I don't want to do this anymore

Nurses General Nursing

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I've been an RN at a LTC/rehab facility for 8 months and I absolutely hate it. I come home crying more often than not. I love my residents, but I feel like I haven't been properly trained. Everyone says you learn most of nursing on the job, while in my facility I'm expected to know it all already. Due to staffing shortages I was the only RN in the building on my shift. I've been learning from lpns and working in an lpn position so I honestly feel like how am I supposed to know what I'm doing as an RN. I'm just sick of worrying and stressing and getting in trouble because I don't know what I'm doing. I've contemplated going back to school and finding something else but I never knew what I wanted to do career wise. I still dont. I just feel really stuck right now. I hate my job and I feel like there's nowhere else for me to turn since I don't have any idea what other career I would like to pursue.. any advice?

Before going back to school for something else, especially since you don't know what else you would like to do, I would suggest another flavor of nursing or if you really enjoy LTC then another LTC facility. Don't judge all of them or make the assumption all of them are like the one you work at now. Home Health maybe be a good fit if you aren't interested in hospital nursing. I know a lot of people will say "hang in there, it will get better" or "wait until you hit the year mark" but I disagree with that..if you are truly miserable & it's more than just one or two bad days at work, it's time to find something else. Life is too short.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I agree with Marshall1. Don't just jump into another career, investing a lot of money blindly into a career (or career path) that you might hate even more. But look for another job within nursing. Make a planned change in your job situation to a facility with a decent reputation. Give a few other employers a try before you give up on the whole career.

I worked in LTC as a student. I was miserable and seriously considered quitting nursing school as I thought there was no way I could do this job for the rest of my life. I applied to a new facility and loved it! I was honestly sad to resign when I graduated. Don't give up without at least trying somewhere new.

There are so many areas that you can work in nursing and be happy. LTC facilities are tough. Look into nursing agencies. Some will send you to dr offices, telephone triage, etc and pay you well. I only stopped because I needed benefits ASAP. I loved it!

If it were me, I'd consider waiting it out 4 more months til you reach a year, then apply to other specialties. 8 months of LTC nursing does not mean you aren't cut out for nursing. I sure felt that when I started, and considered other career paths as well. I'm glad I stuck with it and got in a specialty Im confident and happy in...Private Duty

Thanks for all the advice. I'm trying to find a new field that seems like it would be a good fit for me. I just feel like medsurg type stuff or LTC where you have to know everything is too much for me to remember and I don't know if that makes me a bad nurse or not..

You are newly qualified. You are not so experience yet and you might feel overwhelmed. This is a natural feeling amd not the reason to quit the profession. I started my first job in surgical ward and it was not my fauvorite but at least I knew that I dont want to do medical nursing. After 2 years I realised that I cant do this job anymore, too fast-paced for me and more social care than truly medical. I decided to leave and now I am happy in PACU. Just try something new, everyone has different personality and you might like something less busy.

I would just try another hospital . Your getting abused . Hospitals do that becuase of understaffing . hang in there champ

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