I hate nursing

Nurses General Nursing

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I may get yelled at or get the usual "find another profession" comments. But I have to say it.. are there any LPN's who love their job? I have been a LPN for 12 yrs and i have hated every moment of it. I noticed that Im subjected to nursing homes, abuse clinics peds and home health. I moved from up north only to relocated to florida and get paid far less for a job that is worse. Never wanted to be a nurse it was a family trait. All the women in my family are nurses. I have no life no husband no kids and i spend almost every day at a place i hate. I have been working on my RN and at this point I dont feel like its worth it. I have tried hospitals and I have tried other avenues. I left the profession only to return and realize you can leave the job but you will NEVER stop being a nurse. So Im not sure what to do is my RN worth it or will I be just as miserable? I was never a smoker I find my self smoking and unable to sleep. I cry before work every day and get a upset stomach before my shift. and this is at every nursing job i held. Im sorry if this sounds negative or sad or just complaining. i know the senior nurses are gonna read me my rights. But I need to know if anyone feels the same way?

Additional info: I was recently attacked by a patients husband during a home healthcare assignment. I have anxiety PTSD and really just dont like or trust people any more nursing has been nothing but sad experiences for me. My friends and family im sure are tired of my complaints and most people say " just leave" they will never understand....you dont just leave nursing its in you.

What a horrible response from you. Your a perfect example of why this happens to many nurses. There is too many who are this crude like you in the profession

This post is useless without using the quote function so that it's apparent to whom you are referring.

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Why I stopped posting on this site.

But you just did. ;)

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Hi,

I have been a nurse for more than 40 years. I know where you are coming from. Some may say just leave but it is not that easy.

Very few things worth having come "easy." The OP is still young. Life doesn't have to be "easy" to be very fulfilling. She has time to turn things around, but she's going to have to get out of her comfort zone in order to make good things happen. Whether that means getting out of nursing, or getting more education so that her options open up, or what have you, she's going to have to do the difficult job of experiencing change and taking risks. And no, that won't be easy. But it will probably be well worth it.

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My suggestion to you would be to complete your education and become an RN. You will find so many more options outside the traditional clinical setting, and you would double your salary. As an LPN, you are quite limited.

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Specializes in GENERAL.

This is a great authentic post.

Most folks who feel the same way you do are afraid to admit it let alone announce it boldly to the world as you have.

It's very liberating for those who feel isolated from others because they have this dark secret also.

The first step toward change is to define why you need to do so and the mental constraints that are hplding you back.

It's funny how Florida has been sold as paradise when that state of mind is wherever you're happiest

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I understand where you're coming from, I don't like it either. So for all those loving nursing..it's a choice, I've been one for 31 years, and have only found love in 2 jobs, one wasn't nursing at all that I did for 5 years, and the other was working in a school, which I'm no longer doing.

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Specializes in VA, Ortho, Med/Surg.

19 pages long now wow. I'm still trying to FIND myself, figure out if I want to continue doing CEU's/working as a nurse or do something totally off the wall or different. Making less money scares me to death, but you have to do what makes you happy. It helps if you love your job. Life is hard enuf.

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GET YOUR RN BSN ASAP. That is the way out I think. I am a LVN as of a year and a half and I am already getting really tired of the job. I can't not stand the amount of patients that I have and the large amount of work that keeps getting dumped on me. I am PRN and am luckily going back here in May to get my RN-BSN. It has been a hard journey but I am very excited to move up in the world and get some work in the hospital and start specializing. I think and hope that this is the answer to your problem. It is a hard journey but you just have to do it or get another type of job. Hang in there! I like nursing but do not love it yet.

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This thread kinda scares me. I'm in the opposite boat. I want to go back and get my RN degree. I started out in nursing school, but failed one class so instead of going back, I changed majors. I have a bachelor degree in business, but I'm bored and tired of working in our family business. Of course my biggest fear is failure especially since I've been out of school so long. I'll also have to quit my job, which pays well. I'm single and no kids, but I'll be without pay for two years while I get my degree. I'm afraid I won't be able to learn as easy as I did in high school and college. I have to take a chance though because I'll regret it more if I don't.

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I am a very senior nurse and while when I read the beginning of your letter I was ready to do just as you suggested. Fortunately I read to the end. I believe you are a nurse in your soul and that you can find your place in this field. BUT, you have to find out why you feel such despair before going to work. If this is depression as a former psych nurse I encourage you to seek help. Depression is no different than any other illness except that it's your mind involved. Seeking help is strength not weakness. I believe you may have a lot to offer. You are very well spoken, and appear to be a compassionate person. I wish you well and will pray for you.

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Neezy, I get that you hate nursing, but is it nursing per say or the type and environment and people you are surrounded with? I love "nursing" but am not doing what I went into nursing for due to various injuries and 40 years of pounding those cement floors and long hallways. I find that the part that I hate are the people....of course not everyone, but coworkers are mean and gossipy more so now. The patients are the same, expecting safe quality care which I believe gets worse every year. I've been abused in several ways by patients, staff and doctors as you may expect working in hospitals this long. I've also been a patient in many hospitals in different states, as well as the ones I work in. I have yet to receive that quality care throughout my stay. I have yet to be assessed upon admission as every patient should be, especially specific to my diagnosis. Again, I love being a nurse. I don't love the direction the profession has gone.

With that said, the only one who can change your situation in you but there are many sources out there to help you accomplish that, and many support groups which would be more appropriate for this topic since you'll be in the company of others with similar views. Good luck, be stong and do what is good for your well being, no one else's. Do it now so you can enjoy your life.

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Yes, I understand the feeling, honestly, I think you need to find a way to cope after a hard day. Ever since I started working in a hospital, I secretly struggled with a lot of anxiety, only my parents knew this, as I would vent to them. But I refused to let anxiety tell me how to feel. All my shifts were always hard and challenging, and there are times I would think to myself why I am in this job.

But over the course of the year, I "experimented" with different coping mechanisms, eventually, I formed a habit or thought mechs that helped me cope. I listed some of them below:

1. "It's Not your fault and do what you can." - This phrase helps me on days when pt's get verbally abusive, by thinking this to myself, it frees myself from taking things personally, especially when the pt has psych issues. This also reminds me that I'm not a super nurse but that I am just a human being helping another human being.

2. Get to know your coworkers. - Know Everyone you get in contact with, e.g. housekeepers, unit clerks, security, doctors, nurses, pharmacists... you are not in this alone, very important to wringe out all the help you can get. Take time to talk to people, talk random, tell jokes, acknowledge their presence, take risks and you will be amazed at all the help that will come your way.

3. Be super honest. - If you feel like the assignment is too much for you to handle, and will affect your safety and pt safety, let your charge nurse know. If they dont listen to you, speak to the manager, if they dont listen to you, call higher up. If they all dont do nothing about it, then leave that place. It took some time for me to get the hang of saying "no" being that I am a shy person. To keep your thoughts together, write down your concerns so when you present it, it will be clear to everyone. It can be something like, "I dont feel comfortable taking this assignment, I have this pt who is...... and needs....., pt safety is at risk and I feel overwhelmed that I wont be able to do this safely..."

4. Vent. Lol this is self explanatory, but do vent within the realms of HIPAA.

5. Quiet room. - On really stressful days wherein the call lights resemble a disco ball, and i feel like smashing my work phone, and when those darn IV pumps won't stop singing...once I go home, I go to my closet, turn off the lights and put some cushions on the ground. I close the door and just sleep. I do this to give time for the brain to rest, no stimulus, no loud noises, nothing lol. Suprisingly, it helps.

6. Travel. - Explore different places at least once a month. Find someone to go places with, even if it means a starbucks in a different location.

7. Collect something random. I collect....stickers.

8. Read jokes and verbally share them. - This is a good ice breaker with co workers. Have about 3-4 jokes memorized. This is also good for family members who eye you out like an eagle lol. One time, I was flushing a pt's PIV, and everyone in the room suddenly got quiet...I paused and looked at them and said, "Wow, it got quiet here all of a sudden, don't mind me, continue on..." They started laughing and resumed talking.

9. Randomly help someone at work. Offer help whenever you can even when you are busy, honestly, people appreciate it even just by saying, "Hey, if you need me, here's my number..." "Let me know if you need help turning a pt"..

10. Get to know your pt. I talk to my patients as much as I could, it builds a bond and trust and will make your day run smoother. I usually begin by asking..."Hey, how are you today? How was your night?" then next time i go in the room..."Do you need anything right now, any concerns" if all goes well i proceed to questions like, "Do you have pets?" "Wow, I hope winter won't be too cold. What do you think?"

11. Take time to pray and be thankful. Close your eyes and just thank God for all the things you have, no matter how insignificant. "Thank you, God, that I have two feet, that I could see, that I can taste this delicious burger without worrying about dysphagia..."

12.Sleep. Have a day where the only thing you do is sleep or rest to read a book.

13. Eat good food. Treat yo self!

14. Buy something beautiful.

There's more techniques...but so far these help me cope throughout rough times. Oh, and yeah, do get your bachelors, it will open more doors to other types of nursing, or take a class in something random that you enjoy, e.g. jewelry making, art, dance...

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