I don't know if I want to be a nurse anymore :/

Workitinurfava, BSN, RN · May 24, 2019

The nursing field is like the shopping mall and the stores are the specialties. There are many stores in the mall, some you will like and some you won't. Have you ever looked outside of a store and thought, hmm, looks like it is going to have great things inside of it, but once you go inside you realize you don't like any of the stuff in it, so you leave and go into another store. If the stores are open to you, walk in and see what is going on inside of them. Just try to stay long enough so that you are making an educated guess instead of running due to fear of not being able to catch on. You also don't want to job hop too much. Good luck! One thing about the hospital setting is there is always someone around to consult with. There are a lot of hands on deck. In many positions outside of the hospital you have to be a little more independent in your work. There are pros and cons. Do some deep searching of what it is that makes you not like what you don't like. Go from there. Be honest and you should find something. Don't prove anything to anyone in your choice accept yourself.

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 28, 2019

On 5/22/2019 at 7:22 PM, confusednurse10 said:
I have been a nurse for a year. I started on a medsurg unit knowing right off the bat I wasn't going to like that, but I stuck it out to gain experience. I recently transferred to a postpartum unit- what I thought was my dream specialty, but now I'm not sure this was the right choice either. I wasn't expecting to feel this way so I'm at a loss of what to do or think. Did I choose the wrong career? Have I just not found the right specialty for me? I'm starting to wonder if maybe the hospital setting isn't my thing. Could anyone shed some light on nursing jobs outside of the hospital? Or just some advice in general for my current situation. You could even tell me to suck it up and stick it out if you feel that's what I need to be told haha I'm open to all feedback right now just please help!

Suck it up and stick it out. There is lots to learn in post partum, and as you learn more, you may like it more. It takes about a year to be confident as a new nurse or in a new specialty, and about two years to become competent. The more competent you become, the more you like your job. Usually.

I think you may have even grown to like Med/Surg if you hadn't made up your mind "right off the bat" that you weren't going to.

JKL33 · May 30, 2019

On 5/22/2019 at 8:22 PM, confusednurse10 said:
I recently transferred to a postpartum unit- what I thought was my dream specialty, but now I'm not sure this was the right choice either. I wasn't expecting to feel this way so I'm at a loss of what to do or think.

What is it exactly that you are feeling about post-partum?

Workitinurfava, BSN, RN · May 30, 2019

On 5/22/2019 at 8:22 PM, confusednurse10 said:
I have been a nurse for a year. I started on a medsurg unit knowing right off the bat I wasn't going to like that, but I stuck it out to gain experience. I recently transferred to a postpartum unit- what I thought was my dream specialty, but now I'm not sure this was the right choice either. I wasn't expecting to feel this way so I'm at a loss of what to do or think. Did I choose the wrong career? Have I just not found the right specialty for me? I'm starting to wonder if maybe the hospital setting isn't my thing. Could anyone shed some light on nursing jobs outside of the hospital? Or just some advice in general for my current situation. You could even tell me to suck it up and stick it out if you feel that's what I need to be told haha I'm open to all feedback right now just please help!

I worked postpartum as a CNA for a couple of years so I can understand your pain. You end up having the mom and baby count as one patient. When the deliveries happen, it seems that all the babies get sent over to the unit at once. When there isn't a secretary, you have to put the charts together if you aren't fully online. It never seems like their is enough help. On the other hand I do know that it is easier than med-surg. I worked med-surg as a CNA as well, so I know the differences. I can't fully speak on the nurses experience but I do recall nurses being fustrated about having to have a 2 for 1 deal in terms of mother and baby being counted as one. If you can get your flow down, you may be ok. It is a pretty routine place. Occasionally you will deal with baby deformities, uteruses sliding out of place, deceased babies, issues with family members wanting you to stay in the room and hold their babies all shift. You may have a tough time making sure the babies get fed or latch on to mommy to breast feed. It was my plan to work mother baby after I graduated but I went into another direction and don't plan to get back into. You are there and this could be it for you but you have to decide what it is that is making you unhappy because if is is general stuff, you will find that in almost every nursing position in the hospital. Jobs outside of the hospital are usually M-F. I don't like working M-F. Just make sure you do really good assessments and massage the fundus as it can prevent hemmorhaging. I would try to stick it out. Maybe you could try labor and delivery later on. That may be a little more exciting.

Forest2 · Jun 11, 2019

You really should figure out how much you don't like it. Like on a scale of 1-10, if you are at a 10 then get out of it after you are sure for a few months. If you are a 5, then keep trying and see what you can learn to make it easier. If you know exactly what about the job you don't like then make a list of those things. You might try taking your job description and numbering the tasks or responsibilities on a scale to help you figure it out. Then maybe try to find some job that has those responsibilities in limited amounts. I have worked in LTC, it was great at the time, worked hard but rewarding, now I don't recommend it. I worked HHC too, it is starting to become overly regulated and you know what that means. Stress and paperwork, but I think it is less stressful than the hospital. It depends, admissions for hospitals is pretty good, floor work is hard. There is a lot out there, just keep doing your research, read around here some.