Help...back from Iraq and miserable

[kmftiko]

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:

[imenid37]

Thanks for your service. I wish you all the best. It seems as though you have all of the new grad stress, the stress of having had a gap before starting nursing post-graduation, AND the HUGE stress of your military service. That is very daunting. I hope you do get help and counseling.I wish you sucess in nursing. I am sure you worked very hard in school. You need a little something for you first, before you can possibly feel like caring for someone else. Please take care of you first. Once you have found a normal, then hopefully all of the other things will fall into place. I have known a handful of new grads who work in places like the health dept. or even physician's offices. (I know the pay isn't that great). Maybe the regular schedule would suit you better right now. One thing a person w/ a lot of stress does't need is a lousy sleeping schedule. If you feel down, doing 12 hour nights or rotating nights and days can be a killer. Good luck!

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

Just wanted to say thank you for your service to our country too. When my husband was discharged from the army in 74 he had a hard time getting back in sync too. But he finally worked it all out. Experiences like you have had though do change you forever, but can be very positive. Some of our friends actually went back into the military because they had a hard time adjusting to civilian life, and did very well.

You might consider ER nursing. I actually find it less stressful than floor nursing. Your docs are right there with you and you are never really alone as when a difficult case comes in you have lots of help stabilizing them. Also a great place to see, learn and do more. Also get to work with many different age groups and walks of life.

Take care of yourself first and God Bless