I feel very lost

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

Specializes in Pediatrics, NICU.

It is me again (LOL)

I have been working in pediatrics for about 9 months. I know it's not a long time but it is A LOT longer than I'd thought I'd ever last in an acute care job.

I am the type of person who likes to plan ahead. I need to have some sort of goal at the end of this. The issue is, I have no idea what my goals are anymore...life used to be so simple: graduate high school, college, then work. Well now that I've done all this and I'm 23 I have no idea what to do.

Unlike my peers I have no desire to be a nurse practitioner. I just feel lost. I'm not sure what I want to do with the rest of my life bc it sure isn't being an acute care nurse. I guess what I'm asking is how did you guys end up knowing what you want to do? I always am scared of losing time. I feel like I could be doing something to prepare for my future, but IDK what I even want anymore...

IDK if any of this makes any sense. I may just be in shock still from being an adult and having a real job LOL. I often think about moving careers but I know nursing can bring me to a lot of different jobs anyway. I know people are going to be like "you should focus on learning acute care" and I agree. I'm just talking about my future pursuits (like what I'll be doing 10 years from now). Does anyone else feel lost?

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Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.

Try to stick it out another 3 months which really isn't long.  You'll then have a year's solid experience under your belt. 

Then try to think of an area of nursing that isn't acute inpatient care: ambulatory, LTC, occy health, research etc. You don't have to look far on these boards to find multiple threads on the subject of getting away from acute care.

If after you've tried another speciality you think nursing really isn't for you you're young enough to retrain. What really empassions you in life? You're only 23 - you  have years ahead of you to find your niche. Don't plan now what you'll be doing at 50 beause you never know what comes along or which direction you might unexpectedly take. 

Enjoy your youth! It doesn't last forever.

    

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Specializes in Pediatrics, NICU.
On 11/11/2020 at 1:39 PM, DavidFR said:

Try to stick it out another 3 months which really isn't long.  You'll then have a year's solid experience under your belt. 

Then try to think of an area of nursing that isn't acute inpatient care: ambulatory, LTC, occy health, research etc. You don't have to look far on these boards to find multiple threads on the subject of getting away from acute care.

If after you've tried another speciality you think nursing really isn't for you you're young enough to retrain. What really empassions you in life? You're only 23 - you  have years ahead of you to find your niche. Don't plan now what you'll be doing at 50 beause you never know what comes along or which direction you might unexpectedly take. 

Enjoy your youth! It doesn't last forever.    

I panic about losing my youth every day... oh god im gonna cry again LOL

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It gets better! 

It took me until I was 31 to find a job I really liked doing- and it wasn't anywhere close to any goals I had set for myself at that age. You definitely don't have to have anything figured out at 23! I feel like the only thing you should be preparing for is putting money away into a 401k or the like (believe me it's super important if you are financially able to even put a little in). 

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

It sounds like you have attained your goals and are doing very well, and esp at such a young age, congrats for that. I agree with the PP that there are many other nursing jobs outside of bedside that you would probably like, just look around and research those, but do stay at least until your 1 yr mark. If you like peds than maybe a clinic or school nurse position? You do not need to plan out your entire life right now. The best laid out plans hardly ever come to fruition. While it is good to have goals it is also good to enjoy your life. Life is a journey and you will lose your youth LOL, everyone does. don't panic about it, just learn to enjoy what ever phase of life you happen to be in because they all have their pros and cons. If you spend all your time worring about the future than you are not enjoying the present (ie you are losing time in the present!). Sometimes if you truly don't know what to do than the best thing is to not to do anything! It really sounds like you are doing well, maybe just relax and enjoy life for awhile and that will give you clarity. I also agree with the PP that you should start saving asap, it is always a good idea. 

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Specializes in LTC, Management.

Like the above poster said try to stick it out for another 3 months! I have done LTC since I was 19 (now 28). I was a STNA, LPN, RN and about to have my BSN. I still have no idea what I want to do for a long period of time.

I am currently a nurse manager, but next week will transition to a hospice case manager to try something new. Like you, I am very freaked out over this change. LTC is all I've ever known, but I can no longer see myself doing it for the next 30 years. 

Luckily as nurses we have so many different specialties do not give up!

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You have accomplished so much in 23 years. You are far from lost.

 You are overthinking this.  Enjoy what you have done so far. There's NO hurry.

Peace to you.

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Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.
2 hours ago, pinkdoves said:

I panic about losing my youth every day... oh god im gonna cry again LOL

Getting old is normal and it comes to us all. Don't panic about it - enjoy youth while you have it. Once it's gone you will have other priorities and other pleasures. I'm 57 and I LOVE life!

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I suspect you have part of your answer. You are getting through the transition from student life into adult life.

You have a new beginning in adult life, but saying goodbye to the old lifestyle is hard sometimes. If you enjoyed the social aspect of college and the lack of serious responsibility of being a student, the transition is harder. 

You would probably feel the same no matter what the job.

Now what? Keep going to work, building skills, meeting people, maintaining friends, finding new activities even though work tires you out.

Personally I think youth is overrated. Enjoy every phase of life.

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Specializes in ED, med-surg, peri op.

I 100% relate to this. I always need a plan, a goal, to know what’s next. And also feel the pressure to have my career sorted while young, among other things. 

I changed jobs this year, I was working in semi rural hospital and left it for a major hospital, thinking that’s what I wanted and Turns out hate my new job. But it was only once I tried something new it become very clear what it is I want to do. 

When it comes to nursing, the only way you will know what you enjoy is by trying out different specialties and gaining experience. You interest will become clear.

As for your friends, you will soon find out that a lot of them end up somewhere completely different to what they had planned. My friend was so sure she wanted to work in NICU her whole degree, got a job in nicu as a new grad and couldn’t handle it, she’s now a prison nurse and loves it. She hadn’t ever thought about working in prison before. (Same story for most nurses I know, this friend is just an extreme story) 

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Specializes in LTC, Management.

I enjoy this post since I can relate to all of your advice! Like EDNURSE said they changed jobs to a larger facility and hated it. That could be you or me with my transition out of office/management and into the field with hospice.

You never know until you try and if you regret it there are a dozen other similar places within driving distance to apply to.

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Specializes in ER, Pre-Op, PACU.

I used to be like this....always wanted everything planned out way ahead of time and wanted to achieve everything quickly. It’s OK to not want to be an NP. I have no desire to do that at all. I am pretty content at bedside and then want to do education but I am in no hurry at all to get there. I am loving my transition from ER to pre-op/PACU though. 

I also suggest trying to stay a full year. It’s a lot easier to try other areas of nursing with acute care experience. I am relieved to be out of the ER but very grateful for the experience because it has been so key to getting other jobs.

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