I got out of nursing and I've never been better!

Nurses General Nursing

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I know there are many people here who want to leave nursing and I want to share my experiences.

If you're seriously considering leaving, do it. Nothing is worth giving away your mental or physical health.

While working as a nurse, I was miserable for all the reasons people complain about here too. I was sick ALL THE TIME -- colds, flus, gastroenteritis, you name it, I'd get it. I was sick at least 2 weeks out of every month.

Since leaving nursing last year, I haven't been sick ONCE. Nothing. I've never felt physically or mentally better.

It was not easy to leave. I spent many fruitless months searching for the right profession to go into. I had to apply a lot of creativity and do a lot of networking and legwork to break into my new profession. Considering the alternative though, I felt I had no choice. I'm so happy that I put the time and effort into it, and its paid off well for me.

I'm working as a Consultant, applying my medical background to cases of medical and insurance fraud. Everything is great about this job and I love it.

YOU ARE WORTH THE EFFORT. DON'T STAY IN SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU UNHAPPY. LIFE IS TOO SHORT!

Peace and good luck!

Michelle, I'm really glad that you have found happiness. I have considered leaving nursing many times, but I'm not quite ready to call it quits. If I read your post correctly, you mentioned that you are doing medical and legal consulting. Don't you still need a health care background to do that line of work? I think that it's important that students or people considering nursing realize that. Even if you don't want to work within the traditional roles of nursing or even in nursing roles outside of the hospital, there are other options with nursing experience.

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Michelle - thanks for letting us know that there is light at the end of that long, uphill tunnel called nursing. I am sending my mind to be with you until my body can catch up!

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Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

I just ask those nurses who don't enjoy their jobs to bash the profession in front of nursing students. It is my biggest pet peeve when I am in the hospital during clinicals and nurses rant and rave about how horrible nursing is and that we should get out while we can. It really discourages some students and makes many double think their career.

Most nurses I have spoken to have told me that the first few years of nursing is downright horrible, but after that it becomes easier and much more enjoyable.

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Specializes in Palliative Care, NICU/NNP.

Being a young six-oh I could have gone on working but the paperwork attrocities, worrying about getting more and more done on time, dealing with more needy patients and families and management that didn't manage was enough. You get a raise and they take your support staff away.

I have never felt better. My B/P went back to normal and it's wonderful not having a schedule or alarm clock going off.

I don't regret going into nursing and I do miss the positives of good patient experiences, but life is short.

A lot of nurses I worked with are nearing 60 and stay on for the insurance. Health insurance can be a big chunk out of retirement. So to the OP, I'm very happy for you--and me.

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I know there are many people here who want to leave nursing and I want to share my experiences.

If you're seriously considering leaving, do it. Nothing is worth giving away your mental or physical health.

While working as a nurse, I was miserable for all the reasons people complain about here too. I was sick ALL THE TIME -- colds, flus, gastroenteritis, you name it, I'd get it. I was sick at least 2 weeks out of every month.

Since leaving nursing last year, I haven't been sick ONCE. Nothing. I've never felt physically or mentally better.

It was not easy to leave. I spent many fruitless months searching for the right profession to go into. I had to apply a lot of creativity and do a lot of networking and legwork to break into my new profession. Considering the alternative though, I felt I had no choice. I'm so happy that I put the time and effort into it, and its paid off well for me.

I'm working as a Consultant, applying my medical background to cases of medical and insurance fraud. Everything is great about this job and I love it.

YOU ARE WORTH THE EFFORT. DON'T STAY IN SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU UNHAPPY. LIFE IS TOO SHORT!

Peace and good luck!

How did you go about finding your job as a consultant in this area? Would this be legal nurse consulting? Just wondering, because I too feel like I need a change!! Thanks.

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I'm working my way out of it, too. So far, the only thing I've found I can do from home is medical transcription and I hear the pay sucks. But right now it's my only option and a good one compared to having to go out somewhere.

Motorcyclemama--I actually thought of medical transcription too. Thats how bad I feel too about doing something different but still in medical field. How is that going for you? I started with a course but have yet to complete it.

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I am sorry to hear you are unhappy being nurses. I have a few questions. What areas of nursing do you work in? Are you floor nurses? It has been my experience that floor nurses are the most overworked of the bunch. Do you work for a hospital that has poor staffing and high ratios? If so I could understand the frustration and burnout. I work in an ICU that is adequately staffed, we are paid well, and I do enjoy what I do. I love having a critically ill patient that I can focus ALL my efforts on or a stable pair. I can't handle the whiney, demanding patients....and a large percentage of those hang out on the floor. What I am trying to get at is, is there another hospital/unit that might make you see nursing in a different light? I find that with a lot of my colleagues they just see the grass as greener on the other side. They haven't worked in other jobs so they assume they'd be happier doing anything else. I am not saying this is the case w/ any of you, just stating my personal experience. I mean I have had some pretty amazing jobs in the last 10 years (I was a runway model overseas, a pharmaceutical rep, and previously a bartender). I loved my old jobs but they never gave me a personal sense of satisfaction or "giving back" that I get as a nurse. I think there are a lot of jobs people have that are a lot more stressful, demanding, and poor paying. I count myself lucky.

JMHO;)

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I have been out for about 6 months now. Really feel like myself again. You don't always have to leave for good. Sometimes getting out for a while gets your perspective back. Then you can return and be the nurse you want to be. I know, I have done it several times.

Michelle, I'm really glad that you have found happiness. I have considered leaving nursing many times, but I'm not quite ready to call it quits. If I read your post correctly, you mentioned that you are doing medical and legal consulting. Don't you still need a health care background to do that line of work? I think that it's important that students or people considering nursing realize that. Even if you don't want to work within the traditional roles of nursing or even in nursing roles outside of the hospital, there are other options with nursing experience.

Absolutely. Nursing is a great professional background to have for many different professions. You might have to be a bit creative about it though!

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I just ask those nurses who don't enjoy their jobs to bash the profession in front of nursing students. It is my biggest pet peeve when I am in the hospital during clinicals and nurses rant and rave about how horrible nursing is and that we should get out while we can. It really discourages some students and makes many double think their career.

Most nurses I have spoken to have told me that the first few years of nursing is downright horrible, but after that it becomes easier and much more enjoyable.

Sistermike, I really don't see what this has to do with my post, as it has nothing to do with "bashing" nursing, and certainly not in front of students. I'm all for people doing whatever they want to do. Like I've said, nursing can be a great door opener into different fields.

As you can see here, it doesn't matter if people have been nurses for a few years or 30. Some people are miserable and they deserve every chance at happiness. If that means leaving nursing, then we should let them go and be happy, guilt free.

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I am sorry to hear you are unhappy being nurses. I have a few questions. What areas of nursing do you work in? Are you floor nurses? It has been my experience that floor nurses are the most overworked of the bunch. Do you work for a hospital that has poor staffing and high ratios? If so I could understand the frustration and burnout. I work in an ICU that is adequately staffed, we are paid well, and I do enjoy what I do. I love having a critically ill patient that I can focus ALL my efforts on or a stable pair. I can't handle the whiney, demanding patients....and a large percentage of those hang out on the floor. What I am trying to get at is, is there another hospital/unit that might make you see nursing in a different light? I find that with a lot of my colleagues they just see the grass as greener on the other side. They haven't worked in other jobs so they assume they'd be happier doing anything else. I am not saying this is the case w/ any of you, just stating my personal experience. I mean I have had some pretty amazing jobs in the last 10 years (I was a runway model overseas, a pharmaceutical rep, and previously a bartender). I loved my old jobs but they never gave me a personal sense of satisfaction or "giving back" that I get as a nurse. I think there are a lot of jobs people have that are a lot more stressful, demanding, and poor paying. I count myself lucky.

JMHO;)

I think it's important to give people a little credit. We all know there are non-hospital nursing jobs. Some of us have even tried them! My post was aimed toward people who are unhappy and want out of the profession. Again, you have to give those people a little credit that they know what they want.

There are other jobs that give back as well. Mine does that now, but I'm excited, even thrilled to work. I work from home, I make more money, get more respect, and it's not even stressful... and I wouldn't have believed it possible until I reached the breaking point and found this new employment.

My point is that you can't just tell people to go find another nursing job and everything will be alright. I've tried many different areas of nursing and as I've said before, the same problems and issues persist. People know when they are burned out and we should encourage them to explore other professions if they so chose, guilt free.

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Being a young six-oh I could have gone on working but the paperwork attrocities, worrying about getting more and more done on time, dealing with more needy patients and families and management that didn't manage was enough. You get a raise and they take your support staff away.

I have never felt better. My B/P went back to normal and it's wonderful not having a schedule or alarm clock going off.

I don't regret going into nursing and I do miss the positives of good patient experiences, but life is short.

A lot of nurses I worked with are nearing 60 and stay on for the insurance. Health insurance can be a big chunk out of retirement. So to the OP, I'm very happy for you--and me.

Speaking of BP, I once took it while I was working and it was about 200/100. I stopped taking it after that! It's good now though.

Enjoy your retirement, you deserve it!

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I just took a job working with medical information and feel so much better about the job and myself than I would at any clinical position. It was funny, though, cuz I was speaking to a nurse who said she'd held a similar position before, but after awhile missed the go-go-go of her previous clinical nursing work and swapped her quiet office job for work she found more stimulating.

If there's one thing I wouldn't miss, it's that go-go-go part of nursing!! I find working with data quite stimulating whereas I find floor nursing chaotic and nerve-grating (maybe I end up overstimulated?). Thank goodness not everyone likes the same kind of work I do!

Moving on to something else - medically related, but not specifically nursing - has done wonders for my mental health! Each person had to walk their own path.

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