I Am Absolutely Miserable Because I Hate Being A Nurse
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What Members Are Saying (AI-Generated Summary)
Members are sharing personal experiences and frustrations related to working as a nurse, particularly highlighting issues with management, stress, and burnout. Some members express gratitude and admiration for nurses, while others discuss the challenges of finding less stressful nursing positions. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the need for better support and recognition for nurses in the healthcare industry.
I HATE being a nurse. I’ve hated it since the first day I stepped onto the floor. I’ve never been so stressed out and so unhappy in my entire life. Even before COVID my floor was understaffed, verbal abuse from patients, pulled in 10k different directions and not having time to eat or pee. Then COVID hit and everything got 10x worse. I resent healthcare, I hate it.
I’m a newer nurse, I’m a young person, I should not be this miserable. On my days, off I don’t get out of bed, I’m never hungry, lost weight, cry all the time, have panic attacks over literally nothing, and had to go on anxiety meds. When I asked others if they felt the same way they casually responded with “yeah this is nursing so suck it up, you signed up for this, I’ve been on antidepressants for years and my back will never be the same, but it’s a calling” WHAT?!?
I sure as heck didn’t sign up for unhealthy weight loss, an anxiety disorder and depression. Every time I question something like unsafe ratios, lack of supplies, or management’s unrealistic expectations of us I get told the same thing, “this is nursing”. I have never worked in such a toxic field.
Then I go outpatient--thinking it will be better. Man was I wrong. Patients still abuse you, management still sucks, and I’m still running around like a chicken with my head cut off, except now I get to do it 5 days a week instead of 3.
Life is too short to be this miserable.
I never want to work in healthcare again. I never want to work as a nurse again. I’m currently on a road trip across the country going to the national parks and researching a new career path. Goodbye Nursing ??
No job should drive you to be on antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication. I don't know why people think that is acceptable. So many nurses were not on these medicines until they got into nursing. The whole thing is an outrage that there is not an uprising against the establishment, this is intolerable in my opinion
No job should drive you to be on antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication. I don't know why people think that is acceptable. So many nurses were not on these medicines until they got into nursing. The whole thing is an outrage that there is not an uprising against the establishment, this is intolerable in my opinion
I too, was never on an antidepressant until I began my career in nursing. Sadly, when I finally realized the cause of my depression (Nursing), I then had a mortgage, debt, had invested thousands of dollars/four years' of my life, and didn't see a real way of turning back. Antidepressants became a crutch for me over the years as they are for many nurses. Now, looking from the inside, I just don't see anything that would recommend Nursing as a career choice; bad hours, high stress/responsibility, exposure to bodily fluids, working short staffed, lack of respect, punishing to the body, and only mediocre pay. I hear nurses say, 'try this specialty or that', but for every 'non bedside' vacancy, there are five hundred frustrated nurse applicants, desperate to get out of clinical nursing. My advice (like the advice of others) is to escape while you can while youth is still in your favor. Not to be pessimistic or a downer, but I honestly don't see anything improving in the foreseeable future in corporate healthcare
Maybe try home health, particularly pediatric home health? You only have one patient at a time, and you can work with your agency and the family to find the best schedule for you, so you can work 8, 10, or 12 hour shifts. Most patients are really stable and don’t require a ton of work. You usually just see trachs, vents, and GT. And the families generally really appreciate the help, so you feel like you’re actually doing something positive in your job. Even if you don’t wind up sticking with nursing, a home health job may at least give you a break until you figure out what it is you’d like to do.
I HATE being a nurse. I’ve hated it since the first day I stepped onto the floor. I’ve never been so stressed out and so unhappy in my entire life. Even before COVID my floor was understaffed, verbal abuse from patients, pulled in 10k different directions and not having time to eat or pee.
I’m a newer nurse, I’m a young person,... I have never worked in such a toxic field.
Well you're young. Plenty of professions have toxic work environments. This is why most jobs need unions. Take your break no matter what. I'd rather miss charting some insignificant item than hold my pee or go hungry. Advocate for yourself, the patient and the profession.
Well you're young. Plenty of professions have toxic work environments. This is why most jobs need unions. Take your break no matter what. I'd rather miss charting some insignificant item than hold my pee or go hungry. Advocate for yourself, the patient and the profession.
I agree that most jobs need unions but advocating for oneself, the patient, and the profession only goes so far when many nurses' work culture flies in the face of all three. Examples; stagnant wages and benefits; redundant/useless charting; antiquated equipment; inadequate supplies; time consuming and unnecessary work processes; lack of respect and collaboration; dangerous staffing levels and nurse/patient ratios....
I'm sorry that you feel this way. Please do get medically checked (rule our Thyroid) and great that you are taking a trip. This will clear your min. No job should drive you to anxiety and depression. There are many other nursing avenues which are not anxiety provoking. I used to work corrections and loved it. I also did public health and that felt rewarding as well. You can work for insurance companies, private duty nurse etc.
But if non of this interests you and you really feel like this is not for you then do whatever you want- you are still young!
I use a plumber whose daughter is his right hand. She is one of the few certified master plumbers in the state and she makes well into six figures every year. One of my cousins has a 24 year old daughter who is about to graduate from welding school and already has multiple job offers waiting for her - all paying way more than entry level nursing. Locksmiths, electricians, machinists, HVAC techs all make more than your average nurse.
Point is, you are young. You can learn new skills in fields that don’t require you to sacrifice your sanity. As one who is seriously looking at getting out after the first of the year I am telling you, it’s getting to the point where it’s just not always worth staying.
Plumber, HVAC tech, electrician....all pay GREAT...and are less stress and strife than nursing. I personally wish I would have started my own business in a trade OR mortuary science. Fields that have millions of people in them are often taken for granted and degraded...like nursing. Taking a different path would likely lead to feeling success in multiple ways, unlike nursing which makes you feel "used" instead of appreciated.
I was recently offered a hospital based position (IMCU) weekend option position and an on call position for a hospice. I have decided to go with the hospice position. Not because I am a night owl by any means or think it will be nirvana but I when I think of going back into the hospital setting, I just can't stomach it. I miss some things about the hospital setting, but where I'm at in life now..is just not worth the stress and physical and emotional upset that would be close to constant.
I don't want to be working 12+ hours (which on a good day is really 13-14) or submerged in covid cases, low staff and/or being told it's mandatory to pick up an extra shift (which was already being floated to me) because staffing sucks. If hospitals can pay nurses upwards of $200/hr (yes, agency nurses are getting that in my area) then they can sure come off the cuff to pay the nurses who are employed by the facility more. Loyal is taken for granted while show me the money is honored.
Nursing has changed exponentially since I entered the field 20+ years ago. If I could afford to do anything else I would leave it in a heartbeat, but where I live there aren't many jobs that pay what nursing does. While we do not live beyond our means by any measure, I am the primary income for my family so remaining in nursing, at least for the next few years, is my only option. At times that makes me feel desperate inside but then I am grateful I have a degree and experience that allows me to move beyond bedside.
That being said, I am going to make it as easy on myself as I can since I have no choice unless I want to live out of my car.
Young or older, NO job is worth a chronic mental/physical breakdown or health issues. NONE. If you can't find something in nursing that is palatable, get out. Even if it means taking a pay cut, living a minimal life style. Life is too short to give your life to an employer that won't remember your name in a week.
I HATE being a nurse. I’ve hated it since the first day I stepped onto the floor. I’ve never been so stressed out and so unhappy in my entire life. Even before COVID my floor was understaffed, verbal abuse from patients, pulled in 10k different directions and not having time to eat or pee. Then COVID hit and everything got 10x worse. I resent healthcare, I hate it.
I’m a newer nurse, I’m a young person, I should not be this miserable. On my days, off I don’t get out of bed, I’m never hungry, lost weight, cry all the time, have panic attacks over literally nothing, and had to go on anxiety meds. When I asked others if they felt the same way they casually responded with “yeah this is nursing so suck it up, you signed up for this, I’ve been on antidepressants for years and my back will never be the same, but it’s a calling” WHAT?!?
I sure as heck didn’t sign up for unhealthy weight loss, an anxiety disorder and depression. Every time I question something like unsafe ratios, lack of supplies, or management’s unrealistic expectations of us I get told the same thing, “this is nursing”. I have never worked in such a toxic field.
Then I go outpatient--thinking it will be better. Man was I wrong. Patients still abuse you, management still sucks, and I’m still running around like a chicken with my head cut off, except now I get to do it 5 days a week instead of 3.
Life is too short to be this miserable.
I never want to work in healthcare again. I never want to work as a nurse again. I’m currently on a road trip across the country going to the national parks and researching a new career path. Goodbye Nursing ??
Methinks a new career path won't help unless you look within. Every job will use and abuse you, just in a different way. Take it from someone who has had multiple careers....
I HATE being a nurse. I’ve hated it since the first day I stepped onto the floor. I’ve never been so stressed out and so unhappy in my entire life. Even before COVID my floor was understaffed, verbal abuse from patients, pulled in 10k different directions and not having time to eat or pee. Then COVID hit and everything got 10x worse. I resent healthcare, I hate it.
I’m a newer nurse, I’m a young person, I should not be this miserable. On my days, off I don’t get out of bed, I’m never hungry, lost weight, cry all the time, have panic attacks over literally nothing, and had to go on anxiety meds. When I asked others if they felt the same way they casually responded with “yeah this is nursing so suck it up, you signed up for this, I’ve been on antidepressants for years and my back will never be the same, but it’s a calling” WHAT?!?
I sure as heck didn’t sign up for unhealthy weight loss, an anxiety disorder and depression. Every time I question something like unsafe ratios, lack of supplies, or management’s unrealistic expectations of us I get told the same thing, “this is nursing”. I have never worked in such a toxic field.
Then I go outpatient--thinking it will be better. Man was I wrong. Patients still abuse you, management still sucks, and I’m still running around like a chicken with my head cut off, except now I get to do it 5 days a week instead of 3.
Life is too short to be this miserable.
I never want to work in healthcare again. I never want to work as a nurse again. I’m currently on a road trip across the country going to the national parks and researching a new career path. Goodbye Nursing ??
Enjoy your trip. I wish you well. Your coworkers comments remind me of so many nurses that would say how much they love nursing even when the working conditions are outright abusive! So many can't even admit the truth to themselves and that is really sad. But I think covid is the tipping point when nurses are finally facing the truth and many are getting out of bedside nursing.
Emergent, RN
4,300 Posts
No job should drive you to be on antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication. I don't know why people think that is acceptable. So many nurses were not on these medicines until they got into nursing. The whole thing is an outrage that there is not an uprising against the establishment, this is intolerable in my opinion