Bedside nursing= depression?

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I have been an RN in med-surg for about a year and recently finished my first semester part time in an FNP program. I work full time nights and have recently considered working only part time b/c I hate my job so much. I work with nice people and my nurse manager is nice, but I realize that dealing with needy and crazy patients who make my job seems as if all I'm good for is pain medication has me really down in the dumps. I got into nursing for APN and can't see how I will make it out for another 3 years until I graduate school and hopefully find a NP position. I mean I really get depressed once its time to come back to work...:( I was thinking of going down to only two days a week at work b/c I do not see any nursing postions that would give me the exp I need upon graduating? I feel so stuck, uuugh!

My question is, is it worth it? current NPs do you enjoy or at least like your current postion in APN versus bedside? Was all the loans and studying worth where you're at now?

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Can you go from studying part time to full time?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Patient Safety.

I would suggest getting off nights if you can; working nights makes me depressed and cranky. I'm not a huge fan of bedside nursing, either, but it definitely helps to get proper sleep.

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I plan to ask my manager to go down to part time so I can actually pick up more classes for the semester coming up in Sept.

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I would suggest getting off nights if you can; working nights makes me depressed and cranky. I'm not a huge fan of bedside nursing, either, but it definitely helps to get proper sleep.

Yes, that is definitely an option that I want to do but day shift on the floor I am on is absolutely torturous...:( Night shift is busy enough as it is, but I def realize the negative effects of working nights!! Was thinking of maybe just doing agency work... So undecided!

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Specializes in critical care/tele/emergency.

I am currently in a NP program. I always have a mid semester breakdown, but seem to push through the stress. I currently work weekend nights and have been able to work full time and do an online program full time 8 hours a semester. This semester I had to take some time off of work to complete clinicals. I Am 2 years into my 3 year program. If you think that you will like being the provider I suggest that you continue with school. Over the next few years there will be several opening for NP in any area of the country. If you can get off nights that would be good, but I chose to stay in my current position due to the great staff that I work with. It helps to have family and friend support when going back for an advanced degree. good luck

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Specializes in ICU.

You're there to provide a service, to help them get through their hospitalization, but you're not going to change the world.

Do what you have to do - to do what you want to do. If being a pill passer is the worst of it, consider yourself lucky. There's certainly worse jobs than that out there in the world!

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