Considering quitting nursing

Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN · Aug 24, 2021

I didn't. I started in a PACU for a year, then got recruited for critical care in the same hospital. But my husband's job moved us, and I appled to a critical care unit there. I was placed in the stepdown unit, but after two weeks they figured I could hack ICU, so they transferred me over there; I stayed for five years until we moved again, and got a job as the day charge in a community hospital ICU/CCU/Stepdown 28-bed unit. I loved (almost) every minute of it.

momoneypls, RN · Aug 25, 2021

What you are feeling is very common for a new nurse, so please don't give up yet! Part of finding your niche in this profession is discovering what you don't like or want; that is what eventually leads to discovering the area where you will truly thrive.

Nursing feels a lot like running like a chicken with your head cut off; after awhile though you make peace with it. It becomes insignificant background noise as you discover the importance of what you do and the positive impact it can have on others.

My first bedside job was many years ago as an acute care oncology nurse, and I swear those patients could sense my fear and they would not mince words--they wanted an experienced nurse. I cried on my way home from work a lot and felt like I would never get it to where I felt I had accomplished something worthwhile on my shift. I leaned a lot on others and felt super stupid because I could not do things on my own.

It took a full year on that floor for me to feel confident enough to consider myself somewhat of an asset. After that, I was able to isolate the things that I really liked about nursing and things I couldn't stand. That helped me along the way to where I am now. I love ER nursing and I discovered this by doing pretty much everything else along the way. It has made me better as a nurse and given me a pretty thick skin, too.

You do you, but seriously, reconsider staying in nursing. Maybe LTC is not for you so try out something else. Consider your temperament also: ER nurses are ADD and do 60 things at once without finishing one thing at a time; ICU nurses are the opposite and complete each task one at a time in a very organized fashion. Cardiology means you deal with a lot of type A patients and docs, Ortho is a lot of chill docs and pain meds, ambulation for patients. Neuro is nebulous and confusing (to me and a lot of patients) but can be very rewarding when you see recovery. L/D is like ER because when it goes bad, it goes really fast. L/D and mother baby got the most code gray calls--very Maury Povich/Jerry Springer type stuff. Med surge is turn and burn with a lot of admits and discharges with drains and pain pumps. Your type A nurses tend to do day shift, your type B nurses are night shift and I think more friendly and team-oriented.

Good luck and thanks for reading my super long commentary:)

CCHP-RN · Aug 28, 2021

I did the same. NA to NT while in nursing school, then 5 years as a RN, a total of 8 years at the same hospital. At age 27, they would not promote me beyond charge nurse due to not having admin experience. You can only imagine how I felt about that. I left the hospital and went to a prison to get my 1 year experience as a "Health Services Administrator". That was 25 years ago, and I'm still working for prisons, jails, and detention. You get in, you never leave! LOL, well not everybody, but it does get in your blood. 5 years in, I went to a the Corporate Director of Nursing, then Director of CQI/Training.

I am now the Sr. Director for my current company, which I love. I have been given the chance to succeed since I started!

BTW, depending on the type of facility, most are ambulatory care departments, not requiring bedside care as such. The pay is comparable to hospitals and nursing homes (pre-COVID) with a much better workload and more autonomy. I love it!

JustGetIt · Sep 1, 2021

I've been a nurse for almost two years and I'm done. Trust me, getting to these two years was hell. My first week, I also regretted my life and thought what was I doing here? I wanted out so bad!! But I tried to give it time. I don't know how I got here at all. I'm literally just trying to plan my escape. Nursing has put me through absolute hell and not for anything will I ever go through this again. I will never encourage anyone to stay in the field knowing what I'm going through. I have no idea how you are still In LTC. I tried that after leaving the hospital and I only lasted a few days. All due to this career, I thought so many times of driving myself over anything after work to die. There were times I stayed in my car for hours and cried and cried. At the end of my bed, I'd lay and cry, praying, begging for help. I couldn't believe what was happening. I'd get through the door and immediately start crying at work. I had to dry my tears in the bathroom real quick. People knew I was crying and it got to a point I didn't care. Attempted to end my life before thinking that in my next life I swear I wouldn't ever be a nurse. I would have never, ever, ever thought that a career that requires so much time, effort, hard work, effort would lead to misery. Who would have thought that hard work would lead to failure? I see nursing students know now and I just think to myself, I wish I could save you. There needs to a lot of changes in the field. People who aren't health professionals have absolutely no right to make decisions for what we go through. Sorry for my rant, this is all to say I totally understand and I pray the best for you. You will find your peace and happiness. When you find something better, just take that. No need to feel bad in any way at all. Those other jobs in nursing, I don't care anymore. It seems all is the same. Good luck with everything.

maggie0, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2021

On 8/25/2021 at 3:59 AM, momoneypls said:

What you are feeling is very common for a new nurse, so please don't give up yet! Part of finding your niche in this profession is discovering what you don't like or want; that is what eventually leads to discovering the area where you will truly thrive.

Nursing feels a lot like running like a chicken with your head cut off...

....Good luck and thanks for reading my super long commentary:)

Personally, I love psych. Working long-term care I'd probably run for the hills--I get floated to other floors and don't know how those nurses do it. I love our patients and my coworkers, love the stories and the dark humor, love the chance to spend lots of time with patients, really appreciate never having to place a Foley, etc. This is to say, YES: it's so much about finding your niche.

Zapi791, BSN, LVN, RN · Sep 12, 2021

On 8/24/2021 at 3:14 PM, LouR said:

My question to throw out there is- How many of you felt like running for the hills after your first bedside nursing position? Many say there are plenty of other nursing opportunities out there besides bedside, but I'm failing to see them!

I feel like running for the hills sometimes. Bedside nursing takes a lot of sacrifice. I used to eat lunch at 12 noon everyday, but now I am blessed if I get a lunch at 3pm. I am also blessed if I can sit down to chart sometimes instead of standing at my med cart chart all day. I had to buy a foot spa after my first week of bedside nursing because my feet were not used to all the walking and standing all day. I also still have to go home and study like I am back in nursing school since I feel like I have to be a cardiologist, a pulmonary specialist, a dermatologist, a neurologist, a pharmacist, and a psychiatrist sometimes. The only positive thing I can say is every day I am learning a lot.

There are many opportunities for nurses other than bedside but it is all about right experience, right circumstance, right timing, and right opportunity lining up just right.... in other words supernatural power. It is also easier to find a job when you already have a job.