Don't like nursing anymore.........

[CardioTrans, BSN, RN]

Ok, I know this is normal....we all get tired of nursing. But this is unreal.

I have been a nurse for almost 16 yrs, have done critical care, home care and OR......I am in graduate school working on my FNP.....I have gotten to a point to where I dont want to continue school, I dont want to be a nurse anymore, but it is all I have ever done. I dont like being in an office.......I would rather be at the bedside doing direct patient care....... but the job I have now........ I wont do it for years, I dont have the "passion" for it.

There are things that I see everyday and have to wonder what the heck are they thinking....... some things are antiquated to say the least. It is a long term acute care unit........we usually have 4-5 patients each.... they cant keep staff on any level, not just nurses.......the two nurses that have been there the longest have been there almost 4 yrs. That is the LONGEST. Many of our patients come from the large teaching hospitals ICUs, with failure to wean from a ventilator........they are trached, but vent dependent....... most are total care...... there are some that are there for IV antibiotics, and some for therapy........ I know, what about 21 day rehab....... for some reason they come to us.

I dont want to go back to home care....... too many hoops to jump through with the paperwork, the hours, the driving, the call......... dont want to go there again........

I dont know........maybe its just a bad time.......a bad day........ whatever it is, I wish it would go away!! Im ready to go to work at Wal Mart or Cracker Barrell!!!

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

It seems obvious to me that you are experiencing burnout. I've been through it and it's not easy. I took a 3 month sabatical and thought I was fine. Went back and within 2 days found out that I wasn't fine. I changed jobs. I work in medical imaging. I start alot of IV's and push alot of Lopressor, Versed and Sublimaze. I have found that I enjoy nursing again. Perhaps when you get your FNP you'll enjoy working in a doctors office? Free standing outpatient clinic? An ER? In the meantime try to find a job in a completely different area of nursing.

Don't be too hard on yourself. You work, you're going to school, you're a mother, that's a busy and demanding life.

[CardioTrans, BSN, RN]

I have thought about applying for a dialysis job.... or the cath lab. I have tons of cardiac experience, but have never done dialysis, other than working with the CVVHD machines in the units.

I love my clinicals that I am doing in school. My preceptor is a physician who is about my age, and is up on all the "new and current" treatments......which is a nice change in Family Practice. Of course I have to rag him about being an LSU tiger when I am an Auburn tiger..... (wont make sense unless you follow SEC football)....he is always asking me questions, making me think, teaching me tons of new things......... hardest thing is to stop thinking like a bedside nurse at times.....he likes to start with "So, boss........what we gonna do?"

I would like to go traveling......but my youngest son is only 16....and will be starting back to school in about 3 wks. The closest family we have is an hour away, so that will disrupt his school life too much. He will be a junior this year, and he is looking forward to it.

Burnout...........yep........ how about full fledged 3 alarm burn out!!

[nightingalenp]

I was in your shoes 2.5 years ago. I was an RN for 8yrs. I've tried almost every specialty of nursing and would get burned out quickly. I've been an FNP for over 2 years now. I love it. It's really not like staff nursing. You get to make decisions, teach, and feel very rewarded. Although I felt rewarded when I was an RN, I mostly felt taken for granted. I couldn't stand working in the hospitals. They overwork their RN's to the point of unsafety. We've all been there. Hang in there. I think you'll love being an NP.