitable and stick to it.

0 Votes
Specializes in Skilled Nursing/Rehab.

If you are looking to get out of the hospital, the epidemiology job sounds interesting. I don't know of many patient care areas where you can eat a calm meal and chat with co-workers (much). I have not worked at a clinic, but the clinical days I spent there during school felt very rushed to me - rooming patients, taking vitals, reconciling meds, then getting the next patient. Most of those nurses ate at their desks while doing paperwork so they could get out on time.

One idea - have you ever worked night shift? Would you ever want to? I have worked as a CNA on a rehab/skilled unit at a hospital, and mostly worked nights. I will be starting on full-time nights as an RN this Wednesday. One thing I like about our unit is that it has a slightly slower pace. Patients stay on rehab and skilled longer, so fewer admits and discharges per day. On the night shift, we generally don't have admissions after 8pm because we get our patients either from other units or other facilities, not thru the ER. Sometimes we even have time to chat. We generally eat our "lunch" at 2am in the activity room together, and take turns getting up to answer lights. I have enjoyed working on this shift. Just something to think about.

However, there is nothing wrong with wanting to use your nursing knowledge and skills in a more M-F, 8-5 type of environment. I think that is why many nurses choose to do case management for insurance companies, things like that. Let us know what you decide!

0 Votes

Thanks for your response Baubo516...unfortunately I have worked night shift before (as a social worker), and it DESTROYED me. I'm one of the people who just never adjusts - I was nauseous, really weirdly emotional, and exhausted all the time, could never sleep more than four consecutive hours during the day.

Otherwise I'd switch - I agree, it would be beneficial to have fewer admissions/discharges, not have people coming and going for tests, less administrative BS, etc. And the money would be nice of course!

0 Votes
Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

I would try out the research nurse position and until i was certain it was right for me i would work per diem at the ER. Always have a back up plan, to earn a little extra $ and in case the new position does not work out.

A career in epidemiology might lead to a position at the cdc or nih. It sounds like a fantastic opportunity. Best wishes.

0 Votes

I agree with what others have said. I left the hospital setting almost 20 yrs ago for an office setting and LOVE it. It's a completely different world there. The turnover in my place is VERY low so many of my co-workers have become close friends. We have a very solid routine going on. You can fairly depend on what is happening day to day. Yes, there are still things you can't predict, we have an occasional CODE, etc. but for the most part, it's steady. Not boring though. Every patient is different every time we see them.I feel like I have gotten a lot more exposure to an assortment of diagnoses and that is really helping me in my FNP program. I know I have learned more in my current setting than I did in the hospital, mainly because I was so nervous, edgy and exhausted when I was in the hospital! Best wishes

0 Votes

Maybe hospice? My hospice even used FNPs. Its definitely a quieter pace, you get to spend real quality time with patients and families and your experience as a social worker and Spanish interpreter would be wildly beneficial. I really loved it and I definitely see myself going back there someday.

0 Votes

Success doesn't necessarily happen at the hospital. You have to build your own success gradually and patiently. We admire hospitals because it is where the money is at initially, but it is also a very difficult and chaotic environment to work in. Hence, why nurses have a high burnout rate.

I have worked night shift before, too and hated it. I would rather take a career risk and pursue what I really love on days in a public health or research setting than take a physical health risk and go down the "tired and true" path on night shift at a hospital.

If your heart and mind is in leaving the hospital and figuring out how to build success outside...then do it!

0 Votes

Thanks for the responses and support. This week I had two more of those bolt-awake-at-3AM moments of worrying that I forgot some task at work....ugh.

I'm waiting to hear back about the public health job (their process is supposed to take 4 weeks, or maybe more). Meanwhile I'm applying for outpatient clinic and office jobs too. I got an interview at one place and a message from a recruiter at another - so I'm hopeful about finding something better suited to me.

0 Votes

Good luck with this new opportunity! I've been a nurse for about 4.5 years now and started out as a General Public Health Nurse at a State Health Department. Each day of the week was for a different clinic (vaccinations on Monday, Family planning aka birth control every other Tuesday, OB Wednesday was always jam packed and hectic, then following up with/investigating communicable disease patients or pairing up with a Social Worker for home health visits the rest of the week). Your position sounds much more predictable. I liked the work but felt like I needed more of a fast paced and challenging environment. After six months I switched to a hospital working nights on med/surg. I felt the same as you. I've been working as a labor and delivery nurse for the last three years and again, find myself wanting more.

I suggest you keep searching until you find something you love that also works with your lifestyle. I obtained my MSN in Oct. 2014 and have been searching for that something.

0 Votes

Happy update y'all....I got the public health/epidemiology job. Thank goodness. And I'm leaving my current job on good terms. My manager was amazing, very understanding even though I'm leaving after less than four months; she told me she'd hire me back anytime if it doesn't work out.

The hospital is just not the right place for me. I'm very, very excited about the new job! I just have to get through five more shifts and then will walk away with one year of hospital experience, a good reference, and my sanity (mostly) intact.

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment