I want to change jobs, be a Walmart Greeter

[kdot2003]

I've worked L&D at a small community hospital (

Anyway we had a tragic event, a uterine rupture and a newborn death. It totally freaked me out. I was there when she came in, but not when it happened. I've always loved my job but now its different. I have been applying to insurance jobs, utilization review jobs, research jobs, although I have NO experience in these matters. I've thought of hospice or home health or anything considered less risky and less scary. This wasnt the first tragedy we've had but this one seems worse, or I've taken it worse. I keep thinking that I want a 7-3 job, no hollidays, no WE, non-clinical, something CALM. I've never wanted a desk before EVER. Help! Has anyone else felt the same way? I am trying not to make a rash decision but I still keep applying to other jobs. Does this make sense???????????

[CRNI-ICU20]

Oh...I am sooooo sorry for you. This must have just rocked you to the core.

You are having some post traumatic stress....and you are looking for a way out.....

This isn't the best time to make a total career change....maybe a latitudinal change, but not a completely different career altogether.

Have you thought about being a lactation specialist, or something that is related, but something that isn't so stressful and demanding and emotionally charged?

Is there a career counselor that you can talk with? perhaps on line?

Maybe it isn't the job that you are running from, it's the components to the job that make it so impossible that you are running from....maybe you could cut back a few days for awhile....or just do some education in labor and delivery....

I WILL pray for you....

for now....put your head down and let it all out.....and then take a little time out for you each day....you need a break.

[BSNinOK]

I worked labor and delivery for 10 years and unfortunately, tragic things happen, thankfully not often. I remember having that same thought about being a Wal-mart greeter :) We are nurses because we care so much and put our hearts into caring for our patients and it takes time to process and heal ourselves when something sad occurs. While it does sound like staffing on your unit needs to be much better, and I don't know all the details, this sounds like an event that probably couldn't have been anticipated or prevented. Yet, because we do care we revisit the incident trying to understand. If you can, try to think about all the special experiences you helped families with--you never get tired of the miracle of birth. I agree with the previous comments to take some time to think about a move but if the staffing is not improved you might consider a new place. If you have the strength, with time you might rally to improve the staffing on your unit.

Wishing you peace in whatever you decide to do.

[sissiesmama, ASN, RN]

Hey! Everyone is right, your unit/facility is a good way to help deal with that kind of situation. I am getting out of the field after 16 years, so youre not alone! Can I use you as a reference on my Wal mart application?? (Joke!!)

Good luck with your decision making! Anne, RNC

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

I am so sorry you are going through this. Most of us who have been in nursing for a while have seen tragic events like this happen, unfortunately. It's even worse when an adverse event happens because of poor staffing policies- because your facility/manager chose to staff your unit to the bare bones. EAP is a good idea, changing jobs might work (it did for me), but I wouldn't stop there. I would notify JCAHO, the BON, and your higher ups, if you feel that staffing was the causative factor in this event.

On a side note, I have a classmate that worked L&D for a long time, and now works for SHPS (http://www.shps.com/corp/careers/careers.stm) doing telephonic case management for this patient population. She works from home, and loves her job. Maybe they have job openings in your area- definitely worth checking out.

Good luck to you, and if you feel your facility is at fault for this event due to staffing policies, I would agree that leaving may be the best choice for you and your license.

[LouleeRN]

I'm so sorry about the pain and turmoil you must be feeling after such a tragic event. I agree with many of the previous postings about accessing an employee assistance program if your facility has one available to you, or some other form of counselling. I made use of the employee assistance program after stressful events on my ward (though not near as tragic as yours). I found I just couldn't deal with the situations I used to, and one particularly upsetting event just was too much. The employee assistance program paired me with a counsellor who was also a RN and understood what nursing is like, and how nurses feel and react. Though the sessions were not easy, they helped me deal with how and why I was feeling as I did and coping mechanisms to deal with future situations. Hopefully you can connect with someone like this to help you deal with this awful event. Sounds like your patients are lucky to have such a caring nurse.

P.S. Many times I too have felt like taking job in a store just stocking shelves or something. My husband however DOES work for Walmart and says that it has it's own stress too (but oh how some days I'd long for that stress instead!!)

[kdot2003]

Wow, I read all the posts and it gave me a tear. Thank you all so much for all the support and advice. I will think about it all very carefully, even if my heart is saying RUN.

[angel337, MSN, RN]

i do understand how you feel. even though nurses know that tragedy comes with the territory of acute care, sometimes we just don't want to deal with it for a while and would rather do something else to get away from the responsibility and accountability of our profession. your feelings are more common than you think. sometimes when i am at work i think " i don't feel like dealing with a coding patient today or a traumatic gun shot victim". the feelings do pass, but like someone else said..it may be time for you to move on. only you know what you really want. take your time to sort out your feelings before making any decisions. good luck to you.

[GingerSue]

can you arrange for some time off - for your own purposes so that you can use the time to consider various options, pros and cons of staying or leaving?

there are other fields that could be of interest to you

or maybe you will decide that, with your years of experience, you might prefer to stay where you are

You might reflect on the reasons for the situation that you described.

What can be changed?

I wish for you the all the best in your decision.

{You can be a Walmart Greeter if you want to, I have a friend who has said the same - but it probably won't pay as well}

[SmilingBluEyes]

Let us know how things go. We do care.

[mommy2boysaz]

I truly know how you are feeling.

I had a similar incident about 5 years ago, actually it was just a couple of weeks after 9/11/01, so it was already a very sad time and then a tragedy happened at work with a patient. I honestly considered going into something nice and uneventful like accounting or retail, but I didn't in the end. For me, it really just took time. For awhile I was very nervous whenever a "similar" patient showed up and I worried a lot more about my patients, but over time, I got over it. I learned from it (our entire hospital did) and that is important.

I guess I just told myself that I do this job because I feel like it is important and I matter in the lives of others. I don't think I could say the same about a different "safe" job. Not that my local Wal-Mart greeter isn't important...

Take care and give yourself some time to come to grips with this sad event. You'll know if you are really meant to move on.

Good Luck and God Bless.

[nitetimeobnurse]

I have been in this for a long time to see some awful, things, but also some unbelievable miracles. On hospital I worked at we had a full term IUFD, confirmed by 2 residents and an attending, 12 hours of labor with harsh medications and out bounced a baby with a very subtle cry, he will probably have problems for a long time because there were issues at delivery, but no one was expecting a live baby.

[olol765]

WOW... I guess I thought I was the only one who wanted to work at Sonic or Wal-mart!! Something with no responsibility... I have that now. I audit charts and pretty much that's it. I hate it. I like the schedule... no holidays or weekends. But that's the reason I'm on this site...so I can live through you... my fellow nurses. I miss nursing and my patients alot. Be strong and know that you mean the world to your patients. And, who knows, maybe I'll be joining y'all soon!! :)