Are you happy with your job?

[RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN]

i'm a new nurse for almost 6 months now. i work on a very busy med-surg floor at night. i'm just not happy with my job or my life at this time. i thought i would love nursing, and i do sometimes, but i just haven't found my niche.

does any body have any advice on an area of nursing i may like? i know that's a hard question for somebody that doesn't know me. what is an area of nursing that produces overall job satisfaction, or is there one? i orginally wanted to work hospice but i need 1-2 yrs of nursing experience. i want a job that i enjoy, that i don't cringe inside while getting ready for work. any advice is much appreciated. thank you.

[soulofme]

After a hell of a day in dialysis (tech and sec. calling in) today...I wouldnt recommend this job!:angryfire

[uscstu4lfe]

i work in med-surg and i don't like it either! well, there are some brief moments that i am content, but it's not often. i cringe on the inside when i'm geting ready for work, too. my hospital has a ton of NICU openings, so i'm thinking of switching there and giving that a shot instead

[NATmicuRN]

i love micu...its fast paced and you get all different kinds of pts. its a good choice if you are into the icu kinda thing

[Babs0512]

I think the discontent is pretty much universal. We can't practice the way we want, to many rules and regs, and just when you've seen it all, JACOH comes up with more.

We work in a profession where it is encouraged, from admin on down, to 1. tattle on each other for a reward, 2. find SOMETHING wrong and again tattle, 3. Kind of follow our policies, but if anything bad happens, BOY are YOU in trouble - we so will hang you out to dry. You get the picture.

Example of a policy: We are suppose to have two nurses in PACU if the patient is an ICU patient. Well, on week nights we only have a first call, not that extra person. So, our boss rationalizes "as the circulating nurse to stay" she says "No" and she is out of there are soon as the OR is cleaned up. Next suggestion, "well, you can call the supervisor" yeah, "I'm very busy now, call one of the floors and see if they can send someone..." you get the picture. If anything happens to that patient, it's my lilly white orifice on the line.

This creates discord and stress for the staff - it unfortunately come from the top, so where do you go for help??? No where.

Good luck and blessings

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I remember doing some research and coming across a nurse satisfaction study that showed L&D nurses had the highest rate of job satisfaction. Med-surg nurses had the lowest.

Good luck in finding something that fits. It says a lot to a potential employer if you can stick with something for a year. Something about that year, impresses them.

[PICNICRN, BSN, RN]

I guess I would say that yes... I do like my job. I like taking care of my patient population, I feel challenged, I feel supported by my co workers.

I also agree with other posters that nursing in general can be a frustrating profession.... but in general, yes I do like what I do.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I work mother-baby/nursery/high-risk antepartum and I really like my job most days. You are going to have bad days no matter where you go but for the moment I like what I'm doing. But I've been where you are and feel for you. :icon_hug: Don't be afraid to look around to see what's out there. Community/public health might be a good option.

[joyfulgal, ASN, RN]

I just began my first nursing job in fast-paced Med/Surg and love, love, love my job! I like the fast pace of everything that goes on during the days, however I will be working 7p-7a rather than days once orientation is completed. Everyone tells me it will be a slower pace at night and anyone who can hack days should be well prepared for nights. I think what I like most about my job is the envirionment and the people I work with. I rate these two factors as top priority. As for your question; if you are looking to go into something where you have to have strong assessment skills, experience, and confidence such as ER, or ICU then get those skills in Med/Surg where you have ample opportunity to get it ALL! Give it one year, if you still feel this way, then move on. At least gives you that one year M/S experience which many units prefer or better yet "require". Hook-up with a nurse working in another unit you think you might be interested in and shadow them for a day or so. This is just one of the "perks" of nursing. How many other professions offer such a wide variety of choices in obtaining work as a licensed professional....What ever you choose, I wish you the best and hope you find your "gig" :)

[Southern Fried RN]

I love my job, it's the management and JCAHO frenzy that makes it miserable!

[Xbox Live Addict]

I remember doing some research and coming across a nurse satisfaction study that showed L&D nurses had the highest rate of job satisfaction. Med-surg nurses had the lowest.

Good luck in finding something that fits. It says a lot to a potential employer if you can stick with something for a year. Something about that year, impresses them.

Probably the same way you'd be impressed by someone that still had their sanity after spending a year in a P.O.W. camp.

[Scrubby]

I've hit a rough patch recently but things are starting to get better....slowly.

The OR is great because you get to see so many interesting procedures, you look after one patient at a time and you work with different people everyday so if you don't like someone today, chances are you won't be with them tomorrow. Although I have lost many nursing skills like administering meds, looking after CVC, art lines and so on I've learnt so much in the two years I've been there.