Help! I need career advice STAT!

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Okay. *sigh* Where do I start? Let's try, the beginning. I started nursing (when I passed boards) in September of 2010 but was a nurse extern and graduate nurse before then. I have not enjoyed nursing since I walked on my first med-surg floor. My first job was at the County hospital in my hometown and I dealt some hazing because I was a very brand new nurse at the time. I was even hazed by my RN Team Leader. I thought I could put up with a little hazing but after the fear that I might lose my license and walking on eggshells daily, I resigned that job after only 8 months of being employed there.

Next, I worked drug and alcohol detox, which I loved! I always had this fear, though, that I would lose all of my nursing skills (that I had just picked up) if I stayed there full-time. I worked there for a year and then went PRN to go back to med-surg. I hated med-surg once again at the next facility that I started at.

Then I relocated from TN to GA. This is where I am currently. My current dilemma is. Now I have no idea what I want to do with my career. I don't want to go back to school yet because I feel that I am not in the specialty that I enjoy.

I have always wanted to be in Women's services but it seems almost impossible to do get a job on a Labor and Delivery unit. How do people get the jobs if all of them "REQUIRE 1-3 years of experience" in that particular specialty? I am starting to wish that I went to school for something else. Is this normal?

I have been floor nurse for almost 2 years and I am already tired of being a floor nurse. I just started a job after relocating to GA in orthopaedics/surgical services but I'm not happy here either. I am very good at what I do, so I've been told, but I just do not enjoy it. I know I sound like a confused little child, but I need help!! I have thought about doing urgent care, women's services, going back to psychiatric nursing, nursing for an insurance company and school nursing. If there is anyone else who has had this same confusing problem, any advice will be appreciated.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

I am in the same boat as you. My first job was a Med/Surg/Ortho floor. It was a smaller hospital, 99 beds. I was only there for three months. Now, I work for a larger hospital system, Med/Surg. We have 32 beds on the floor. I like the co-workers and my charge a lot! They provide support and truly are a great group to work with. The floor is busy, but I don’t mind. However, I do not like the work. I run all day to push PRN’s and scheduled meds. I don’t find it intellectually stimulating. I also teach which I find stimulating as I present new literature to the class and we engage in thought-provoking discussions. However, I don’t want to completely leave bedside as I want to stay abreast upon my skills.

I was accepted into a PhD program, but backed out. After more consideration, I did not think we were a good match. So, I am researching more programs. I like patient education and providing preventative care. I have considered public health, but I would not be able to teach as my schedule would conflict with the college. I have even considered volunteering at a free clinic. Still, I don’t know which way to go. I would be interested in seeing what others have to say.

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That is very interesting. Hopefully some will comment to provide more insight about the public health nursing because that sounds very intriguing. How long have you been at your second med-surg job? And how did you start teaching? Are you BSN or MSN? I've always thought that you would have to have a MSN in order to teach. I believe that I could teach at a LPN school. Maybe not. Some info about this would be helpful as well. Glad to know that I have someone out there who is experiencing the same thing as me. I do hope that we find something very soon that satisfies us both intellectually. Thanks for posting.

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I'm in the same place too! Been working in Med Surg for the past 8months but I want out. But I have no clue what kind of nursing I want to do, just as long as it's not Med-Surg

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That's exactly where I am right now. As long as it's not Med-Surg, I feel like I'll do it. It's sad but true.

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