Had my epiphany...found the dream, now I just want to live it.

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Hi All:

So I'm a second degree student currently living in the Boston, MA area. I'm going to join in the new graduate chorus; "what nursing shortage?!?". I want to add to that, however. I'll cop to a few things before I get started...

First and foremost - I have NO experience in the field. I won't pretend to. I don't know everything. Hell, I don't really know anything aside from what they teach you within the scope of a 15 month accelerated program.

Here's my gripe: I would KILL (well, not kill - but definitely maim) for a job, any job as an RN. I had my epiphany. I was in the middle of giving a shower to a 400lb black schizophrenic woman who was having a conversation with at least three people (in her head) and me and it struck me... I LOVE THIS!!!! This is what I was meant to do. This is what I love to do. This is what I should have been doing all along. Why are so many nurses still working as RNs if they hate their jobs so much?!! It doesn't make any sense. I don't want any bull about "economic downturn" or any of the other buzzwords that mean crappy economy. If you don't love what you do, and what you do is nursing, you have no business doing it.

Think about the golden rule... would YOU want someone taking care of you that would just as soon spit on you as flush your IV line? Do you want to be in an extremely vulnerable position and relying on some grouchy douchebag to make sure you are not in pain, to keep the residents from killing you?

No, not all of the "old school" nurses are bad nurses. And not all of the "new school" nurses are good nurses. Everything is not black and white. It just seems that after years of patient care, getting crapped on by MDs, and whatever else... some of the love goes out of the job. And it's okay. But find something else to do with yourself, or at the very least... don't sacrifice patient care because you've fallen out of love with your profession.

Some of you may say - I don't get it. Hey, you're probably right. I've never worked as a nurse. I CAN'T GET A JOB! (yeah, I'm bitter too!) Others might say that it's the fault of the doctors, the other nurses on your floor, the patients, the system. But promise me something. Next time you start griping about your job and how much it sucks... just be reminded: there are a LOT of people that would kill to have the opportunity to do what you do, and the only person you can blame for your unhappiness is YOURSELF.

Oh, and one more thing... if you don't want your job anymore... can I have it?

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Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

love your passion.

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Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.

LOL

I loved your post because I felt the same. And the only thing I can tell you is bother those nurse managers. If you are still on the floor during clinicals start talking with the nurse manager. Start writting letters, be persistant. Just know that if you get a crappy non-hospital job, stick with it for a year. As soon as you get the experiance they will hire you all over the hospital, that is what my nurse recuiter told me.

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Specializes in -.

I hear you! I am trying to get into nursing school but I currently work in an OB/GYN office and have worked in dr's offices for the last 10yrs. I completely understand what you are saying. It is very frustrating to have to work with nurses that do not want to be here. They won't take phone calls, they won't get things done, they give the office staff a hard time when you are trying to help patients with a problem or scheduling issue. I am very aware of how stressful the job can be but there are some nurses that I just want to tell them to get a different job. I have had pt's with problems and been asking a nurse for help and basically they just ask me the question back, if I had the answer I wouldn't ask you!!! There are also some things that I am not qualified to tell a pt even though I have been doing this long enough to know the answers. I don't think that anyone would want a receptionist to give a pt their test results or advise them on meds.

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Specializes in LTC/ Rehab, Home Health...

I'm with you. I was an LPN for 15yrs. before becoming an RN. Been an RN for less than a year and my first job was home health.The office closed after 6 months and I've been looking for a job ever since. Everyone wants experience as an RN. LTC isn't even an option. I want to try something new. Becoming an RN was supposed to "open so many doors" well that isn't happening. I worked hard in school for this? Just give me a chance!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

Just know that if you get a crappy non-hospital job, stick with it for a year.

Not all non-hospital jobs are "crappy" you know, some of us love our non-hospital jobs. I'm sure you probably meant nothing by that statement, but it could be taken many ways. :twocents:

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Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.
Not all non-hospital jobs are "crappy" you know, some of us love our non-hospital jobs. I'm sure you probably meant nothing by that statement, but it could be taken many ways. :twocents:
oh thank you for pointing that out. I was thinking about my friend who hates her non-hospital job. I know that not all are bad. But I know that some just because its not a hospital job will hate it even though its a good job just because its not in the hospital. Then there are some that are truely crappy but hey you can go to the hospital and find a crappy job.
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Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

I live in Boston and graduated Magna Cum Laude with my BSN in May and still do not have a job, and not for lack of really, REALLY trying. I have had two positions rescinded on me due to budget constraints. I also know that my friend who is a nurse in Boston is working 6 days a week (12 hour shifts) at time-and-a-half because of staffing. They would rather pay their nurses overtime than to train new grads. It's sickening.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical.

that is a shame...you would think they would want to hire the lowest paid employees possible with all this economic downturn

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Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

It costs in excess of $30,000 to train a new grad...guess they'd rather pay the experienced nurses...

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Its going to be tight all over. HCMC in MPLS had zero openings a couple weeks ago. I do think that if you live in an area that is extremely tight that it might be a good idea to consider relocation to another area or other nontraditional first nursing jobs.

1. VA system tends to always be looking. (Organizationally they prefer BSN trained nurses.) (Look for nurse residency programs.)

2. Corrections/Psychiatric

3. Public Health

4. US Public Health Service

The reality is (IMO) that there are jobs out there but maybe not your first choice. I

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One, my previous degree was in psych... I won't mind! It's not a matter of not being able to find the job I WANT, it's a matter of being able to find ANY job at all. Most people are capable of finding SOMETHING - if you live in an area that isn't Boston. It's the most frustrating thing EVER to get high grades, do an insane amount of work, and have the drive and dedication to interview over and over and OVER and at every hospital... they're "hiring internally", meanwhile their nurses are working overtime to the point that they are endangering patient safety.

I'd be happy to work general med-surg or psych for a year. I wouldn't mind working for the VA. (Actually, the VA has some crazy benefits!) I would kill! I'm not just complaining because I can't get 12hr days in a major hospital in a specialty right out of school. I'm complaining because I legit canNOT find employment - and I'm still volunteering on floors where the nurses that DO have jobs don't care. This isn't some barely-scraping-by-with-a-c student here. I have a previous degree in biology and psychology. I graguated Magna the first and second times around. I got scholarships, awards, I volunteered. I did everything right... and still I'm getting passed over because nurses that should have retired 10 years ago are still working. They're still working because the economy sucks and they need the money. Their 401k's are worth nothing, and they want to retire. I get it - but..they have no desire to be there, don't care about the patients, and have no respect for each other. What the hell is so wrong?

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