Not sure how to begin. Graduated from school in June 2013 and started a week later in a hybrid neuro step down/neuro ICU. I stayed on the atepdown side for 3-4 months and was quickly transitioned in to the ICU part of the unit. I catch on fast and after 6 months I found myself very bored with what I was doing. If I got a "boring" assignment I would quickly become miserable. I enjoyed taking care of our sicker patients and would become frustrated if I had an assignment in the atepdown unit.. But all staff were required to work both sides. After about a year into my job I decided to bid for a position in our larger med/surg ICU in our facility. Oct 2014 I blew through my orientation and was taking assignments on my own. Fast foward four months and I am already bored with my job/patient population. I crave complicated diagnosis and "sick patients"...I just don't feel full filled at work anymore.
I have only been here for 4 months so far and I know I cannot leave after such a short time.. But I hate being so dissatisfied with my job. Has anyone else found they too have a "craving" for action as a nurse? I have less than 2 years of nursing experience and have already become bored in the ICU...
Another local hospital has a trauma center/sicu but that would require me to change hospitals which isn't ideal but I can't go to work everyday feeling this way!
What is next for me? Not sure where to go from here. Any advice appreciated.
Maybe you need to do travel nursing so the element is always changing. A large ER with multiple traumas sounds like a good place for you too. Good luck!
Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.
Surprised no one has mentioned float pool! The major hospitals in my area even have ICU float pools experienced RNs can go into after 2-3 years. Some will even float you down to the ED, where you can work trauma, triage, or work on quick turnover in rooms.
A new grad, six months out in the ICU is bored....I don't think the patients are the issue. Maybe a personal issue, or maybeit's a case of not knowing how much you don't know. the complexity of the human body is scary. Sit in on some advanced university courses, or download some med school podcasts. If you are always finding out new things in your own time, you'll see those things in your patients, and it'll be really amazing.
Once you get your year under your belt, I would suggest finding a position that feeds into your need for change/challenge.
I have ADHD and I get restless at my job, usually after 6 months. What worked for me was going to an agency. I had a travel contract, then I did a lot of per diem, and then I added in teaching. It was great. I love doing floor work all over and having a break with clinical students.
Also, you may want to consider different specialties. I did ICU for a little while, but it was too much monitoring and not enough action. I actually like med-surg or step-down better. Also, after doing ICU, I am a lot better at catching crimpers when they start circling the drain instead of when they're almost gone, which can give a lot of satisfaction.
A lot of nurses that I know who need more stimulation do the intense environments, like Trauma or ER. They also do Float pool to keep things fresh.
If I were you, I would figure out what it is about the sicker patients that is so attractive. Is it the pathology? You may want to continue your education and become an NP. Is it the action? Maybe you need the ER. Once you figure that out, it will become clearer which solution is best for you.
I enjoy the pathology and the action. If there's something new and unique on the floor I am the first one in the room asking questions to the doctor and looking up everything there is to know about it including potential complications. But there's also the action of a cardiac arrest who you have to induce therapeutic hypothermia on and they are maxed on pressors where anything could happen!
I have ER for 20 years. If you enjoy sick patients I think a higher acuity icu, (heart transplants, trauma icu, burn unit)
Most of the ER patients are not that sick. You get an average of 4 patients and if you get a STEMI (heart attack) or Stroke alert, they are usually in and out of the ER to interventional unit. When you do get a very sick patient, sometimes no one is able to take care of your 3 other patients and it sucks.
how about becoming an anesthetist? Don't throw away your iCU experience. I think it's required for anesthesia school. Or going to med school? Follow that urge to learn and grow. Yes, you can learn a lot with "boring" patients, too, but you sound like you are a quick learner and need to follow a different path. Best wishes to you.
Being one of the lead trauma RN's at my hospital - Ive come to enjoy the "mundane" shifts. I guess Ive seen enough craziness that Im okay to not see anymore unless I have to.
Not sure how to begin. Graduated from school in June 2013 and started a week later in a hybrid neuro step down/neuro ICU. I stayed on the atepdown side for 3-4 months and was quickly transitioned in to the ICU part of the unit. I catch on fast and after 6 months I found myself very bored with what I was doing. If I got a "boring" assignment I would quickly become miserable. I enjoyed taking care of our sicker patients and would become frustrated if I had an assignment in the atepdown unit.. But all staff were required to work both sides. After about a year into my job I decided to bid for a position in our larger med/surg ICU in our facility. Oct 2014 I blew through my orientation and was taking assignments on my own. Fast foward four months and I am already bored with my job/patient population. I crave complicated diagnosis and "sick patients"...I just don't feel full filled at work anymore.
I have only been here for 4 months so far and I know I cannot leave after such a short time.. But I hate being so dissatisfied with my job. Has anyone else found they too have a "craving" for action as a nurse? I have less than 2 years of nursing experience and have already become bored in the ICU...
Another local hospital has a trauma center/sicu but that would require me to change hospitals which isn't ideal but I can't go to work everyday feeling this way!
What is next for me? Not sure where to go from here. Any advice appreciated.
Unfortunately, I never felt the same way. I always pray for boring days when I work the floor as a bedside nurse. Uneventful shifts are awesome! The crazy, complicated, and rushed hospital shifts made me want to be an NP in primary care.
I was also going to suggest working in the ER... but not sure how complicated/challenging these patients would be for you. The codes and interesting cases could cure your boredom but there would be days that would absolutely bore you too. In my nursing experience, if the patient becomes too complicated in the ER, they transfer them to our floor.... and then i take care of them (there goes my boring shift!)
A new grad, six months out in the ICU is bored....I don't think the patients are the issue. Maybe a personal issue, or maybeit's a case of not knowing how much you don't know. the complexity of the human body is scary. Sit in on some advanced university courses, or download some med school podcasts. If you are always finding out new things in your own time, you'll see those things in your patients, and it'll be really amazing.
My thoughts exactly. With so little experience it is likely that you have much more learning and experience to obtain before you completely understand your patients. If you are spending too much time with other patients besides your own, then there are some SERIOUS issues that you need to address. If I were your supervisor then I would be having a heart-to-heart discussion with you about your inappropriate behavior.
Your patients need your full attention every second that you are there. Their status can change in a flash with ICP fluctuations. Your art-lines can go awry or any number of complications can occur.
I also sense ADHD or potential drug abuser. Now, don't flip out on me, I'm not making accusations. Just giving you the benefit of thousands of observations.
As a fellow nurse, I urge you to seek professional counseling.
(there goes my boring shift!)
mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN
3,319 Posts
Go to medical school.
I am happy with my "boring" assignments. ;p