I hate my job!

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I am really getting fed up with direct patient care. I am currently working in an ER that has a fast track and an OBS unit at a Level I and I can say I am sick of most of my patients who revisit the ER like its an activity instead of a dire need to be there and most of my co-workers who are so much younger than myself and feel the need to "be bigger badder strong" that me! If i take a school nursing job I will be taking a 30,000 dollar cut in pay! Is it worth it to be happy and broke or suffer and have a better paycheck? I feel so confused right now! HELP I wish I loved what I do but honesty I have never been so excited to be a nurse. This profession is just getting worse if you ask me. I have been a nurse for 16 years and I feel so disgusted with the entire aspect of being a glorified waitress. I am so tired of picking up the slack for lazy PCTs, or EMTs that I am stuck working with that have no work ethic. I do my job and there job all day while poor management allows this to take place day after day!!! Does anyone have some advise for me?

Specializes in Float Pool - A Little Bit of Everything.

I have considered basket weaving in Costa Rica.... My point being quality of life is more important to me than my pay check. It is a hard decision to make, I made one VERY similar to what you are considering when I got out of ER and ICU. Now I am just getting out of the field completely, which will certainly affect my wallet to some degree. Do what makes you happy is my best advice.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

To the OP, I'm sorry your having a tough time right now and what your describing sounds like burnout to me. What I would say is that I would seriously consider taking a school nursing job but have you considered keeping your current job (or a similar ED job) PRN/per-diem? I have known a few nurses who grew tired of ED or Med/Surg and became school nurses but then they held their hospital job PRN/per-diem and picked up a few shifts a month to supplement their income. They were able to maintain their acute care skills and made a little extra money to lessen the blow of the school nursing pay cut and they also found that their interest in ED or Med/Surg. peaked and burnout was lessened because they didn't have to be at that job and only picked up when they wanted to. I'm not sure if its an option for you but this seems to be having a big impact on your mental health/well-being because of the increased stress. I personally have more than one job and always have had one per-diem/PRN job and I have found it helps keep me happy and out of any workplace drama.

Best of luck!

!Chris :specs:

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Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.
To the OP, I'm sorry your having a tough time right now and what your describing sounds like burnout to me. What I would say is that I would seriously consider taking a school nursing job but have you considered keeping your current job (or a similar ED job) PRN/per-diem? I have known a few nurses who grew tired of ED or Med/Surg and became school nurses but then they held their hospital job PRN/per-diem and picked up a few shifts a month to supplement their income. They were able to maintain their acute care skills and made a little extra money to lessen the blow of the school nursing pay cut and they also found that their interest in ED or Med/Surg. peaked and burnout was lessened because they didn't have to be at that job and only picked up when they wanted to.

This is so true, I honestly think you peeked into my brain to write it! I was SO over hospital nursing, especially the ridiculous patient satisfaction scores, awful staffing and 0 accountability for those who refused to do their duties. School nursing was a HUGE adjustment for me financially. It wasn't a 30,000/year cut by any means but it was still tough. My PRN job is everything I loved about the hospital but on MY terms. I work when I want, I keep my skills sharp and not HAVING to be there 3 days a week makes all the difference in the world. And honestly, making less money has made me realize how little I need and allowed me a more minimalist lifestyle. I can still afford my bills and now I recognize that I don't need a lot of "stuff" to feel happy and satisfied.

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OP, keep in mind that taking a school nursing job does not mean you will have to accept a pay cut with no opportunities to make extra money. Remember that school nurses often times have summers off. That's a lot of time for you to pick up an extra 10-15k doing camp nursing or summer school, or even a part time hospital job. More money is not worth unhappiness. You are, very clearly, unhappy. You know that. That's why you're posting here. You can take a less stressful, lower paying job and gain an entirely new perspective by actually being happy. I wish you the best of luck and I hope that you find a change that will bring you happiness. :up:

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I couldn't afford that paycut. Struggling to make ends meet invites another type of stress, so you'll be exchanging one for the other. IF you can afford it, then it might be worth it. Can you change facilities? Maybe try a change of scenery without such a drastic paycut.

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