I graduated in December, and have been working on an inpatient oncology unit since. I DREAD going to work each week. The days I do have off, I'm too tired to enjoy. I'm not overwhelmed or any of the typical things you'd assume. I just don't like it!
Is this normal for new nurses? Does it pass? Were most of you in love with nursing from the get-go? Maybe I need a new are of nursing?
I just don't know what to do, I'm already pondering starting up a new degree program.
.....Do case management or something in insurance. I finally quit and am doing case management part time and working retail women't clothing for another two days a week.
I 'm just where you are and I am telling these young people to get out now before they are stuck. A job should be enjoyable and rewarding to the person doing it. A young person should not have - yet another bad day - get a smile from a patient and then think that "it's worth it". It's not worth it, not by a longshot. When other young people their ages are doing business internships, being mentored and nurtured into careers, girls who go into nursing are exhausted, depressed and disheartened walking around in scrubs and sneakers. Nothing like getting dressed up and feeling good about your appearance.
I now believe that girls who go into nursing haven't done enough homework on other career choice or have moms who were/are nurses or worse yet, decided to be nurses at a young age and this was kept in their heads.
I am a new nurse and I can honestly say that 95% of the time(at work and not) I hate it. I feel stuck in nursing. I don't know what else I can even do that would pay a similar amount. I feel stuck as a nurse and am afraid I will be complaining of the same things on this board in 20 years. I hate that I wasted so much time and youth in this pursuit.
I am a new nurse and I can honestly say that 95% of the time(at work and not) I hate it. I feel stuck in nursing. I don't know what else I can even do that would pay a similar amount. I feel stuck as a nurse and am afraid I will be complaining of the same things on this board in 20 years. I hate that I wasted so much time and youth in this pursuit.
Then get out when you can. There are tons of jobs that pay as much and so what if you make a couple thousand dollars less per year. Get that MBA or chef's degree or degree in History or anything. It's about the quality of life and the respect. How many people just glaze over when a woman says she is a nurse as compared with a young woman who says she is a Veteranarian, a lawyer a CEO or whatever.
Leave it now while you are young and don't feel stuck. The loans will be repaid and in the whole sceme of your life, this can just be a footnote.
Fair enough if you want to do something else other than nursing. It isn't for everyone. But a degree in history these days won't amount to much. Social work doesn't pay that well. Teaching, maybe, although it is very hard to find a job these days as a teacher. Maybe an MBA.
I think with the economy the way it is at the moment, a lot of people are feeling stuck. It isn't just nurses. I hope those of you who hate nursing find something you will enjoy :)
Fair enough if you want to do something else other than nursing. It isn't for everyone. But a degree in history these days won't amount to much. Social work doesn't pay that well. Teaching, maybe, although it is very hard to find a job these days as a teacher. Maybe an MBA.
I think with the economy the way it is at the moment, a lot of people are feeling stuck. It isn't just nurses. I hope those of you who hate nursing find something you will enjoy :)
Agreed! However, my point is that young people are cheating themselves if they don't select a career in something that they are passionate about and something they like.
Some pursue college humanities and teach/do research in those subjects, work for museums etc. Some are engineers...etc..etc.
I don't know if it is the economy since I've been hearing the same complaints about nursing for years and years when my aunt was a nurse. She eventually left and became a manager at Verizon and never looked back.
Well, at any rate. I just hate to see young people have the life sapped out of them for a job.
Years ago, I read an article in RN magazine about a young hospice nurse who "saw the light" on her day off. She said she hated what she did but took a vacation day and took a bubble bath, looked at the flowers and regrouped to go back to the trenches and a patient's "thank you" made it worthwhile. She was cheered on by the magazine editors. I wrote a letter to the editor and it was published. I really blasted them for making the poor girl a standard of sacrifice for a job and reminded them that vacation days should be used to pursue interests, do fun things etc...not to recover from a job that one hates.
Anyway. I wish all of you well. I only work part time now in case management and clothing retail (which I love) a couple other days per week. My days as a full time nurse are long long gone.
Glad to know I am not alone. I am a new grad, got hired on with a PCU/ cardiac critical care unit. It has only been two months, but every crazy day I have I want to go home and cry out of frustration, or can't fall asleep for hours because my head wont stop turning with the events of the day. It seems usually I am being pulled in all sorts of directions, always behind, and always full of questions of clarification. I will say I feel fortunate that there are some nice nurses on the pod I can go to with questions, but with that comes just as many co-workers who just seem unapproachable and mean. They say it gets easier, that the cloud over your head goes away after a year. But I got to admit that a year of this seems like it will be torture. So I am hoping soon it gets a little easier and I figure out this juggling act I am supposed to be putting on for 12-13 hrs a day. To fellow new grad - just got to say hang in there, your not alone. Finding jobs right now sucks, so taking what you can get seems to be the nature of the beast at the moment... hopefully in a year it will be easier.
Glad to know I am not alone. I am a new grad, got hired on with a PCU/ cardiac critical care unit. It has only been two months, but every crazy day I have I want to go home and cry out of frustration, or can't fall asleep for hours because my head wont stop turning with the events of the day. It seems usually I am being pulled in all sorts of directions, always behind, and always full of questions of clarification. I will say I feel fortunate that there are some nice nurses on the pod I can go to with questions, but with that comes just as many co-workers who just seem unapproachable and mean. They say it gets easier. . .
I'm sorry and I definitely feel your pain. As I have been there in spades. And I can tell you that it does get better, however better is relative. Never easy, but easier.
There is so much to learn and it can be so overwhelming, and yes, there does seem to be an over abundance of mean-spirited people in this field. I have had several careers before becoming a nurse and there are more than a fair share of harsh people who are nurses. Which is strange.
I always remember how it was as a new RN and for some reason it has stood me well because I am always picked to precept new nurses. Maybe it is because of my humble (ie stressed out deer-in-the-headlights) beginning. But I have finally found some level of confidence and have respect on my floor.
I don't find it helpful when people say "get out of nursing if you can't handle it." Very nontherapeutic. Many people cannot afford to just quit there job let alone give up a career they worked hard for. I say put the patient first and put patient safety and compassion first. Maintain your humanity and if you are a spiritual person lean on this. All the rest will come in time. Don't worry about mean co-workers or yelling drs. Do what you know is right and help your co-workers, be a team player. Good luck to you.
you have a licensed. renew it and don't procrastinate like me. Now I'm scared !!!!! Holiday & office is close Monday. Great . I have such good luck. Shoot me.:crying2::crying2:
You have a warning sign..Listen to it.. while you are young . Do something else. Nursing will control your life. then you get stuck !!! Miss out on holidays with family. your legs will get veinie. It is really a hard job! not recognizeable ither. not appreciated. most often depressing. YOu are always being told what to do.
I am very sad to say that at this stage of my life I regret becoming an RN and even worse I am too old to do anything else. I got into it for love of people and for the most part I adore my patients and nothing gives me more joy than to ease someone's pain or let them feel cared about and listened to. What I did not expect and what I have naively expected to improve for years now is the insecure sniping and backbiting that seems to accompany any nursing job. It seems that most nurses are so afraid of screwing up and being blamed for something that they spend way too much time watching their fellow nurses in hopes of catching them doing something - anything - incorrectly, and being able to proudly bring that mistake to everybody's attention. It tends to be rather a toxic psychological atmosphere in all but a very few situations, and there's no reward for loyalty or reliability. The moment you are sick or hurt you become a liability that management simply cannot wait to throw overboard. Sorry to be so brutally honest; I only wish I'd known then what I know now. Best of luck to all youngsters in all of your endeavours.
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anotherone, BSN, RN
1,735 Posts
I am a new nurse and I can honestly say that 95% of the time(at work and not) I hate it. I feel stuck in nursing. I don't know what else I can even do that would pay a similar amount. I feel stuck as a nurse and am afraid I will be complaining of the same things on this board in 20 years. I hate that I wasted so much time and youth in this pursuit.