Can't handle the hospital environment. Need suggestions

[sdupnik]

Hi everyone,

I'm writing this because I'm hoping one of you can give me some insight into a good new field of nursing besides the hospitals. I have ADD and take Adderall. Lately I have had some issues where I can't chart on time, being late with certain things, and some other issues. I have found a report sheet that works for me and I do my best to organize my day and prioritize as much as possible. My question is this: Have any of you that have worked at hospitals quit because you couldn't handle the stress and found another venue that you enjoy or even love? I really hope I'm not alone in this. It was a hard realization but I'm glad I discovered that the hospital environment is not appropriate for me at this point of my life now rather than 4+ years down the line. Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks.

[Compassion75]

Hi everyone,

I'm writing this because I'm hoping one of you can give me some insight into a good new field of nursing besides the hospitals. I have ADD and take Adderall. Lately I have had some issues where I can't chart on time, being late with certain things, and some other issues. I have found a report sheet that works for me and I do my best to organize my day and prioritize as much as possible. My question is this: Have any of you that have worked at hospitals quit because you couldn't handle the stress and found another venue that you enjoy or even love? I really hope I'm not alone in this. It was a hard realization but I'm glad I discovered that the hospital environment is not appropriate for me at this point of my life now rather than 4+ years down the line. Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks.

Dear Fellow nurse,

If u find home health works for you I would stay in that. I am also a current home health nurse and have been doing home health and hospice for the last 13 years. I for other health reasons such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, diabetes, as well as recently diagnosed hypothyroidism and another pituitary disorder that also calls for lifelong injections of human growth hormone, cannot tolerate a hospital environment either. home health has its stresses but its worse day wil never be as bad as the hospital. Real nursing is not just in hospitals there is a whole world open in community health and ambulatory care settings. Plus you learn alot of administrative skills such as case management which can parlay into careers with insurance companies and other settings. When I get discouraged because of all the paper work and bleary-eyed nights documenting, I remember that I basically get to work from home, make my own schedule, work basically 8-5 m-f, enjoy music and my favorite sermon tapes while I am driving in a peacefully quiet new car, enjoy beautiful scenery and sunshine, and get to work with one patient at a time. To me u get to practice true nursing in case management and community health because the nurse basically creates and directs the wole plan of care and the physicians truly respect and collaborate with u because u are their eyes and ears in the home. I recently had a little setback in which I had to have medication adjustments and had been out of my human growth hormone due to lack of insurance. So I had to battle with chronic exhaustion and fatigue and poor concentration and got behind in paperwork cause I couldn't focus and slept alot. But now with a few medication changes I am feeling better and catching up. I also rely on extended release Ritalin and caffeine pills to help keep me awake, but my doctor is switching me over to Nuvigil because it will decrease chance of heart palpitations. I am saying all of this to say God put u there for a reason so resist the urge to job hop and stay and get good at what u are doing. And trust me u are not losing skills as the patients are now th ICU patients I had 10 years ago. I have managed Primacor and Dobutamine drips, PT/INR fingerstick checks, telehealth patients, pts with external defribillator life vests awaiting AICD/Pacemaker implantation, IV's, central and picc lines, complex wound care/wound vac, plus various med surg diseases such as copd, chf, diabetes, parkinsons, cancer and a whole host of other condtons. So on the contrary your med surg skils and assessment skills will become very strong as u are forced to become very astute and creative in problem solving in the home setting as u work as part of a multidiscliplinary team, but u also work alot alone and autonomously. So take heart! I believe that if u enjoy your current job you are in the right place! Plus a strong resume and longevity shows, stability, dependability, and expertise and will open up a whole lot of doors later on. Start looking into all the careers u can go into into case mangement, disease management, health and diabetes education. I hope this helps!

[Liddle Noodnik]

. Lately I have had some issues where I can't chart on time, being late with certain things, and some other issues.

To me that is the nature of nursing in a hospital! I think it's miraculous for there to be nurses who can do things on time and get out on time!! Hope you discover what fits for you :)