Finally decided to quit nursing

Nurses Professionalism

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Hi everyone. I have been a nurse for over 7 years and for the past year I have debated getting out of the profession for good. I had just finished the week long hospital orientation for a new job and was to start clinical orientation Sunday. Between Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon I was having big doubts about the job, then I realized that it wasn't the job itself that I didn't like. I hate hate hate being a nurse. I called the unit manager on her cell phone Saturday afternoon and told her my decision and that I would not be coming back. I am scared to death because I have no income at this point but at the same time I have a sense of relief and peace about the whole situation.

What did you end up doing? I feel the EXACT same way as your post!

How does a nurse say "**** you"??

when they say "trust me"

Its sad. There are many things I love about floor nursing: the hours, lots of time off, exciting days on my feet. But sadly, the worst thing about nursing can often be working with nurses. Some of the worst people I've met in my life have been nurses. Many, not all, are overly blunt, catty, cruel, without mercy or compassion and are willing to screw over their fellow man to get ahead.

Going to school for nursing is a HUGE gamble. Over half of all new grads leave the field after their first 3-5yrs. What does that tell you about our profession.

Having said that, half of our workforce is over the age of 50 and we have added 30million people to our healthcare system with the ACA. It seems like the system will have no choice but to change or there simply won't be enough nurses to meet the demand.

That at or we can get smart and strike nationwide for change.

Specializes in Family Practice.

I want to say I am so happy for you! You have come to peace with yourself. I have been in nursing 19 years and I am so done with bedside like no other. I work in the NICU and it is a wrap. I love the babies and the interaction with the parents because I know from that standpoint I do make an impact. But the inconsistencies of management, petty nurses, politics, and unrealistic expectations has taken its toll on my psyche. Nursing is very dynamic which is a life saver. I decided after obtaining my BSN that primary care is the way to go for me. I am so sick of acute care facilities with their bull crap. I can go on and on. I realize when I was recently hired in another hospital per diem status with a much higher pay rate it did not even matter I am still not happy!!! So for now my job as a NICU nurse is serving a means to an end. Though, I continue to give great care to my babies and enjoy the parents I do not participate with anything beyond that. I schedule my days that are conducive to my schooling and that is it. I wish you the very best in any endeavor you come across. It takes guts to just walk away like that. I admire it. You have to take care of you first no matter what. :-)

I really enjoyed reading this post, although I was a tad bit disheartened to read how some people did not enjoy nursing after years in the field. I will start a CNA course in about 2 weeks, and at 37 years old, I've been leaning towards healthcare as a career change for many years.

I'm about to give notice to a job I have greatly disliked for many years. For the past 8 years I have been a CAD drafter, using 2D and 3D software to design pipe routing for oil refineries. The pay is pretty good, with no education required, though I have a BA in bus. adm. But all I do is sit in from of a computer and crank out paper drawings, or sometimes no paper at all. It's all digital nonsense that never leaves the computer into the real world.

I've been void of a meaningful career, and nursing was what came to mind. It was a long journey coming to this conclusion, starting off with the idea of being a mental health counselor, blossoming from there.

I has been enlightening and invigorating reading the joys and woes of nursing. I have no qualms about putting in my time to get where I want to go. I learned that we all have to start at the beginning. I'm hoping to get my RN after working as a CNA for a year or two, working on pre-reqs. Then BSN, and later NP. Perhaps my BA will help me down the line.

Thank you all. I will continue reading about this intriguing and necessary career.

Congrats! You did right ! Your sanity is more important then anything, if you lose that then nothing matters. Period. You'll find something , trust . I've hit rock bottom then there goes an open door. People don't to what we do because of security, comfort zone, so they think is secure. Nothing is secure in life, not even a job. They've closed many hospitals before & laid off so many medical staff the throughout the years is insane😒 I'm an RN finishing my BSN, going into PMHNP because I don't want to deal with bedside nursing , no thank you✋🏾

Awesome! Good for you! You're a hero for throwing caution to the wind and refusing to be institutionalized!

Your life is yours to live.

@clementia What did you end up doing?

the best thing that ever happened to me was when I took a voluntary lay off at a job that was eating away at my soul. I was unemployed for 6 months - over a MN winter- and within 2 days I had started sleeping through the night again and felt like a whole different person. Good for you for taking care of YOU (which those in the helping professions tend to put on a back burner) and I wish you good luck

What are you doing now?

Hi everyone. I have been a nurse for over 7 years and for the past year I have debated getting out of the profession for good. I had just finished the week long hospital orientation for a new job and was to start clinical orientation Sunday. Between Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon I was having big doubts about the job, then I realized that it wasn't the job itself that I didn't like. I hate hate hate being a nurse. I called the unit manager on her cell phone Saturday afternoon and told her my decision and that I would not be coming back. I am scared to death because I have no income at this point but at the same time I have a sense of relief and peace about the whole situation.

Congratulations!! I believe you have done what so many of us dream about doing. Follow your heart, find peace. Anyone who makes you feel that the decision is wrong should have their head examined. If you do not want to be a nurse, then you struggle every day and every moment. There is a big world out there, and it is waiting for you to try it out. You have inner strength, you are still a Nurse, but you now need something else. I know you will find the right thing for you! This is exciting, it's scary, but no more scary than what you have already accomplished.

Every state, I've lived in has had more than enough nurses. Is there a shortage where you are? I want a job, acute care!! I must be out of it here, but the nurses I work with are some of the finest people I know. They are a great team that pulls together in a code, when the call lights are out of control we dig in! It is attitude! It starts with every one of us!! I look forward to seeing every nurse I work with do their best, I know not every Nurse is perfect. But, when we come together, it can be pretty darn close to perfect!

Specializes in Med-surg, telemetry, oncology, rehab, LTC, ALF.
I mean, you probably feel good NOW, but if down the road things aren't falling into place you might really regret the way you didn't just quit, you burned bridges. Not just with this employer, but maybe with potential future ones. And not just in nursing. Anyone who wants to hire you is likely to call this last employer for a reference. Suddenly bailing is not going to look good.

It may not look good paper, but it is totally possible to find work (in nursing or otherwise) after quitting without notice, especially if you have a legitimate reason for doing so and can explain it to a hiring manager. I would say her realizing that the job path/career wasn't a good fit for her, is a legitimate reason that she can explain on future job applications.

There is still a nationwide shortage of nurses and it's only getting worse. I don't know what states you mention that supposedly have more than enough. A few years ago it was in a crisis, they were importing nurses from the Philippines and Kenya to work for minimum wage, live on site, even long enough to get greencards.

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