Are you jealous of other nurses jobs/abilities?

[purplegal]

I graduated from a class of about 60 or so nurses, most of whom have gone onto amazing nursing jobs and are quite successful at them. Some of them are working on ICU and PCUS (AS THEIR FIRST NURSING JOBS!!!), I know one that is working in an IV infusion center (and I can't even start an IV, since my school did not teach it) and more. I've got a new nursing job coming up, after failing my first one, but it's no where near as impressive as these other jobs. I can't help but feel a bit envious that these other new grads are way more successful than I am and much better nurses and people than me. Anyone else feel like this?

[CelticGoddess, BSN, RN]

What makes an impressive job? If you do your job well, take pride in it. I have very little desire to work ICU, ED, or anything like that. I work Onc/Palliative/Med-Surg and personally, I think it's pretty impressive. I enjoy my work, I know that I am a good nurse and I take pride in my work. That is what should really count.

I have friends who work NICU, ICU, ED, etc, who are absolutely miserable. It was not what they thought it would be. I have a friend who works LTACH and she is the happiest person I know. Find your niche, do your job well and take pride in a job well done.

[Cola89]

I actually envy the registration clerks and others with low-stress desk jobs. They still get the hospital benefits, but not the stress.

[Gravery]

While I am not jealous of other nurses, I do look forward to the day I'm doing more and am able to gain some different experience. I see some of my classmates who have moved on to some interesting things where they're learning and using their skills. Due to having 2 young children and not much support I stick with the job with amazing hours and flexibility but not really doing what I want. I know once my kids are older I can move on to something else but then again I may look back and regret leaving a low stress job even for the better experience.

[DTWriter]

I am still looking for that first RN job so, yes, I am jealous of those who even get (or got) a nursing job at all.

[RNdynamic]

You just haven't found something you liked. You might be in one of those ICUs or PCUs and hate it. Those nurses you are talking about might even hate it and not be saying anything. People generally want to give an appearance that they are satisfied with their lives even when they are not. Have you noticed that on FB (if you use it) that people only post cheerful pictures and posts talking about the exciting and happy things they are doing. They leave out the reality. The same principle applies here.

I've worked in stepdown and ICU and to be quite honest they were probably the worst times of my life. I was also the deepest I ever was in my addiction to alcohol and opiates.

[djh123]

The short answer is yeah, I do feel kind of like you do, but the only thing you can do is do the best job you can at whatever kind of nursing you're doing, try to learn whatever you can, do the best for your patients, and have some pride in that. I do.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Nope. Jealousy is a waste of energy.

There will always be someone around you who has better, who does better, looks better, etc. Who cares? Life isn't a contest.

[Libby1987]

One nursing job isn't more impressive than another, it's how you perform it and hopefully enjoy it that matters. It's cool to be good at something no matter what it is.

I tell my kids that you can't have too many skills. Pick up all you can and then use them to your and others' advantage in both personal and work life.

[mkrn32]

I can somewhat relate to your feelings of envy. Though I love my my job, my patient population and the tasks that I am assigned to do on a daily basis I am already beginning to feel content and am starting to look for a job in a more critical care setting. However, as previous posters have mentioned, you cannot compare your successes to others'. You have to find your niche and what makes you happy. Since you are jealous of the your classmates who now work in the ICU or PCU it sounds like that is where your heart is. Some hospitals offer ICU/PCU new grad residencies so if you look around and apply, you may get lucky. But if not, you are still a success for getting through nursing school!! Don't ever think you are not.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

No. Comparing yourself to others is futile.

Instead, I choose to focus on ways I can learn and improve my own abilities. For the most part, I'm very content with my life and nursing does not define me. It is one aspect of who I am.

[TriciaJ, RN]

Nope. Jealousy is a waste of energy.

There will always be someone around you who has better, who does better, looks better, etc. Who cares? Life isn't a contest.

It helps to change the word "jealous" to "inspired". Be inspired to be the best nurse you can be and live the most fulfilling and enjoyable life you can live. You have no idea what is going on with your former classmates, or who is actually on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Just get good at being you.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I actually envy the registration clerks and others with low-stress desk jobs. They still get the hospital benefits, but not the stress.

Some days I look at registration and low stress jobs with fondness as well; however as someone who has had a low-stress job as an agency nurse, I recall when a particular song came on the radio consistently at the same time each day and wanting to gouge my eyeballs out-then I don't miss it as much.