I Don't Want To Be A Nurse

[emma8989]

I wanted to make a post on here because I've been having a really hard time as of late and I wanted to see if anyone could offer some advice. I graduated from nursing school in Summer 2021 and during my capstone project, I realized I really didn't want to be a nurse. I've held a couple of Nursing Jobs now, I got an offer for Med/Surg right out of school that I originally accepted but eventually backed out after basically having a mental breakdown LOL. I've had a couple of nursing jobs since then including psych and research and aesthetics because I wanted to see if getting away from the bedside would help at all, but it's all ended the same. I always end up a sobbing, anxious mess and I eventually quit. I really can't go on this way anymore, thinking about forcing myself to work as a nurse just makes me more and more depressed. I know it's not just new grad nerves and it's going to get better, my other nursing friends are all new grads and they're able to deal with the stress. I am just not wired to be a nurse, I can't do it.

What should I do? I'm really upset with the thought of having to leave this degree behind but I also know I cannot work as a nurse. Is there any kind of other degree I can add onto my BSN? Or does anyone have any ideas of alternate career paths? Thank you for any and all thoughts you can give. 

[Avill, BSN, RN]

On 4/6/2022 at 3:36 PM, TheRn said:

Thank you for your response and concern. Unfortunately, I have and it didn't help because it's the job. My job is making me feel this way so no matter what I do, feeling depressed, upset and hopeless in my career is what is leading Me to this path. I was perfectly fine before.  At this point I'm actually afraid of bothering people with this. I just have no where else to look to

I see what you mean TheRN, but if it’s making you feel this way maybe you should just leave. I don’t think anything is worth you feeling so down , you know what I mean ?

[Jennymom, ADN]

I can sympathize. To be honest, the only reason I went into nursing, is because I needed to make enough money to support me and my 2 girls, I had to have an exit strategy in my very abusive marriage and nursing provided that. DId a fast track program in a private college and was done in 18 months. While I can't say I absolutely hated being a nurse, I knew, and accepted the only reason I went into it was survival. I lasted 2 years bedside and had to get out, went to clinic but still definitely wasn't what I wanted. I am not a people person, I am significantly introverted and it did increase as I got older. Finally got out of the clinic/healthcare setting in November of last year and now work remotely for a pharmaceutical company. Literally has nothing to do with nursing, even though I am considered a nurse in my position and on the payroll, it's like a call center for a specific medication. That's literally all we do and there's about 300+ of us. Pharmaceuticals pay VERY well, I am making more than I did while inhouse and I will NEVER step foot in another hospital/clinic whatever it may be.  Insurance companies offer remote positions, same as pharmaceuticals. Mine is no longer hiring as they just did a mass hiring of about 40 nurses last month to fill the last openings, but there are a lot of companies I'm sure are still hiring. Start by looking up medications, then see if they have support programs.  I know it sounds too good to be true, but jobs are out there, I promise. 

[TheRn]

4 hours ago, Avill said:

I see what you mean TheRN, but if it’s making you feel this way maybe you should just leave. I don’t think anything is worth you feeling so down , you know what I mean ?

Yes I totally understand. I'm trying to find a healthy strategy because I took a leap of faith and left once before but it turned out to be worse which I couldn't believe and now have PTSD from.The cycle just continued. Fear is eating me up. I just don't know what else:(

[TheRn]

2 hours ago, Jennymom said:

I can sympathize. To be honest, the only reason I went into nursing, is because I needed to make enough money to support me and my 2 girls, I had to have an exit strategy in my very abusive marriage and nursing provided that. DId a fast track program in a private college and was done in 18 months. While I can't say I absolutely hated being a nurse, I knew, and accepted the only reason I went into it was survival. I lasted 2 years bedside and had to get out, went to clinic but still definitely wasn't what I wanted. I am not a people person, I am significantly introverted and it did increase as I got older. Finally got out of the clinic/healthcare setting in November of last year and now work remotely for a pharmaceutical company. Literally has nothing to do with nursing, even though I am considered a nurse in my position and on the payroll, it's like a call center for a specific medication. That's literally all we do and there's about 300+ of us. Pharmaceuticals pay VERY well, I am making more than I did while inhouse and I will NEVER step foot in another hospital/clinic whatever it may be.  Insurance companies offer remote positions, same as pharmaceuticals. Mine is no longer hiring as they just did a mass hiring of about 40 nurses last month to fill the last openings, but there are a lot of companies I'm sure are still hiring. Start by looking up medications, then see if they have support programs.  I know it sounds too good to be true, but jobs are out there, I promise. 

Thank you so much for sharing. It definitely helps in letting me know that there is a possibility of making it out. Are you OK to share the job title? Do you enjoy it or atleast not hate it? 

I can totally understand the reason you went into the field but for the money, I still wouldn't do bedside. It's just so much stress that it isn't worth it all. 

[Jennymom, ADN]

10 hours ago, TheRn said:

Thank you so much for sharing. It definitely helps in letting me know that there is a possibility of making it out. Are you OK to share the job title? Do you enjoy it or atleast not hate it? 

I can totally understand the reason you went into the field but for the money, I still wouldn't do bedside. It's just so much stress that it isn't worth it all. 

I tried sending you a pm but it says I can send 0 messages a day, LOL. Mind sharing your email? I'll send you a message with the details.

[scratchgolfer]

I used to get that pre shift dread so I left the field for a clinical specialist role. Life is too short to not make a change.

[Anna1234]

Wouldn't you want to get a Master's in Nursing and become a Nurse Practitioner? You'll get a job similar to a doctor. That's what I'll do if its the hospital setting that you can't handle. Clinical setting may be better. 

[JKL33]

On 4/13/2022 at 7:44 PM, Anna1234 said:

Wouldn't you want to get a Master's in Nursing and become a Nurse Practitioner? You'll get a job similar to a doctor. That's what I'll do if its the hospital setting that you can't handle. Clinical setting may be better. 

Not for the faint of heart any more than training to work/working as an RN is.

Neither one of these roles are for anyone/everyone even though colleges and corporate healthcare might wish it were true.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

13 hours ago, JKL33 said:

Not for the faint of heart any more than training to work/working as an RN is.

Neither one of these roles are for anyone/everyone even though colleges and corporate healthcare might wish it were true.

So true JKL33.  Just because you may become a corporate widget and earn a better income doesn't mean that you  don't earn it the hard way.  The production pressure can be overwhelming.

[No Stars In My Eyes]

What work were you doing when you felt "perfectly fine"? 

Maybe do some other (non-nursing)  job while you decompress? After a while of taking it easy on yourself, you might be in a better frame of mind, and discover a better situation --nursing or not nursing -- . Give yourself some slack and don't beat up on yourself. 

My mom used to say that when one door closes, don't stand there looking at it, turn in another direction so you can see there are more options than you think are available right now.

Not liking nursing doesn't mean you are a bad person with no hope. It just means you found out a valuable lesson about yourself. You certainly need to be able take care of yourself first; that is a hard lesson for some of us and one I keep trying to learn ...  a little at a time... as best I can.

Good wishes for you, and stick around; life shouldn't end because you don't want to be a nurse. The world is full of people who work at jobs they don't like, but you don't HAVE TO be one of those people. I left nursing for two years and it was one of the best things I ever did for myself. I eventually did go back into nursing, but it was on my own terms and in work that wasn't crazy-making.

Breathe! ❤️

[TheRn]

On 4/9/2022 at 1:40 PM, Jennymom said:

I tried sending you a pm but it says I can send 0 messages a day, LOL. Mind sharing your email? I'll send you a message with the details.

Thank you so so much. That would be extremely helpful and I really appreciate you willing to share. [email protected] 

[TheRn]

On 4/17/2022 at 3:28 PM, No Stars In My Eyes said:

What work were you doing when you felt "perfectly fine"? 

Maybe do some other (non-nursing)  job while you decompress? After a while of taking it easy on yourself, you might be in a better frame of mind, and discover a better situation --nursing or not nursing -- . Give yourself some slack and don't beat up on yourself. 

My mom used to say that when one door closes, don't stand there looking at it, turn in another direction so you can see there are more options than you think are available right now.

Not liking nursing doesn't mean you are a bad person with no hope. It just means you found out a valuable lesson about yourself. You certainly need to be able take care of yourself first; that is a hard lesson for some of us and one I keep trying to learn ...  a little at a time... as best I can.

Good wishes for you, and stick around; life shouldn't end because you don't want to be a nurse. The world is full of people who work at jobs they don't like, but you don't HAVE TO be one of those people. I left nursing for two years and it was one of the best things I ever did for myself. I eventually did go back into nursing, but it was on my own terms and in work that wasn't crazy-making.

Breathe! ❤️

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. It really does mean a lot. I pray my life doesn't have to end because I hate my career now. That may seem like overboard to some people but you spend a lot of days at work and for it to make you feel lifeless, constantly shaking and hoping that you get through the shift fine, how could I have energy to want to live my life? Especially when I feel like I worked hard to suffer, unknowingly. I'm definitely looking for other doors to open trust me. That's been my mission since the day I worked as a nurse. 

 

The day I felt perfectly fine was before being a nurse. I was a nurses assistant. I'm so happy that you are handling things well.