Am I making the right decision

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Hello, I am recent grad of Dec 2008. I took a med-surg job right out of school to build my skills. I finished my year of med-surg in February. I have not been happy there. There is cost cutting due to the economy. Short staffed. Mandatory pulling. Fighting amongst the coworkers. I am starting to have panic attacks before work. I tried to transfer within the hospital but they took off all job openings because of cost cutting. So I tried to get a perioperative job, but was passed over at another facility. Anyway I have got hired at an outpatient dialysis clinic that is close to my house. I did shadow and the nurse was working hard, but I did not see anyone crying on the floor like my med-surg job. I read post on here about Davita being profit driven. This going to be the same anywhere, even a non-profit hospital that I work out now is really about the bottom line. Anyway it is a smaller clinic. 3 people there have been there for 5+ years. ( I know turn-over is a big problem) I figure I should at least try to improve my situation. I did a year of med-surg so I have those skills. If I learn dialysis for a year or two it will just increase my skill level. I think I will always be able to get a med-surg job! So I took the dialysis job. Any thoughts experienced nurses? I just feel like my job now is affecting my health.

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Sounds like any change might do you some good. Or it might not; there is not enough information to tell.

You might also want to look into the reasons why your current job so negatively affects your state of mind. You cannot control what happens at work, but you do have control over your own feelings.

Of course, this is just something to consider, I do not know your current situation.

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I read your post and I would just think it is me, but other younger nurses after I gave my notice, stated that they feel the exact same way. They dread going to work from the day before on. They often are crying on the floor. I just figured I got my experience. I stuck it out a year & now I should try something else. After all isn't that supposed to be the beauty of nursing.

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I work in a call-center... obviously not the same type of job. (I'm just getting started on my nursing pre-reqs). However, I think your situation occurs in a lot of different places. Is it the actual job that you don't like, or is it the management, cuts, etc going on around you that you have the problem with? We are having the same issues where I work... people dread coming in, suffer through the day, then go home dreading the next day. That's no way to live. I discovered a long time ago that if I wake up saying today will be a good day... if I walk away from negative conversation and don't let it pull me under... if I focus on my job and my customers (patients) and try to look on the positive of every situation (sometimes just remembering that I have a job and I'm not one of the people standing in line for unemployment and remember that there are thousands of people who would kill to have my job) I start to feel happy and enjoy myself more. There's nothing wrong with looking for something better... and as a previous poster stated, we don't know your exact situation, but just be careful not to let negative energy suck you in or else in a few months, you may feel the same way about your new job. Good luck in your new position! I know it must be exciting to be learning something new and adding to your training!

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

I used to feel that way about my med/surg job at a previous hospital. I HATED it. I really like my current place of employment. Is it perfect? No...but staffing is a bit better and we help each other out.

Go try this new job. As you say, you can always go back to med/surg if you don't like this position. That is the beauty of nursing.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

No job is worth your health.

Do what you need to do.

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Specializes in Nursing Informatics, E.R., med surg, ENT.

To borrow a saying from Shakespears Hamlet Act 1 Scene 3:

"This above all: to thine ownself be true,

And it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man."

Just thought I'd quote William for the pure fun of it. But he does make a point.

Go do what you need to keep yourself happy and healthy.

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Specializes in Pediatric Cardiology.

You didn't go to nursing school to end up in a job you hate. Try dialysis, it might be just what you need.

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Thanks I just re-affirmation from other nurses that this was the right thing. People were talking to me about sticking it out for 10 or so years. I just don't want to live that way.

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