I hate nursing

[Neezy84]

I may get yelled at or get the usual "find another profession" comments. But I have to say it.. are there any LPN's who love their job? I have been a LPN for 12 yrs and i have hated every moment of it. I noticed that Im subjected to nursing homes, abuse clinics peds and home health. I moved from up north only to relocated to florida and get paid far less for a job that is worse. Never wanted to be a nurse it was a family trait. All the women in my family are nurses. I have no life no husband no kids and i spend almost every day at a place i hate. I have been working on my RN and at this point I dont feel like its worth it. I have tried hospitals and I have tried other avenues. I left the profession only to return and realize you can leave the job but you will NEVER stop being a nurse. So Im not sure what to do is my RN worth it or will I be just as miserable? I was never a smoker I find my self smoking and unable to sleep. I cry before work every day and get a upset stomach before my shift. and this is at every nursing job i held. Im sorry if this sounds negative or sad or just complaining. i know the senior nurses are gonna read me my rights. But I need to know if anyone feels the same way?

Additional info: I was recently attacked by a patients husband during a home healthcare assignment. I have anxiety PTSD and really just dont like or trust people any more nursing has been nothing but sad experiences for me. My friends and family im sure are tired of my complaints and most people say " just leave" they will never understand....you dont just leave nursing its in you.

[strawberryluv, BSN, RN]

I like working in nursing homes. It's fulfilling and the work is steady. If you don't like being a nurse, then find something you like or if you need the income work part time while working at a job you may like. My colleague works as a nurse four times a week and then works at a gift shop. He loves doing that because it's a nice break from nursing. It's okay..

[ConnieDiamondWhite]

You're right, get out before you hurt someone else. Not necessarily physically, but being cared for by a witch who hates what she does can be crushing for an elderly patient who is in physical and mental pain, who's needs are not being met. The very component that makes nursing the healing profession it is. Nothing is worse than feeling like you are a burden to another, when the are SUPPOSEDLY there to help you!!!!

[she244]

One thing to do is look at other avenues of Nursing you can do that is less stressful. Also taking a break from Nursing is something a few of my fellow nurses have done. We all handle stress and trauma in different ways. You might want to look at talking with a counselor or pastor for the PTSD issues. You will find trying to get to the bottom of why you stay in nursing while hating it will help ease your mind if you decide to leave nursing. While in college some of the people changed their minds after starting classes when they realized they did not like bedside nursing. One is a Surgical Tech working in the operating room. She loves it. A few decided to go into Medical Coding and love it. A few of them went into Massage Therapy working with patients in taking rehabilitation. Take the time to think of why you hate nursing. Make you list of the pros and cons. Wish you the best in whatever decision you make.

[DogWmn]

I worked as an LPN for 20 years and finally burnt out ~ I never wanted to be an RN too far away from the bedside ~ I was lucky that most of my career was in hospitals before we were kicked out. They other part was in Family Practice clinics and for the most part that was a great job caring for patients from cradle to grave ~ then the Docs started hiring MA's so I did a stint in a SNF ~ in hind site I wish I would have gotten my PTA ~ I've talked to many of them and they all seem to love their jobs ~ so if you want to stay in the medical field and utilize your LPN experience go for a PTA ~ those jobs aren't going away and you can get additional certifications in specialties you have a national License ~ but fair warning make sure of your state regs and don't let your nursing license lapse

I wish you luck

[notfuzzywuzzy]

It sounds like you do want to be a nurse but just haven't found the best area of nursing. As an RN you will have more options as far as type of nursing positions and locations. If you truly want to be a nurse then go for your RN where you will have more choices available to you. Good luck.

[gnor]

Been there, done that, what did you find to do out of your home? I'm looking for an at home job too. To tired to do what I have been doing, and the older we get, the harder it is to find a job!

[Pricker]

Hi Neezy,

I can emphasize with you. I'm not a veteran nurse, but after pouring my heart and soul into for years I kept going through similar feelings like you've described despite the type of job. I would leave and simply write it off as burn out, but part of me would get lured in again. I think it's due to inner guilt of feeling like you can do something for someone that needs it and should. Therefore, you give in time and time again. It took me a long time to come to accept my feelings 3 years into my BA in health science working towards gaining my PA I stopped mid class and I didn't know where I was going but I knew it didn't feel right anymore. I was nervous and anxious and I took the time to work on projects around the house. I've always been able to relaxed and unwind while I decorated or painted or redone rooms. It has always been my "happy hobby" I remember reading that if you do something you love everyday as a career, you'll never work a day in your life. It dawned on me that I never even gave myself a chance to explore my hobby as a career. Needless to say I'm beginning interior design classes soon and even the thought of it has made me happier than I ever could of imagined. I honestly don't know if it'll work out but I'm willing to put forth the effort to try. If I could give nursing the best I had, I certainly owe it to myself to try to give myself the best as well. I hope that you find yourself starting your journey soon as well.

[sumoe]

I don't have enough life-span to read all the comments. I suggest you evaluate what your priorities are. The saying is find what you love and do that. I found that I loved being outdoors and bicycling. The degree to work with those two loves is urban planning. I am currently working on my masters' degree in urban planning. Figure out what energizes you and explore that area for employment. It may not be high pay but it would be a start to get your life in a more appropriate direction. Ditch the BSN...you will hate nursing even more with more responsibilities. It seems to me you do not like being a nurse. That's okay! Maybe veterinarian medicine or DNR (Department of Natrual Resources) is more up your alley, like being a park ranger. Construction? There are a lot of jobs out there with similar pay that do not involve the total responsibility of nursing that earn similar pay. I am currently starting a craft-sewing business with several good products that I think will sell. I have just started that so have not made a profit, but the current knowledge is that I will have no profit for 2 years. That's okay. I still have my day job .

It's up to your to be captain of your ship. And, in closing, I wouldn't want to work with someone who doesn't want to be there.

Good luck!

[virasha]

I HAVE THE SAME ISSUES, but have been advised by colleagues that I shouldn't RESIGN OR CHANGE THE profession Rather Instead just CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE TOWARDS NURSING AND SELF INTROSPECTION, STUDY FURTHER And CHOOSE OR CHANGE YOUR FIELD OF NURSING TO A SUITABLE FIELD e.g If you're ICU RN AND YOU'RE EXHAUSTED then may be do something Old age homes , 7 to 4 shift with weekends off e.g clinics these types of Jobs can be peaceful, definitely have more time with parents, siblings, friends and Bf and or Husband, Hunting down the opposite sex just to trap them for fun :-p UP TO YOU,

THEY SAY THE WORLD IS IN OUR HANDS AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE PLENTIFUL EVERYWHERE, BUT SOMETIMES because we're all not same we are different people, there are handful of us who will have to scratch our way through, and literally dig ourselves out of a quicksand mudpit situation therefore struggling and still struggling to fit in and to be where others are . But at the same time whilst doing this REMEMBER TO BE YOURSELF FIRST AND ALWAYS AND EXPECT MINIMUM SUPPORT WHEN YOU'RE YOURSELF, because you can change to be someone brand new and lose yourself so easily as time goes on to please people who hate you for your complaints an misery but there will also always be people who complain about how much changed you're and how cold you're are and haven't got clue about emotions or you think you're perfect and good at everything you do, act as you've never had problems in this profession, especially from the new nurses who are looking for and or up to you to connect, compare and get some advise closure of what they experiencing or expectations.

THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING STOP COMPLAINING OR CHANGE YOUR PROFESSION are just as miserable and see or hear you as a reminder of them so they block you and your emotions so that they can keep on"functioning"

as "NORMAL" "Good Nurses" THEY MUST READ THE "BURNOUT" Article .

[chocoholic999]

Neezy, sounds like you are experiencing "compassion fatigue" where you get to the point where you DON'T CARE, you just go through the motions to get the job done. This is a very dangerous place for both nurse and patient. It concerns me that you mention the lack of a husband/family and blame this on your job...is your job exhausting you to the point where you are unable to have a social or recreational life? Employers of nurses count on us to be a bit co-dependant (taking on extra duties, overtime, always giving giving giving) but this is not healthy- not in a relationship and not in a career. Going to work while being in this unhealthy place is not doing your patients any favors. I wish there was an easy fix and we could change careers daily but there are life realities to face. I urge you to seek counseling or at least a support group to address your unhappiness and burn out before it affects your patients' outcomes.

My husband has a drawer full of medals from his lifetime of Navy service. He also gets public thanks and adulation (not to mention free dinners) each Veteran's day. No one publicly acknowledges nurses and God knows there are no medals for what we do . I have no way to "prove" that what I do is worthwhile. But I have a drawer of thank-you notes from patients (some written on paper towels), a Christmas ornament of an angel given to me by a patient's family, and a single hand-knitted slipper that was made for me by a patient who died before she made the second. These are my "medals" and sometimes I need to look at them to remind myself that do have an important, worthwhile place in the universe and I make a difference to people because I care. You may have momentos or just memories that will serve as your "medals", too.

BTW, an RN degree won't fix things. I have been an RN for 17 years and been punched, slapped, and threatened with all kinds of assault. Maybe we need Combat Pay?

[Iowanurse2016]

I have only been a nurse for about 7 years and the last few years it has sucked. I am not going for my Rn, I'm going to do something in healthcare but I refuse to subject myself to any more stress. I think that you need to re-evaluate your life and find something good in it. Every day is a new day and you have to find something you enjoy doing like reading, ski diving, mtn climbing, etc.... You have to find your happiness don't let your job define you as a person.

[emmjayy, BSN, RN]

If you are miserable with your job, find something else. It's really that simple. I spent a long time at a professional job that paid well and that I hated. So I quit and started nursing school which was a huge risk for me because I do have a child I'm raising on my own.. It's been scary, but it's better than sitting around stewing over how miserable I am at my job.