Life outside of hospital nursing?

[Genista]

Another night from Hades! Argh! I have HAD it with acute care hospital nursing. Tonight I had a full patient assignment/also Lead RN. No breaks for anyone. No unit secretary after the 1st 2 hours. Phone ringing off the hook for hours. I'm supposed to "help" my peers, being the lead & all, as well as put in orders/note orders & be aware of all goings on. But I have a full assignment too! It's an impossible standard. Families were throwing fits & needing 1:1 nursing care. I'm so sick of it!

I feel like I am NOT making a difference. I feel like a cog in a wheel, nothing more. If it weren't for the money, I'd quit nursing in a heartbeat.

Don't get me wrong, I still like my patients. I am just sick of working like a dog every darned day! I'm sick of working my a$$ off every damn night & feeling guilty b/c I can't live up to some damn unrealistic standard.

It's always "something" in the hospital. I can count on one hand, the number of "good" shifts I've had.

If I could get into a less stressful area, what would it be?

I am combing the want ads weekly. I can take a pay cut, but I still have a family to support & bills to pay. I'm going to be attending full time school next semester, so I need a job that pays 60% of my current wage. I am open to suggestions.

I am wondering about private duty nursing? Anyone tried that? I would love to be able to give REAL care, instead of the fly by the seat of your pants type in the hospital.

My hubby is unemployed, so I HAVE to work to pay our bills.

I can't afford to work for a measly $10/hr in Northern California. I have a BS in Nursing, and would be seeking part time employment.

Any ideas? Any suggestions? I am beginning to HATE hospitals and how they always screw the nurses. I can hardly wait to get out of this thankless environment.

[lemRN]

i've been a nurse since '02. i graduated LPN in december of '01 and graduated RN school in may of '05. i don't even know why i went back!!!! i am so sick of nursing. the only reason i'm still in it right now is because of the MONEY!!! i'm a traveling nurse and it pays GREAT!!!! other than that, i hate it. i'm looking for a career change. I'm currently working in the hospital right now, and i desperately want to get out!!!! i know that i'm not gonna make as much as money as i do now doing something else, but i need to get away from the hospital. if anyone have any suggestions, i'm open to them. i've also tried LTAC and i hated that also. it's just like another hospital!!! that's what i'm trying to get away from.

[ORSmurf]

Try an outpatient surgery center. You could work OR, pre-op or PACU. The pace is still fast, but the patients are much more routine and are healthy. No one stays overnight, you don't have to work nights, weekends or holidays. I was pretty nervous leaving the security, $$$, and benefits of the hospital, but it was the best thing I could have done. I love it!

[lemRN]

hi, what type of research do you do and how did you get into it? i'm a RN and i'm a traveler. i'm working in a hospital right now and ABSOLUTELY HATE IT!!!! i'm trying to get away from the hospital scene or floor nursing.