At the end of my rope...hate nursing.

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Hey all,

I am a senior nursing student and I am in my last semester of classes and I will graduate in April. Everything has been going okay in school so far, and I am doing well, I just feel that nursing is not what I expected it to be. I have always thought of it as a very prestigious career, but know I have almost the opposite view of it.

I had an on campus job which I enjoyed, and was involved in a lot of on campus organizations (student government, started a Dean's Advising Board, taught a review class for microbiology, etc) and am still somewhat involved. In July, I got a job as a nursing aide in a nursing home, and then in August I got a call from a hospital to become a nursing assistant on an acute rehab unit. I went PRN at the nursing home, and am now working at the hospital PRN also. I HATE IT! I hate every minute of being there. I hate 12 hour shifts, I hate the staff, and I just hate the entire environment in general. As a matter of fact, I already know I do not want to work at that hospital when I graduate, because I will be moving after graduation so that I can live closer to my fiance (we have been long distance for 3.5 years). But I feel obligated to stay there until I graduate, so I have a little experience to put on my resume when I graduate. My biggest fear is that I will not find a job after I move. And just recently, the unit manager has been forcing me to work a lot of nights to cover for a person who is on sick leave until he hires 2 new part time night shift people. And I HATE working nights. I also hate working weekends. Which of course, nurses have to do.

This whole job experience just has dashed all my hopes of nursing. All of a sudden I am tired all the time, have no motivation to study for school, I cry all the time (before work, before clinical, when I drive back to campus for the week after being back "home"), and I feel like I am on the wrong career path.

Has anybody else had a similar experience? I just don't know what to do anymore :(

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

Wow..I don't really know what to say because I am at the same point in my school as you and feel very burnt out but I can't relate to the discouragement in the field. I'm sorry you're feeling that way but maybe since you're so class you could graduate and either go back for your masters in teaching and then become a professor instead. I wouldn't drop out at this point though, but thats just my opinion. Good Luck in whatever you choose and do :) You only live once make the best of it

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I hope you find some happiness in the field again. I believe if you really feel nursing is for you deep inside, keep pushing forward. It could just be that the hospital environment there is bad. Don't give up on your dreams if it's really what you want! Hope it works out for you :)

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I think we all stress about our choices at one time or another.......maybe you need to talk to a counselor at school. Get a good physical by your PCP.

There are also other choices...you could continue your schooling and pick another area of nursing. Go into pharmaceuticals sales.

I wish you the best

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Do you hate this because of the hospital you're in? Have you felt like this during your other clinical experiences? Maybe it's just the floor/specialty you're working in?

I'm sorry I don't have any real advice for you. I'm hoping that your frustration is due to feeling overwhelmed combined with not liking the facility/floor you're working on (or maybe the staff you're working with?). IMO, I wouldn't walk away from it. There are so many other options available to you with your degree.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

You will be done in six months. Stick it out. Maybe quit one of the aide jobs. Or quit both. There are many opportunities in nursing-these places sound awful! Talk to your teachers about other options. Best to you.

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I understand you to a point. almost every clinical rotation I have loathed with a passion, and to this day I wonder if nursing is right for me. But, I chose nursing because it is such a huge field! There is such a variety of things to do, that's why I'm sticking it out. I graduate in May, and I know that I might have a sucky job at first, but once I have my foot in the door, I can figure out what I love to do and work towards it.

Hang in there, there's light at the end of the tunnel, and from what I've seen so far, some units are Hell and others are the complete opposite. You can do it!

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Be encourage! You are in a career that's very diverse and you can specialize if you choose to or go toward another closely related fields. Getting a nursing degree doesn't have to be what you do for the rest of your career. Finish up your degree that you have worked so hard for. Don't quit and don't despair!

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This whole job experience just has dashed all my hopes of nursing. All of a sudden I am tired all the time, have no motivation to study for school, I cry all the time (before work, before clinical, when I drive back to campus for the week after being back "home"), and I feel like I am on the wrong career path.

Has anybody else had a similar experience? I just don't know what to do anymore :(

Being an aide is VERY different from being an RN. There are some similarities, yes we have to clean poop and pee and barf and blood, BUT there are some points where you will get to make your own choices and have autonomy. This is like saying you dont want to be a store manager because being a clerk sucks. Similar cross over sometimes (from the manager having to help on the floor) but it's not the same job at all. Burn out in school is high! I know I burned out! BUT it does get better, and if it doesn't? Well there are always non-hospital jobs you can do! Phone triage, pharm sales, public health (teaching and stuff). Do you have time to work out (probably not) but maybe telling the unit manager NO and going to the gym instead would be better for you?

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Just keep in mind that not all nursing involves working in a hospital. There are lots of options out there, so don't get too depressed yet!

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Specializes in Hospice, ER.

I hated nursing school, hated clinicals, hated working after school, hated life in general. Nursing school is like pregnancy - by the end you are done with it and want to scream "when will the suffering end?" Well, it does. And like pregnancy, you get a gift when it is over - not a baby but a career full of possibilities. You sound exhausted. Quit one of the jobs if possible. It is too much to do school and two jobs. Hang in - nursing is full of possibilities and when you find your niche you will know it. I'm glad I stuck it out. I have a good job and own my own home. On the days when work is hell I try to hold onto all that nursing has given me. And some days, it ain't easy!

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Specializes in Emergency.

You don't say you hate nursing or caring for patients...you hate the hours, the place, the people...You will most likely not find your dream job right out of school, but you might find one that is a little more compatible with your lifestyle in terms of hours and working conditions. As long as you don't "hate" caring for patients - I think it's the environment/situation more than the career. The other thing to keep in mind, many people feel depressed and tired when they first work night shift - especially when they're trying to balance a day life as well. This might be part of what you're experiencing right now. Good luck with everything!

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