Don't enjoy job, seeking advice

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A little preface to this is I am a fairly new nurse, I've been an RN since last July and was an LPN for about 6 months before that. I worked at a group home for developmentally disabled people for about 8 years as a med aide, then as an LPN, then for my first few months as an RN as well.

I got a job at a hospital recently in med surg so I could get experience with skills and acute care, they also have about the best benefits and retirement out there. They also will pay for school 100% of continuing education. Only issue is I don't like it at all. I've only been there a few months but I'm miserable going in every day. I absolutely loved my job at the group home and I miss it every day. Problem is the group home doesn't have good benefits, no retirement, no school assistance, but does pay better than the hospital.

I know its has to come down to my decision in the end, but I'm looking for advice on how much it would hurt me in there long run to not gain the experience in acute care, and to leave the hospital after just a few months, I know that looks bad.

Any positive advice out there? Thanks.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

I can identify with you a bit Aliens, and when all was said and done, I allowed The Fates to guide me.

I really wanted to get a lot of medical experience and always ended back up in psych. First hospital nursing job: psych LPN. Transferred to OR and was in a second big layoff. Called back to work in CD treatment. Went to work OR in another hospital, didn't like it, got a position in a state mental facility. Got a position as a nursing supervisor in home health and took on the responsibility of setting up and running an at home mental health program.

Out of over 35 years in nursing, I've had only a few which were medical. I really wanted to do medical, but it was not meant to be. I have worked in psych and it's been good for me. If I've ever had a calling, it's been in psych nursing.

Of course it is your decision, but I would encourage you to follow your calling, the job you love.

The Fates always make sure you'll end up where you're supposed to be anyway.

Good luck and the best to you, Aliens!

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Specializes in school nurse.

Look around. You may find another company that runs DD homes that has better pay and benefits. Even if you don't, are the benefits at the hospital worth being miserable for?

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Specializes in Trauma ICU.

Personally I think that job satisfaction/enjoyment is the best and most underrated benefit there is. Why do something if it makes you miserable?? Life is too short.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
15 hours ago, Aliens05 said:

A little preface to this is I am a fairly new nurse, I've been an RN since last July and was an LPN for about 6 months before that. I worked at a group home for developmentally disabled people for about 8 years as a med aide, then as an LPN, then for my first few months as an RN as well.

I got a job at a hospital recently in med surg so I could get experience with skills and acute care, they also have about the best benefits and retirement out there. They also will pay for school 100% of continuing education. Only issue is I don't like it at all. I've only been there a few months but I'm miserable going in every day. I absolutely loved my job at the group home and I miss it every day. Problem is the group home doesn't have good benefits, no retirement, no school assistance, but does pay better than the hospital.

I know its has to come down to my decision in the end, but I'm looking for advice on how much it would hurt me in there long run to not gain the experience in acute care, and to leave the hospital after just a few months, I know that looks bad.

Any positive advice out there? Thanks.

So, you're struggling with what we all struggle with: getting comfortable and practicing safely. If you don't believe me search through these posts. Your dilemma is compounded by the fact that you had a job you really liked. My best advice is to stay in the hospital UNLESS your practice is unsafe there. If it's uncomfortable - well, a lot of that is growth. You don't have to stay there forever. You don't have to even stay in med-surg. Get a year of acute care experience and transition into competent practice. If you still hate it at the end of the year, cool. You'll know what to do.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Civil Service usually has a division for group homes, esp for handicapped and/or DD populations. Pay rates usually aren't great but the other benes of a job within the government system is usually topnotch.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Surprising to hear I know but really, not all nurses work in hospitals! Not all nurses want to work in hospitals. As a matter of fact with all the different settings nurses do work in I'd hazard a guess that there are a lot more nurses that don't work in hospitals than do.

If you are one of the many that doesn't want to work in the hospital setting don't do it just because you have been led to believe that you "need" the acute care experience. If you find a position that pays what you need and offers at least close to the benefits you desire in the nursing specialty you prefer don't turn it down simply because of some misguided myth that all nurses need that acute care experience to thrive

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