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 ??
Specializes in Dr of vet med, ER/ICU/Vet Anesthesia/Practice.
My name is not important- sharing my sentiments....I do NOT want anything but
fair treatment fairemployment, fair schedules or reasonable or non inhuman schedules and loads for nurses........want non burnout schedules, want someone as another nurse who has been in the trenches, not counselors who are clueless about medicine or cases or the trenches or give yet more pop pscyhe bs...........to listen and be supportive and work** on fixing*(** or correcting or at least listening to nursing issues.....
by definitiion- we hire nurses because they care, they are altruistic and care and connect (people will argue not all nurses.....blah blah that not my point)....most nurses went into nursing to help and be there for patients, now sidetracked in records, impossible working conditions, screaming bosses and im applauled that nurses are at risk with patients which should never happen....by definition the majority of nurses work extremely hard and are watching for physiology, med complciations they really are the guardians but cant if no listens............how can they report or warn doctors if they get reamed for doing so............puts them in tererible ethical delemnas...........so wrong .............so wrong to hire people who care then give them a hard time because they greive or cant sleep or are scared of making a mistake...............id be terrrifed ............to be a nurse........even with one case let alone all their cases and meds and anand anyting can and will go wrong............
we hire the most heroic of people and then treat them terribly and throw them out............its immoral............as immoral as beating any living creature and then faulting them for reacting...........crying or grief or PTSD....
they really have only one choice.............leave the field
we have only one option...............we must demand recognition of nurses, their dedciation and we must find a way..................to pour the billions and billlions of thank u......................to those who care for our loved ones..............my grandparents.....................cared for by nurses in ways I never ever would have throught .of ....................I care nothing that what their job was..................they cared and comforted by beloved grandmother and others.....................I don't want to hear about anytring else............I sick to death of this nurse bashing and ungrateful attitude doctors and our society has.................
until its your loved one...........and nurses take the time out of their crushing schedules and care.................for you loved one..................then these critic know it all who discount what nrusers do and endure..............
the only justrice is to know....that all the patients nurses have served will be there to welcome them into heaven when its the nurses time..............its redicaouls the way nurses are abused used and throw away.............irts profoundly wrong.
Specializes in Board certified FNP of 41 years in active practice.
My heart goes out to you. Life is way too short to be miserable. I follow a singer named Nightbirde- she was on AGT a young woman with metastatic cancer and a 2% chance of survival... she said... 2% is not zero.... she also said something that become my mantra ... Don’t wait until life isn’t hard to decide to be happy...... powerful words... I send you love and my best wishes creating a wonderful new path. You can Google Nightbirde for some really uplifting thoughts .
Specializes in Med surg .Pacu.infusion therapy. AnesthesiPreadmit.
I loved being a nurse overall. I have had a few jobs that made me anxious at the thought of going to work. I have always lived by one motto: When it stops being fun I am outta here. There are so many positions for nurses out there I'm sure you'll be able to find something that makes you happy good for you
I love nursing but not the stress that comes with it. I have been an LPN for over 10 years and it has made me depressed and bitter. I don’t want to do it anymore but I can’t afford to quit right now even if I am suffering mentally and physically exhausted all the time. You’re on your feet all day with no break most of the time. You hold your pee just to save time and when you’re finally done and go home, your whole day keeps replaying in your head. You criticize yourself for not doing good enough even though you know you did your best.
Get out and do what makes you happy even if it pays less. Your mental health is very important. Good luck
I have always said and felt, that if I lost my sense of empathy or compassion … it’s time to go. Most people don’t leave their jobs because they hate them, it’s usually management. What you described is normal in nursing, I should say an expected norm. You might need to look at doing something different but still use your LPN. Money can made and lost. I can’t remember where I heard it but someone said “you will never see uhaul truck behind a heorifice.” Go seek greatness. As I just stared at an ED, my first day the charge nurse pulled me aside and said “between u and I, I’m quitting.” I asked why and she said “Jesus, take the wheel!” There are times when you aren’t happy so you just need to take that leap … God will always catch you.
Whoops, this is edited. I wrote a whole post about seeking non-hospital roles (I like my FQHC job) but then I went and re-read and you’ve already tried outpatient. I do not agree that nursing is an irredeemable hellscape, but it does sound like it’s not for you. There are other fields out there, no need to stay in one you hate.
While I know that less stressful, non-bedside nursing positions exist, I also know that they are very few and far between. These coveted jobs were super competitive before Covid, but now with record levels of nurses clamoring to leave the bedside, the hope of obtaining one is pie in the sky. I could also hope to win the lottery but sadly, my chances would be about the same as one of these positions.
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.
Dang, really?
Nice to hear about young women choosing other fields besides the typical nursing and teaching.
Nice to hear about young women choosing other fields besides the typical nursing and teaching.
One of my DILs is a welder. She's 3 years in and makes more than I do, without crazy hours and the BS that goes with healthcare--and I'm not talking educational level The other DIL was an OT, has transitioned to SAHM for a couple of years, thinking of going plumbing or HVAC. I'm encouraging it!
Specializes in Med surg .Pacu.infusion therapy. AnesthesiPreadmit.
Sorry to hear that! You don't mention how long you have been nursing. Remember there are so many specialties you can change to. Give it a try and you may find your niche before you change careers altogether.Especially after the hard work to get there!
One of my DILs is a welder. She's 3 years in and makes more than I do, without crazy hours and the BS that goes with healthcare--and I'm not talking educational level The other DIL was an OT, has transitioned to SAHM for a couple of years, thinking of going plumbing or HVAC. I'm encouraging it!
Oh definitely! Plumbing is great, and I have heard that HVAC experts can make a killing because there are so few of them.
As someone who is now a travel nurse and has worked in half a dozen hospitals so far I have to tell you you DID THE RIGHT THING! Nursing is a dirty, thankless job and you get worked into an early grave with not even a "hey thanks for your blood, sweat and tears" on the way out. I've been a traveler for a year now and every hospital is horrible. What makes things worse is the leadership. I have to question at what point do nurses stop being colleagues and start being those who lack compassion and the decency to acknowledge the horrific situations their fellow nurses are placed in. You did the absolute right thing by leaving this horrific profession. I applaud your courage. God speed in your future endeavors.
Kaptain57
17 Posts
My name is not important- sharing my sentiments....I do NOT want anything but
fair treatment fairemployment, fair schedules or reasonable or non inhuman schedules and loads for nurses........want non burnout schedules, want someone as another nurse who has been in the trenches, not counselors who are clueless about medicine or cases or the trenches or give yet more pop pscyhe bs...........to listen and be supportive and work** on fixing*(** or correcting or at least listening to nursing issues.....
by definitiion- we hire nurses because they care, they are altruistic and care and connect (people will argue not all nurses.....blah blah that not my point)....most nurses went into nursing to help and be there for patients, now sidetracked in records, impossible working conditions, screaming bosses and im applauled that nurses are at risk with patients which should never happen....by definition the majority of nurses work extremely hard and are watching for physiology, med complciations they really are the guardians but cant if no listens............how can they report or warn doctors if they get reamed for doing so............puts them in tererible ethical delemnas...........so wrong .............so wrong to hire people who care then give them a hard time because they greive or cant sleep or are scared of making a mistake...............id be terrrifed ............to be a nurse........even with one case let alone all their cases and meds and anand anyting can and will go wrong............
we hire the most heroic of people and then treat them terribly and throw them out............its immoral............as immoral as beating any living creature and then faulting them for reacting...........crying or grief or PTSD....
they really have only one choice.............leave the field
we have only one option...............we must demand recognition of nurses, their dedciation and we must find a way..................to pour the billions and billlions of thank u......................to those who care for our loved ones..............my grandparents.....................cared for by nurses in ways I never ever would have throught .of ....................I care nothing that what their job was..................they cared and comforted by beloved grandmother and others.....................I don't want to hear about anytring else............I sick to death of this nurse bashing and ungrateful attitude doctors and our society has.................
until its your loved one...........and nurses take the time out of their crushing schedules and care.................for you loved one..................then these critic know it all who discount what nrusers do and endure..............
the only justrice is to know....that all the patients nurses have served will be there to welcome them into heaven when its the nurses time..............its redicaouls the way nurses are abused used and throw away.............irts profoundly wrong.