How to like Nursing again

purplemania, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2003

Could it be you are clinically depressed and everything has a negative outlook just now? Please get that evaluated first. I, too, get bored easily. To counter that, I stay in school. Even taking one course helps me a lot. I also nourish my spiritual side by maintaining friends thru church. I left the bedside for staff dev. and that helped me immensely as the new nurses are fresh and invigorating. Good luck and God bless.

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 4, 2003

I agree w/purple. Get evaluate for clinical depression/anxiety. Then perhaps, consider advancing your education or taking a short hiatus and attending conferences/seminars to breathe "life" into your nursing career. I wish you well and send hugs to you. I am sorry you are in the place you are; it's tough. Hang in there.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2003

Golfing works for me, taking my frustrations and ill feelings out by beating the crap of some innocent little white ball

Too each their own

good luck to ya

thinking nice thought for you

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 4, 2003

rofl tom

Cheyenne RN,BSHS · Jun 4, 2003

I agree with the other posters that it sounds like nursing burn out which has lead to depression. That happens in nursing when things become excessively frustrating and you have not set aside sufficient time for yourself.

When I feel burned out I try to take time to evaluate what is going on in my own life and then try something that is new and challenging to my skills and education level.

It renews my vision and brings the "newness" back into my nusing with a fresh outlook about our profession.

Good luck.

Take care.

Disablednurse · Jun 4, 2003

Are you able to take a few weeks off from work after you see a doctor about possible depression? Sounds like you need to get away from it for a while if you can.

txsugarlvn · Jun 4, 2003

:)

TLJRN2, I went through the same thing you are going through right now. I was not clinically depressed or anything like that. I just found that I hated going to work and I was so tired of dealing with patients, etc. I knew that when I got to the point where I lost alot of my compassion, the time had come for me to step away. I am not an RN. I'm an LVN and have been one for about 8 and 1/2 years. I made a jump out of nursing and into the insurance field. It took a huge leap of faith for me to do it and I felt so guilty for leaving nursing. I too am a good nurse. I loved my residents and patients so when I could no longer enjoy caring for them and lost interest in my work and had nothing good to say about it, I had to stop nursing.

I tried working agency for a while but found that even that was just too much for me. I enjoy the peace of working in a place where if I call in, there is plenty of staff to cover for me. I can take days off if I want to. I have actual benefits and flexible hours! I even have my own desk, phone, and computer. I started as a claims examiner and have since moved to auditing the claims. My nursing experience comes in handy when reviewing the claims. I digress. My point is that I have finally come to the point where I feel I may be ready to re-enter the nursing field but slowly. I am going to work agency again to feel things out and go from there. I am also planning on continuing my education but moving more into the holistic side of nursing and wellness. I'm excited because this is all new to me. I've been at the HMO for 2 1/2 years.

I don't know if this will help you but for me, moving out of the nursing field and into something different, helped me to get some peace and rest and perspective on what I wanted to do. I make more now than I did nursing (with the exception of agency) and have a better job all around.

So why am I considering moving back into healthcare you ask? Because it's in my blood. I miss it. I miss caring for others. I miss the whole atmosphere and energy that can come from it. I lost that along the way. Working short staffed with negative people and feeling overwhelmed left me one way. Completely burned out. sometimes you have to step away from the problem to find a solution. Other nurses may disagree but, like I said, this worked for me. Perhaps you will find your way back to nursing, perhaps you will find another road you wish to travel. The choice is yours. I wish you the best. I truly know how you feel so I send you hugs and prayers. Take care and let us know how things go.

cindylouwho · Jun 4, 2003

I too am there right now....working short staffed every day and with negative people......I no longer enjoy nursing either....I am not depressed....but I dread going to work every time.... the families are demanding...the doctors are demanding and my supervisor doesn't back us up in anything.....I'm putting 2 kids through college right now or I'd go back to school or switch jobs......any suggestions?

webbiedebbie · Jun 4, 2003

I, too, was stressed and burned out from nursing. Like Txsugrlvn, I took a break from nursing. I got into Radiology transcription for 3 years. I am now back into nursing because it is also in my blood. I missed it too. I got my medical problems taken care of and began working again in nursing 3 months ago. I am glad to be back. I needed the break.

I find I am a stronger nurse now.

Good luck!