Help, want to escape from nursing

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Hi,

I've been to this site many times but never posted so here it goes. I've been a RN for over 3 years now. My first job was on a hectic step down ICU unit in a trauma 1 facility. I got yelled at, spit on, hit, on a regular basis by some of our patients there. I would dread going to work, try to make excuses not to go, but still I went, because I needed the money, as we all do. I recently moved to a smaller facility in the ICU, thinking I would like it better. Before when it was the patients that I could not deal with, now it is the families, constantly questioning, second guessing, and they never seem to go home. I completely understand these are their loved ones, and they want to be there and I don't blame them. But still I cannot stand them. I feel trapped. I work nights and weekends, miss holidays with my family, to be with people who undervalue what nurses do and how much sacrifice is involved with our profession. I will be interviewing soon to move into another unit, cath lab, but deep down I know that it is pointless. I just need to get out. Working part-time, or PRN is not an option for me, I am the only person working right now, and my husband plans to go back to school in the fall, and we need to maintain a household and insurance benefits. So I guess my questions for you guys, is what now? I dread every day and regret my decision to become a nurse. I only have a ADN, so some of these management positions and such are out. Does anyone have any success stories to share? I know going back to school is necessary but now I don't trust myself since I made the mistake of going into nursing. I am afraid to screw up and choose another career that is not for me. Someone told me I should try to get my NP and maybe get away from the bedside. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Dialysis, Hospice.

Well, if you are going to be the breadwinner while your husband goes back to school, then it doesn't sound like doing a complete career change right now is an option. Have you thought about something like being a hospice case manager? You get autonomy, because you are out and about visiting patients in their homes, the stress of all of the technical stuff in ICU is gone, you are basically only providing comfort and emotional support at the end of life, and the patients and families are sooo appreciative of what you do. IOW, while it's still in nursing, it's about the opposite of what you are doing now.

IDK if you are interested in end of life care or have ever considered it, but when I worked hospice I loved it so much, because all of the issues that you mentioned that make you hate nursing were issues for me too, and doing home hospice took me away from all of that.

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Thanks for replying to my post. I really haven't thought about hospice but right now I am so fed up and frustrated I would be willing to look into various options. I just feel like I am spinning my wheels at these jobs I am so unhappy in. I will look into hospice. You are right about not being able to do a complete career change, I would just like to hate my job less. Possibly find some rewarding work where I don't feel pressured and irritated all the time. I will keep trying to make something work for now.

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Hi Crumbs,

I too feel trapped in nursing as well. I was in another chosen field but it was a very uneven and employment seemed random so I went into nursing thinking it would be more steady. Not so! I have been in the field 5 years and started hating it after 3--but the economy tanked and I really haven't been able to change jobs readily (out of nursing) or even out of the hospital department I am in. I have had a couple of traumatic encounters with bully-bosses that have made me want to run screaming for the hills but I can't. So I feel your pain and wanted to let you know there are many others out there that are in equally desperate circumstances, hang in there keep your head down and remember there is someone else out there who knows you are a good person in a bad circumstance!

Doglover

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wow you sound so much like me... i work in stepdown trauma unit at UAB and am miserable. i have six years of experience in nursing (3.5 at the trauma unit) and i can't seem to get out of there. i have applying for everything i even slightly want. i don't want to go back to a med/surg floor but i am beginning to think that is my only option. i don't have any advice but i wanted to let you know you aren't alone in wanting to escape from nursing. i really wish i had of gotten a different degree right now!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I wish I had the wisdom to provide some comforting words. It makes me very sad to know that you are all having such a rough time. I have been a nurse 'forever', and never thought of doing anything else - but I have seen a lot of evidence that simply doesn't work for some people. It has no bearing on how smart, dedicated, caring or what-not..... it just doesn't work out.

For most of us, it's very difficult to accept a 'hard truth' about ourselves. So I admire the OP and PP's that have acknowledged that their current situation has an impact upon patient/families and are seeking a change because they don't want that to happen. It is much more courageous to take action rather than simply whining, griping and taking it out on patients as you descend into irrevokable burnout.

I hope you all can find an alternative solution that would take advantage of your existing knowledge and skills. Have you considered pharmaceutical or medical equipment sales? What about case management or utilization/review? I will keep you in my thoughts, and fervently wish you all the best of luck.

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Medical transcription. Work at home. Paid on production, by the line, about 0.08 per 66 characters. You only make about $300-500/wk (cake hours and proofreading; some don't worry about quality and just blaze through and always made more than I did), but you have no gas/commute costs or childcare costs or scrubs or shoes....not for the breadwinner, but you could do it part-time and do nursing part-time until you're not the only one making money. You can also make more as you get experience by moving up into admin or editing or mgm, or you can have your own transcription company. Just a thought and I know it's old, but you may be ready to change now. Good luck to you and your family. btw, eventually you can support your family with a mgm position. I am now a single mom of 2 and before I went to nursing school made about $600/wk, not great but can survive and hang at home with the kids, cook, clean, relax in your jammies til noon....

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