Disappointed in Nursing

apaisRN, RN, CRNA · May 15, 2005

If you like caring for your patients but hate work, you are A.) in the wrong specialty or B.) in a bad work environment. Or both. As a new grad in general surgery I felt the same way. My job was fascinating and I liked my patients, but the floor wasn't a supportive place and my schedule was such that I never saw my husband. If you have NO idea what you want to do, I don't know what to recommend - maybe do some float pool? See some different specialties and units, and see which ones appeal to you? Or maybe you don't want to be in hospital nursing at all. I can't tell you what will work for you, but you sound like you want to stay in nursing, and I'm sure there's a niche for you.

jkaee · May 15, 2005

I know this may not be the answer you are looking for, but from my experience you just need to give yourself some time. You've only been nursing for about a year, and have only explored 2 areas so far. I remember when I first started nursing I really couldn't figure out why I ever wanted to be a nurse, even though I really did (and still do) enjoy caring for people. For me, it took a while, but I realized that I really didn't like the hospital setting, but LOVED Ortho, so now I'm working in a rehab hospital where it's not as acute, but you still get to see interesting cases and learn new things. For me, geographics also played a part. The closer I worked to Philly, the more miserable I was. I don't know why, but moving out towards the "country" a little more and working out there made a difference too (I think I'm just a hillbilly at heart and feel at home around farmers :chuckle ) Also, give your "tastes" some time to develop. When I was in nursing school, labor and delivery was the place I was going to be. I excelled in maternity classes and clinicals. When I graduated, there was no nursing jobs to be had (way before this nursing shortage) and I was literally forced to take a job in LTC because there simply was nothing else out there. Fast forward to 9 years later when I was offered a job in L/D, I thought I had come home at last. Guess what? Couldn't do it. In those 9 years or so, my interests had changed....I got married and had kids and just didn't feel that the move to L/D would be right for me. So, I have stayed with rehab and my general mix of people and for right now, I'm happy. Maybe later on I'll make my big move, but then again maybe not.

I hope this helps you a little. Give it some time, maybe explore different areas of nursing and different states or cities. Some people jump right into the area that they love and will be in forever. For others, like you and I, it may take a while to find that place. And there are still others that like to shake things up and do something totally different every 5 years or so. All of it's okay, but try not to get discouraged. You will find your "niche" in time. Best of luck to you!

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · May 15, 2005

If you like caring for your patients but hate work, you are A.) in the wrong specialty or B.) in a bad work environment. Or both. As a new grad in general surgery I felt the same way. My job was fascinating and I liked my patients, but the floor wasn't a supportive place and my schedule was such that I never saw my husband. If you have NO idea what you want to do, I don't know what to recommend - maybe do some float pool? See some different specialties and units, and see which ones appeal to you? Or maybe you don't want to be in hospital nursing at all. I can't tell you what will work for you, but you sound like you want to stay in nursing, and I'm sure there's a niche for you.

I think the above poster is right. This may be the wrong area for you. Med-surg and ortho are very hard floors to work on!! The float pool is a good suggestion. I worked in the float pool for a while and that's how I knew that cardiac was for me! That's also how I know a lot of other specialty areas weren't for me!

lady_jezebel · May 15, 2005

I didn't like ortho, either (in my case voluntary hips/knees/shoulders/spines -- not trauma). I found it to be incredibly boring, and the patients are all physically heavy b/c of mobility issues. On some nights I found myself spending hours just taking patients to the bathroom or bedside commode. I finally realized that there is more to nursing than toileting! Also, I don't really care about ortho surgeries -- physiology & medical issues are more my thing than surgery/anatomy repairs.

I'm very excited about starting a new job in critical care next week! Maybe you should transfer into something else after a good 6mos-1yr in your current ortho job? What would really make you excited to go to work? Maybe changing your population to pediatrics, hospice, critical care, ???

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 15, 2005

Good advice so far.

I don't love going to work, as I would rather stay home and sleep and eat. :)

Hang in there, sooner or later you'll find your niche, perhaps in critical care, L&D, or even Hospice, or public health. That's the good thing about nursing, with experience, there is so much you can do. Many of us have to drift and float for a while before the anchor settles. :)

TeriLuvsER · May 15, 2005

Hannah,

One of the greatest things about nursing is that there are so many different specialties that if you decide you don't like one you can easily find something else to try. I swore I never would do med/surg or floor nursing after doing clinicals and I never have. I went straight into ER....alot of hospitals offer lengthy orientations/training programs for different areas. In particular I know I've seen them for ER, ICU, and Surgery. Also, if you see a listing that says one or two years of experience is required I'd still give a resume if that was an area I was interested in. The worst you can get is a no. Hang in there, nursing is a GREAT field. :)

Hello Fellow Nurses! I am sorry to begin on such a negative note (as I am generally a positive person), but I am having such a hard time enjoying nursing! I began in med-surg a year ago and did that for 6 months. Now I am doing Ortho nursing because the opportunity just presented itself. All during school, I had perfect grades and did well at clinicals. However, I still have NO IDEA what direction I want to go in...I have no idea what area of nursing I would love to work in. I love caring for my patients and am doing well in orthopedics, but I hate this area. Any advice on what to do next? I am feeling so discouraged because I have been working for a year and still don't like being a nurse. Don't get me wrong, I love my patients and I love helping people, but I am just dreading work everyday! And I read about how nurses love going to work even though they have bad days, etc, and I would really love to experience that! Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for letting me ramble!
:)

llg, PhD, RN · May 15, 2005

I think you have gotten some great advice from the posters above. Here's one more thing to think about:

Perhaps it would help you to think about this period of your life as a "normal period of adjustment" instead of thinking about it as a crisis or as an unusual an horrible thing in your life. Even though of us who have long satisfying careers go through periods in which we are not fully satisfied. Yes, there are people who are thrilled with their jobs and go around smiling all the time .... but those people are the minority.

For most of us ... our work lives have ups and downs. Sometimes we love it: sometimes we hate it: most of the time, it's somewhere in between. That's why they have to pay us to do it. We don't go in and work for free. Think about people all over the world and all through history -- most of whom did not love their jobs every day. They survived, moved forward, and made decent lives for themselves.

So ... give your career a little more time to develop. Assess what it is that you like about your current situation and thoroughly assess what it is that you don't like. Explore the many alternatives and seek a position that matches your likes/dislikes and then give that a try. It might take you 3 or 4 attempts and a few years to find a niche that feels right for you -- but THAT'S NORMAL and OK. If you keep assessing yourself, you will eventually develop the knowledge of yourself to make decisions that are right for you.

llg

HannahRN24 · May 15, 2005

Thank you all for your supportive replies! I am going to take a few weeks vacation and maybe then I will find some insight. I am seriously considering ICU as my next venture! Thanks again for the advice! :)