Breaking Free From Nursing

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Specializes in Functional Medicine, Holistic Nutrition.

I've been a nurse for almost 8 years. That's not long in the grand scheme of things, but it's long enough to have experienced this profession. I've been known to say, "One of the greatest things about nursing is that there are so many different ways to be a nurse." And believe me, I've been a nurse in many different ways. I've tried hard to make this career into something that I enjoy. I worked in ER, med-surg, and home health before going back to get my master's degree in health care administration. I found patient care to be far too stressful for someone who truly cares about the quality of care that is being delivered. Either you settle for mediocrity or you drive yourself to the brink of insanity. I experienced the latter until I eventually decided that something had to change. I've found working in administration to be much more preferable, but it is still wrought with problems and it is far from being a career that I'm excited about. I'm finally ready to admit to myself that nursing is the problem. It's just not the career that I thought it would be or that I've tried so desperately to make it into. No matter what capacity of nursing work that you do, it is a thankless job. The mentality of "a nurse is a nurse is a nurse" is pervasive and there isn't an employer out there that truly values a nurse for the unique skills or knowledge that he/she may have. Anyway, I could go on and on about the many reasons why I want to get out of nursing, but the main point of this post is that I've finally made a decision. I struggled for years with this decision, but recently it seems so clear. I'm about to turn 30 years old and there is no way that I'm going to waste the rest of my life in this profession. I don't know exactly what I'm going to do yet (part of the reason why I've struggled for so long), but I know that I'm going to do it and I will be successful. I will get out. Best of luck to those of you who may be struggling with the same decision.

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Good luck!

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Wish I could also be so brave. If only I had the money to get out...

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Glad that you put a lot of thought into your decision. You are so young, you can go onto any career that you would like.

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Congratulations! It takes strength to make these types of choices.

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Let us know what you decide to do. I'd like out too just have no idea what else to do.

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Specializes in Author/Business Coach.

Good for you. It takes courage to move on. Nursing is not for everyone.

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Specializes in Tele/PCU/MedSurg/Travel.
I found patient care to be far too stressful for someone who truly cares about the quality of care that is being delivered. Either you settle for mediocrity or you drive yourself to the brink of insanity.

Man, this sure is something I continue to stuggle with.

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I agree V neck. Sucks that this is normal for nursing...the opposite of what I was taught.

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I agree V neck. Sucks that this is normal for nursing...the opposite of what I was taught.

Same. I've tried so hard to love nursing but I've recently come to the conclusion that nursing just sucks.

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Best wishes!!!

I'm feeling the same way, ready to go work at Starbucks

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Follow your heart. Like everyone said, best of luck. May you find greater joy.

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