Help! Am I the only nurse on the planet who doesn't love LDRP?

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I guess I am burned out, but even after vacations I feel this way. I work in a community hospital with about 150-200 deliveries per month. I've been there about 5 years and just feel like I need a change. I had left for 4 months for the OR in the same hospital, but that didn't work out. I don't think there's anywhere else I would go in the hospital, so I feel like I'm stuck unless I leave altogether. There are certain aspects I love, but overall I feel like it's draining me. I'm afraid I may regret leaving the hospital due to good pay and benefits, seniority, comfort zone, etc. I would really love to try case management and expand beyond the bedside. Any thoughts would be welcome :)

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Specializes in Public Health, L&D, NICU.

I just left over a decade of L&D for public health, and I love it. My former coworkers tell me I look like a different person. Are you doing LDRP or just L&D? If I had to do the "P" part I'd have gone nuts long ago. I'd rather dig my eyes out with a melon baller than take care of postpartum patients.

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I just left over a decade of L&D for public health, and I love it. My former coworkers tell me I look like a different person. Are you doing LDRP or just L&D? If I had to do the "P" part I'd have gone nuts long ago. I'd rather dig my eyes out with a melon baller than take care of postpartum patients.

I'm just the opposite. I wanted L&D, but there were only postpartum openings when I started my current job. Took the job thinking that I'd at least have a foot in the door at the hospital and would migrate when an L&D job opened up. Didn't take long before I decided postpartum was where I belonged. I like the teaching and getting to know the families during noc shift when there isn't so much traffic on the unit.

As for you, babynurse73, maybe you could talk to a recruiter or see if any of the community colleges or universities around you offer vocational counseling. Not that you need a new career, but it sounds like you might need some assistance in identifying just what it is you're looking for in a job change.

You can also make a list of the things you like and are good at in connection with LDRP and the parts that annoy or depress you. Until you can pinpoint these aspects, you won't know what to pursue.

Take a look at in-house job postings to see if anything makes your eyes light up. Talk to other nurses about their jobs and ask them what floats their boat.

I hope you can find a position that will renew your enthusiasm.

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Thank you monkeybug and rn/writer! I appreciate your responses. I am still pondering what I would like to do and have applied at a couple of home health agencies. One offered me a job, but I declined because of pay decrease and the location (too far away). The other job excites me but the company had basically offered the job, then called back and said "the company is going through major changes, we want to hire you but it's out of my hands, I will call you when I something changes." I know from an insider that they are going through licensing stuff...but I am concerned about working for a company that may be having problems. It is a case management position in an upscale assisted living facility. It is about 7 miles from my house, so it would be a home health position without the driving! So, I am waiting to hear something. I am also looking for home health positions closer to home. I think the one on one is better suited to me. In labor and delivery...and hospital-wide for that matter....I feel like I'm on stage. Family members watching everything, asking a million questions while I'm trying to talk to the pt. and do my work...it just takes so much out of me, especially on days when I'm not feeling "on". I'm always there for the pt, however...

Anyway, thank you again for your advice and responses!!

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I guess I am burned out, but even after vacations I feel this way. I work in a community hospital with about 150-200 deliveries per month. I've been there about 5 years and just feel like I need a change. I had left for 4 months for the OR in the same hospital, but that didn't work out. I don't think there's anywhere else I would go in the hospital, so I feel like I'm stuck unless I leave altogether. There are certain aspects I love, but overall I feel like it's draining me. I'm afraid I may regret leaving the hospital due to good pay and benefits, seniority, comfort zone, etc. I would really love to try case management and expand beyond the bedside. Any thoughts would be welcome :)

Well the question is... With the feeling of being drained do you still truly love what you do every day? And if you don't plus you feel drained do you think your providing the best possible patient care? That's the most important thing besides the "perks". For me personally if my heart is not in it I don't think I can provide the best care. And if I can't provide the best care, it's time for me to move around to some place I can and allow another nurse who can provide that care have the opportunity at that position. But that's just me. Think of why you became a nurse

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