Life or career?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Psych and AmbCare.

I am an RN that graduated school in 2016. Now I am a person that values personal life and relationships over anything career or money related. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do, but at the end of the day this is a job and I value my family and parents over anything. I have spent most of my nursing career as a Psych nurse (8 months) in a prestigious hospital, and a per diem school nurse (6 months). I had to leave my psych job behind even though it was perfect because I moved. Because of this I chose the first job that came into my path which was a job in an ambulatory care setting. Here I work mostly educating patients on their health and medications. The place I work however is very hostile, a lot of people that do not want to work, surf the internet, scream when they're angry no matter if there is patients or not, including at patients or administrators. Very angry people. I feel like i'm loosing a lot of nursing knowledge here. But then there is a upside of the fact I go home after 8 hour shifts to my amazing family and have weekends off, and holidays off too. My husband is getting a job soon where he will be working nights, but will have weekends off. Him and my family are my world and I do not mind working here if it means we have two days a week 100% off together. The only worrisome aspect comes in where if this hospital or clinic is to close, I will most likely have to stick with a clinic job right? How hard would it be to find a job then? How many of you guys would make the decision I am?

Just please be nice and non-judgmental with your answers!

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

I'd stay. Each day is a gift and you can't predict the future. If you like it and can come home without bringing the baggage...stay.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I'd stay for the moment ... but I would keep searching for a job that you liked better and that also gave you a schedule you could live with. Life is too short to spend a lot of it at a job that gives you no joy. Try to find something that will not require a huge family sacrifice, but will give you a better professional life or more prospects of future jobs should you need that.

Life doesn't have to be "all one and not the other." Try to find a satisfactory middle that will work for you long term.

Because of this I chose the first job that came into my path which was a job in an ambulatory care setting. Here I work mostly educating patients on their health and medications. The place I work however is very hostile, a lot of people that do not want to work, surf the internet, scream when they're angry no matter if there is patients or not, including at patients or administrators. Very angry people.

Your managers sound like idiots. I have NEVER worked anywhere where that kind of behavior would be tolerated. A strong manager would nip that in the bud so fast, no one would ever consider behaving in that manner again.

What is wrong with people?!?!?!?!

Specializes in Stepdown . Telemetry.

That is a tough spot...you have weekends and holidays with your family which you highly value.

Its just something to think about. We spend the majority of our adult lives at our place so of work. If that place makes you miserable it could wear on you over time in ways that are not even obvious at first, which inevitably can spill over into your home life.

I would stay for now but keep looking because the burnout hits hard. I have grappled with this myself. Good luck!

I'd stay now and start looking for something else. You shouldn't stay at a job that makes you MISERABLE. Now keep in mind that it's unlikely you will ever find a perfect job. There will always be something you don't love.

That also means don't take the first job offer given to you if it doesn't feel right. Leaving one hot mess for another isn't a good solution.

Personally, the schedule alone would make it worth it to me to stay. If you leave that behind you will see the difference and- no matter how much you may like the job- it will not make up for the hassle of having to schedule your life around work instead of work around your life.

Specializes in Psych and AmbCare.

honestly, that's what I was thinking too. And in the case I decide to have children this schedule would be a god-send. And with my husbands new job working nights, having two days off together 100% instead of maybe a day off for half the day would be best.

Specializes in Psych and AmbCare.

its not that it makes me miserable, its annoying and mean, but I don't hate it, because after 8 hours I have my family. its just thinking about what happens in the worst case scenario if this place is shut down, and I only have ambulatory clinic experience.

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