At a low point- very disillusioned with nursing

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I am so frustrated with nursing right now. I just want to give up. I tried acute care and didn't find it to my liking, to say the least. So, I tried a non-clinical job outside of acute care and it is not working out either. This is my third job in 16 months as an RN. I have been searching for another job and I'm finding it very difficult. Nursing shortage? Nope, not in my area. What clinical experience I do have in acute care (10 months) is counted as nothing since I didn't make it to the magical "one year". Recruiters would rather look at brand new grads than me since it has been about 5 months since I've been in acute care. The jobs that I have been offered to interview for are med-surg, midnights, both of which I swore I would never do again.

It's just not worth it anymore. Nursing has brought me nothing but stress and unhappiness from the very moment that I started nursing school. I just kept chugging along, hoping that it would get better. Well, life is just too short for this. I need to get out while I still can.

Thanks for listening. I'm not looking for answers, I just needed to vent.

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It's a wise person who knows when to say "enough" and move on.

I have friends with degrees in Science working for insurance companies and in law offices.

If you can afford to take the time and think about what you enjoy, do it.

Good luck with your future.

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

I am soooo sorry that you are having so much difficulty. You have been through so much. Getting in and making it through nursing school, passing NCLEX, getting your first jobs.....those are HUGE hurdles! You deserve so much credit for making it through all of that.

Your happiness is everything. There is absolutely no reason why you should do something that makes you miserable. I completely agree with you.

I would like to share a little of my story with you, if that's OK. I had 6 different nursing jobs in the first 2 years or so I was a nurse. It took me that long to find my niche. I really believe that given how much time and energy you have put into being a nurse that you should just keep looking. There are so many areas where nurses are needed that aren't widely known or advertised.

Good luck and all the best to you. ;););)

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It is not unusual to go through several jobs until you find one in nursing that you can settle on. Got to remember, this is not taught in nursing school. I would give it another try, nursing is so difficult because of the stress involved. For example, teachers, they deal with stress also, but they usually support each other and work a m-f dayshift. Huge difference. Best of luck.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

FWIW, it took me almost NINE years to find out where I belonged in nursing---right here in my 42-bed ALF.:) I did a little bit of almost everything (ICU, mother-baby, care management, staff development) and a lot of some things (med/surg and geriatrics). but I never felt at home until I found this last position, which is the one I hope to retire from...........some day! While I haven't held this job as long as I have others---three years is the longest---I'm almost 2 years in and still enthusiastic about what I'm doing.

Again, it took me a lot of years and a bunch of jobs to figure out my niche in nursing, and to be honest, I almost gave up too. Now I'm glad I didn't.

Best of luck to you!

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kat, i don't have any comforting advice.

wanted to let you know that i very much feel your disappointment and frustration.

and for that, i'm so sorry.

best of everything to you.

leslie

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I am so frustrated with nursing right now. I just want to give up. I tried acute care and didn't find it to my liking, to say the least. So, I tried a non-clinical job outside of acute care and it is not working out either. This is my third job in 16 months as an RN. I have been searching for another job and I'm finding it very difficult. Nursing shortage? Nope, not in my area. What clinical experience I do have in acute care (10 months) is counted as nothing since I didn't make it to the magical "one year". Recruiters would rather look at brand new grads than me since it has been about 5 months since I've been in acute care. The jobs that I have been offered to interview for are med-surg, midnights, both of which I swore I would never do again.

It's just not worth it anymore. Nursing has brought me nothing but stress and unhappiness from the very moment that I started nursing school. I just kept chugging along, hoping that it would get better. Well, life is just too short for this. I need to get out while I still can.

Thanks for listening. I'm not looking for answers, I just needed to vent.

I'm sorry to hear you are having a tough time. I know you aren't looking for answers, but maybe you would enjoy a different form of nursing such as teaching at a program, CNA school or teaching ACLS/BLS and other classes? Or school nursing all of which are bit more autonomous. Or get out all together. You have to be happy or at least be able to tolerate your job.

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Thanks for the advice and support! I am feeling better after getting in a good workout. I will probably give it another shot, it's just frustrating. I feel like I made some poor decisions already in my career. I never should have left acute care before my year was up in the first place and now I'm back at square one looking at a med-surg position. Oh well.

Mjlrn- What is ALF? Just curious...

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
What is ALF? Just curious...
ALF = Assisted Living Facility
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Specializes in Goal is to become a Surgical RN.

I'm just a student in my first semester - but my goal is to be a Surgical RN - is this med/surg that you keep saying just that?? If so, I'm totally excited to know they let youinto the surgical suites as a new grad!

On a side note - I had heard that ALF's treat their RN's with much respect and admiration... maybe that would be a good fit for you. Never know till you try!

Best of luck!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I'm just a student in my first semester - but my goal is to be a Surgical RN - is this med/surg that you keep saying just that?? If so, I'm totally excited to know they let youinto the surgical suites as a new grad!
When someone works in med-surg, they are basically doing general floor nursing and being exposed to every single skill and situation imaginable. A med-surg nurse, however, is not the same as a 'surgical nurse,' since they do not work in the OR.

If you want to work in surgery, then you want to be an OR (operating room) nurse.

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Try looking at it this way, at least in nursing we have many choices. There are many professions that , once you start a job you'd better stay there because the jobs are so far and few between. Yes, nursing is stressful, but, that is one thing that is not going to change no matter how much we wish it away. So, you look at your glass as half full instead of half empty. Sometimes it comes down to mind over matter. I'v found after almost 30 years of nursing that there are many jobs I've had that I hated. But, when I stuck around , learned the job well, became more comfortable, I found that I ended up liking the job. Jumping from job to job may be causing more stress than sticking with it. Jobs arn't made for the nurse to like. They are made to complete a task that the company needs. Jobs arn't all about, how happy we are. I'm not saying that we should be abused or not have benifits, be treated in unprofessional manner etc...but, hang in there. As one of those old nurses, I find it puzzeling how so many new nurses are getting out of school and then "finding out what nursing is like"......I'm sure many of us "old " nurses will agree, Why are nurses graduating with seemingly no idea of what a nurse really does? Any way, hang in there.

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