I cant be a nurse anymore

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I have been a nurse for 7 years. Most of my life I felt I knew I wanted to be a nurse and help others. I graduated with my BSN and worked in a trauma/surgical ICU for 3 years. I learned a lot, but I dreaded work everyday and realized that the ICU just isn't for me. I was very hopeful that I would find another place in nursing I'd enjoy. After ICU, I went to work in interventional radiology and was okay with it but still had the same feelings and anxieties, I just did not like it. I didn't want to go and would call out, I felt like I just was not invested in the job. I started to realize that I don't like nursing. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what I don't like about it, but I am very quiet and an introvert and struggle with anxiety. So after almost 4 years in IR I left to work as a case manager for an insurance company. I work from home which is great, but I absolutely hate the job. The case loads are crazy and my anxiety around making calls to patients is overwhelming. It's only going to get worse as I just learned that my caseload is going to be growing tremendously over the next few weeks and I can only imagine how anxious I will be. I am not looking forward to my future here and need to figure something out. I feel so lost in my career and life. I spent so much money and time working to become a nurse, that to now realize I hate it and it is just not for me is soo so frustrating. I have no idea what else to do. I don't want to work in healthcare anymore, but I have no idea what other lane to choose. I have no real hobbies or talents that can help guide me. I just want to be happy and not miserable and anxious all day while at work. I have no idea what to do. I have always enjoyed caring for the geriatric population, and have always been interested in long term care or skilled nursing facilities, but I am terrified to apply there to just find out I hate that too.  

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

Sorry you are having such a difficult time. I don't think that working in a SNF/LTC would be less stressful as they are notoriously short staffed. Maybe with your experience you could try a different CM position that might have better working conditions. Having a BSN would also open other doors in out pt type facilities. Maybe you could research other nursing jobs and see what interests you. If I was in your shoes I would try and find a better fit with less stress while simultaneously looking at your other options considering what you would like to do instead of nursing. Also, make sure you are practicing self care. It really helps; take care of your body, soul and spirit! Good luck!

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Great advice from Daisy4RN.  If it's any consolation to you, I have felt almost exactly the same way for most of my almost 30 year career as an RN.  You are not alone in feeling this way and it in no way speaks to your character.  I too, am shy, introverted, and have never been a good "people person".  Do some soul searching; perhaps there is another career path that would mesh better with your personality.  Another idea would be to try to reduce your expenses and cut back to part time hours at work or even per diem.  Good luck and try not to loose heart!

 

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What about home care?  Or wound care, PICC nurse, utilization review, quality, infection prevention, MDS? There are options for introverts in nursing. But it’s OK to try a different care too. I’m sure there are a myriad of posts on this site that could give you ideas. 
 

Good luck!

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Specializes in ER.

My daughters are making good money selling insurance. They both work for the same company that has a really good attitude about life work balance. They have the choice since covid to work from home. Sometimes they'll bring their computer to my place and stay for a week. I'm so grateful that they did not go into nursing as they had originally planned. The whole profession has become so incredibly bogged down with BS, and there is a lot of basic stress and taking care of vulnerable people.

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Hello,

Sorry to hear of the mounting distress you have been experiencing.

I would recommend meeting with your PCP to make sure your physical health is in order and to receive an evaluation for your anxiety and/or other mental health concerns. It is very difficult to make positive changes under the kind of anxiety you are experiencing. If at all possible, make sure your health is optimized before making really significant decisions.

Things can get much better for you.

Take care ~

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I worked at home for an insurance company for many years. I was in Utilization management.  Sure it was busy... but I was in my jammies. You could search for other work from home your/ UM positions and companies that won't' flog you into a huge caseload.

Since you like working with seniors, check out disease management positions.

I word forget SNF/LTC . I worked a few shifts as agency  there. I could not keep up with 25 years of bedside experience.

If you are dead set on getting out of healthcare, consult a counselor from your school. They can test you for your strengths and guide you.

Good luck

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Awwwww, gosh I just wanna cry for you because it's sounds just like me. I've literally said the same things before. I would say look into other careers. People say that other areas of nursing like you mentioned are better but nope, even working from home sucks. I would look into other careers. I was so afraid of doing that and wanted to give nursing a try but forget it. It seems to be all the same. I suffer with anxiety too due to nursing and I just refuse to be put on medications because of a job. The job is the problem. You're way tougher than me by staying for years while you were miserable like how??? I'm almost at two years and I cannot imagine another two years. Seeing people say they felt the same for 30 years, oh no:(. Definitely not long term care. Stay Far away.  Sometimes just give it time. I've researched a lot and there are lots of people on Youtube with these same experiences and they'll share how they got out. That's how I started working towards a completely different career. Wish you the best of luck?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, School Nursing, OB.

Have you thought about school nursing? It’s more like social work a lot of days. You’re dealing with a healthy student population for the most part and just facilitating them to be able to be in school whether they need meds, help setting up an accommodation plan (once a year usually} or just first aide. You can get your foot in the door and just try it out by subbing. Or maybe a Dr’s office where you can get out of the house and interact with people one on one and then go home to your sanctuary and not think about work. Also night shift on a less acute floor would be less crazy. There was something that drew you to nursing so if you can remember that I think you could find something as there are SO many different jobs. What about some type of nurse educator (diabetes, staff, class, etc)? You have a lot of experience but I don’t think you’ve found the right job yet. Also, remember it’s a job and shouldn’t be your sole fulfillment. (But I do understand how feeling unfulfilled in your job can take over your whole life or feel like it.) 
 

Also I’d recommend as well looking into your anxiety and try some counseling . It’s nothing to be ashamed of at all. It just sounds like you could use some help to figure out what it is you’d be happy doing and to see if you got your anxiety better under control if you could handle the stress of whatever job you chose. 
 

You went from one extreme to the other. A high stress ICU/trauma job to a lower stress less happening radiology job to home where you only talk on the phone. I’m also introverted but I also like to feel challenged a little and I hate talking on the phone so I understand why you haven’t enjoyed the jobs you’ve had so far.
 

When I was a stay at home mom I knew when my kids all got into school I wanted to work again and I explored all kinds of careers just sure I didn’t want it to be in nursing and thought I only went into that career because my mom insisted I become a nurse but no I ultimately made that choice for a reason and discovered I did like nursing for lots of reasons and what other career can you have so many choices making decent money? I haven’t loved everything about every job and I’m sure never will and I’m again ready for a change again but in nursing no one thinks twice (at least not other nurses) if you change positions every few years. Best wishes!

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This is me exactly. I also need to figure out how can I get out of the nursing profession.. I have been an RN for quite sometime. I have med surg experience for 5 yrs, public health 3 yrs and now doing home care for 2yrs now..and just realized I am really not happy being a nurse but I do not know how to get out..

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Specializes in Neurosciences, stepdown, acute rehab, LTC.

Maybe 1:1 with elderly people who need care at home? You may be working more in a CNA capacity but I think some wealthier families pay well. I think being an introvert doesn't mean you need to be away from people. You will just need to be with people you know and feel comfortable with. A group home could work too. 

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8 hours ago, Chikungunya said:

This is me exactly. I also need to figure out how can I get out of the nursing profession.. I have been an RN for quite sometime. I have med surg experience for 5 yrs, public health 3 yrs and now doing home care for 2yrs now..and just realized I am really not happy being a nurse but I do not know how to get out..

^^^This is me too.  I want out to do something else but am late in my career and honestly, I'm tired and lack the inclination/motivation.  Like so many things in life, it sometimes comes down to 'better the devil you know than the devil you don't'.

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