Feeling lost

[ej1104]

Hello,

Today actually marks 3 years since I graduated nursing school and what a crazy up and down journey it has been!

A little background about me: I got my RN license the summer after graduating and immediately started in the specialty of the operating room at a Level I trauma center. I knew surgery was the area i wanted to explore after nursing school. - I worked here for about 2 years and I gained a lot of new friends, colleagues and experience. I did not want to leave here, but I wanted to relocate to be closer to my family. So as difficult as a life decision this was, I left and thought this was for the best.

I then began work at a new facility still in OR in a level I trauma center but in a more urban area. I had expectations that this place would be very similar to my old job and that i would really enjoy it. However, I felt from day one that this facility was not the best fit for me. It was like a 180 view once I got in the door. I felt that most of the nurses were "stuck in their ways" and not up to date in policies and procedures. I actually had to voice out regarding nurse breaking policy regarding sterile technique and it was changed by the nurse educator after. They praised me regarding but I felt that this was unnecessary as it should have already been being done in such a large and well named place. It was frustrating as I really wanted to provide the best care for my patients but had a lot of the wrong people in authority.

At this point I felt lost and wanted to try something very different and moved to outpatient. I am now currently at a private owned neurosurgery practice which i feel i am in a better enviroment than when i was at the urban OR facility, but I still just can't help but feel i should be more challenged as a younger nurse. I do not feel like I am doing all that i could be and I do not want to lose my acute skills any longer. I have only been here 4 months though and struggle with the thought of giving it more of a chance to get used to it or go back to doing something more challenging. There is no formal nurse manager in this practice and I am essentially working with NPs and MA's I feel independance, but maybe a little too much and at this stage of my career I would still like to be working side by side with other RNs.

Long story short I am feeling lost, I do not want to keep jumping job to job but I really feel like i need to find my niche and I am getting so frustrated. My mind changes what feels like everyday. Some days I want to return to OR some days I still feel like i should be trying something different. Do i stay outpatient or return inpatient. I am really looking for guidance, also to know if anyone has been in a similar situation only being in jobs for short periods of time and still trying to figure out what to do with their nursing career. looking for any suggestions!