I am in my first year of nursing. Finished nursing school under not so ideal conditions (divorced my ex-drug addict husband, moved twice, all while raising my under 3 year old son), passes the NCLEX and got a job on a PCU/Adult Med-Surg floor in a brand-spankin new unit that was not quite finished. I thought this is awesome...no experience and they hire me for a critical care type job in a brand new facility , I can go anywhere after this!
The residency was so unorganized and we never knew what our schedule was going to be...so started of on the wrong foot. AND all of us hired had no experience. So the blind leading the blind. The new unit opens and its filled with agency staff and all us newbies...No one knows where anything is, we all did the majority of our residency on another floor, so no commoradity and no preceptors to guide us. Now I know everyone says the first year of nursing is the hardest...BUT I don't find my actual job hard, I feel confident in what I'm doing and always get my work done efficiently (even in an unorganized unit) and patients and their families seem to enjoy me...but I don't enjoy them like I thought I would. (I promise I'm not an a-hole)
I worked as a server/bartender for 10+ years and thought my experience would only help me in nursing (multitasking, keeping my cool when things get hectic, awesome customer service skills, etc.), but I'm feeling like those 'skills' have led me to be already burnt out of beside nursing. I was so burnt out of restaurant work and thought nursing would be a great transition and pays more, with benefits...but the hours are even longer (stuck on 12's), still have to work holidays and weekends and patients are customers...and they suck the life out of you.
I'm currently looking into pursuing my Bachelors of Nursing and maybe even informatics to get away from the bedside, but what can I do in the meantime? I've been sick already 3 times and missed a ton of work because of it, thinking my immune system is shot because of stress...have tried talking to management but they keep blowing smoke up my bum and tell me my unit will get better and I'm appreciated as a staff member there. But nothing to keep me around...like can I work less hours or 8's instead of 12's so I don't have to put my child in daycare for 13+ hours a day....nothing to make me want to stay. Already have lost 3 former residents due to better job offers and the lack of organization on the unit.
Any suggestions on what I can do in the meantime while finishing up my BS? I have to work because I'm a single mom, but feel so burnt out with bedside care and can't bare to 'waste' all my nursing school hard work to go back to serving while I finish school.
Specializes in FNP- BC, Med-Tele, PCU, Home Health Case Manager.
I posted on the general nursing db but this looks more like the place I need to be posting.
A little back story...
I've been with my company and new unit since Dec. It's my first RN job out of school so I have attributed a lot of crap to the 'first year' that everyone talks about but I feel like it's more than this. I don't enjoy nursing anymore. I don't like the floor I'm on (PCU but really M/S Tele), my manager (who've I've reached out to) doesn't help just tells us all what we want to hear and sends us on our way and I don't like patient care. I want to go back to school to get my Bachelors in something so I can get out of bedside nursing but I can't fathom starting school with how unhappy I am at my job.
I do have a lot of other outside stresses such as I'm a single mom to a 3 year old and get zero help from his dad...but there are plenty of single moms out there who do just fine as nurses and I have a great support system. I have been sick a lot and have a condition that is exacerbated by stress (my job) so I have missed a lot of work. It is not like me to be in such crappy standing with management/HR because of my lack of attendance but have had so much going on. Do I take a hiatus from nursing and go back to bartending/serving while I work on my Bachelors? Or just try to find another job in the field and pray I qualify for a non-bedside job? I just really don't like nursing anymore and wondering why I even got into it anymore.
I understand. Im almost a year into my first job at the hospital. Im a float so its super overwhelming too cause i never know where ill end up everytime I come in for work. There are also other options if you dont like bedside nursing. I also have a part time working as a home health nurse. Its pretty easy and less stressful than the hospital job. plus times are flexible and you get to make your own schedule. It would leave you time to be with your family
Specializes in FNP- BC, Med-Tele, PCU, Home Health Case Manager.
So I think I found my way out of the current crappy situation I am in and a way to step away from the bedside...I have been tentatively offered a position working for a company that sells pulmonary supplies...they specialize in home o2, neb meds/txs and cpap/bipap machines. The position will be setting up accounts with hospitals, assisted living, snfs etc and educating patients how to use their equipment at home and monitoring correct usage so we are properly reimbursed by insurance. Its M-F, no weekends or holidays and 8-5...exactly what I've been looking for and no direct patient care. I enjoy the education side to nursing so I think this job would be a great fit and also combines my sales background with it. Anyone else leave the bedside for a similar type of position? Thanks!
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
Congratulations on your new position! I was originally going to suggest that you hang in a bit longer with your current job; I thought it was a matter of getting over the one year hump. Then you subsequently posted that things were worse and you could see the toll it was taking on your health and your child. At that point I was going to tell you to start seriously looking for the exit, wherever you could find it. Nothing is worth your health and your child's well-being.
So I'm very glad you've found something like this. I've never worked in that kind of position, but it sounds exciting and I bet you'll be great at it. If it doesn't pan out, you'll move on to something that does. I have no doubt of that. You obviously have a track record of handling difficult challenges and landing on your feet. Your little boy is lucky to have such a strong and resilient mother. Best wishes to you both!
Specializes in FNP- BC, Med-Tele, PCU, Home Health Case Manager.
Congratulations on your new position! I was originally going to suggest that you hang in a bit longer with your current job; I thought it was a matter of getting over the one year hump. Then you subsequently posted that things were worse and you could see the toll it was taking on your health and your child. At that point I was going to tell you to start seriously looking for the exit, wherever you could find it. Nothing is worth your health and your child's well-being.
So I'm very glad you've found something like this. I've never worked in that kind of position, but it sounds exciting and I bet you'll be great at it. If it doesn't pan out, you'll move on to something that does. I have no doubt of that. You obviously have a track record of handling difficult challenges and landing on your feet. Your little boy is lucky to have such a strong and resilient mother. Best wishes to you both!
Thank you and I have not committed to the position yet, still mulling it over. My manager @ my hospital just announced that she has granted me 8 hr day shifts in accommodation for the daycare needs I have and she wants to keep me on there. I think I owe it to her to stick around to at least fulfill my contract...I also recently found out if I leave before my contract is up (02/2015), I will have to pay a fee and be basically blacklisted from the company and non-rehireable at the company. This worries me...as what if I do not enjoy the sales position I was offered and then I'm limited on places to work and will not have my 'first year under my belt'. I worked a couple 8 hr shifts this week to give it a try and its SOO much better...I'm off in time to pick my son up from daycare...make dinner and spend time with him and my bf in the evening and the day flies by. I already feel happier...now granted I'll be @ the hospital 1-2 more days a week than I was working 12's...I will no longer be gone 14+ hours a day and keep my sanity. So stick it out out in my hospital until my contract is up or run away? Lol I instantly feel better on 8's and getting off at 330pm is AWESOME (if I took the sales position too...I may not be home til 630/7pm and then im in the same boat I was when I was working 12's). Any advice is greatly appreciated :)
Specializes in FNP- BC, Med-Tele, PCU, Home Health Case Manager.
I am staying to finish out my contract, I don't wanna get blacklisted from my company and I need a good solid year of RN experience on my résumé to go anywhere else is nursing. I switched to 8 hr shifts and still a 0.9 and its been awful. At first I thought it was better being home in the evening but I'm even more tired and spend less quality time with my son...and I'm paying so much more in daycare. :/ so I talked with my parents and theyre willing to help out on the days I'd work if I switch back to 12's. So hopefully its better...I was just offered a 0.75 12 hr day shift on my unit...so I think I'm going to take it. I need more days off with my son...he deserves my time and energy. Any thoughts?
Specializes in FNP- BC, Med-Tele, PCU, Home Health Case Manager.
I am staying to finish out my contract, I don't wanna get blacklisted from my company and I need a good solid year of RN experience on my résumé to go anywhere else is nursing. I switched to 8 hr shifts and still a 0.9 and its been awful. At first I thought it was better being home in the evening but I'm even more tired and spend less quality time with my son...and I'm paying so much more in daycare. :/ so I talked with my parents and theyre willing to help out on the days I'd work if I switch back to 12's. So hopefully its better...I was just offered a 0.75 12 hr day shift on my unit...so I think I'm going to take it. I need more days off with my son...he deserves my time and energy. Any thoughts?
Specializes in FNP- BC, Med-Tele, PCU, Home Health Case Manager.
Weird that posted twice! It will be easy in the sense that my parents already offered their help....and I applied for a 12 hr day shift on my unit and my manager said today I got it. Not sure what my schedule will be but its a 0.75 & I can always pick up more (they call me every fsy I'm off for help) the week I only work 2-12's. 12 hr days are so long, but right now I have such a crappy 8 hr sched (M-Th, off Fri, work Sat-Mon, off Tues, work Wed & Thou, off Fri-Sun, repeat.....I have barely any time off with my son.
nurse.j., ASN, BSN, MSN
96 Posts
I posted on the general nursing db but this looks more like the place I need to be posting.
A little back story...
I've been with my company and new unit since Dec. It's my first RN job out of school so I have attributed a lot of crap to the 'first year' that everyone talks about but I feel like it's more than this. I don't enjoy nursing anymore. I don't like the floor I'm on (PCU but really M/S Tele), my manager (who've I've reached out to) doesn't help just tells us all what we want to hear and sends us on our way and I don't like patient care. I want to go back to school to get my Bachelors in something so I can get out of bedside nursing but I can't fathom starting school with how unhappy I am at my job.
I do have a lot of other outside stresses such as I'm a single mom to a 3 year old and get zero help from his dad...but there are plenty of single moms out there who do just fine as nurses and I have a great support system. I have been sick a lot and have a condition that is exacerbated by stress (my job) so I have missed a lot of work. It is not like me to be in such crappy standing with management/HR because of my lack of attendance but have had so much going on. Do I take a hiatus from nursing and go back to bartending/serving while I work on my Bachelors? Or just try to find another job in the field and pray I qualify for a non-bedside job? I just really don't like nursing anymore and wondering why I even got into it anymore.