I hate being a nurse

aggie313 · Feb 2, 2012

SJERN,

Being a NP is the way to go to get out of this bedside nursing mess. I'm in a elmsn fnp program and I'm so thankful for that because I can go through the rn portion in a year and head straight into the fnp portion. A friend just graduated from the program and is now working as a FNP in a peds clinic and loves her job...no crying on the way to work for her :)

madeinamerica · Mar 11, 2012

Don't wait to long to walk away from hands on nursing. Your not the only nurse who

hates nursing. After 28 years, I quit floor nursing. I have horror stories you wouldn

't believe. Some of the worse stuff is nursing administration. Trust me they won't hesitate

to lie about you to try and save their own skin. I've had it happen and it just floored me.

Always watch your back with any nurse administrator. When it hits the fan, you'll be to

blame.

t

frankyfern22 · Mar 17, 2012

I have worked in 4 hospitals and you know what....nursing is nursing is nursing. Same stuff, different setting. I recently took a job in the CCU, thinking that I needed more of a challenge and change of pace from my previous job (which wasn't too bad in retrospect.) It is the same stuff I have to deal with anywhere else, just different patients! If you really want a change, get your Masters and get away from bedside. I'm already thinking about retreating and getting my old job back while working on my FNP. Good luck all, hope we can all hang in there.

innovativemurse · Mar 31, 2012

I just wanted to "pop in" again on this topic as it's pretty disheartening to hear about many of you facing the challenges that you actually do as a nurse.

Let me preface here (and I think I said it before in another post), that if you want to leave nursing, ultimately if you'e found another passion, then I can't hold that against you just because I'm a nurse. Here's the thing. When I went back to school to become a nurse I was surrounded by quite a few individuals who were leaving their previous careers to become a nurse (myself included). So, I don't really view it as unusual, but it's just unfortunate because this is pretty versatile profession.

You don't have to be stuck in the bedside nursing mentality. This unfortunately is somewhat ingrained in us during our education. There are a range of specialities, however we're only privy to the areas that are within a hospital or M.D. office setting.

Now, if you really want to become a NP then by all means our healthcare system will appreciate it since many of the primary docs are getting out of the game (I personally know quite a few...unfortunate). If you happen to set up shop in my area I'll even support you through patient referrals. BUT, I just want each and every nurse reading this post or any other post about what options are to truly consider alternatives to spending more money on a career path that may or may not be your passion just to get away from the bedside.

If it is your passion then I respect it.

Many other professionals out there sell their services to the public, why can't you? You may want to quickly respond with the whole licensing issue, but let me advise you to be aware of your Scope of Practice laws in your state, and practice within them. Many of these other experts (non-healthcare) may also have licensing that they too have to ensure that they are practicing within. We're not really any different. Just stay within your scope.

Are you an expert in an area, or do you tell yourself that you could take what knowledge and experience you have and package it up and deliver it in the same fashion that your current employer does? Of course I realize you can't set up your own tertiary care center, but what about products or services that can actually help keep your patients away from these centers (i.e. lifestyle changes)?

What about finding a company that is seeking out the expertise of a nurse for a product or service that they want to launch, and they need you to help them?

Might there be any budding entrepreneurs here? Just wanted to pose the question.

I hope each and every one of you find your real passion, and if happens to be within the nursing profession, great! If not, well that's great too. Just as long as you get to work your full potential.

Kevin Ross, RN, BSN

danceluver · Jul 4, 2012

did she have previous experience in pediatric care that she was considered as an FNP? I've seen most clinics want to hire a PNP over an PNP. Just wondering.

Bedilia · Feb 7, 2013

Kevin,

I like your attitude. I am a new grad nurse in the Baltimore area and I am so very disappointed in the healthcare system. I always was aware what was going on, but I went into this profession to help those that have to go through it and have no choice but to be there. I am so very upset that I can not be of help to most of my patients because I am drowning for reasons everyone else explained in this long thread. Doctors, nurses, patients and techs are stretched too thin and we are all horribly stressed and take it out on each other. The environment is not a healing environment, but its instead very toxic. And I barely have any time for my patients. I like teaching, I like listening, I like HELPING.

I am also interested in being involved in some kind of preventative efforts, OUTSIDE of the horrendous hospital setting. I am going to push through this first year to learn all that I can, even though I too cry before work and have severe anxiety related to it. But my mind is open and I am looking for a team of people on the same page as me, and who knows...if we all get together and start thinking and doing, we can probably start something new, something helpful, something that helps people and is not part of a money-hungry system. Look at all of these unhappy nurses! Lets unite and think outside of the box. I hope that things can change. They will have to, no? Message me, anyone, if you are in Bmore and are on the same page. Thanks!

kellij · Oct 9, 2013

I loved being a nurse and the job didn't seem like a job to me because taking care of people is not a job. Its a gift. With that said, the bullying that goes on in the workplace in the 3 RN jobs that I had has made me sooo embarrassed that I was in nursing. Its probably me just being a misfit. I had my own way of doing things, I may have had more experience than some, who were "threatened by me" and less than others. the fact I was in the profession since I was 16 (now 29) and becoming a young nurse @ 19 never helped me. ( I use to lie about my age and say I was 24-it really didn't help me). I have decided to get out of the field completely because of the bullying that has led me to burnout and slightly embarrassed I was working in a field that pride themselves on taking care of people but get a thrill on putting down their co-workers and not taking them "under their wing". kinda makes me think a lot of nurses are hypocritical. (I hate feeling that way and I do apologize if I have offended anyone, I write this in hopes of feedback to change my mind)

sunmaidliz · Oct 11, 2013

BURNOUT!

That's what you have experienced. And hospital floor nursing is structured in such a way that there is a lot of burn out. In all honesty, nursing doesn't have a high job satisfactory rate and it's known to be extremely stressful. It's the hours, its the nature of shift work, it's the culture of bedside nursing.

To me, it's all yuck.

Hospital floor nursing is not the end all, be all of nursing. Being a nurse doesn't mean you have to work on the floor of the hospital every other Christmas. Hell, who wants that? Don't switch to another specialty. In 5 years, you will be burned out, too. My advice?

GET OUT OF THE HOSPITAL. Sorry for the caps. I was being emphatic.

My sister-in-law hated the floor straight off the bat. Went into public health and works a 9 to 5. I hated the floor and found something where I wasn't a pill pushin, foley cath pulling dancing monkey. I am an RN supervisor for the American Red Cross, screening donors, supervising phlebotomists and doing the draws myself, and giving juice and cookies to the fainters. My mother burned out of floor nursing and became an NP. Now she owns her own clinic, partnering with a doctor and taking 50%. My BFF burned out of ICU nursing after 7 years, travel nursed for a year, and now works at an out patient surgery center filling out paper work and plugging IVs.

I gave this advice to an old veteran nurse who didn't know where to go with her career. Sit down with some pumpkin coffee, a fabric covered journal and figure out what you REALLY want. And then go for it. Just know that hospital floor nursing isn't the end-all-be-all of nursing. Leave the floor to the hungry new grads and do a job that satisfies you for what could possibly be the rest of your career.

lovemykids50 · Oct 11, 2013

Hi Phatlipboardz. I am a nurse for 20 years but have been disabled x 7-10 years. I am having c-spine surgery very soon. I would like to continue in my nursing career, but need a new path. I was going to take a paramedic course just tobrush up on my skills. What does a nurse consultant do and does one get started. Are you able to financially support yourself and family?

lovemykids50 · Oct 11, 2013

Hey you ladies sound young and just beginning your careers. Listen to me nothing is worth crying on your way to work. GET OUT!!! Don't walk, RUN!!! Go be happy.

Marsha238612 · Oct 12, 2013

We all hate our jobs at some point but If you actually hate being a nurse this much I think it's time you look for another path. You won't be helpful to your aching sick patients and most importantly you're not happy.

We are here in this world for a mere quest to be happy the most time we can. Go on your quest and find something that makes you happy.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Watkinsrn10 · May 2, 2014

I feel the same way, I love the ER, I come home and watch trauma Life in the ER after work, I love the blood the guts the craziness but I HATE HATE HATE the tasking. Whenever I am in the regular 4-6 patient room assignments, I don't even have time to care about what the patient is telling me, all I am focusing on is what needs to go in the computer, what labwork I need to draw, if my patient is breathing or not next door, and whether they need 2 IVs or one, ISTATS ran, urine dipped, etc etc. They start telling me more and I have to not care and interrupt to ask the next question that is needed for their triage or else I will get behind. I feel like the only way to be happy at your job as an RN is to not give a crap and turn off your emotions completely which I am unable to do. I have never felt this burnout and never ever thought I would be the one to get burned out. All I ever wanted to be was a nurse and this is just depressing. I literally googled. "why do I hate being a nurse" and this feed popped up.

I agree that maybe when we start feeling this way, we need a new environment. At least we have this option. I guess we also need to just be our own cheerleaders and keep telling ourselves we are doing a good job even when others aren't and then appreciate those wonderful patients who do say thank-you and who do appreciate us. God help us all, and good luck to us all