Burnout or bad career choice?

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I’m here seeking some advice!

I’ve worked in the hospital and clinic setting, and have just recently ventured into the home health field. From my first year in the hospital, I started to hate my job, moved to clinic thinking that’s where I would like to be...ended up hating that too. And now that I’m in home health and I can’t stand it either ? I’ve really discovered that my passion is in interior design. I feel guilty that I went into nursing and wasted my time doing this, only to have recently discovered what makes me really happy.

Nursing is nothing that I expected it to be. I’m tired of waiting on people hand and foot to be disrespected and unappreciated. Im so tired of watching people abuse the system every day. Drug seekers, people who want you to be their maid, being hateful, noncompliant, filthy, I just can’t stand it! I’m struggling because I don’t know if I’m burnt out or if I chose the wrong career path. And I don’t know where to go from here ?

Does anyone else feel the same way?

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Home Health, Corrections, School Nurse.

If you spend enough time on this site, you hear a lot of similar sentiments, especially from newer nurses. I've been a nurse for 40 years and for the first about 30 or so years, I would have told anybody, yeah go be a nurse, great job, tons of choices and flexibility etc etc. Not any more. Newer nurses are stuck in the hardest units "to get experience" but are burning out before they can get enough experience to find a specialty they could potentially thrive in. I don't see it getting better anytime soon. So I don't know if you've chosen the wrong career path, but your statements describing how horrible people are, (and I do agree with a lot of what you are saying) do indicate a level of burnout. I do believe most nurses can find an area where they feel fulfilled and appreciated. I myself ended up in school nursing (after burning out in ICU) and I LOVE IT.

Before you abandon nursing (not that I would blame you) take a hard look at what being an interior decorator would entail. You may be great at decorating and maybe your friend was thrilled with what you did for her living room, but it is a highly competitive field, with very low starting pay, because you have to build up a clientele. Since decorating shows have become a big thing on TV, everyone wants to be decorator.

Anyway, whatever you chose, good luck!

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I don't really have advice, but wanted to let you know that you're not alone. I completely agree with nursy is saying. It is a very tough field and I, too, have felt the effects of stress from it. Although, I wouldn't say I've gotten to the point of burnout, I've come close and have had to change directions a few times.

I've recently also realized my true passion...however, it wouldn't work with my family's schedule right now...and it would be more volunteer work related. So, a goal for me once I am able to retire.

Can you take an interior design class at a local community college and see if you truly like it? Keep in mind though that if you deal with the public, whether it be patients or clients, you're going to have to deal with people who are unappreciative, probably not the level that you're dealing with now though.

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I think nursing is unique in that the possibilities are almost endless. In another field, if you already had three jobs in three settings, i might say yeah, maybe look for something else. But in nursing, moving around to different specialties is pretty much expected. The stuff that you say you hate about nursing can be minimized in other settings. If you straight up hate nursing itself, quit today. But if youre ok with most of it, you can avoid drug seekers and avoid going to filthy homes. The non compliant and hateful people are everywhere, but i think the sheer volume of them is higher in some places.

Think about what you wanted from nursing. Is it something you will get with interior decorating? Is it impossible to get in another nursing setting? Try to take some time to plan your next move. Getting another degree can be a big deal.

I have a hard time recommending nursing to anyone, but once youre in, im a fan of hanging in there. I figure you should exhaust all possibilities before hanging up the degree.

I hope you find whats best for you.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I mean, you've had a wide variety of experience and still hate it. I get that people suck, but we deal with people at their most vulnerable. That is part of the job. I don't know what you expected from nursing, but if you aren't in it for at least a little personal satisfaction, you won't be happy anywhere because people can suck everywhere. I'd say find a new career. I guarantee that your burn out has leaked into your work, and not to be harsh, but your patients deserve better.

I take a break from nursing by volunteering in a situation where I can help people but I am not constrained by the rules imposed on me as a nurse and I never have to put up with abuse. That gives me a refresher. Perhaps you could be an interior designer and help others in that way.

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I think a lot depends on your personal financial situation. Will you be able to weather the next recession as an interior designer? How will you obtain benefits and prepare for retirement? At times when I have not been happy as a nurse, I have found jobs away from direct patient care to get me through.

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A few years ago I met a clinical manager at a hospital who told me her real passion was construction management. She left nursing in the 90s to do construction management and loved it. When she saw the housing crisis coming in the mid 2000s she went back to school to get her MSN and then hopped into clinical management while she waited for construction business to start back up. She told me "nursing has been a great back up plan!"

Perhaps you could start venturing into interior design part time and work up your portfolio slowly while still working in nursing. You haven't "wasted your time" in nursing...just prepped a great back up plan.

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Specializes in NICU.

I am here to tell you oh Jedi,that I hear you and feel your pain.The exhaustion of being everything to everyone,especially the nasty ungrateful types of patients is hard on your heart and soul.

There are other things I prepared for hoping to do more of a teaching type in nursing but favoritism by management blew those chances away.I did finally realize that other more enjoyable fields would not have kept a roof over my head nor provide for my children a quality education.

So I sucked it up and did the other stuff on the side semi-paid/volunteer.This little bit of happiness kept me centered and fueled me to continue enduring day after day.Sometimes I touched base with a therapist to vent,felt really good,renewed.

There are no perfect careers,and jerks are everywhere,good luck to you,hope you stay in nursing.

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What about cosmetic nursing? Like injectables, med spa, plastic surgeon? I had some work done in the past and my surgeons nurse said she loves her job because patients WANT to be there and its awesome to see the transformations. There are some nursey stuff, but also aesthetics. Like rearragning living rooms? How about rearranging facial profiles with botox or fillers? Just something to consider.

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Saw this on Murse World. LOL!

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Specializes in ICU.
On 3/11/2019 at 8:54 PM, ajp43 said:

I’m here seeking some advice!

I’ve worked in the hospital and clinic setting, and have just recently ventured into the home health field. From my first year in the hospital, I started to hate my job, moved to clinic thinking that’s where I would like to be...ended up hating that too. And now that I’m in home health and I can’t stand it either ? I’ve really discovered that my passion is in interior design. I feel guilty that I went into nursing and wasted my time doing this, only to have recently discovered what makes me really happy.

Nursing is nothing that I expected it to be. I’m tired of waiting on people hand and foot to be disrespected and unappreciated. Im so tired of watching people abuse the system every day. Drug seekers, people who want you to be their maid, being hateful, noncompliant, filthy, I just can’t stand it! I’m struggling because I don’t know if I’m burnt out or if I chose the wrong career path. And I don’t know where to go from here ?

Does anyone else feel the same way?

Sounds like to me you hate working with people IMO.

Interior Design allows you to be creative but you are working with homeowners. You will be waiting on them to come up with money, make a decision on materials, listening to them whining about something with the design, contractor delays, shipping delays, or home owners to stop changing their mind.

Maybe working with animals or dead bodies would be better for you. I am serious not joking.

For nursing jobs. Try Outpatient PACU or Inpatient PACU.

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Specializes in MSICU.

Not a nurse (yet) but I am a social worker who also experienced some level of burn out. I'd say that nursing can be *just* your job, not your life, not where you get your highest level of personal satisfaction. You could always pursue your passion outside of your work life... and that way still maintain the more financially secure job of nursing.

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