I hate nursing!!!

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Hello all. I have a serious problem. I have been a nurse a little over two years. I have worked the first year as a Med/Surg nurse, and now I am a field nurse in Home Health and Hospice. I am seriously considering just quitting all together. I have true anxiety when I have to do patient care. Hospice care especially. Of course I can do it , but I have a serious anxiety. It has affected my sleeping, my resting and my personality (my husband says) I would like to try my hand at Oasis coordinator for home health but nothing in my area exists for this that I can find. I would like to try a office position but not sure what those intail. Please someone I need some help before I go :clown:! Thanks.

I am feeling much the same way! I look nearly every day for non bedside nursing opportunities and have found NOTHING! I am distressed-understatement-at how I feel about the entire experience I have had so far as a nurse. I worked really hard-I know everyone here did-and I am starting to think I am stuck and will never find my niche. I have all the same sentiments about the politics, administration, awful (AWFUL) schedule, work load etc. I just want to feel good about what I do.

Where have you found the clinic, office and outpatient type jobs? Just curious.

Lisa

Specializes in Registered Nurse.

For outpatient or "office" jobs look at your city or state public health departments. Some large inner city hospitals have family practice centers who hire RN's. These hospitals may also have physicians group , sometimes called "foundations" that will hire RN's. Many times the RN's will be responsible for phone triage. Nurses with pediatric experience have better chances of getting hired. Look at plasma donation centers in your state, blood donations centers in your state. Large universities have numerous outpatient clinics that hire RN's. RN's may be supervising some anxillary personnel such as medical assistants and have triage responsibilites. They don't hire RN's just to take vitals and give injections because medical assist personnel may provide this care more economically for the clinic. Sometimes, RN's will be hired to "manage" the clinic. Now Management, in my opinion, of clinics may be quite stressful because nurses may be accountable for everything from budgets, staffing, patient issues, etc.. Small physician groups usually don't hire RN's unless it's to manage their practice and the pay may not be competitive. Sometimes, you have to be willing to take a pay cut. Try going to a specific hospital website and look at all the openings for RN's. Sometimes, these positions, are not advertised in nursing magazines or internet employment sites.

The "office" jobs may be less stressful compared to medical surgical areas, but not stress free. Are there really any stress free jobs? Dialysis centers are another possibility if you want to get away from the hospital. But contrary to popular belief, dialysis is not a low stress nursing position. But this may be a consideration for you if your looking to get away from the hospital. I frankly received better pay at a for profit dialysis company than in the hospital jobs I held. I just worked a little, PRN in the hospital. It will not be easy to find the "office" jobs, but if you really want to get out of the hospital, search the areas previously suggested every weekend until you find something. You should be applying to as many places as you can so your chances of getting called increase. Also, when interviewing, it's best not to say you want in office job because your looking for less stress, but I'm sure you know that. One is looking for a "different area in nursing" to explore, "enjoy working with a certain population of patients such as pediatrics. Of course, you have to offer an employer, something, organizational skills, knowledge or experience on the specific area of health care, their patients are seeking. For example, cardiac experience for a cardiology practice physician group. Good Luck.

Go back and get your MBA and start applying to supervisory positions.

I suggest you go part-time and then go back to school if you have tuition reimbursement available to you. A dual degree in business, for example, could get you a nice job at a med device company or some kind of medical sales or something. Or go back to school for NP or MPH. Or, go into straight up homecare no hospice which is less stressful. There are a few jobs out there with insurance companies too. I totally understand what you are going through. I felt the same way when I started 13 years ago and it gets better in some ways and worse in others. If you stay, you will likely exchange some of your profound anxiety with bitterness. That is terrible to say but true for a lot of us. Bitterness is not good for your health. You will probably develop diminished well-being and get sick more. Nursing is very stressful and no one but another nurse will understand which creates a lot of feelings of loneliness and dispair. I wish it wasn't true because I worry about who will take care of me when I need a nurse someday. But, like you I cannot cut it as it is now. Hang in there. I am sure you will figure something out.

Specializes in Cardiac TCU /tele/SDU.

Been a nurse for 6 years, my first 6 months was on a medsurg floor, I was a wreck, i'd throw up before working,even cry, i was close to a nervous breakdown. I decided to change area, I worked in a skilled nursing/ rehab for 3 years and 6 months, it was hard at first as i was having anxiety again, but i just thought if they can do it, so can i, so sucked it up, lo and behold I was a diva after6 months, i adjusted well, the doctors valued my opinions, my boss appreciated me, i won employee of the month then I needed a change, presently a year from now, I'm a nurse in a Cardiac Unit critical care/TCU. Again was not easy, but it gets better.

Nothing is easy at first but bear with it and you'll get better at it, confidence at work develops

gradually and dont expect urself to be on par with more seasoned nurses, u wont, at least not yet. Ask questions and for help, most people are not out to get you and they are willing to help. You'll get there. Oh and Try night shifts. They're a tad bit more relaxed. Good luck'.

Specializes in Skilled Nursing/Rehab.

Dear OverlyStressed,

How are you doing? Any changes or updates since you started this thread? I hope things are getting better for you. Let us know!

I was doing bedside nursing for 3 years and felt myself getting stagnant...looking for other options. I just recently stumbled onto a job that I love and would have never thought about -- clinical analyst. With all the new mandatory electronic health record requirements the computer departments at many hospitals/clinics are in great need of people to help implement those and having a clinical background helps. I am loving it -- you should check it out if computers interest you at all.

I too hate nursing! I have been a nurse for about four years now and I want out. But I feel I put so much into it and don't know what else I can do to utilize the skills I have from nursing and apply that to another field. I worked nursing home, med-surg in the hospital, agency, hospice, and I hated it all. I feel its just not for me. I'm trying to find my way out. I am definitely burnt out. I'm ready to throw out the scrubs! Very frustrated, tired, stressed, miserable, and unhappy with this career choice. I feel like I'm stuck and searching for my way out. Very miserable!!!

I used to love nursing but right now I feel kind of hopeless about my job. I worked on the floor for 10 years and eventually decided to join the float pool at another hospital to "learn new things". After a year of that I was recruited to be a house supervisor and here is where my misery really started. I have gained 15 pounds, I feel vaguely angry and depressed all the time when I think of work. I am horrified by the quality of people in administration and feel it is just one big "cat fight" I HATE working weekends and nights to cover for others. I miss just being able to do my job and go home daily but I'm getting older and can't see myself running up and down the halls anymore. Besides, patients are not nice or appreciative anymore... the ageing "baby boomer" generation is self-absorbed and nasty. I just don't know what to do...

Specializes in Critical Care.

I am sorry to hear of your misery. It sounds like you would be a great candidate for a float pool position. It will not let you escape the baby boomers, but it does free you from the hell of middle management...and from unit politics, for that matter.

Please post back and let the rest of us know what works!

After many years of nursing, I would never suggest nursing as a career to anyone. The only thing good about nursing is an income when so many people are unemployed. If your going to spend 4 years and then another couple towards a graduate degree, go for something where you have some control over your working conditions. If you really want to know what nursing is like, interview nurses who have worked ten years or more and ask them about their health. How often do they exercise, do they have a chance to attend regular leisure activities. the studies indicate nurses are in poor health and have much higher rates of sick time. Employers have done nothing to improve the health of nurses. You don't have a serious problem - maybe you only see the truth and are smart enough to see it. Best of luck, if I was younger, I would defiantly get another type of degree.

Specializes in Critical Care.

Do you have any links to these studies?! Thank you!!

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