I have now been a nurse for 3 yrs and have worked in 3 different places. Most recently I took I job I thought I would love, some days are good but about 75% of the time I get no breaks and end up staying after work. I also work 5 days a wk. I am only 26 yrs old and the physical demands (lifting heavy patients) is already taking its toll on my back and neck. I have worked with quite a few seasoned nurses who have already had to have spinal fusions-this does not sound good to me! Some days a really great patient will make me feel like it is all worth it but 75% of the time I feel very stressed and anxious.
Now on my 3rd job which I thought I would love I am starting to become discouraged about my career choice. I want to start a family soon but always feel stressed and tired. I make really good $ (24/hr on days no wknds) and have thought about pursuing other types of nursing besides floor nursing/direct pt care. My aunt who is also a nurse and was also always stressed and unhappy recently took an MDS Coordinator job and loves it. She has holidays and wknds off with her kids and flexibility on her work hrs if she needs to make a DR appt. She is also much less tired and stressed than when she was working the floor.
My second career choice if I did not get accepted to nursing school was becoming a school teacher. Before nursing school through my job at a bank I volunteered one morning a week tutoring 3rd graders in math and I loved it. I know that teaching would be a pay cut but I am wondering if it would provide me with the less stressed lifestyle I am looking for. Does anybody have any thoughts on this? I know a lot of people want to go into nursing, am I crazy for wanting to leave it?