I hate nursing

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Nov 4, 2016

I would like to say a couple of things and people can take it or leave it. I have PTSD from a sexual assault and attempted murder I think would be 19 years ago this month. It affects everything I do in life.

We all react to PTSD differently. Mine came out in numerous ways, but to stay in a job you hate for 12 years........ It's hard for me to judge, but certainly understand where the OP is coming from, but yet Sour Lemon. You all jump on Sour Lemon's approach, yet do the exact same thing you accuse this poster of yourself. I 100% disagree with that.

People feel some injustice, yet choose to deal with that same injustice the exact same way you accuse that poster of. Not exactly correct.

Im going to assume the OP has been appropriately diagnosed with PTSD from a competent health care professional and is seeking counseling. I'm going to suggest you seek guidance from that health care professional and not get it from the internet.

Have you in therapy discussed your job dissatisfaction? Have they helped you at all and given you sound advice? That is who I would listen to.

I know in my years of experience with PTSD it wasn't the little things like a job. It was more than that. I'm pretty sure they would advise against what you are doing now.

Good Luck OP. My incident happened almost 20 years ago and it still affects me today.

TriciaJ, RN · Nov 4, 2016

Sour lemon? You actually did help me I took your words "imaginary chains" and I asked myself " what's holding me back" those chains is what everyone is trapped in BILLS and when you find yourself working a job that's suppose to be about showing empathy and compassion towards other people and your just doing it for the money you find that it's not worth your happiness and to be miserable...I ask the administration to disable my account because I felt that this was the wrong forum for this and I find through the positive comments even the harsh ones such as yours was actually helpful...to all the positive nice comments thank you..know that you are loved and respected from someone you don't even know! And sour lemon u big old meanie love u too thanks for the advice

Some of us just have a hard time imagining hating every minute of 12 years and feeling compelled to keep at it for any reason. You made several statements about not being able to not be a nurse. I think that is a box you need to start thinking outside of.

Is there a community college near you? Any access to vocational counseling? If you haven't realized it yet, your immune system has not been helped by 12 years of misery. Please shift some life gears before you become ill.

There is a life after nursing. I know many people who have found that. Good luck.

HeySis, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2016

I agree with posters that are concerned with anyone that has hated there job as a nurse for 12 years to continue in nursing.

I have had rough times were I hated a specific job, it was usually because of management or team (or more appropriately non-teamy) members. It was not he job itself. I have been burnt out and needed a break, I took an office job for awhile and then went back to bedside.

I have been punched, kicked and had my hair pulled. Nursing can be a brutal.

Even with all of that, I've actually loved almost all of my nursing career. If I felt any other way... I'd be out!

An LPN wage is not so great that another career can't pay the same.

I don't know if OP's assault was near the beginning of her career or more recently. But Neezy84, I hope you pressed charges and I hope you get the help you need to deal with the PTSD. I also hope that along the way you find something you love to do. That when you wake up in the morning (or at least most mornings) you can go without feelings of dread, that you can find friendship and satisfaction while you are at work. But I doubt you'll find that any better being an Rn then you did as an LPN.

Nursing may be in your blood, but we treat "blood poisoning" (sepsis) by ridding your body of what's making it sick. You need something healthy for you, in your blood.

Neezy84 · Nov 4, 2016

Yes I have other help...doctors and such

Neezy84 · Nov 4, 2016

The police were Involved it was a horrible night I pray all nurses carry at least pepper spray and learn that when your in a dangerous situation you leave on time!!! But wait ...don't forget you could be abandoning your patient they wanted me to wait till a relif nurse came to leave the house! It was all so messy won't say to much detail but ugh my stomach is turning

Neezy84 · Nov 4, 2016

So true and thank you for your comment...I wanna say when I say " nursing is in you" I'm not saying it's because all the women in my family are nurses...what I meant to say is that I WILL ALWAYS BE A NURSE I'm sure most of you do ...but if you see and accident in the street do you stop and help? If someone cut themselves are you the first one to run and get the first aide kit? Someone needs a kind word or a shoulder to lean on although silly examples but once your a nurse your never stop critically thinking you never stop caring. I left nursing went to work at sephora ( I got certified to do makeup because it was my hobby which I thought I could turn into a career) I LOVED it made me so happy I skipped to work and made it beauty instructor...but I was broker than a church mouse and was forced back to reality

Tenebrae, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2016

I should have said senior nurses would understand! It's only been 12 years and I do feel burned out. Thank you for your input so much it is very appreciated I agree now is the time to make changes best of luck to u and again thank you so much

I have days where I hate my job. And if the days ever run together and start becoming weeks, months and years, then it will be time for me to look for another career. Fortunately the rewarding fufilling moments outweigh the bad ones at the moment.

There is one thing I've learnt from my journey through major depression and as a student and eventual registered nurse is that self care is go darned important. Sounds cliche but taking time out to smell the roses, find something that energises and refreshes you so that until you are able to figure out where you want to go from here, that hopefully it will help stop the burn out.

For me its card making and crafting, its something completely unrelated to nursing and something I love, also a keen photographer and some of the time one of my moist guilty pleasures is curling up with a good book.

Best of luck for the future, I hope you find the way forward that is going to work for you

magslu · Nov 4, 2016

Hi Neezy

I relate to you as well, I can relate to the misery. I just don't know how you stuck with it for so long.

I have been slammed on this forum also, I asked the same question in a previous posting and got anywhere from ...are you really a nurse to employers are going to wonder why I switched multiple jobs.

I was in IT for 36 years, I never hated it. But, I thought I would go into nursing, change careers and I feel it is not what I thought it was going to be. I worked in LTC pushing a cart for a week and I learned quickly it was not for me, nor would it ever be. I'd rather work at Walmart (but that won't pay my bills unfortunately). I went into hospice, I did all the right things, advocated for my patients just to find out that mentioning "meditation" to one of my patients and making respiratory distress a priority over announcing my name landed me a bye-bye "you don't fit" and off I was seeking another job.

honestly, I do not know how you stuck with it. I am going on to RN myself, just to hurdle the limited options we have as LPNs and the lack of respect I notice happens.

I am so sorry that you are getting nasty, cold or insensitive responses. I do not think you have drama. But, I do think you have the right idea of elevating your education. It will open many other doors.

I have many local nursing friends that hate LPN nursing as well, we are not alone !!!!!

my hat is off to you for sticking it out so long

Neezy84 · Nov 4, 2016

Hello! Thanks for your response ...im getting more comments like yours than I am negative ones which leads me to belive I'm not alone in my thoughts. Oh my love that's what I have been doing LTC Oh lord!!! I wish the Lpn didn't have to be subjected to this !! At one point I had 60 patients on night shift and I told my management " I don't think it's legal or humanly possible for one person and 3 aids to take care of 60 people" the morning I resigned I had two falls resulting in injuries a code a death and a RN supervisor from and agency who was unfamiliar with the facility. So when I gave my notice I left and moved south were are started hospice and the situation that occurred was less than nice and I left ....I continued working in makeup and enjoyed it until the money became so bad I had to start looking again and of course it was either LTC or home visits and since I fear going into people's homes it was back to the facility which I know dread everyday. But AGAIN thank you for your understanding and your comment GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR RN I hope u pass with flying colors xoxox

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Nov 4, 2016

I have been a LPN for 12 yrs and i have hated every moment of it.

Assuming 40 hours per week and 48 weeks per year, that's over 23,000 hours of hatred... if it hasn't severely damaged you yet, it's fixing to... that is simply unsustainable... and unnecessary.

I moved from up north only to relocated to florida and get paid far less for a job that is worse.

Move back... I get that Florida is nice but seriously... why take a worse job for less money? That's a horrible career trajectory.

Never wanted to be a nurse it was a family trait.

It's not a trait, it's a job/career/profession/vocation/trade... not a trait.

All the women in my family are nurses.

So what? All the men and women in my family are teachers... but not me. I was the first engineer and the first nurse. I'm not them... they do what works for them, I do what works for me.

I have no life no husband no kids

In other words, you are FREE! Free to move and explore and find yourself and take chances... to find what makes you happy, not what drains the life out of you.

i spend almost every day at a place i hate.

Yeah, 23,000 hours and counting... presuming that you really get 4 weeks of vacation per year and that you can leave it all at home.

I left the profession only to return and realize you can leave the job but you will NEVER stop being a nurse.

And there we have it, the root cause of your problem. Of course you can stop being a nurse... being a nurse is simply a job, just like any other from police officer to airline pilot to engineer. You are *choosing* to be a nurse, you are not innately a nurse. A counselor could be very helpful in assisting you to see the *choices* that you're making.

So Im not sure what to do is my RN worth it or will I be just as miserable?

I suppose it depends just why you hate it so much but I'd think that simply changing nursing roles is not likely to address what is the issue.

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.

Then why do you do it? It literally is killing you and yet you seem to have embraced this destructive lifestyle. You are choosing this; it's not being thrust upon you.

(I) really just dont like or trust people any more

Me neither... I don't do the job for strokes, I do it for money.

nursing has been nothing but sad experiences for me.

And yet, you continue to do it.... What would you say to someone who was saying about how badly their husband abuses them but refuses to leave because they love him and what a good guy he really is and how fearful they are of change and all the other stuff? Your love is killing you... leave him or you're doomed.

23,000 hours of hate... I would say that "it's not going to end well" but that projects into the future what is a progressive event... rather I will say that "it's not ending well."

My friends and family im sure are tired of my complaints

Probably they are. It is very wearing to hear someone complain when they simultaneously refuse to make any changes.

most people say " just leave" they will never understand....you dont just leave nursing its in you.

It's not them who don't understand, it's you. You are choosing to be miserable and to slowly kill yourself because of a belief that you must continue to do a job that you hate... not one which you dislike or which isn't fulfilling or any of that... one that you HATE.

Nursing is not in you. You weren't a nurse when you were born, it is something that you chose to do, something that you were trained to do, and something which you are paid to do... it is something that you do, it is not you.

If you really have a servant's heart and derive fulfillment in a role of service then either pick a job that you don't hate which still provides that fulfillment or find another job and do volunteer work at a nursing home or an orphanage or at a homeless shelter or a home for abused women or... something.

Or find a nursing job that is free of the conditions that you hate so much.

You are literally choosing to kill yourself, albeit not quickly, but most assuredly.

Do something desperate to get out of the abusive relationship in which you're living.

It's your life, choose to live it well.

AllOfMyWat · Nov 4, 2016

This is a colleague you are speaking to. She deserves respect. Do you have any constructive comments for her?

Yes. Stop whining, because I respect you as a colleague.

martymoose, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2016

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.
Then why do you do it? It literally is killing you and yet you seem to have embraced this destructive lifestyle. You are choosing this; it's not being thrust upon you.

because they need money.Why is it that nursing pays what it does ( well, because the job sucks) but for s and g's I went to my local college website to see what other "professions could be chosen. Most of them you pay ,lets say 10000 or so for a degree, only to come out making minimum wage with a 2 yr degree.maybe 10 bucks an hour if your lucky. Where I am , you cant live on that.

So I sympathize with Op.

maybe youll find some rich guy and will be able to do your makeup work.

Just a thought, how close are you to finishing RN? maybe you could work in a PS office where they do injections, botox, etc. That sounds up your alley. And since you are unencumbered, you could still move. what about NC or SC?

Good luck