Frustrated and considering a career change

Scrubby · Jul 9, 2009

"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.

Well theres not much you can say really because your NOT a nurse and have no idea about what it's like to be one. Maybe when you graduate, you may find yourself struggling in your first year. You may appreciate being able to come to allnurses.com to vent about the difficulties your having. Nursing is not easy and it's not being 'whiny' to start a thread asking for help.

To the OP: My advice for you is to do some soul searching to see what really interests you and what you want to do in life. There are many different areas of nursing to consider, each has it's pros and cons. Maybe speak to nurses in different specialties and ask what it's really like.

Scrubby · Jul 9, 2009

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

The point I'm making here is that you can't control how anyone decides to text, just as you can't control a person's response to your post.

Also, if you really hate text speak that much, well perhaps being polite to someone about it instead of saying that you think it looks 'immature and ignorant' may be a more positive way to go about dealing with the issue . :yawn:

Scrubby · Jul 9, 2009

Boog'sGirl724 -My apologies, I see from your profile that your an LPN so you ARE a nurse.

However......I don't understand why it bothers you so much when RN's complain about their work environment/hours etc. Nursing is NOT perfect, there is a great deal of lateral violence, nurses tend to be blamed for everything that goes wrong by docs, patients, relatives, other staff and the hours can have a negative effect on one's home and social life. From my experience the real world of nursing is so much different from my clinical placements and quite a culture shock after I graduated. There is so much room for improvement in nursing and I really can't blame people for wanting to quit.

Boog'sCRRN246, RN · Jul 9, 2009

It doesn't bother me when nurses complain about hours/work environment/etc....when they've actually WORKED more than a few weeks in the position. Everything is rocky starting out as a new nurse, and to quit a position after only giving it a few weeks, that's not good. I can totally understand getting a position and it not working out. But to be hired for multiple postions and have them not work out all for the same reasons...please :icon_roll.

Di Deanna · Jul 9, 2009

hi again edge!

i think that many of the members on here have given you awesome answers. yes, it seems as though some added a little sprinkle of "mean" to theirs :lol:, but all in all, most of them are right. it sucks when people aren't all nice and fluffy about it, but i would try to take it all as constructive criticism. take the positive out of each reply. reality isn't nice and fluffy anyway .

yes, they are blunt, but that is what will probably help you in the future. i'm pretty sure some people have lost their zest for a positive personality, but after reading the replies, i can assure you that even some of the people who have attempted to rip me a new one are pretty intelligent. not everyone can be a batch of baked goodies.

the comment about the text speak is correct. although i am not attempting to misdirect your post, you're too smart to type like that. it doesn't necessarily ruin my day, but i can understand why it was pointed out. you are welcome to type however you like, but i'm sure text code is a poor reflection of you as a sharp human being :).

hopefully you were able to take the information from the replies in this post and use them to conjure up some useful ideas/plans. good luck to you.

:flwrhrts:

xEdgexRNx · Jul 9, 2009

It doesn't bother me when nurses complain about hours/work environment/etc....when they've actually WORKED more than a few weeks in the position. Everything is rocky starting out as a new nurse and to quit a position after only giving it a few weeks, that's not good. I can totally understand getting a position and it not working out. But to be hired for multiple postions and have them not work out all for the same reasons...please :icon_roll.[/quote']
FYI: I worked in Med-Onc for 2 months before being laid-off---the majority of the new grad hires were laid-off d/t budget reasons and I was one of them. Thus, I did NOT quit and I worked there for more than "a few weeks."
My last position, I worked for over 5 months b4 the position was dissolved b/c I did not have my school RN cert. Again, I did not quit.
The IL economy is horrid and thus has affected ALL jobs----nursing included. Our new grad class of '09 couldn't find jobs in-state, and are also having a hard time finding jobs out of state. I've talked to MANY other nurses who have been laid off and cant find jobs either---and these RNs have more years behind them than I do. So, don't make me out to be this huge quitter, for I spend HOURS applying and interviewing every day. And I have NOT been "hired to work many positions and have them not work out for all the same reasons." Perhaps u ought to read my posts more carefully. I sure hope u read your charts and MD orders with more care than u do certain posts b4 u go about making such wrong assumptions. And as far as your issue with me using "text speak," I can write however I choose. There is no law saying that one must write in proper form while using the internet. This isn't a school assignment, thus APA format does not apply. I assume u use abbreviations in your charting (what nurse doesn't?!), so don't berate me for using shorthand on a simple internet post. This isn't a legal document like a chart is. Stop with the petty low-blows and only post pertinent responses.

joyouter · Jul 9, 2009

If you want honest feedback, here it is: your posts are sounding flaky. I checked out your other posts and multiple, similar threads.
You posted that you were "let go" from one hospital job because the manager said you "weren't a good fit" and you were vocal about your nursing philosophy versus your preceptors' nursing philosophy. You wanted to change your hours after starting your preceptorship because you didn't feel well on that shift. You were offered dialysis and apheresis jobs but you had problems with those jobs, too, like having "no life outside of work." You started the apheresis job and "hate it." You lost the school nurse job.
In one post you "hate hospitals" and in another you want an ICU job. Next, in another post you need a new car because one job requires a lot of commuting and you have a stick shift. (So what if you have a stick shift, just drive it and be grateful!).
You say you have concerns about nursing maybe not being your "calling" and that maybe "god" is trying to lead you elsewhere. I have another perspective. Maybe your multiple threads and posts reveal a pattern that you do not commit yourself to your work fully with a good work ethic, and you have unrealistic expectations.
Maybe nursing is for you, and maybe it isn't. I can't answer that. I do know that your posts and threads reveal a pattern, though, and if I were you, I'd look in the mirror for solutions.

There are some significant points in the above and you may need to reflect upon them deeply. My impression is that you possibly have had a rough start to the realities of a nursing career at a time where recession affects all of us. Having said that and knowing you lack the requisite 2 year experience in nursing, you are nevertheless continuing with your BSN. Good for you! With your valedectorian record, you appear to excel at learning, and in this lies your uncertainty alongside a very rough beginning to your career.

Whether you continue nursing or not, *there is little point to throw the baby out with the bathwater *- you still have to gain the 2 year requisite background. This should be your focus right now along with BSN studies. You really don't have a choice in where you work, you have to be willing to dig deep to obtain what you need. Stop complaining and use your energy to develop a strategy where you will gain this much needed 2 year experience. If you show you are willing to commit to part time or full time positions, (whatever is available), place your emotional reactions on hold and focus on what you are doing to learn the job and develop your competencies.

As your skills and experience grow, you will hopefully find that your attitude /perceptions change as you mature. At the end of 2-3 years, you will be in a better position to decide your life path. Without self control, self reflection, research and serious planning and committment, you will not be able to move forward on a solid path . Go for it and good luck!!

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Jul 9, 2009

The point I'm making here is that you can't control how anyone decides to text, just as you can't control a person's response to your post.
Also, if you really hate text speak that much, well perhaps being polite to someone about it instead of saying that you think it looks 'immature and ignorant' may be a more positive way to go about dealing with the issue .

Again, I didn't try to control anything (you seem to keep missing that point).

And, if I recall by actually reading this thread, the OP was gently spoken to about how his/her speech looked badly. And the U this and U that kept coming. Nothing wrong with that at all. When poster post in all caps, or in strange colors that we can't read, we comment on it too.

Trying to prove your point with text speak makes the person lose credibility. That, coupled with the OPs history of posts/threads, and the OPs job history speaks volumes.

I'm allowed to comment on whatever I want, but at least I keep it accurate.

Scrubby · Jul 10, 2009

Again, I didn't try to control anything (you seem to keep missing that point).
And, if I recall by actually reading this thread, the OP was gently spoken to about how his/her speech looked badly. And the U this and U that kept coming. Nothing wrong with that at all. When poster post in all caps, or in strange colors that we can't read, we comment on it too.
Trying to prove your point with text speak makes the person lose credibility. That, coupled with the OPs history of posts/threads, and the OPs job history speaks volumes.
I'm allowed to comment on whatever I want, but at least I keep it accurate.

I think you've missed my point completely so I'll spell it out for u....

Saying to someone that you cannot control the responses, and then criticising their method of responding seemed hypocritical to me. You can't control how a person responds to your problem and you can't control how someone chooses to write. Does this clarify things?

Obviously xEdgexRNx wants to continue using the text speak that you and others despise. My advice here is build a bridge and get over it, it's a public forum and we live in a diverse society. If you have an issue with how somebody chooses to express themselves perhaps a private message would be a better option, rather than being condescending on a public forum. It's similar to criticism at work. We don't like being criticised in front of our work mates, you pull someone aside and gently explain to them where they can improve instead of public humiliation.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Jul 10, 2009

This is a public forum. If I was trying to contol it, I would say something like, "this thread is over because you are using text speak"

Commenting on how a person posts their message, on a message board, is participating in the discussion, not trying to control anything.

I think you don't get it.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jul 10, 2009

:idea:

from our terms of service

english language only
...please do not type entirely in capitals as considered shouting on the internet! along with using proper english spelling and punctuation, this shows respect for the owner, other bulletin board members & guests and makes it easier to read your important thoughts.
debates
we promote the idea of lively debate. this means you are free to disagree with anyone on any type of subject matter as long as your criticism is constructive and polite.

closing thread per op request.