Don't like nursing at all, what can I do with my BSN?

Nurses New Nurse

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I've been an RN for 6 months working in acute care. After working for 6 months I'm dreadfully burnt out. Nursing is not what I thought it was. Nursing school just prepared us to do nursing tasks but it didn't show us the real world behind the scenes of nursing. Dealing with admits and discharges and orders upon orders and providers losing temper always stressed running from room to room having IV bags passing meds on time cleaning up a bed fast patient and falling behind providers yelling because they orders Stat labs an hour ago but I didn't see them because I was busy with another patient. I can't deal with that type of situation anymore and I'm just burnt. My family has seen a drastic change in my demeanor and have noticed I've been depressed and quiet and not who I used to be any more and frankly it's because of this job.

Not just that but I'm really just tired of the whole bedside / direct patient care. Techs never doing their part so I'm picking up all their tasks at the same time while they text on their phones in the utilities room.

I'm not really sure where to go now or what to do. I've had multiple panic attacks prior and during work due to the stress and responsibilities bestowed upon me. Nursing school never prepared us for this and I had no clue this is what nursing was so now I am regretting entering the field.

I'm in debt nearly 35k for school and Idk what else I can do with my BSN. I really want to go back to school and go into telecom or computer engineering where the level of responsibility is not as high and the stress level is at a minimum.

Any advice at all? I really been thinking about this for a few months now and I just don't like bed side/ direct patient care at all. Idk if I should try and find an outpatient position or something that doesn't involve doing bedside nursing care. Or if there is something else I can do with my BSN.

Thanks guys

Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.

Can you go out on a medical leave of absence for a few weeks in order to get a breather? Like a stress leave.

Sometimes, all it takes is a little perspective gained after reflection.

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Can you go out on a medical leave of absence for a few weeks in order to get a breather? Like a stress leave.

Sometimes, all it takes is a little perspective gained after reflection.

A medical leave of absence would need to be requested by his provider. So far, OP has not responded to that suggestion. What perspective could be gained by " taking a few weeks off?"

Time off will intensify the anxiety of returning. Coping mechanisms in the here and now is what is required.

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PACU. I don't think they do anything and it seems pretty chill. I mean they leave every OR patient a mess and intubated after 6pm so then we just "recover" them.

Hehe waiting for flames....

But really give it like a year, your unit could also really suck. Don't let doctors push you around. If you were in another room and engaged in patient care then they will just have to deal.

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Med- surg is rough even when you're a seasoned nurse. I remember when I was trying to get through my "mandatory 2 yrs" in med-surg, I was crying by the time I made it to my truck every day for the first 6 months. My anxiety was because I was always afraid I had forgot to do something critical or that I had done something the wrong way. I stuck it out for 2 years and never went back. I never dreamed that I would like working in a nursing home but I took a job at a VA long term care facility and I really liked it. I've worked outpatient clinics too but that gets boring really quick. Currently, I work in Performance Improvement, mostly tracking core measures. One major advantage of nursing is that there are plenty of different ways to be a nurse, med-surg is just one option. Have you thought about taking a coding program? I see jobs advertised all the time for RNs that know coding so that they can coach the doctors on how to chart to help with billing. Also, I read an article that was explaining that insurance companies are hiring 3 times the RNs that they did 10 years ago. I didn't believe it so I went to a Blue Cross/ Blue Shield website just to see. It was true. Numerous vacancies for RNs. Good luck!

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I work in the OR. Essentially I am dealing with one patient at a time and I work to make the surgeon happy so he/she can do the required job. My charting is minimal and I consider myself spoiled, although of course this can vary with location. An idea that I haven't seen presented to you is...CRNA! Get yourself a job in ICU. Learn everything you can so that you can get accepted into a masters program so that you can be a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (most programs require ICU experience). It is a serious job and you can make lots of money! Read about it - it is a different type of nursing, very different from traditional bedside nursing. However, I believe in 2025 the requirements will change and you will need to have a DNP (Doctorate of Nursing Practice) to practice anesthesia. I don't know how they will phase this new rule in...

Or do as others have suggested and work in the OR. You can do that now with your BSN.

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

I work in progressive care, only have 3 patients, and often they are patient's I've had before. Don't get me wrong, the night can get crazy if I get two fresh admits from the ICU, but otherwise, I feel I'm coming into my own. Maybe try for one of these areas instead.

I'm actually looking to move off my floor onto a trauma floor as a progressive care nurse because I have time to read. The horror.

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be patient. I felt the same way for almost 2 yrs as a new grad. now I am confident and happy. it has opened so many doors and opportunities for me and I have had so many rewarding experiences.

advice: hang in there one day at a time. switch units, try postpartum. enjoy your days away from work and do not let your job define you.

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or try outpatient or clinic. less stress, but less money.

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While I agree that 6 months is not long enough to decide, I understand the frustration. What about becoming a school nurse or even going through an alternative certification program to become a teacher if you decide you need a change in the end?

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.
A medical leave of absence would need to be requested by his provider. So far, OP has not responded to that suggestion. What perspective could be gained by " taking a few weeks off?"

Time off will intensify the anxiety of returning. Coping mechanisms in the here and now is what is required.

Where I come from, Medical LOA can be requested by the patient.

Time off gives perspective and allows one to think more clearly, instead of constantly being reminded of all of the negatives.

Coping mechanisms are generally not developed overnight. They take time.

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Specializes in Physical Rehabilitation.

No one can prepare you for the reality and responsibility that come along with Nursing. It's overwhelming, scary, frustrating, and chaotic! Every nurse I know has said the first year is the toughest. But you made it through a program and that already says your a fighter! But why did you begin nursing in the first place? Do you like to help people? Do you enjoy interacting with others? Find what brought you to Nursing to start with and seek out jobs that mirror those passions. I had doubts my first year as well and now 9 years later I'm still discovering where I fit in best, but every experience has given me growth as a person. Find your hardiness and always always take care of your health first!

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1) seek psychological help.

2) do not put up with rudeness from anyone. see above.

3) if you are a techy, what drew you to nursing.

4) why does it upset your parents that you want to change?

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