Frustrated and considering a career change

[xEdgexRNx]

I thought nursing was to be more than simply a career choice; it felt like my calling. After having several close family members and friends battle cancer and other serious illnesses (and being their caregiver), it seemed as though some higher being was leading me to my path: to be a nurse. Thus, I applied to an extremely competitive ADN program, graduated valedictorian of my class, took an NLCEX review course, and passed my NCLEX. Everything seemed to be going well . . . until I got laid-off from after 1.5m from a Medical-Oncology unit at a local hospital 2 wks after moving out on my own. I couldn't find a job for 4 months, save for very-PRN LTC and private-duty jobs that didn't pay the bills. Luckily, I landed a job as an RN in an alternative school. . . but was laid-off again b/c they wanted a Certified school RN.

So, in less than a year, I got laid-off twice and cannot find a job to save my life. I live in IL and have applied state-wide to every place I can think of---- from hospitals, clinics, schools, and even abortion clinics. Everything is either frozen or they only want BSNs, 3-5+ yrs experience, specialties, PRN/registry positions.... not ADNs (damn Magnet status requirements! lol). I've applied to a few places out of state, but even those hospitals would rather take a more experienced instate RN than an "inexperienced" out of state RN. Plus, I have no money for relocation---and relocation bonuses are not happenin' anymore!

Not only am I frustrated by the whole job aspect (so much for nursing being "great job security!"), but even the ROLE of the RN has changed.... it seems like RNs do less "patient care" and are instead more akin to a glorified secretary, pill pusher, supervisor, and MD b*tch. The CNAs are the ones who are able to spend the most time with the pts... RNs are running around, fielding phones calls, documenting, consulting with the numerous MDs each pt has, etc. I went into nursing to provide pt care----it's not like that anymore. RNs are SO overworked, underpaid, and inundated with pts and other tedious tasks.... where's the nursing? Plus, the stress of having someone's life rest upon your shoulders is enuf to cause major anxiety attacks!

I'm dismayed, frustrated, saddened, and burned out already from nursing. I jus started my RN-BSN completion program thru Chamberlain (I've completed 4 classes... lots more left to finish), but am seriously considering changing careers. I've always had a passion for teaching and am considering going into education instead. Or dental hygiene (u can work PT doing this and make more than an RN! Plus, very little stress!).

I need help figuring out what to do. My family thinks I havent given nursing enough time, but I've given it a year and all the signs are pointing towards a career change.... perhaps nursing isn't my calling? How do I know this for sure tho? I know the economy is bad, but seriously, how much more "red flags" can one be shown?

Should I finish my BSN? Should I switch majors and go into Education or Dental Hygiene? Any job searching advice (I've exhausted every option, I'm telling ya!)? I'm so upset that nursing has lead me down this horrible path, but perhaps this is god's way of telling me to go into something else?

[NurseLay]

No offense intended here, but please don't go into nursing education solely if you're burned out at the bedside---especially if you don't have a whole lot of experience. Some of the worst educators I have known---as a student and as an instructor---were those who "hated" nursing and got into teaching because they "despised" the bedside. Some had very little clinical experience and, while they were able to lecture about nursing, they lacked practical expertise and therefore lost credibility, especially in the eyes of students who were climbing the educational ladder from LPN to RN or RN to BSN.

Just my

None taken. Education definitely is not for me. I was just giving the OP another option because she stated that she wants to be a teacher.

[Moogie]

Gotcha!

[Di Deanna]

hey there edge!

i'm sorry that you are having such a rough time. i have two suggestions you might want to consider.

1) put your bsn classes on hold until you sort your emotions out and give it some time. yes, i know that some hospitals prefer bsn, but there are a fair share that are willing to hire adn grads...if they are hiring.

2) be prepared to move. from your post, i'm assuming you are single and/or without children. if so, follow the jobs. i have already informed my guy if i am unable to land any type of nursing here in nyc, after i graduate, i will be applying all over the usa.

i don't care if it's in bumblefunk, louisiana .... difficult times call for difficult measures. you have to do everything possible to survive. i pray i do not have to leave nyc, not because i give two rice grains about it, but because i know it's hard to be sep. from the one you love. however, it's only in efforts to ride out the economy....i can't be silly about it ya know? i just gotta tough up.

i wish you the best of luck! i know how frustrating it is in general for any new grad to land a position. i used to be frustrated when applying to jobs (not nursing) and they required x amount of experience..and i thought...how do i gain experience if no one is willing to give me a chance?!?!?!

it's all about the roll of the die. eventually, it will land on your side..it's inevitable...unfortunately, it may be worn out by the time you are done rolling...but heck, it will still happen.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

If u have nothing nice to post, then don't bother wasting the time to post it.

No.

UNfortunately, that's not how it works. You can't post a thread asking for help, support or comments, and then become angry because people had comments. You don't get to control the responses. You asked a question, and you're (notice I used all the letters) getting responses.

Sorry. Text-speak, especially online, really bothers me.

[Scrubby]

Sorry. Text-speak, especially online, really bothers me.

You don't get to control the responses

[xEdgexRNx]

Not sure why this thread turned into a personal attack on me.

To the people who offered caring advice and a compassionate ear, thank you. Your patients are lucky to have such kind and empathetic nurses caring for them at such a vulnerable time.

To those whom were rude and petty, shame on you. It is nurses like you that just reiterate my disdain for the profession.

I consider this thread closed, for it has gone way off topic.

[quezen]

The Army is not for you, OK.

Just a suggestion, the pay checks don't bounce, and many, many people who needed a 'new start' and needed a way to get out of financial 'dire straits' have gone this route, when their back was against the wall, so to speak.

Getting up at 0 dark thirty, and running PT, and trying to keep up with training and new experiences, can bring a sort of 'Zen like' clarity to a mind, that was previously focused on keeping up car payments and being able to afford to go to the movies eat at a nice restaurant with friends.

I just have to say a small comment about Army Medics.

These guys, and gals, can be awesome.

Their skills range from beginning CNA, with a little field training thrown in, for newbies, to advanced Paramedic.

They know a lot and can do a lot, please don't say 'just' a Medic.

Many enlisted working in an LPN type status are actually two year RN grads, and they hold a license as an RN, they just choose, for various reasons, not to pursue that BSN. They first are trained as 'Medics', then they get an additional skill identifier to work in the Nursing, Lab, Pharmacy, X-ray, or what have you field, in which some are already fully qualified.

All these people are 'Medics'.

Also, the Reserves do allow two year grads to come in Commissioned. They just must have a BSN to move past the rank of Captain.

I have worked with enlisted soldiers in the Army medical field who are doctors in their home countries in Africa, or Eastern Europe, or whatever poor, faraway place they are originally from. In the US Army they are Medics or Pharmacy techs, or Lab personnel.

So please don't say 'just', about these people.

You know, when I started posting on 'allnurses' I was taken aback also by some of the negative responses to some of my (brilliant, I personally thought) comments.

It has taken me a awhile, but you know, I think that I have figured out that this give and take on 'allnurses', both the positive and the negative, is a good 'surrogate' way to learn to deal with the negativity runs like a river through Nursing.

You know all those things about your jobs and about Nursing that bother you. They bother most other people also. No one like to feel 'unfulfilled', or that the potential they know they possess will forever go unexpressed, but they have the bills also, just like you, and a lot have families they have to support and have 'other personal' reasons why they cannot leave and find a job that might suit them better. So they stay. Year, after year. These are not happy people, and you can be sure that they are not just waiting for some 'hotshot' new grad to come along and tell them how things could be done better. So they get a little negative sometimes, or make a negative comment.

Of course some are just rotten, conniving, scheming, evil backstabbers. It really does behoove a person to know the difference!

This instance of negativity may be an expression of how they feel about some comment that 'pushed their button', or it may be a way to try to make themselves feel better about what they have put up with for years, by saying something like "suck it up, I had to put up with this kind of BS for years, if you want a paycheck you will have to put up with it to."

So I think the point that the person was trying to make that reviewed your 'history' was that by looking at the 'history' of a persons posts, it is possible to get more of 'take' on the 'whole person', and not just make a judgment about one person by one or two comments or posts.

Maybe she was trying to say, go out and do something, and tell us something interesting about the experience, why it was positive, or why it was negative. Don't just whine that you would like to have a 'better' job (better than most of us who have been doing this for years), with plenty of money to pay off a heavy debt load (been there, done that!), and then ask us our opinion, but tell us, like our moms used to "if you can't say anything nice, don't say any thing at all!"

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

You don't get to control the responses

I didn't control anything. I commented on text speak. I think it makes people look immature and ignorant.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

So I think the point that the person was trying to make that reviewed your 'history' was that by looking at the 'history' of a persons posts, it is possible to get more of 'take' on the 'whole person', and not just make a judgment about one person by one or two comments or posts.

Maybe she was trying to say, go out and do something, and tell us something interesting about the experience, why it was positive, or why it was negative. Don't just whine that you would like to have a 'better' job (better than most of us who have been doing this for years), with plenty of money to pay off a heavy debt load (been there, done that!), and then ask us our opinion, but tell us, like our moms used to "if you can't say anything nice, don't say any thing at all!"

Yes, I was that person who reviewed the history of threads and posts the other day. There is a definite pattern to the OP's previous posts and threads about multiple job flame-outs. While I was lacking tact when I posted the other day, and could have been (and should have been) more gentle and poised, I stand by my basic assessment.

Allnurses is not a reservoir or endless river of sympathy. It's not realistic to post the same things over and over and endlessly generate sympathy and unilateral support, month after month. Over time, we get to know members by the totality of their posts and threads. And when one member asks for feedback, it's natural that we will respond with knowledge of their postings and relevant information expressed on the board, etc.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

Not sure why this thread turned into a personal attack on me.

To the people who offered caring advice and a compassionate ear, thank you. Your patients are lucky to have such kind and empathetic nurses caring for them at such a vulnerable time.

To those whom were rude and petty, shame on you. It is nurses like you that just reiterate my disdain for the profession.

I consider this thread closed, for it has gone way off topic.

I see this all the time on here. People don't get the repsonses they like, so the say that the people who were nice, online, are fine nurses, and those who were rude to them, somehow are terrible nurses.

And this is coming from someone who can't hold a job as a nurse. Usually it's from students. Either way, it's from people who don't know what a good nurse from a bad nurse is.

Fact it, nobody on here knows how a person nurses. Just because you don't like the responses doesn't mean that it must mean the nurse is mean to her patients as well.

Sorry, but it doesnt' work like that. You have no idea how I or other's here are at work. And you certainly can't base this on message board replies that you like or don't like.

[Boog'sCRRN246, RN]

"It is nurses like you that just reiterate my disdain for the profession."

How can you have disdain for the profession after not even being employed in it consistently for the last year?

This is not an attack, just my opinion; it's whiny threads like this that offend me (and I'm sure I'm not the only one), as I have been working my *** off for the better part of the last decade trying to reach my goal of becoming a RN. I haven't taken any "$40k, no wait list" shortcuts, I haven't taken any time off from working, and in August I will finally, finally, start my RN education. For people to post that "Oh, boohoo, the real world isn't like clinicals/the hours aren't what I wanted/blahblahblah so I'm just gonna quit"...wow. That's all I have to say about that.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

"It is nurses like you that just reiterate my disdain for the profession."

How can you have disdain for the profession after not even being employed in it consistently for the last year?

Exactly!

It's nurses like that, those that can't keep a job, those that blame everybody and everything, that give a bad name to nurses everywhere. I'm sure plenty of new grads would have loved the jobs that the OP threw away, lost, 'was laid off from', etc...