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 ??
Retired and seeking a career in art. Retirement, however sucks due to a fixed income that will either pay for rent or food after taking out taxes and Medicare.
How long you do it? You say retired. Hell I’m only 27 wish I could retire
Kennedi,
Twenty-two years of hell. Did it for my kids. I found about what a hell-hole nursing was during my internship, but had no choice. Dodged bullets by working part-time at multiple jobs so nobody could hold me hostage. Had to forego medical insurance but sure did put food on the table and put two kids through college.
I would have gone for Physical or Occupational Therapy if I had known about it. But thankfully, this is the end of a very bumpy road.
Specializes in Med surg .Pacu.infusion therapy. AnesthesiPreadmit.
I've been a nurse 40 years with ups and downs like everyone else. I am retired now however I always kept the motto when it wasn't fun I would leave I think that's what you need to do life's too short to be miserable.
I have had non traditional nursing jobs for a few Years now. An OASIS quality chart review RN, A clinical policy writer and now a clinical operations program manager at the corporate level. The last 2 completely WAH. I am much happier.
I'm a new nurse and I'm experiencing the same. On top of all you said, I have been experiencing bullying from the charge nurse. I absolutely hate nursing with all my guts. It was the biggest mistake of my life. Nobody cares about patients and they don't care if you are trying to help them.
Leave before it's too late! My mental/depression is slowly getting better after 8 months! Still no job. I've allied everywhere outside healthcare and haven't gotten one job. My next step is to leave my state! You matter! You can't take care of nobody if you can't take care of yourself... and they say it's normal... nothing is normal about it.
I know this post is several years old and I hope you have found another profession that you are enjoying more than nursing. I did want to chime in though in case you have not.
I did enjoy nursing the first few years as a nurse however I had the same thoughts as you and same physical reaction to it as you. If you are still in nursing (I hope not for your sake)
I wanted to leave nursing after my first day on the floor in clinicals but I did not because my mother insisted I become a nurse. I regret not following my instincts to get out. Now,I have been bedside for 15 years. I traveled for 5 and that helped a lot because I did jump on the gravy train of covid and made a ton of money so that was helpful
But covid is long over and traveling now sucks because it's very hard to stay somewhere for more than 3 months now and people are just shittier than ever.
I don't want to be a NP, I would love to be a CRNA however I don't have ICU and really don't want to get the ICU experience required unless it was in the NICU.
So I am stuck I really don't know what to do. I just started a staff job and know I am not going to be able to do it.
SO get out! safe your self from the utter hell that is nursing. Literally NO ONE respects you, the patients, the doctors, etc. and EVERYONE wants to dump their responsibilities on to you. RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN !!!
Kennedi
5 Posts
Update? How’s it going? Did you leave healthcare?