Frustrated & ready to leave nursing... (long)

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It's a long one... need some input, here's the down-low:

Been an RN for 1/5yrs (almost all experience in tele/PCU). Really dislike nursing, some days hate it & ready to walk out te door... I know I can't abandonment of pts,etc. Actually, I can't b/c I'm supporting my husband who's finishing up school this May, & works pt. We're buying a home, so I really can't leave now. The fact is that I like the hospital I'm at, I've looked into 2 other depts I think I'd enjoy... LDRP & OR. OR has a PT position (can't live on PT salary right now), LDRP has had several positions (I've applied 3 times, they keep saying they need experience - I even wrote on the bottom of the one application "I know you'd like experience, but if you don't give me a chance, then I'll never gain the experience."

I'm looking into 2 different degree programs, b/c I've decided that I think I want to do Pharm sales. I refuse to go for my BSN b/c I dislike nursing so much. I hear that pharm co's like bachelor's in business or sciences. I could earn my BA in Economics w/ 36credits; or, I could further my animal career w/ a BS in Animal Biotechnology & Conservation degree w/ 64cr. (lil' background... I started college as an Accounting major, switched to nursing, moved out of state, had to take a yr off nsg b/c schedules, so earned AAS in Animal Management - loved it! Unable to start earning more than $10, returned & finished nursing school. Hated my instructors & no fond of clinicals... loved L&D/Mat rotation.... thought it'd be better once I began working - wrong!)

So my ? is that both of the above degrees would get me into pharm sales, one more quickly than the other. I guess my ? is that I know there are several avenues I can go w/ the BS, other than pharm rep or management, I'm not sure what I can do w/ an Economics degree. I'm planning on meeting w/ an academic advisor in the next few weeks, but thought I'd seek some advice before totally changing careers.:rolleyes:

To be fair, I should let you know what I dislike about nursing... my biggest issue is confused, demented, sundowning, mental pts. I have no patience for them, you can't re-orient or reason w/ them... I'm all about RESTRAINTS - chemical or physical (1:1 supervisions). I've never liked orthos. Can't stand young pt's that are admitted & all of a sudden loose control of bladder/bowel. (I had a 52yo male, **** himself in his sleep...300#, unable to clean himself, aid busy, I just had a CP admit...& I had to spend 35mins cleaning **** off his back, legs, feet, change the sheets... what do these people do at home????) EEERRRRRRRRRRRR:angryfire

LDRP, most pts younger & happier events. OR, people are out cold, best kind of pt!!! :rotfl:

Sorry, had to vent, really bad week at work!!!

Thanks-

thanks for the food 4 thought, neverthought about speaking w/ a head hunting agency... do you know the name of any???

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
thanks for the food 4 thought, neverthought about speaking w/ a head hunting agency... do you know the name of any???

Actually, I don't. However, if you are near a large metropolitan area I'm sure they'll be listed in the phone book (at least a place to start). You can always try calling one of the employment agencies and asking them if they can give you the name of a company that specilizes in placing executives.

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Specializes in cardiac/education.

I feel for you SunChica. I am still a nursing student, going through much of the same feelings.........not being "sure". I hope to decide after the first clinical rotation to bail out if need be. You know, sometimes you just don't know what is right for you and all you can do is try. So, don't look at it as if you have failed, look at it as a positive thing that finally this you *KNOW*. And, you have the education and the experience and can always fall back on nursing part time if need be in an area that best suits you.

Good Luck in whatever you decide, you seem to have lots of options. Take care of yourself!:)

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Thanks for the encouragement:D

Hopefully, you'll figure it out sooner than later if nursing is for you!!! I plan on keeping nursing as a PT thing if my new endeavors don't pay quite as well, which they probably won't (esp if it's animal related). Oh well, life goes on...

Best of luck to youCopy%20of%20wink.gif

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Will your OR take you part time and train you? If so you could supplement and offer to work another day or two on the floors to make up the difference. :)

Have you considered critical care...fewer patients, more intense, many intubated and ventilated and too sick to be a PIA...LOL!

Sometimes we just need a 'change'. I don't enjoy my work either with loads of dependent whiney patients who get off on nurses cleaning them..and think its now our job just cuz they're 'sick' (even tho they CAN do it themselves) GRRR!

So...this is from someone who walked out of ICU last December and said 'no more'.

Do a soul search and investigate allll the options out there. There's home health, OR, PACU, Telephonic, case management...cruise the BB here and look at all the options.

We worked hard for our license and can likely find someplace we enjoy, if we look, and are creative and flexible. :)

Good luck to ya! Oh...and I am doing private duty home health at present and enjoying the 'change' from ICU! :)

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

Have you considered looking into a veterinary pharm sales? No idea if there is such a field, but it seems to me there'd have to be. With your AAS and nursing background, maybe you could even get started without both the literal and figurative BS (little play on words there, haha)

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Specializes in Rehab, Neuro, Travel Nurse, Home Care.

I am going through the same thing and I told my story here. I 'm still shocked that I quit, but I think it was wise decision. I was so fustrated and now I have been doing soul searching. (Also doing agency in LTC) When I was in school around my junior year I decided that nursing wasn't for me. My parents made me stick with it. Now I have something to fall back if my ideal dream job tanks.

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There are medical device companies (like Medtronic) and biotech/pharm companies that use nurses to run their clinical trials and/or do sales. I worked at Genentech for a while, and they relied heavily on nurses to work as Clinical Research Associates. You need to be willing and able to travel a lot, but the money can be very good.

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Specializes in Behavioral Health, Show Biz.
It's a long one... need some input, here's the down-low:

Been an RN for 1/5yrs (almost all experience in tele/PCU). Really dislike nursing, some days hate it & ready to walk out te door... I know I can't abandonment of pts,etc. Actually, I can't b/c I'm supporting my husband who's finishing up school this May, & works pt. We're buying a home, so I really can't leave now. The fact is that I like the hospital I'm at, I've looked into 2 other depts I think I'd enjoy... LDRP & OR. OR has a PT position (can't live on PT salary right now), LDRP has had several positions (I've applied 3 times, they keep saying they need experience - I even wrote on the bottom of the one application "I know you'd like experience, but if you don't give me a chance, then I'll never gain the experience."

I'm looking into 2 different degree programs, b/c I've decided that I think I want to do Pharm sales. I refuse to go for my BSN b/c I dislike nursing so much. I hear that pharm co's like bachelor's in business or sciences. I could earn my BA in Economics w/ 36credits; or, I could further my animal career w/ a BS in Animal Biotechnology & Conservation degree w/ 64cr. (lil' background... I started college as an Accounting major, switched to nursing, moved out of state, had to take a yr off nsg b/c schedules, so earned AAS in Animal Management - loved it! Unable to start earning more than $10, returned & finished nursing school. Hated my instructors & no fond of clinicals... loved L&D/Mat rotation.... thought it'd be better once I began working - wrong!)

So my ? is that both of the above degrees would get me into pharm sales, one more quickly than the other. I guess my ? is that I know there are several avenues I can go w/ the BS, other than pharm rep or management, I'm not sure what I can do w/ an Economics degree. I'm planning on meeting w/ an academic advisor in the next few weeks, but thought I'd seek some advice before totally changing careers.:rolleyes:

To be fair, I should let you know what I dislike about nursing... my biggest issue is confused, demented, sundowning, mental pts. I have no patience for them, you can't re-orient or reason w/ them... I'm all about RESTRAINTS - chemical or physical (1:1 supervisions). I've never liked orthos. Can't stand young pt's that are admitted & all of a sudden loose control of bladder/bowel. (I had a 52yo male, **** himself in his sleep...300#, unable to clean himself, aid busy, I just had a CP admit...& I had to spend 35mins cleaning **** off his back, legs, feet, change the sheets... what do these people do at home????) EEERRRRRRRRRRRR:angryfire

LDRP, most pts younger & happier events. OR, people are out cold, best kind of pt!!! :rotfl:

Sorry, had to vent, really bad week at work!!!

Thanks-

:uhoh3: WHEW!!!

:rolleyes: Looks like you entered professional registered nursing "on the rebound." Doing a career/role revision is right on-target for you.

:p Once YOU DECIDE which career/educational option best suits your passion and fulfills your needs (emotional and financial), YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY TO CAREER RECOVERY.

:coollook: Honestly. Nursing is not for everyone. Life circumstances can propel us into situations (and sometimes professions) that are unexpected and unwanted.

:rolleyes: You've already targeted a few interests. What you finally decide will hopefully be YOUR CHOICE this time.

:) Blessings and success to you.

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