Feeling so discouraged

[tugirl12]

Hello all,

I am a new grad looking for advice. I graduated May 2012 and I feel like I made a mistake choosing nursing as my career.

First off I am shocked that this is what nursing really is. In school we were warned of "reality shock" once a floor nurse, but I never imagined this. If I had known that nursing was like this I probably would have done something totally different.

The second thing that is bothering me. I don't like what I am doing, and I feel bad that I don't like what I am doing. ( I hope that makes sense). I come to work pretty much dreading work everyday. I don't work with the patient population I wanted to work with. At first it was ok. I was ok with working a med/tele floor because I would get invaluable experience, but then once I got deep into it I couldn't stand the fact that I had to work on this unit. I just feel like something is missing and whatever this something is, it's affecting the quality of care I give.

I am really considering going back to school for something different. I don't want to take care of people if I feel like I can't give them the best care. I am so upset because I really wanted to be a nurse, but the reality shock is causing me to second guess my career choice.

I want to know how do you know that you should just stick it out. I've heard "things will get better", "you're not giving yourself enough time", "you're too hard on yourself" . I need to find my niche, but I just don't know where that is yet? I loved ob nursing in school. But we all know how hard it is to get there. I guess I just don't know what to do at this point. I need advice! Please help!

[the smack]

It sounds like you're burnt out on the floor and not nursing in general. If you like women's health then start applying to those units. Yes they are heard to get into but it doesn't hurt to try. Go down to those units where you work and try to get chummy with the managers. Stay where you are for now but in your spare time study up on women's health. That way you will be prepared when an opportunity arises and also so you can shift nursing gears and nit spend all your time thinking of med/tele. I hope you will reconsider because this really is a very rewarding career in the long run. You can do this girl!

[bebbercorn]

Try to take it one day at a time and pick out your favorite dx and learn something from it. I've also tried to break into this field with no luck. So, I take CE's and read up on the subject in my spare time and hope to one day do my NP in women's health or midwifery. You might want to shadow a midwife or look into becoming a volunteer doula... might meet the right person along the way? Volunteering helps fill a lot of the holes that we got into nursing for... like making a difference.

[uRNmyway, ASN, RN]

Anything is hard to break into as a new grad. But if you have work now, I suggest you start roaming the job listings for the L&D department at your hospital. It is easier to find work when you already HAVE work (ugh, annoying, I know), and it is also much easier to transfer departments internally vs. starting at a whole new location. Give it a shot!

In the meantime, make your resume look more attractive. Get certifications. Volunteer. Network, go meet the staff of the L&D department.

[Sfrazilus]

You can also consider other avenues in nursing outside of the hospital setting which may offer a more rewarding experience for you. Doctor's offices, public health education and SANE are just a scratch on the surface of options open to you.

Obviously, wages will vary. But when you're miserable, money isn't the most important thing.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I've been a nurse for 30 years and still have days when I wonder if it's worth it. But...when you work in a profession in which EVERY time you go to work you can have a positive impact on someone's life.....

Only you can decide if it's worth it.

[ninjago]

Since you don't like taking care of patients, maybe you can go for the academic side in nursing like teaching or in research (though you might still have to deal with patients but it is not like the 8 or 12hr kind of direct patient care... if you know what I mean. I think Floor nursing is very tough and it is not for everyone. Good luck!

[paradiseboundRN]

Have you thought about Home Health care? It allows you to have more one -on-one with the patients and I found it to be a lot more rewarding. I hated my hospital job. There is a need for more nurses in the specialty so you probably would be able to find a job. If your interested check out the Home Care Forum under specialties.