Frustrated and need some encouragement/advice.

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in forensic psych, corrections.

Hello, all. I've been a member of this board for years but I mostly read what everyone else posts. Today I have a question of my own. I've been a nurse for 5 years (graduated in 2003) and so far have had an untold number of jobs. I've been out of acute care nursing for awhile -- worked pediatric psych, then hospice, then adult psych, and now corrections. I absolutely have to leave corrections or I'm going to go crazy.

I live in a rural area with not a lot of job opportunity. Most places are either horrible by reputation, places I have worked on a contractual basis and wouldn't return to, or hospitals. I think I'm interested in getting back into acute care.

Am I crazy to want to do this? I think I'd like to get back into med/surg and maybe transition into telemetry or ICU. I'm a bit worried -- not that I feel like I've lost my assessment skills, because they are still there, and most technical skills will come back -- but just because I've been out of the acute care arena for so long I wonder if recruiters will even bother to give me a chance.

Has anyone else gone from job to job before they found something that really 'fit' for them? I feel like a job hopper (or, actually I guess I AM a job hopper) and that isn't going to look good to prospective employers either. I've applied to an RN to BSN program this fall and was hoping to go on and get my CNS and become a nurse educator. But now I'm beginning to wonder if I should leave nursing altogether and find something else to do with my life.

Any words of wisdom/thoughtful advice/commiseration welcome.

You might want to check and see if any of the area hospitals offer a refresher for nurses returning after being out for five years. The hospital I work at has that type of position. As for if you should stay in nursing, I think it comes down to do you still want to work as a nurse. Follow your heart and your passion. It will all come back. Good luck to you!!!! :nurse:

Specializes in forensic psych, corrections.

I haven't been out for 5 years, I've been a nurse for 5 years. I've been away from acute care hospital nursing for 3 and I do medical nursing now, just not in a hospital setting. I don't feel like I need a refresher course to be able to hold my own on a med/surg floor. I'm very organized and was quite good at it multitasking and taking good care of my patients.

Thanks for your reply anyway. I'm not sure what I'm asking for. Moral support, maybe. Similar stories with happy endings from other nurses, probably. I'm just so frustrated.

Specializes in ICU, PACU, Cath Lab.

I think you could apply to a hospital and just explain that while you have been nursing, just not in an acute setting. Explain your desire for a lengthy orientation. Many hospitals offer these to new grads as well as to experienced nurses that are looking to change specitalties. I know my ICU hires people with out a huge amount of experience, and are very good about not letting you sink. Look around, do some research on facilities and their orientation process and pick the one that is the best for you!! Good Luck in your future plans!

Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

Sounds like you're not really sure what you want to do, so getting back into med/surg at this time may just add another short-term job to your resume. Suggest you look back at the different nursing jobs you've had, and try to identify what you liked & disliked about each one. Also think about what you imagined nursing would be like when you decided to become a nurse, to help you figure out where you'd like to be now. Sounds like you're not very excited about prospects where you currently live, so you might consider relocating to a place with more possibilities.

Sounds like you're not really sure what you want to do, so getting back into med/surg at this time may just add another short-term job to your resume. Suggest you look back at the different nursing jobs you've had, and try to identify what you liked & disliked about each one. Also think about what you imagined nursing would be like when you decided to become a nurse, to help you figure out where you'd like to be now. Sounds like you're not very excited about prospects where you currently live, so you might consider relocating to a place with more possibilities.

I totally agree with this. I think taking sometime to really evaluate what you expect and what areas would give you the most fullfillment is a good idea. I don't know if there are career places that help nurses figure this out or not.

Also I don't know the whole picture, but from what your wrote, my advice would be not to totally drop it now...at least not while you aren't totally sure of why you'd be dropping nursing to begin with.

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