Can't handle the hospital environment. Need suggestions

merlee · Jan 25, 2012

You don't say how long you have been working, so it is hard to make a good call. I apparently also have ADD, but we didn't have a name for it 50 years ago, just called it 'ants in the pants', or the Yiddish term 'shpilkes'.

I worked in ICUs, a variety of med-surg floors, acute dialysis, and home health, over the course of my 30-years + career. Somehow, I devised ways to get through.

You made it through school, and passed your exam.

Everyone has an adjustment period in every job, and what you've stated seems typical.

Give us a bit more info, and maybe we can guide you.

Best wishes!!!

49virginia49 · Jan 25, 2012

Hi sdupnik,

Have you thought about being a wound nurse?

Pfiesty · Jan 29, 2012

Check into your state. They are always looking for facility surveyors because they pay so poorly, but the work is very easy. Your only hurdle will be dealing with the boredom.

Two Sheds · Mar 2, 2012

I'm an RN, working at a prison medical facility with the Correctional Medicine Division and I love it!!!

kcmylorn · Mar 3, 2012

One would think that with all the nurses jumping the hospital acute care ship these days due to poor work environments, Nursing Management would take the hint and be proactive to correct it. We all know that just as many nursing managment read these forums as us "worker bees" do, yet they walk around playing stupid.

If I were managment/adminsitration, It would take this as the writing on the wall and the shape of things to come when the economy gets just a tad better, but I think it has started already. Nurses leaving aka the nursing exodus. And as far as those new grads that were not able to find jobs- I hope they didn't think they were just sitting around waiting for that phone to ring with school loans to pay. I wouldn't count on them either. If they are in any kind of a job, not nursing, don't think they are going to leave them for the nursing bandwagon. Guess what nursing managers- a waitress in a nice upscale restaurant can make the same wages, if not better( $200-400/nite in tips- do the math OH great ones!!) And waitresses don't get cancelled in those restaurants, they can always pick up extra shifts. And they don't have to be exposed to body fluids or the threat of a lawsuit!!

My vote and suggestion- go waitressing- still have the nasty patients/customers, no pee, poop,blood, meds to give out, doctors or lawsuits. same money, probably better. Plenty of nurses working with my daughter in a restaurant.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Mar 4, 2012

I can sympathize with the OP, as I had to leave the hospital environment for many of the same reasons, although my MH issue was undiagnosed bipolar disorder rather than ADD.

I've actually been quite successful as a Director of Health Services in assisted living, despite not being dx'ed till very recently. On days when I can't focus well, I spend a lot of time with the residents just catching up with them and doing informal assessments; and on days when I want to isolate myself, I'll put my headphones on and do paperwork in my quiet little office. There's a lot of flexibility in this job, which is absolutely essential to my ability to do it well, and my evaluations have been great so I must be doing something right. :) The trick is to work within your limitations on any given day, because there will be high-stress days in this field too and you have to have some coping mechanisms in place to withstand the pressure. But the physical demands are few and the hours are generally 8-5 Monday through Friday, which is really good for anyone who tends to be scattered and erratic, as I am at times. Good luck!

elprup, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2012

I can sympathize with OP as well. Do what is best for you always, because the managers certainly do not care if your current job kills you, as long as you are there working.

sdupnik · May 28, 2012

No offense, but I would hate to have to go back to waitressing (I did that too). I just don't see that as a fulfilling long term career goal. I think my long term career goal would be to be a flight nurse but unfortunately that won't be for a while as I have no ED or ICU experience. =(. I think I would love to go back to the hospital in some capacity at some point. My mom suggested I apply to be an IV nurse. Unfortunately I haven't seen any job postings for that in my state.

sdupnik · May 28, 2012

Sorry, I don't think I could handle working with prisoners. =(

sdupnik · May 28, 2012

Yes, I have thought about it, but I'm not sure how to go about obtaining my wound care certification, as that is required for many facilities to be a true wound nurse. I don't think it's my first choice but if that was my only option, I would do it.

sdupnik · May 28, 2012

To merlee:

I've had ADD since I was about 10 or so. I'm 27 now. I thought that by being more organized at work when I was working in the hospital environment, it would reduce a little of the stress, but it really didn't. As I stated in another reply, I would love to go back to the hospital environment at some point but probably in a different capacity then I was working in before as I think it would be awesome to be a flight nurse. Unfortunately they will only hire nurses who have approx 3+ years of ED or ICU experience and many of the EDs and ICUs here prefer nurses who already have that experience. I currently work in home health which is pretty fun, but I'm afraid the longer I wait to go back to the hospital, the harder it will be to remember how to be a hospital nurse. Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated! =)