I want to do something else

Nurses New Nurse

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I have been working on an extremely busy med/tele unit for about 7 months..........and I hate it. Nursing is not what I thought it was. I dont have to explain y, you guys already know. I am looking into other careers that may pay less but that I may be happier with. I envy people who enjoy their jobs and have careers they love.........I can't quit because I need the money. But I am trying to save so I can work towards another career that I would love. I know people say that you should try to stay for a year in one place because it looks good and I am going to try to stick it out that long but I just want to be honest with myself, this is not something I see myself doing for much longer. Anyone who is considering a career in nursing, RUN and fast!

Yes, nursing is stressfull, but not the way you describe it. Maybe you should try peds or clinics like methaone clinic. Remember thare are tons of avenues in nursing. My girlfriend works with sleep disorder diagnostic clinic and she says it is nothing like hospital nursing.

Sorry you feel this way and good luck whatever you choose to do.

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Specializes in Telemetry/CCU/Home Health.

I just finished reading this entire thread, and I must say that the original post could have been from me. I hope you are doing better smileysenior.

I just got off orientation 2 weeks ago, and I HATE my floor. I really got to see the difference in patient load that the new nurses get compared to the senior nurses. When I was on orienatation with the senior nurses, we would have one "complete" care or isolation patient, now that i am by myself, I have had 2-3 complete care patients and 2 isolation patients to care for, and some of the NA's don't lift a finger to help! So as a result I am running around changing patients, getting water and ice, grabbing blankets, heating up food, and all of this before I can even get my meds done!! It sucks!! I am so depressed, I hate this work....I am only one person, but I feel like I need to do everything. I don't like to make waves, so I just do everybodys job.

I want to quit right now...maybe go the OR, which is where I wanted to go originally anyway, but decided I needed to get some tele/med surg experience first.

Anyway, good luck and I hope you have found some peace!!

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Specializes in Telemetry/CCU/Home Health.

I just finished reading this entire thread, and I must say that the original post could have been from me. I hope you are doing better smileysenior.

I just got off orientation 2 weeks ago, and I HATE my floor. I really got to see the difference in patient load that the new nurses get compared to the senior nurses. When I was on orienatation with the senior nurses, we would have one "complete" care or isolation patient, now that i am by myself, I have had 2-3 complete care patients and 2 isolation patients to care for, and some of the NA's don't lift a finger to help! So as a result I am running around changing patients, getting water and ice, grabbing blankets, heating up food, and all of this before I can even get my meds done!! It sucks!! I am so depressed, I hate this work....I am only one person, but I feel like I need to do everything. I don't like to make waves, so I just do everybodys job.

I want to quit right now...maybe go the OR, which is where I wanted to go originally anyway, but decided I needed to get some tele/med surg experience first.

Anyway, good luck and I hope you have found some peace!!

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I was in the same position as you. I started on a busy, med/surg, tele, and oncology floor. I was in charge every night as a new grad. I was MISERABLE. After 7 months I transfered to a new hospital with a pediatric population. Before I took the position I sought out from many others if nurses really liked working on that floor and if it was a positive environment. Now I really do enjoy my job. Granted, I don't love it. But I don't mind going to work and I enjoy the patient population. It can be hectic at times but is much different than a busy adult med-surg floor.

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Specializes in OBGYN, Neonatal.
I understand you in many ways. I work on a tele/medsurg/ortho unit. Its crazy most days. Every 4th shift is 'alright'. The rest are hell.

Look into other fields of nursing though before you quit. For instance, I talked to a nurse I know, who I see every few months. She works in a NICU. After I went on and on about how I hate my job for several reasons you named above, she went on to tell me how her job was a struggle because she had nothing to do half her 12 hour shift at times. I know having a job with nothing to do makes the shift longer but puhlease, I would take that over running around like a chicken with its head cut off, 'playing nurse' without a lunch break for 12+ hours. But the grass is always greener..... I guess. Im almost considering NICU.

My *dream* job now is camp nursing. Working as a camp counsler with kids and also at times utilizing my nursing skills. Too bad it may only be seasonal and the pay cannot be as good as I would need it to be. I also *should* get more bedside nursing experience before I leave off to camp because I know it would be harder to get back into if I need to (and probably would need to) in the future. For money and stability reasons.

Dont give up. There are nurse grads who are out there that were lucky enough to find a position they like. I like some of my co-workers and we just got a new manager. So I want to stick it out to see how it goes over the next few months.

And about getting called in? DONT PICK UP. SAY NO. Its not your problem. At everyother job I worked at, even at busy retail places, I would come in to work extra all the time. Thought I would do that as a nurse, and make big money. I wont go in extra at all. AT ALL. You cannot guilt me to come in. I have the power in my finger to say no, thats it, and hang up the phone. JUST SAY NO. It works. I stink at saying no, but I have NO PROBLEM saying no to coming into work for antying but my days.

LOL - trust me not all NICU's are like that LOL, I haven't had much time to sit, even on orientation LOL. But I do see some that do more, so I'm guessing they are faster :):)

Camp nursing sounds like fun!

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Specializes in L&D/Mother-Baby.

Hello All,

I can totally relate to the pains of the OP. I am in my fifth month on a L&D unit and a combination of what the OP listed with the fact that I really do not love L&D like I imagined has made it really difficult to want to go back to work every day. The staffing is the most brutal aspect of the unit, not to mention the nonexistent NA's and the ones that are there are too good to lift a hand to help. Every shift there is an issue with nurses calling out or coming in hours late, making it hard to leave at a decent time. Management lacks much authority there cause they are easily stepped on.

Last week, I had to work 24 hours straight, without a break, just because the night nurses called out; all of them. Only a per diem nurse showed up. I am on my last month of orientation and just because all the more senior nurses decided that they were walking out, I got caught with the short end of the stick. Now, that is not only dangerous for my license, but to the well being of my patients. I am still on orientation, yet I had to stay another 12.5 hours functioning on what little I could offer. Thankfully, the night passed without incident, but whose to say next time will be that smooth? I do not plan to be around for that one.

I have been thinking about switching altogether to a new hospital and new specialty, primarily because my hospital does not have educators and preceptors in all departments, especially where they are most needed. L&D is one of them and learning has been primarily a self teaching process. After doing these 5 months, I find that L&D bores me with its routine. I need more variety and more of a challenge. I think Critical Care may be what I need to challenge me.

I can relate as a new nurse to the pain of the OP and feel horrible for all who are suffering this, both the new and the experienced. As nurses, we have options and should really consider finding a place that is safer and somewhat more tolerable. At the end of the day, work is work, not play, but it should not cause undue stress and severe anxiety just because we have to go back to that unsafe and scary place.

Best of luck to all who need that change. May you find what makes your heart content.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.
1. The long work hours, you never get off on time, 12 hour shifts turn into 16s

2. Being harassedto come in on your days off and being made to feel guilty if u dont

3. working on holidays

4. No compassion, u walk around vomiting with a 103 temp and they wont let you go home, yet u are expected to be compassionate and come in extra, stay late, work under backbreaking conditions with too many critical patients

5. Constant threats of being sued from patients and familiy

6. Drama from coworkers

7. People trying to write u up for stupi BS

8. Anal retentive nurses

9. Night shift vs day shift drama

10. vultures

11. No respect or appreciation from anyone

12. anxiety, stress, depression

13. being edgy and moody all the time

14. ruining your health due to lack of sleep, stress, mental issues, eating crap

15. being criticized for little things

16. back problems

17. catching illnesses like crazy

18. the 4 years of school i went through only to be a high tech babysitter because everyone thinks u are stupid and ur job is so easy

19. sucking up to rude people

20. people who think the hospital is a hotel and demand stupid BS

21. calling MDs for everything- they get irritated

22. feeling burnout

23. shall I go on?

I wish I had known this when I was in school.

yes that is all true. i have been a nurse for 21 years and you speak the truth. yet , i deal with it all every day. i just don't interlize it. i go do my work , do my job and take it a day at a time. i work with many new grads and they feel the same way. but i really love most of my patients and like to see people get better. through all those clouds there all rainbows. i understand how you feel. some people arn't ment to be nurses. i think you are a better nurse than you think you are. have you looked into other areas in nursing? i wish you luck and happiness what ever you do. give yourself a hug for me.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.
Find something else to do before you hurt someone.

i see no indication that smiley would hurt anyone. nursing is very stressful and people handle stress differently. she speaks the truth.. nursing is a job that is taxing to your health and your mind. if thats how smiley feels than i accept it. and i have expirenced most of what she says. smiley has a right to express her feelings. i have been a nurse for 21 years .. well actually 22 this month (wow i feel old) .

good luck in school future and please keep us updated on how you are doing.

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I can relate to all of that stuff on your list, but I think it will get better... I hope it will anyways. I've only gotten out of work on time twice, and that was during the first two days of orientation. Now I get out an hour or so later, and go home shower off all the icky stuff, and hit the sac. I've tried to explain to my friends who are not doing this that it is more of a mental and emotional drain than it is physical and that is why when I get home I don't want to be bothered. Well whatever you chose to do, I hope you find what feels right for you, good luck.

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1. The long work hours, you never get off on time, 12 hour shifts turn into 16s

2. Being harassedto come in on your days off and being made to feel guilty if u dont

3. working on holidays

AMEN! to all of that...I totally relate with you...I've been nursing for 1 year...I wanted to quit everyday...I finally just went to work PRN at 2 different facilities...I'm alot happier...I can make my own schedule...I can work as much as I want...they still call everyday for me to come to work...but I've learned to say no...and I can always say I have to work at my other job...lol Don't give up on nursing...just try a different area...you'll eventually find your calling. Hugs~!

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:nurse:TxnurseBSN,

THank you so much for this reply. I feel like such a failure not doing actual "hospital nursing". But I've tried it, and it's not for me. I am not giving the care that patients deserve, because i am so unhappy. I have decided to do school Nursing, which i loved in nursing school (I followed a wonderful school nurse for 12 weeks). It has taken a lot to make this decision, because i feel like the other nurses i graduated with look down to it, and don't really think it is "real nursing:. Thank you for making me realize it is real nursing, and it is so refreshing to hear you say you feel more like a nurse then ever! :nuke:

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Specializes in L&D.

3. working on holidays

6. Drama from coworkers

8. Anal retentive nurses

12. anxiety, stress, depression

These are the only items from your list I could say I've dealt with, and I believe that in most jobs you will encounter drama, anxiety/stress, and anal retentive coworkers. If your mind is made up to leave nursing then I wish you well. My suggestion would be to try a different floor or hospital before you decide nursing as a whole is wrong for you. You might just be on the wrong floor. I don't think I'd like working as a nurse on your floor, either - it sounds awful. They aren't all that way.

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