I hate nursing

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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.

Specializes in PCCN.
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

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Kinds back...you took a lot of effort for your comment and you are right in so many ways....bills is the only thing keeping me back from jumping professions so quick hate it as I may it pays the bills right now ( I may have no kids but I do take care of both my parents ) nursing is in all of us who are compassionate and care about people. People look to me for my knowledge and kindness I am a caregiver to anyone I come across. Whether I'm working in nursing or not...with that being said I am looking for a new profession it's hard to jump careers so late in life with the economy what it is and the potential to finish school and not get a job. It's ok I'm working on it thanks for the feedback

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Yup I tasted being poor and it was not nice! And that's because I chose to work a retail job that paid 13 dollars and hour and I was bringing home 260 every two weeks cause there was not enough hours! RN I still have to actually get in the program!

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Specializes in Home Health, Mental/Behavioral Health.
Yup I tasted being poor and it was not nice! And that's because I chose to work a retail job that paid 13 dollars and hour and I was bringing home 260 every two weeks cause there was not enough hours! RN I still have to actually get in the program!

Hey neezy,

I just wanted to give you a pointer since you're new to posting on this platform.

When you wanna respond to a specific user's comment, it's helpful if you use the 'quote' button. It will allow you to reply and let the other user know you are referring to them :)

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Hey neezy,

I just wanted to give you a pointer since you're new to posting on this platform.

When you wanna respond to a specific user's comment, it's helpful if you use the 'quote' button. It will allow you to reply and let the other user know you are referring to them :)

Like this? Thanks I've been trying to figure it out!

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Specializes in ICU.

I have trouble believing that very many people are truly stuck.

I say this as someone who only took three years to burn out. I am beyond burned out at 3.5 years in, and I am going to school for something else. I am very understanding about nursing being horrible, because it is. There are things I like about my job quite a bit, but it's eating me alive. I am looking forward to getting out of nursing.

That being said, 99% of the people I know who say they are "stuck" could fix their circumstances if they really wanted to.

1. One coworker just bought a house with a huge mortgage payment. She says she can't pay the bills on any lesser salary, and it takes both her and her significant other to pay the mortgage. Solution? Sell her house and buy a cheaper one! I own my own home, too - and I could afford to pay my mortgage if I made at least $12/hr. Her mortgage is three times the size of mine and we live in the same city. Nobody *has* to live in a mansion.

2. You have to keep the job for the health insurance? Nursing isn't the only thing that offers health insurance. I hear Starbucks and Costco have great benefits for their employees including health insurance, and all you have to have to work those places is a high school diploma - no further education necessary. You don't have to be a nurse to have health insurance.

3. Another coworker is the sole breadwinner for her family. She is older, her husband is disabled... and her young, able-bodied, drug addicted daughter who lives in her basement needs her mom to work overtime so she can steal money out of her purse to buy drugs with. I don't think I have to say where my train of thought is going there.

If you're not married/dating someone and you need help paying the bills, there's always looking on Craigslist for roommates. There's always living somewhere cheaper than where you're living and finding ways to cut costs. I really don't believe anyone is stuck in nursing. Plenty of people survive just fine making half of what we make. I would know - I did it myself for four years. I made $10.50/hr and I paid rent, my cable bill, my electricity, my car payment, my natural gas, and all my other expenses myself. It sucks, but it's possible if you're willing. I made beans and rice in the crock pot a lot because it was dirt cheap.

The only question is whether or not you're truly willing to do what it takes to live off of non-nursing money.

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Specializes in Home Health, Mental/Behavioral Health.
Like this? Thanks I've been trying to figure it out!

Yep! ;)

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I have trouble believing that very many people are truly stuck.

I say this as someone who only took three years to burn out. I am beyond burned out at 3.5 years in, and I am going to school for something else. I am very understanding about nursing being horrible, because it is. There are things I like about my job quite a bit, but it's eating me alive. I am looking forward to getting out of nursing.

That being said, 99% of the people I know who say they are "stuck" could fix their circumstances if they really wanted to.

1. One coworker just bought a house with a huge mortgage payment. She says she can't pay the bills on any lesser salary, and it takes both her and her significant other to pay the mortgage. Solution? Sell her house and buy a cheaper one! I own my own home, too - and I could afford to pay my mortgage if I made at least $12/hr. Her mortgage is three times the size of mine and we live in the same city. Nobody *has* to live in a mansion.

2. You have to keep the job for the health insurance? Nursing isn't the only thing that offers health insurance. I hear Starbucks and Costco have great benefits for their employees including health insurance, and all you have to have to work those places is a high school diploma - no further education necessary. You don't have to be a nurse to have health insurance.

3. Another coworker is the sole breadwinner for her family. She is older, her husband is disabled... and her young, able-bodied, drug addicted daughter who lives in her basement needs her mom to work overtime so she can steal money out of her purse to buy drugs with. I don't think I have to say where my train of thought is going there.

If you're not married/dating someone and you need help paying the bills, there's always looking on Craigslist for roommates. There's always living somewhere cheaper than where you're living and finding ways to cut costs. I really don't believe anyone is stuck in nursing. Plenty of people survive just fine making half of what we make. I would know - I did it myself for four years. I made $10.50/hr and I paid rent, my cable bill, my electricity, my car payment, my natural gas, and all my other expenses myself. It sucks, but it's possible if you're willing. I made beans and rice in the crock pot a lot because it was dirt cheap.

The only question is whether or not you're truly willing to do what it takes to live off of non-nursing money.

I found parts of this funny ! But I think u become accustomed to making a certain type of money? Like when I moved I noticed the 4 dollars difference! So going to Starbucks and Costco no love nooooo if I leave this profession it will be for something far better paying and higher in demand!

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Yep! ;)

Cool thabk you lol I bet nobody saw there messages !

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It's true, you may leave nursing but the nurse inside of you will always be alive. Working at places that you hate really stinks though working in a profession that you don't like stinks even more. You have to do what you love doing and not just do it because it's a family trait or that it is expected that you do a profession. Being attacked by a family member of someone that you are caring for is no fun! Believe me, I've been there. I've also been attacked by patients. It is a very horrible experience and it does make you wonder: "will it happen again?" It makes you afraid to deal with patients that could have questionable behavior. But remember...you as their nurse are part of their lifeline. You went to nursing school and have some sort of understand on why people behave the way they do. Since you are suffering from PTSD, why don't you talk to psychologist? It could be beneficial.

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I feel your angst. I am a second career LPN, previously worked in Social Work for those in poverty. I changed careers thinking the public would be more interested in their physical health than their social health. I was wrong. I have worked in six different states, in acute care, home health and long term care. My experience is that most health corporations are interested in the bottom profit margin, high numbers to care for with low staffing. This makes the job physically and emotionally challenging. I have talked with many nurses that left the profession and are so happy they did. I also know many LPN's that became RN's and work at a desk, they are happy with their work, being off the floor. I would recommend you finish so you can have more doors opened. I find it difficult to be upbeat at work, but I achieve it through positive self-talk. In an eight hour shift I may find only one or two incidences that confirm why I became a nurse. I focus on those moments, although sometimes you have to dig deep. I must tell you I am a Christian. I lean on God in continual prayer to adjust my attitude to reflect him. I could not do it without Him. May you find peace in your chosen career!

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It's true, you may leave nursing but the nurse inside of you will always be alive. Working at places that you hate really stinks though working in a profession that you don't like stinks even more. You have to do what you love doing and not just do it because it's a family trait or that it is expected that you do a profession. Being attacked by a family member of someone that you are caring for is no fun! Believe me, I've been there. I've also been attacked by patients. It is a very horrible experience and it does make you wonder: "will it happen again?" It makes you afraid to deal with patients that could have questionable behavior. But remember...you as their nurse are part of their lifeline. You went to nursing school and have some sort of understand on why people behave the way they do. Since you are suffering from PTSD, why don't you talk to psychologist? It could be beneficial.

Yes! I will always be a nurse in the most stressful situations we are the first not to panic and we are rational the use of critical thinking changes so ones mind into thinking above beyond and outside the box. What I learned from nursing I can never give up but BURN OUT is real...I think the main cause is LTC gosh I wish they would have better opportunities for LPNS

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