Help! I hate my job!

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been a RN for almost a year now. Work on a fast paced telemetry step down unit. I work (3) 7p-7a shifts a week, but also go to school (RN-BSN program). I used to love my job, but for the last few months I have hated it. I dread going in. I call my mom everyday in the parking lot and whine about how much I do not want to go in. I think it is mostly because of the scheduling and because the weather is starting to become beautiful in my area and the midnight shifts are causing some depression.

I am looking for another job. I almost want to just put a two week notice in before I have even found a new job. I am so sick of it. Guess I just needed to vent about it.

Thanks for reading:)

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Well don't do that! Find you a new job first. Plenty of jobs out there. Night shift is not for everyone and causes a lot of depression for a lot of people. No day shift jobs available at the place where you are already working, I take it?

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

Dittos--dont give notice before you find a new job, or else you may find your self in desperation mode and take the 1st offer you get...The great thing about nursing is all the opportunities, take your time--you will find it.

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I have been a RN for almost a year now. Work on a fast paced telemetry step down unit. I work (3) 7p-7a shifts a week, but also go to school (RN-BSN program). I used to love my job, but for the last few months I have hated it. I dread going in. I call my mom everyday in the parking lot and whine about how much I do not want to go in. I think it is mostly because of the scheduling and because the weather is starting to become beautiful in my area and the midnight shifts are causing some depression.

I am looking for another job. I almost want to just put a two week notice in before I have even found a new job. I am so sick of it. Guess I just needed to vent about it.

Thanks for reading:)

so is this something that might be aided by requesting a transfer to days (provided of course you get moved to days?

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Maybe you can switch to another shift or are there any positions in your facility that you're qualified to transfer to? I suggest don't quit your job until you find a new one. I understand how you feel. I used to do (5) 8-hour shifts weekly, Mon-Fri. I was working almost all holidays and I got so tired of it. Now I only do (3) 8-hour shifts and volunteer to pick up more hours as I wished and also depending on the need. I feel better and no longer rant on the phone at the parking lot before my shift starts. Good luck!

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Specializes in behavioral health.

I relate to this on an extreme level. Night shift has caused not only physical illness, but emotional problems as well. The weather now sucks where i'm at, but i was depressed about missing beautiful daylight as well.. and would force myself to take walks before work. and I would try and wake up a bit earlier on my days off to take walks and ride my bike.

Does your unit have any day positions available? Would you be willing to switch units in the hospital? Would you be willing to be a days float nurse?

My recent post

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/can-t-do-nightshift-anymore-verge-having-nervous-breakdown-307517.html

includes many peoples opinions on nightshift.

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Word of warning - it isn't going to get much better. Get out of nursing now! Go do something where you are not burned out like this. It only gets worse...you tried it, it didn't work out. Nursing is NOT what it used to be. Take some time off and find a different direction.

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Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.
Word of warning - it isn't going to get much better. Get out of nursing now! Go do something where you are not burned out like this. It only gets worse...you tried it, it didn't work out. Nursing is NOT what it used to be. Take some time off and find a different direction.

I think it would be a little extreme to up and leave the profession all together. Apparently, not everyone here has the highest regards for nursing, but I think that nursing is a great career with plenty of opportunities and sometimes people have to look for their niche. Maybe northwestwind never found hers, but I think its still early in the game for you. You've only been a nurse for a year. Think about what other specialties interested you while you were doing clinical rotations; its never too late to specialize in something else. Telemetry is a great training ground but maybe its time for something new. Also, like everyone else mentioned, night shifts can be the pits. Maybe a simple change to day shift will do you a world of good. I hope you find your happy place :)

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Specializes in Geriatric, Pediatric.

Don't give up. There are plenty different areas that you can work as a nurse. It seems that some nurses here are very bitter people. I am not cut out for night shift either, so I found a job working days in a peds office. You don't have to be a hospital nurse to be a "real nurse". You didn't go to school and work so hard to be miserable. Money is not everything. Happiness is more important. Keep your head up!

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I just saw this post and I was wondering if you ever found something that made you happy and not hate your job so much. I am currently in the same situation as you were when you posted this. I have been a nurse for about a year and am working nights and I dread going in each day. Lately I have been feeling a little depressed. I asked for a day position and I was told they would see what they can do, but I'm not sure that I will be able to switch...I may have to look for something else. Anyways I was wondering if the switch to days or a different job was able to help you enjoy your career.

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Specializes in Med/surg.

I, too didn't love my job. In the beginning, I did. I thought it was challenging and fun. I was hard on myself but I used available resources and stuck it out until I felt more confident and competent jn the workplace. Then with a death in the family, birth of a third child, and noc shift depression, it gradually but steadily all fell apart. Or I fell apart. I dreaded going in so much that I couldn't even sleep the day before while I was off just anticipating the pain of going in the next night. It affected me so negatively that my husband and children suffered. I started calling in sick so frequently because I could make myself go in. That guilt made me feel even worse. I took several months off work to seek tx for major depression and then with support of my husband decided I belonged at home to raise my kids. I felt so much relief when I finally resigned. It's been 2 years now and I feel the profession tugging at me to give it another try. It may not have been the right time in my life back then but I'm glad I gave it my best shot and I'm grateful to have my nursing license. I'm considering taking a refresher course to see how it makes me feel. I'm hoping the reasons I chose this profession in the first place will come rushing back and I can return to practice nursing once again. Hopefully, as my lifelong career.

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Specializes in Med/surg.

I, too didn't love my job. In the beginning, I did. I thought it was challenging and fun. I was hard on myself but I used available resources and stuck it out until I felt more confident and competent jn the workplace. Then with a death in the family, birth of a third child, and noc shift depression, it gradually but steadily all fell apart. Or I fell apart. I dreaded going in so much that I couldn't even sleep the day before while I was off just anticipating the pain of going in the next night. It affected me so negatively that my husband and children suffered. I started calling in sick so frequently because I couldn't make myself go in. That guilt made me feel even worse. I took several months off work to seek tx for major depression and then with support of my husband decided I belonged at home to raise my kids. I felt so much relief when I finally resigned. It's been 2 years now and I feel the profession tugging at me to give it another try. It may not have been the right time in my life back then but I'm glad I gave it my best shot and I'm grateful to have my nursing license. I'm considering taking a refresher course to see how it makes me feel. I'm hoping the reasons I chose this profession in the first place will come rushing back and I can return to practice nursing once again. Hopefully, as my lifelong career.

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