Confused About Nursing Career

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Ortho and Tele med/surg.

When I first entered nursing school, I knew for sure that I wanted to be a nurse. I was proud to go into the profession. Well, after a year of hard work, I applied for a nursing externship at a local hospital. I'm in my 6th week now and I totally hate nursing. I don't know what to do. What I hate most about the externship is being taken advantage of. They are making me do nursing assistant work and I spoke up about it and it's still an issue.

It's not just about being taken advantage of anymore. I just don't like what I do anymore. I enjoy speaking with patients and reassuring them, but I hate the personal beside care. I don't think I like floor nursing. I'm appalled by this attitude. It never used to bother me and now I'm just walking around with a sad face. I don't look forward to being at the hospital anymore.

Lately, I have been going through a lot personally. So I don't know if it's affecting my attitude. I don't know what to do. School is about to begin. I'm in so much debt already. I'm asking for advice and encouragement because I really need it.

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If you're doing an externship, I imagine it is expected that you would do the "nursing assistant" stuff. It may very well be much different when you graduate, but really nursing assistant stuff IS nursing stuff, so you would (I hope) still be doing that at times once you graduate.

That being said, if you are a student, nurse extern, and having personal problems, I can imagine it would make things seem worse than they really are. If it was me, I would just assume that its a bad situation, more than a bad career move FOR NOW. I don't know about you, but having working conditions that I don't like, alone, can make any job seem unpleasant. Adding your school stress and personal issues, its got to be overwhelming.

If I was in your shoes I absolutely WOULD NOT quit school. Just stick it out and get to the other end. If the only type of nursing available was floor nursing, I'd agree with you, but its not. Not even close. And maybe if you find a place to work where your coworkers are much more pleasant and/or some place with less patient contact (maybe even outpatient surgery or something where they're in and out quickly so need less care) then you'll find your niche.

I actually started a degree in Computer Programming and did not finish it, and although thats not my field anymore, I seriously regret not having followed through with it. More than I can put into words. Its a big failure that has been hanging over my life for a long time now. If I could go back and be at the point you are at...deciding to continue or not... I absolutely would. No education is worthless. Even now, even in nursing, I could have used that (there's a job opening at my hospital tailored to a nurse/programmer) and I think maybe you could find that same type of situation, where nursing benefits you for the rest of your life, even if you are not a bedside nurse.

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Specializes in Ortho and Tele med/surg.

Thank you for your encouragement. It's that I don't like doing nursing assistant stuff, but there are times when I'm giving bedpans all day. I mean there's no balance. My preceptor is not teaching about the process of being a nurse. She's sending me all over the place to pick up equipments and discharging patients for 6hrs every day. It gets discouraging. I know I'm meant to do more than the physical. I don't mind doing it, but teach me about nursing too.

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I actually started a degree in Computer Programming...Even now, even in nursing, I could have used that (there's a job opening at my hospital tailored to a nurse/programmer) and I think maybe you could find that same type of situation, where nursing benefits you for the rest of your life, even if you are not a bedside nurse.

Apologies for derailing the thread, but I have a degree in programming (and much work experience) and I'm switching to nursing, starting school in fall. I didn't know there were any jobs for a nurse/programmer. What does it entail?

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Apologies for derailing the thread, but I have a degree in programming (and much work experience) and I'm switching to nursing, starting school in fall. I didn't know there were any jobs for a nurse/programmer. What does it entail?

Hope I am ok posting this. It doesn't say anything company specific so I think it should be fine, but it gives you an idea.

ANALYST PROGRAMMER -0312200 space.gif Job Requisition Number: 61539 Job Title: ANALYST PROGRAMMER -0312200 Employment Status: 10-Regular Full Time Job Description: Coordinates system support which includes design, coding, file/screen building, training and implementation of multiple systems. Serves as a liaison between the I.S. Department, vendors and clients for multiple complex systems/applications. Provides technical assistance to clients and I.S. staff. Participates in an on call rotation schedule, to include daily, after hours and weekends, to provide round the clock client support.

Work Schedule:

80 hours biweekly; Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Education/Experience Requirements:

Associate degree in Business/Healthcare/Computer Science or equivalent work experience. A minimum of 3 years coding/programming and/or supporting computer systems. Minimum one year PC-oriented experience to include basic word processing and spreadsheets. Local area Network applications level knowledge desired. 3 Years of related work experience including programming and /or information systems support. Must be a team player with initiative, organizational skills and analytical abilities. LPN or RN preferred. Clinical experience with medication administration or equivalent experience needed.

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