I have been a nurse for almost two years now. I spent the first year as a new grad on a medsurg/tele/oncology unit. That unit was wild. I learned something new almost every shift and almost every patient was a difficult case. My mind was always working. However, that job was physically, emotionally, and psychologically exhausting. I'd go home and cry for hours and sleep for 15 hours after a shift. I would have horrible anxiety before work and have panic attacks. At my one year, I quit after I accepted a pediatric nursing job. I THOUGHT it was my dream job. I used to be a preschool teacher and I absolutely love kids. However, it's been almost a year and I'm SO bored as a pediatric nurse. I see the same thing every shift and 9 times out of 10 I have nothing to do on shifts for a few hours. Now, this doesn't sound bad and I love my job so, so, so much. But, I truly thrive when my mind is working and I am in busy situations.
So, because I have felt bored, I have been picking up shifts on the progressive care units. However, I have this feeling like I need to keep doing more as a nurse. I want to go back to school. I want to work in the ER. I just keep wanting more. Does anyone else feel like they are missing something out of nursing? Should I just sit still for a little and enjoy the calm? I feel stuck! help!
I'm not trying to discourage the OP, but I'm a bit confused here...if the first job caused anxiety attacks, but was higher acuity, wouldn't the ER do the same?
Having only been an ER nurse.....started in the ER and still there, the ER is sometimes just a different type of stress. It can be different every day, various levels of acuity - all low acuity or all medium or all high acuity. Every ED has various resources, teamwork, etc. Some EDs and some floors really are better or worse then others, depending on the level of support.
speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P
544 Posts
Having only been an ER nurse.....started in the ER and still there, the ER is sometimes just a different type of stress. It can be different every day, various levels of acuity - all low acuity or all medium or all high acuity. Every ED has various resources, teamwork, etc. Some EDs and some floors really are better or worse then others, depending on the level of support.