Do you ever really find your "niche?"

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I've been a nurse for a few years and just received my MS. While I also have my BSN, I just cannot find my niche. I spoke with one nurse who said it took her over 20 years to find her niche! I can't wait that long. I've been a floor nurse and while I believe I was good at it, I took my work home with me and it was exhausting. When I spoke to my bosses who were always supportive they stated they were the same way and "good nurses tend to do that!" Not really a big help.

I ended up going into Case Mgmt and worked for one of the Directors who has one of the worse reputations. I didn't know that at the time. She was terrible to work for, but I survived a year per diem. I left as I was offered another job elsewhere (non bedside) with a subacute facility. I really thought I'd like it, but the place is part of a huge national LTC company and this one place is ready to be closed by the state as their recent review was so bad.

I feel like I just keep getting the worse positions; those no one else really wants. I don't know how to find my niche. I have three kids and am busy, but would love to work from home and have flexible hours. I've known other CM's who have done this. How can I find a job working from home? Does anyone have any ideas of flexible nursing jobs? I hate to lose my license by not working in a nursing position, but I've been finding nursing so depressing! Gosh, the place I'm at is terrible. I feel so bad for the patients and the care they receive. I'd love to just leave now and not go back, because of the quality of this place, but then I'd be jobless. While I can live without a job, I don't know that being jobless is going to help me find a new one. I suppose I could use the fact I just finished my Masters as an accuse for not working, but don't prefer to do that. Help!!!

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Specializes in neurology, cardiology, ED.

I know a couple of people who do case management for insurance companies that work from home... but I think you'd have to be pretty heartless to spend all day denying people the care that they need to make the company you work for a little more profit. (the people I know who do this job are per diems where I work, and I do tell them that to their faces).

Have you thought about maybe a CNS, or nurse educator type role, rather than an Admin type position? It sounds like you enjoyed bedside nursing, and a CNS position would be closer to the bedside...

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Specializes in Addictions, Acute Psychiatry.

push the envelope and the field that doesn't fire you consistently; the only one that hires you is your "niche" (just kidding).

I'm on 20 something years and just finding it. Meanwhile do something that's fun for now...and if it stops being fun, do something else. Why not? No one has to have a "niche"....I've had a few. They're hobbies that pay!

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Niche?

Um. Nope not yet. I'm what they call, a "skimmer".

I like most specialties, except for psych.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Took 17 years. I think when you have to work and your kids are young, there is no niche, just perpetual exhaustion. I love the school nursing job I have, but if my kids were little (they are 16&17) I would hate it-getting them up early, going to day care, etc. I hated all the funky shifts I worked in the hospital so I could be home with them when they were little.

I think my niche would be belonging to the garden club and going to the spa on Tuesdays...

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Specializes in Hospice, LTC, Rehab, Home Health.

Yes, it is possible. I did agency nursing for a while after I had a few years experience . Looked at several settings and discovered that I had a "hospice heart" Been there 6 years now and love it now more than ever!

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I'm just looking for a job that doesn't exist.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Since you have your masters degree, what about using that? Teaching? Management? Leadership?

I found my niche (ER nursing) but then left after 10 years because I educated myself out of it - lol!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Hate to say that after 18 years I haven't quite found my niche. Been in med-surg the whold time. Now I'm the "bed board coordinator", a desk job that I hate. Looking for something else to do with the 2nd half of my career.

Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in School Nursing.
hate to say that after 18 years i haven't quite found my niche. been in med-surg the whold time. now i'm the "bed board coordinator", a desk job that i hate. looking for something else to do with the 2nd half of my career.

best of luck to you.

tweety, what is a "bed/board coordinator" ???

thanks ! praiser :heartbeat

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I think we are all chasing a moving target. Our "niche" changes as we change as people. Jobs that might have suited us well when we were in our 20's don't suit us as well when we are in our 50's, etc. etc. etc.

Also, there are some people with expectations that are simply not realistic for the contemporary work-world. My "ideal job" would pay me full time for about 20 hours of work per week -- and reward me for doing all the things that I love to do. Part of me knows that such a job does not exist -- but that doesn't stop me from wanting it.

I have hopes of having an "ideal job" when I can afford to retire -- but choose to do a little work because it is work I want to do rather than a task someone else is willing to pay me for. Until then, I will have to settle for a tolerable job that is OK, but not perfect.

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If you can live without working, why not retire and spend your time doing leisure activities? Forget Nursing. Develop your artistic side. Do volunteer work.

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