32 & wondering about a life change

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Nursing Assistant, PCU RN.

This was actually in response to someone's thread, so pretend like I'm talking to that person (if that makes sense). I deleted my reply because I felt like I was enabling.

:twocents:

If it makes you feel any better, you're not alone. You took the words right out of my mouth when I read your post, so thank you very much.

I've been doing RN work since May 11, 2009 in a PCU setting. Can't say that I've enjoyed it much. In fact, I hate it most of the time. However, I began to count my blessings. I work with some great people that I wish could go to the next place I work. Helping Pts out is always a plus too. Sounds like you're also burned out; for that matter, sounds like we're both burned out actually.

Allow me to add something that's really been bothering me about the whole nursing profession. Please, let me know if you feel the same way. I feel like we were trapped the minute we signed up for classes. If the current plan is to get a higher degree, as in a Master's, what are the options? Pretty much, there are three: NP, nurse educator, & nurse manager. Ok, if you don't want the responsibilities an NP has, that's out. Not to mention that you have to get a PhD after 2015 (forget that). That leaves nurse educator & manager. Wow, manager; enough said. I didn't go to college to become a teacher when it took me nearly twelve years to finally decide to become an RN. No offense to the educators out there.

In defense of higher learning, there are other options; I have seen pediatrics & informatics. Looked on USAJOBS & can't say that informatics is in high demand. In this crumbling economy, it would be ill advised to leave a health care profession. So what are our options here?

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Specializes in Cath, EP, Cardiac Surgery, ICU.

...or, CRNA.

Besides getting an advanced degree though, there are SO MANY avenues an RN can take and still be a staff nurse. As a 20 + year RN, I (and many others here) have filled many roles besides what we started our careers as.

Try looking at other types of nursing, in particular procedural areas. You might find that you would like cath lab or OR nursing, for instance. After experience in these areas, it might be possible to find employment with companies like Medtronic, J&J, Abbott Medical, just to name three.

I hope this helps with your discouragement and gives you some ideas to think about...

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I have been an RN (second career RN) since 2003 and also want to go on for my masters.....I, however am planning on my masters on mental health counseling for my LMHC or my LMSW. I decided this will allow me to focus on the parts of being a psych nurse that I enjoy most. Yes I did think about psych NP but there is only one program around here for that and its really expensive and I have not heard great things from NPs who went through it..so I am going another route. Yes away from nursing a bit but.....

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Specializes in Ask away I shall tell.

I agree with your life changing questioning... we sign up for these degrees and wonder wow... i'm stuck with no flexibility.

For example... a certified nurse anesthetist... you pay over 100K for the entire program, you then start working as a CRNA to pay all that loan money back and you're stuck working 3 24 hr shifts... then variable call (since you are new and you have to put your time of being the guinea pic). Bottom line.. you're unhappy.... and financially stuck... evaluate some things.. have you talked to someone? f you ever need to vent or have further discussions and don't have the support group or systems feel free to e mail me. [email protected] maybe your missing something and need another route? You are in a specialty position not everyone can be RN's you can market yourself :) you have the power to motivate and inspire others with or without a degree.

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

have you thought of nursing in another field?? there is so much for public health nurses to do...You don't have to work in a hospital/long-term care facility

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Specializes in School Nurse.

Ah, but public health has been cut back badly too - after all, it is a government job. But you never no - I have youngish kids (14, 10 and 9) and the day care they used to go to approached me in December because the nurse consultant (that they are legally mandated to have visit their baby room every month) had been cut due to the budget cuts so they wanted to hire me.

I have also been in nursing for 20 years (working as a school nurse for the last 6), and am planning on going back to get my masters. I am thinking ARNP, just because it gives me more flexibilty and I am pushing 50 so want something secure for the next 10 or 15 (or 25 LOL) years. But if public health (and the schools for that matter)keep going the way it is, I might set up a bigger side business for day care consulting and perhaps nursing delegation to Adult Family Homes.

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Specializes in Nursing Assistant, PCU RN.
...or, CRNA.

Besides getting an advanced degree though, there are SO MANY avenues an RN can take and still be a staff nurse. As a 20 + year RN, I (and many others here) have filled many roles besides what we started our careers as.

Try looking at other types of nursing, in particular procedural areas. You might find that you would like cath lab or OR nursing, for instance. After experience in these areas, it might be possible to find employment with companies like Medtronic, J&J, Abbott Medical, just to name three.

I hope this helps with your discouragement and gives you some ideas to think about...

Your 2nd paragraph made me smile. We recently had a new grad transfer from PCU to the Cath Lab. She had quite enough too. That's a good avenue for her, but I wish to leave bedside nursing/working in a hospital. I love working with U.S. veterans, & being a veteran myself, I never want to change from that demographic. The only reason I took the job I have now is because I thought this is where I belonged.

Your post sounds like the advice my wife is giving me. Although she's not in nursing, she's very attuned to my predicament. There are other things to do that don't require a higher degree; I just have to find something that I like. Thanks for those company names. I'll have to keep that list in mind for the future.

Thank you.

I have been an RN (second career RN) since 2003 and also want to go on for my masters.....I, however am planning on my masters on mental health counseling for my LMHC or my LMSW. I decided this will allow me to focus on the parts of being a psych nurse that I enjoy most. Yes I did think about psych NP but there is only one program around here for that and its really expensive and I have not heard great things from NPs who went through it..so I am going another route. Yes away from nursing a bit but.....

The NP programs I've encountered have been a kick in the pants. I HAVE to do everything possible online d/t a potential move to another state next year. That alone limits the options. The remaining programs have not been well received by former & current students. Ugghhh! :down:

I agree with your life changing questioning... we sign up for these degrees and wonder wow... i'm stuck with no flexibility.

For example... a certified nurse anesthetist... you pay over 100K for the entire program, you then start working as a CRNA to pay all that loan money back and you're stuck working 3 24 hr shifts... then variable call (since you are new and you have to put your time of being the guinea pic). Bottom line.. you're unhappy.... and financially stuck... evaluate some things.. have you talked to someone? f you ever need to vent or have further discussions and don't have the support group or systems feel free to e mail me. [email protected] maybe your missing something and need another route? You are in a specialty position not everyone can be RN's you can market yourself :) you have the power to motivate and inspire others with or without a degree.

AMEN!!! "No flexibility" is the phrase I originally was looking for in my OP. Sometimes you have to look @ getting a more advanced degree from a different angle. It's akin to buying a $30,000 hybrid car; it may get 60mpg & save you @ the pump, but how long before it starts to pay for itself?

Thank you for the offer of being able to vent. I have a difficult time with that concept because I don't have a lot of support systems. Talking to coworkers that are just as unhappy as I am is not productive. I might have to take you up on that offer.

BTW, what did you mean by "not everyone can be RNs?"

have you thought of nursing in another field?? there is so much for public health nurses to do...You don't have to work in a hospital/long-term care facility

Yes, I have thought of that. I am an avid believer in preventative health care. I currently work in the VA system, which I don't wish to leave. It seems I might have to stretch into the private sector to broaden my choices.

Ah, but public health has been cut back badly too - after all, it is a government job. But you never no - I have youngish kids (14, 10 and 9) and the day care they used to go to approached me in December because the nurse consultant (that they are legally mandated to have visit their baby room every month) had been cut due to the budget cuts so they wanted to hire me.

I have also been in nursing for 20 years (working as a school nurse for the last 6), and am planning on going back to get my masters. I am thinking ARNP, just because it gives me more flexibilty and I am pushing 50 so want something secure for the next 10 or 15 (or 25 LOL) years. But if public health (and the schools for that matter)keep going the way it is, I might set up a bigger side business for day care consulting and perhaps nursing delegation to Adult Family Homes.

It's unfortunate that public health nursing is being cut back. I personally feel that people need to stop blaming the state of affairs as it is right now & look @ themselves as well. We as Americans are not taking care of ourselves & that is a major problem. The work I do now feels like I'm applying a band-aid to a foot-long laceration; it's futile sometimes. But enough of that rant :nuke:

Kudos to you about making a life change. The reason I feel like 32 is so old is because I can count on two hands how many jobs I've had since I was 16. I'm frightened to start over again. It would be nice to do some consulting work though; I enjoy being autonomous.

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