I graduated cum laude but can't function in nursing jobs. What can I do?

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Hi Nurse Beth,

I stepped away from nursing 10 yrs ago because I was unable to find a nursing job that I could do well. I had graduated nursing school cum laude yet could not function properly doing ICU work, med surg work, or hospice nursing. Now that I have moved to another state I have thought of trying nursing again but have no idea how to get back into it or what type of nursing would be best for me.. Are there nurse career coaches who could help me find where I belong ?

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Hello,

Not everyone is suited for acute care and other high-stress jobs. Likewise,  not everyone is even suited to patient care jobs.

The key is to distinguish between what you believe you should do as a nurse and what you are uniquely qualified and gifted to do. 

Fortunately, there are so many jobs to choose from. To get you thinking, there's:

  • Case management
  • Public health nursing
  • School nursing
  • Dialysis
  • Psych nursing
  • Parish nursing
  • Nurse navigator roles
  • OR nursing
  • Cath lab
  • Endoscopy
  • Infusion nursing
  • Cardiac rehab

That's to name a few! There's sales, education, research, and informatics. There is something for everyone.

Register on indeed.com to get an idea of what's out there. And yes, there are career coaches. One I know of personally is Nurse Keith.

It's great to hear that you're willing to try again. Undoubtedly, there will be difficulties, but with persistence and the same qualities that led to your cum laude graduation, you can overcome them. The most crucial thing is to know yourself and find what suits you best.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

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