Help...back from Iraq and miserable

GoldenFire5 · Dec 6, 2006

I just wanted to say welcome home and that I wish you well in this time of transition.

subee, MSN, CRNA · Dec 6, 2006

I completely agree with all of you. I am in a different situation. I was deployed to Iraq and came back to start up my nursing career to finally get some experience ( i was deployed right after graduating from school). I have reached burnout and have only been a nurse for a few months. I just do no want to do it. I do not enjoy bedside nursing at all. I like being able to help people, but not at the expense of myself. I have come back home to freedom to only find that I am giving up my life yet again...and this time it is for nursing. I know that I should work for a year in nursing to at least get more experience so that I can find that better job. You can't find your niche in nursing if you do not have any experience to offer...it's a catch 22. If I do decide to just take a break from nursing all together, than I will probably not be able to come back into nursing because the window has closed. I would not be considered as a new grad, and my options would not be promising at all. I am just down and out....what to do Thanks for listening everyone...I have so much respect for all of you nurses
that have stuck with it! How did you did it I don't know!:uhoh21:

"I am giving up my life again" says a lot. Please, please, please - get some counseling. Being "down and out" may have a lot more to do with depression or PTSD than with your job. You fought in a war, came home and went right into a very stressful environment at home. Try to hold out longer at work until you're what the issue really is. If you find you don't like bedside nursing after all then, at least, your application to another position won't be so wobbly after quitting a hospital so quickly. Please keep in touch. There's no reason for you to suffer like this. Good luck to you and thank you for your service.

Kashia, ASN, LVN · Dec 6, 2006

I think it use to be ( we are maybe still told) we must have 1 yr med surg experience in order to solidify our nuring but I see other situations with more frequency...like sometimes nurses go directly into a field or position they enjoy doing rather than bedside nursing. And do not believe if you do not get into something now you never will be able to.

....just keep your lic current!

There is as much possible to do as you believe.

Trauma Columnist · Dec 6, 2006

Please contact your nearest VA and get some assessment. Many of the returning vets are having a hard time - very understandable too. There is only so much of YOU to go around. Please take care of yourself.

huladancer, ADN, BSN, MSN · Dec 6, 2006

Hi kmftiko,

I'm a new nurse myself. I haven't even started working yet (I start in Feb), but I found this article on line and hope it can help you figure things out.

NurseWeek News

There are many things that can contribute to burnout: unsupportive work environment, lack of support system (at work and outside work), inability to monitor stress, etc. I think you need to figure out what exactly is contributing to your burnout. If it's the work environment, then it may be necessary to find another place where you feel supported. If personal life is affecting you at work, the you have to take the time to reduce those stresses. Best of luck to you.

I'm glad to hear you're back from Iraq. I have a friend who is there right now and I know it's not easy leaving your family, friends, and home. I truly hope you find some tranquility. Thank you for all the sacrifices you've made.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Dec 6, 2006

First, thanks so much for your service. Anyone who has served honorable gets my utmost respect and deepest thanks.

I agree with trauma who says you need to get some help. While not having the same root cause, I have dealt with mental health issues in myself and it is hell. I sincerely hope that you are able to get some help. I also sincerely hope you find your niche, whether it be nursing or elsewhere. But please do not give up.

As you may be able to tell, I am a big Lord of the Rings fan. One of my favorite scenes in one of the movies is when a young boy comes to Aragorn in the midst of very dire circumstances and says, "The men say there is no hope." He replies, "Haleth, son of Hama, there is always hope." I believe that and hope you do too.

Lacie, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2006

As a vet myself, Welcome home first thing!!! You have my sincere respect and deserve a standing ovation also. I would suggest definitely contact the VA clinic or hospital closest to you. If anything at least get in thier system as if you dont need it now and should later it can take a long time. If you were regular military (not reservist or national guard) you are entitled to full medical care through the va system the rest of your life as long as you have an honorable discharge. This can be handy if there is a time you are ever without health insurance during unemployment or anyother reason. This can also help if you ever need catastrophic help that your own insurance wont cover or lacks sufficent coverage. I know as I have had to use it myself. Once you are in the system then you can also apply and have option to vocational counseling/assistance. Use it!!! Be sure you find out what benefits are alloted for you as they usually dont tell you everything you can use if needed. I didnt know I could use the VA health system for years. If you need meds it's only an $8.00 co-pay and if service connected it's zero dollars. If you so much as had a bad knee or ear problems due to noise get it claimed now. Whether you use it or not as done the road you may find you have issues from your stay in Iraq that you didnt have show immediately. It took years for my knee probs to really surface but they did and now three surgeries later the VA has taken great care to avoid a fourth. Just getting out is hard enough to re-adjust to civilian life much less coming back from a war zone. Please I cant reiterate enough get registered in the system now if you can for later. The vocational counselors will help also with what ever you need in regards to seeking new employment and what direction to head in. Again Welcome home and thank you so much for the sacrifice you have given and probably continue to give.

kmftiko · Dec 6, 2006

Thank you all so much for your advice...I can't tell you how appreciative I am. I will be getting some counseling and see what comes from that. It is weird, I thought that I could just swing back into things once I got home, but the world has moved on without me including my nursing classmates. I just want to get a low-stress, 9-5 (I am tired of not having a normal schedule) job right now and work on setting some roots first before I go into nursing. I don't have enough right now to give back to my patients....and their safety is number one! I just pray that it won't be too difficult to come back with such a large gap from being out of school and no experience. Anyways, thank you all again and bravo to nurses!!!!! What would this world be like without us!

chadash · Dec 6, 2006

There is so much that is stressful about making your transition back to non military life. It is similar to the stress of going to Iraq in the first place. The endless of adjustments...who could anticipate that you would experience that coming home? You have been giving yourselves for others, and it makes sense you need some time to rejuvinate.

Thank you!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2006

Thank you for serving our country. :)

muffie, RN · Dec 6, 2006

:bowingpur :bow: :thankya: