Discouraged and ready to give up

[nursy_2014]

I became an LPN in 2014. I had hopes of becoming an RN. I started travel nursing at first because I wanted to travel and work st the same time. I've never been anyplace really exciting. After a while it because the way I paid my bills. Meaning my expenses are so high that I have to travel as it pays my bills. The main reason is child support and health insurance. My other expenses are very minimal it's just the child support and health insurance that make up half of my expense cost monthly. So, here I am 3 years later feeling my like I'm a stupid nurse as I feel I have forgotten everything I learned. I am over working long term care. It's officially wearing me out. I want to do something different but need to continue being a travel nurse. I'm not even sure nursing is what I want to do anymore honestly. I do want to stay in the healthcare field and would love to go back to school online as it travels with me for my job. Any advice? Feeling very overwhelmed lost and feeling discouraged right now. I see so many LPNs doing all these amazing things and working in amazing positions and it's frustrating that I am stuck. Please no rude comments.

[nurse_flo_marie, MSN, RN]

No worries nursy_2014! Trust me, you're not the only nurse who's ever felt like they want to run away from nursing because they feel stuck in a non-nurturing environment. It's great you're thinking about school, and if you want to travel, online is the way to go. I did an online program and actually traveled more than I did when I wasn't in school. Definitely think about what you want to get out of it before you start school. If you're feeling overwhelmed now, school can be an added burden or feeling of doom. But I'm a Nurse Educator and always promote some type of education as a means to better ourselves. Maybe attending a conference would help you figure out what's next.

Good Luck!