I hate nursing..

Preeps · Sep 21, 2010

There is a concept in psychology...lol, cannot remember the term for it, sorry, but- the gist of it is this: if people invest a lot of time and energy in something (like $$, time and energy in nursing school) then it becomes harder to admit or realize that it was perhaps a waste of time or not right for them. In other words, the emotional investment increases with the amt of time/ money/ energy invested.
So it is possible for people to rationalize why they should like something, the more of a sacrifice they've made to get there.
I still dread going to work. Haven't been in nursing that long. Left for awhile to take a break, am back now in a job that is okay. Still don't like it, and realizing perhaps it's finally time to say goodbye to something that makes me unhappy. Hard to do though. Keep rationalizing (as many others on this site)- well, haven't found my "niche' yet.. sigh!!!

Hey, I've heard that theory as well. I don't know if going to nursing school is a waste of time but I get your point. I loved learning in nursing school. I loved learning about the body (A$P, and fluid and electrolytes and acid/base etc lol!) Some of my friends say I should have gone to medical school instead of nursing. But regardless, nursing is a great starting point for many other careers in science etc.

So I wouldn't label it a waste of time rather a time of career exploration lol! I mean who didn't learn a lot in school and even more with the hands on at bedside?

Especially for the young nurses. Even if you only spend a few years as a clinical nurse it is great life experience if nothing else. So learn from it and move on if you are in the position to do this.

selkie · Sep 22, 2010

I'm on the same page with you re school- I loved pathology etc!! I know a doctor who went to nursing school then realized after a couple of years that her body was NOT going to hold up to it (she was only in her 20's and felt this way) - so she went to med school. There are also PA programs (which sound way more interesting than nursing, since the focus is all diagnostic).

I've read stats that almost a third of nurses under 30 are leaving the profession.

I have a license in an alternative med field also. What you state about career exploration and education not being wasted- well, I feel that way about that license. But not so much about nursing. Much of what I did in school is not transferable and therefore to me.. it was a lot of time, energy and $$ that I cannot now put toward another field (everything has to be repeated, in terms of prereqs).

Before I went to school, three physicans I knew told me they thought it might be a bad idea for me. (did I listen? lol). One commented that he felt I needed more autonomy and it would drive me nuts (his wife is a nurse, he should know lol).

One of the difficult things at this point in time for many people is the economic climate .. makes it tough to return to school.

Anyway- thanks for your thoughts!!

kdc290 · Sep 23, 2010

I feel extremely overwhelmed and I'm learning nothing. I have to rant because I don't know what else to do. I work night shift at Rehab side of LTC. We do all the piddly jobs that dayshift doesn't want so I have not time to read up on new admits. I have 30 pt normally, but the census has been low and they have been admitting very sick people to make money. People that should be on hospice care. On top of that I just graduated in May. My night manager seems to love to treat me like an idiot if I can't get every thing finished or if I have a question. I am crying often b/c I hate it so bad. The third shifts are usually 5 days in a row with no break and I have small children at home. No one else on 3rd shift has small children so they don't get it. I know nothing about my pts due to bad reports. My cna's don't work with me. I have to stay on top of them so they will get their work done and that doesn't work as often as we've had pts go bad.

I really wanted to be an OTA, but my husband complained that it's not enough money. I feel this whole situation is going to break apart the marriage. I spent too much time trying to make him happy and I feel so miserable. I'm more willing to divorce then spend the rest of my life this way. HELP!!

dlatimer · Sep 23, 2010

kdc, It's only a job. It's not your life. You get to decide. Start looking elsewhere now. I would rather work for less money and be happy than sacrifice my children and marriage. Everyone has tough choices to make. Please think about possibilities. There is a way out. Know yourself and love yourself - then you can know and love others. Yes, everything has consequences. Life is a risk. It is too short to be so unhappy. You are not alone. Joe

Preeps · Sep 24, 2010

I agree. Get out while you can.

I am sorry you are in such a situation and I can relate. You have a life and a family outside of the place you are employed. And you do not need people treating you poorly and with disrespect. I would give the proper amount of notice and get out as soon as you can. Good luck.

porridge · Oct 8, 2010

I truly believe that nurses are the "Victorian servant class" of the 21st century. Working all hours; wearing our bodies out until we're in chronic pain; being abused by all and sundry; taking the blame for anything that goes wrong and almost never receiving any kudoes for the things that go right. Yep, I hate nursing too. I'm too old to do anything else and I have to pay to put my kids through college, so on I go, forcing a smile on my face while patients talk to me as though I'm something nasty stuck to the bottom of their shoe. It is what it is.

andeocuvar · Oct 11, 2010

I thought I wanted to be an ICU nurse. I started off in surgical ICU, didn't like it at all. Moved to an observation floor and loved it. Then a few people got hired onto the floor that are just hard to work with. Now I try to ignore them or work the opposite schedule from them. I think you just need a floor or facility change. The people you work with make a big difference on how your work day or night will go. If you're not working with a supportive bunch it's time for a change. Tough it out however long you need to stay there before you can transfer, or start applying to other jobs right away.

PNnurse2 · Oct 13, 2010

I am sorry you feel that. I am now hating it too. I was a HHA/CNA for 9yrs. Went back and got my LPN, now after 13 months still can not get a LPn job in Tampa and (surronding area) . Yes i have tried ALFs, nursing home, hosptals and Health agencies( work with one for 7yrs) anything to get that experience. But they all told me they someone with atleast a yr experince or in acute,med surg, LTC ,etc. After all those years and stress of school i hate to say i want to change career. I was so over joyed when i pass my exam(aug 09). I did not see this coming. No work, no pay check..... what a life for a nurse who wants to work yet so many so call listings. :crying2:

gpwil3847 · Oct 18, 2010

I am at the other end of this career field, spent 20 years in Nursing and yes, I made the wrong career choice. I agree you can try different areas. I found outpatient care tolerable No one is going to die the stress is much lower than 12-19hours of rotating shifts with a high patient volume and acuity with back stabbing coworkers, hours being basically 9-5 Monday through Friday or some variation of that. the patients are mostly ambulatory. Toward the end I picked up a certification in Diabetic Education, though I hate nursing I would return if I could find a job working with an Endocrinologist providing education - it is a dream job and the patients really appreciate the care provided. Unfortunately there are not many jobs out there in my area. I could probably with my masters degree shoot for Nurse Practitioner and then find some providers to work under as their Diabetic Manager but at 53 I may just change careers the medical field does tend to get old after the honeymoon wears off. Of course I recall now that there never was a honeymoon as Nurses eat their young and stepping out of nursing school onto a surgical floor I never knew hell existed on earth, after 6 years, including a move to Medical Surgical floors I moved to Outpatient care - it was like night and day!

Lisa1980 · Oct 19, 2010

I have been an LPN for 8 years and an RN for 4 months. I work on a med-surg oncology floor and I hate it. I worked in an outpatient oncology office as an LPN and loved it. Working a hospital can drive someone crazy. I feel so incompetent. I hate to go to work everyday, i had 4 weeks orientation on the floor. They thought that was enough since i have been an LPN for so long but it wasn't enough. Trying to change it up... i switched to the night shift. I still hate it. I don't know what to do. I have been in the medical field since for almost 9 years now and I feel like I can't do it anymore.

I don't know what to do. I don't know if I should do a career change. I just can't afford it, school is exhausting, and i already gave up and missed a lot of family time. They were sacrifices for what?? to be miserable.

To top it off, I am the only one working, tyring to pay bills, keep the roof over my families head.... I don't like it. I don't want that much responsibility. I'm beyond frustrated. I needed to vent it out. But I need advice!! Stay or change? and If i did change, I don't know anything else. The only thing I know is that Nursing was a mistake for me.

any advice out there?

thanks, lisa

kdc290 · Nov 4, 2010

You're an experienced nurse so I would like to ask a question. At my LTC facility I feel like they don't want to know if something is wrong. I work 3rd. I'm told I should know something is wrong if vitals are off. I feel like I'm risking my license each time I go to work. I mentioned something the other night that wasn't quite right. I mentioned this to my supervisor-she agreed. MD contacted. The unit manager said I'm basically in so many words stupid. Again my supervisor agreed that this should be mentioned to MD. I hate it here. what should I do. The unit manager says we are just looking for trouble if we mention issues. I say the trouble is there already and we should do something before the trouble becomes a mountain.

scsunurse85 · Nov 4, 2010

Sounds like its time to move on from where your working, let me take a guess there is a lotta this going on:banghead: when you get off work. I worked in the LTC facilities on 2nd for a few years, 2 as a CNA and 1 as a LPN dont know how I stuck it out that long:bugeyes:. But no matter where you go in nursing there is always going to be drama and rough times that's a given I have found out. You dont just have to work just in the inpatient oncology unit but you know this. But if that is where you want to be you just have to find the right kinda of drama you can let slide off your back or maybe try switching shifts. Basically you have to find a place that makes you happy and proud to be a nurse. The good news is that now that you have been a nurse for a year you are an experienced nurse:anpom: and the range of places you can go has greatly increased. You just have to find your nitch in the nursing field and you will love it all nurses go through rough spots but remember we are all in this together, so hang in there there is light at the end of the tunnel I promise. Take care and I hope you find what your looking for, blessings.