Disgusted with nursing career

Published

So here I sit almost two years after my graduationfrom nursing school unhappy and stressed. Due to the economic state of our country I was only able to secure employment in psychiatric nursing. I am now experiencing the repercussions of this. I feel totally inadequate as a nurse, I can deescalate, practice active listening and communicate effectively but my total lack of ability performing an adequate physical assessment sickens me. I tried after my first year to gain employment on a medical unit and even had afew interviews but never received an employment offer. I have zero time between work and school (working on BSN) to review and practice my physical assessment skills. When we occasionally get a patient that is somewhat medically unstable I am often at a loss for even the most basic nursing interventions. I feel as thoughI spent eighteen thousand dollars on an education I am not even thoroughly utilizing. After some minor errors in nursing judgment that caused no harm whatsoever to my patients I either want to work a desk position or leave nursing altogether. I went into this profession not for the money but to truly makea difference in the lives of others and I feel I am not doing this. I am tired of the inadequate orientations and training. I am tired of nurse managers who only want to point out what you did wrong and overlook all the good you do. Iam tired of co-workers berating me and talking behind my back. I am tired of seeing nurses who should have left the profession years ago intentionally being verbally and physically cruel to patients who are alone, mentally ill and defenseless.

I have truly wanted to be a nurse for all of my life. I am now forty-one years old and I am a nurse like I always wanted to be; yet I am sad and heartbroken over the state of my short career and the nursing profession in general. I no longer want to be a nurse. I am no longer proud to be a nurse. I have wasted years of my life attending school to work in a profession that leaves me feeling poorly about myself and my abilities. In reality I should have seen this coming while in nursing school with the instructors who were always quick to point out your flaws and ignore your successes. I could be an outstanding nurse if giving the right training I might even gain an ounce of the self-esteem that I left behind somewhere in the first year of nursing school. I am at a loss as to what to do now. Most insurance companies want nurses who have acute care experience and they do not mean acute psychiatric care trust me. So where does one go with such a limited nursing background? Please do not suggest school. I am so sick ofschool and just the few classes I have taken towards my BSN have left me nauseated. I really do not want a BSN but feel that not getting one would limit my employment options even further. I do not want any further education especially in nursing. I am tired of wasting my money and time on a profession that is slowly losing sight of its historical foundations and ethics.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

A bit confused as to why you feel that the nursing profession is to blame for your problems. Based on the information you have shared, your current situation is due to the fact that you were unable to secure an acute care job. Maybe due to the economy? Due to only BSN grads being hired? At any rate, you dislike working in psych. So, why are you attributing all this to the fact that nursing is "losing sight of its historical foundations and ethics"? Don't exactly know what you are referring to here.

It seems that you feel trapped in a situation you hate but are resentful of having to put forth the effort/resources that it will take to effect a change. If this is the case, I don't really think it is going to get any better since the BSN classes leaving you "nauseated". Maybe you should look in other directions for something that will make you happier in the long run. I still think that you can be "an outstanding nurse"... but you are off target to believe that this will only happen if you are "giving (sic) the right training". It will happen if you give the right effort. Learning and development are not passive activities that can be instilled by anyone else. You are the only one who can make it happen.

There is an important concept in educational psychology - called "causal attribution". Simply put, it indicates how people tend to place blame for bad things. Some people tend to "own" their own mistakes and problems while others are more likely to attribute everything to external causes. The former usually react by analyzing mistakes and taking action to improve their situation while the latter point of view gives rise to feelings of helplessness and lack of personal efficacy. Just saying . . . your mileage may vary.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Keep plugging away until you find what you are looking for. Practice assessments on anyone at home that will allow you to do so. You could always go to a RN to MSN program and become a mental health NP. They are some of the highest paid NPs out there:up:

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Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.
So here I sit almost two years after my graduationfrom nursing school unhappy and stressed. Due to the economic state of our country I was only able to secure employment in psychiatric nursing. I am now experiencing the repercussions of this. I feel totally inadequate as a nurse, I can deescalate, practice active listening and communicate effectively but my total lack of ability performing an adequate physical assessment sickens me. I tried after my first year to gain employment on a medical unit and even had afew interviews but never received an employment offer. I have zero time between work and school (working on BSN) to review and practice my physical assessment skills. When we occasionally get a patient that is somewhat medically unstable I am often at a loss for even the most basic nursing interventions. I feel as thoughI spent eighteen thousand dollars on an education I am not even thoroughly utilizing. After some minor errors in nursing judgment that caused no harm whatsoever to my patients I either want to work a desk position or leave nursing altogether. I went into this profession not for the money but to truly makea difference in the lives of others and I feel I am not doing this. I am tired of the inadequate orientations and training. I am tired of nurse managers who only want to point out what you did wrong and overlook all the good you do. Iam tired of co-workers berating me and talking behind my back. I am tired of seeing nurses who should have left the profession years ago intentionally being verbally and physically cruel to patients who are alone, mentally ill and defenseless.

I have truly wanted to be a nurse for all of my life. I am now forty-one years old and I am a nurse like I always wanted to be; yet I am sad and heartbroken over the state of my short career and the nursing profession in general. I no longer want to be a nurse. I am no longer proud to be a nurse. I have wasted years of my life attending school to work in a profession that leaves me feeling poorly about myself and my abilities. In reality I should have seen this coming while in nursing school with the instructors who were always quick to point out your flaws and ignore your successes. I could be an outstanding nurse if giving the right training I might even gain an ounce of the self-esteem that I left behind somewhere in the first year of nursing school. I am at a loss as to what to do now. Most insurance companies want nurses who have acute care experience and they do not mean acute psychiatric care trust me. So where does one go with such a limited nursing background? Please do not suggest school. I am so sick ofschool and just the few classes I have taken towards my BSN have left me nauseated. I really do not want a BSN but feel that not getting one would limit my employment options even further. I do not want any further education especially in nursing. I am tired of wasting my money and time on a profession that is slowly losing sight of its historical foundations and ethics.

Are you asking for help...or just coming here to drag the morale of the board down? I don't know how to take this. Im not sure uf this is a bait thread or what...so I'm just going to head outta the thread. I will say that there are plenty of us who like nursing just fine. Just because you're unhappy or didn't get your dream hospital job doesn't mean that you get to pooh on OUR profession. Ugh...I can see why some folks on this board catch hell from their coworkers.... You receive what you put out. Hell...I'm a new nurse and no ones ever bullied/berated/badmouthed me behind my back....

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Hell...I'm a new nurse and no ones ever badmouthed me behind my back....

How do you know? :laugh:

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You need to get into a SNF-Skilled nursing facility. I know, I know.... Before people say "a nursing home" puke...I gotta say that I can function very independently as a nurse and learned LOTS as a nurse fresh out the gate at a SNF. You get to see lots of different stuff, use skills-sure nurse to patient ratios suck, but if you want to learn-that would be your best bet. Many hospitals are not hiring in nurses to train them due to budgets. But if you really want nursing experience you need to broaden your view of what "nursing" is-its not just hospitals. Fill out some apps, someone will grab you!

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A bit confused as to why you feel that the nursing profession is to blame for your problems. Based on the information you have shared, your current situation is due to the fact that you were unable to secure an acute care job. Maybe due to the economy? Due to only BSN grads being hired? At any rate, you dislike working in psych. So, why are you attributing all this to the fact that nursing is "losing sight of its historical foundations and ethics"? Don't exactly know what you are referring to here.

It seems that you feel trapped in a situation you hate but are resentful of having to put forth the effort/resources that it will take to effect a change. If this is the case, I don't really think it is going to get any better since the BSN classes leaving you "nauseated". Maybe you should look in other directions for something that will make you happier in the long run. I still think that you can be "an outstanding nurse"... but you are off target to believe that this will only happen if you are "giving (sic) the right training". It will happen if you give the right effort. Learning and development are not passive activities that can be instilled by anyone else. You are the only one who can make it happen.

There is an important concept in educational psychology - called "causal attribution". Simply put, it indicates how people tend to place blame for bad things. Some people tend to "own" their own mistakes and problems while others are more likely to attribute everything to external causes. The former usually react by analyzing mistakes and taking action to improve their situation while the latter point of view gives rise to feelings of helplessness and lack of personal efficacy. Just saying . . . your mileage may vary.

You are making assumptions that I have not or am unwilling to put forth the effort in order to reach my goals. I have attempted to get into other areas of nursing as well as acute care. I have sacrificed a lot and have worked my behind off to get the degree I currently have. I cannot no matter how much effort I put into it get the "medical" nursing experience that I need to be an adequate nurse without obtaining a position where I can do so. There is little time to practice physical assessment skills beyond VS on a psych unit when you are carrying a heavy patient load and having to handle codes all the time. I do "own" my own mistakes and accept full responsibility for them and I am rather annoyed that you would imply otherwise. I have been making attempts to improve my situation but that does not magically happen just because one tries to do so.

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I am sick of school really do not even want to finish the BSN program I am in.

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How do you know? :laugh:

Ummm some people think that others cannot hear what they are saying about them or they think you are not around. Geesh sarcasm.

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You need to get into a SNF-Skilled nursing facility. I know, I know.... Before people say "a nursing home" puke...I gotta say that I can function very independently as a nurse and learned LOTS as a nurse fresh out the gate at a SNF. You get to see lots of different stuff, use skills-sure nurse to patient ratios suck, but if you want to learn-that would be your best bet. Many hospitals are not hiring in nurses to train them due to budgets. But if you really want nursing experience you need to broaden your view of what "nursing" is-its not just hospitals. Fill out some apps, someone will grab you!

Thanks, I have been applying to them since graduation in 2011.

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Are you asking for help...or just coming here to drag the morale of the board down? I don't know how to take this. Im not sure uf this is a bait thread or what...so I'm just going to head outta the thread. I will say that there are plenty of us who like nursing just fine. Just because you're unhappy or didn't get your dream hospital job doesn't mean that you get to pooh on OUR profession. Ugh...I can see why some folks on this board catch hell from their coworkers.... You receive what you put out. Hell...I'm a new nurse and no ones ever bullied/berated/badmouthed me behind my back....

If I received what I put out it would be respect and kindness not a bunch of high school behaviors.

Ummm some people think that others cannot hear what they are saying about them or they think you are not around.

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Keep plugging away until you find what you are looking for. Practice assessments on anyone at home that will allow you to do so. You could always go to a RN to MSN program and become a mental health NP. They are some of the highest paid NPs out there:up:

Thanks Mom To 4 but the last thing I want is to pour more money and time into my education. I do not want to be paying off my student loans with social security.

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