I do not like patient care nursing :(

elkpark · Feb 11, 2014

This says to me that the prestige of helping a person is good but actual doing is not something you are interested in. That happens. It sounds like you are looking for a larger scope. Have you considered education? In this way you still can 'make a difference' but you will be teaching nurses who will then go on to teach patients. You would be impacting a larger audience.

Why is it that every time someone posts about having trouble mastering clinical practice and not liking nursing, someone invariably posts something about, hey, try nursing education! Most nursing education positions require advanced degrees and years of (successful) clinical experience. Would you want to have nursing instructors who were teaching because they don't like nursing and couldn't find a clinical area in which they could become competent/successful?

amygarside · Feb 11, 2014

Well, I guess you just need to relax for a little bit and try to find out what you really want. You might be treading into something you are not.

Nurseheidi321 · Feb 11, 2014

Thanks everyone for the responses. I told myself I would stick post partum out for more than a year to really see if I like it. Although I feel like when everyone says just stay put to see if you even like it, I agree to an aspect but why spend 2-3 years at something I don't feel is right in my heart? I want to be happy to go to work, not hate it. Giving myself sometime to become more competent is important I just can't see myself forcing a feeling or forcing staying into clinical nursing

Satori77, ADN · Feb 11, 2014

I understand what you are saying. And 2-3 years is a long time to stay in an area you don't like (it's one thing if you enjoy it, but need time to feel confident in that area, but another if you dread going to work). But I don't think 1 month is enough time to decide how you feel about a specialty.

I'm curious what you don't like about postpartum. For trauma, you mentioned the amount of patients. For dialysis, I agree, those are some CRAZY hours. I have a husband and 2 young children. I would not want to do that for 4 days a week. You would be dead on your feet for the 3 days you have off. But what about postpartum is putting you off? I have heard many good things about that area of nursing, and is one I could see myself doing, so I'm curious.

bell1962 · Feb 11, 2014

Doctor's offices schedules aren't too bad and you do a lot of good by hopefully preventing/ managing health problems that will keep people out the hospital. There is also school nursing in which you can make a big difference in the lives of your students. (not to mention the GREAT hours!)

lub dub · Feb 12, 2014

I have a feeling that eventually none of us will like patient care nursing.
Every year I feel a little bit more like a maid, and a little less like a nursing professional.

I couldn't disagree more with your statement. I did critical care nursing for more than 20 years, and even though I've been in education for 8 years, I still miss bedside nursing & patient contact. I never felt like a maid, and I always felt like a professional. Your statement was a HUGE generalization. Yes, there are times when I feel as if nearly everyone who posts on this site dislikes our profession, but it is certainly not everyone.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 12, 2014

hello there! So I am not sure what to do.... I have been a nurse for about 2 and half years now and I hate it.... I have done trauma/Ortho nursing in a level 2 trauma hospital.... Hated that and the night time hours and so I switched to dialysis nursing for the day shift position. I did not like that either and now I am doing post partum nursing night shift. I am just sick of the inconstancy of my schedule and the constant anxiety of charting and finishing things up before I can finally go home. I don't want to feel this way already about nursing and my job. I know there are non clinical RN jobs such as telephonic and working for insurance companies but I don't think I would like that either. I feel like non clinical RN jobs would not pay a lot. I am not sure what to do. I still want to be looked upon as if I am making a difference and not just "oh you're a nurse who works in an office". I am not sure where to go with my nursing career.... Any advise from anyone? And I know some people are going to say why did I go into nursing if I don't like patient care? I don't mind it but I don't want to do it for much longer. Patients are too demanding, I don't like the hours and I like slower paced atmosphere.

If you've had three jobs in less than three years, you haven't been in one job long enough to become competent or get comfortable. Nor have you had the time to build the experience necessary to one of those non-patient-care positions. I cannot help but wonder if you stayed in one place a little longer, you might like it better.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 12, 2014

I have a feeling that eventually none of us will like patient care nursing.
Every year I feel a little bit more like a maid, and a little less like a nursing professional.

What a sweeping (and inaccurate) generalization! I've been at the bedside for 35 years and plan to be there until I retire. There are plenty of us who still love patient care!

%63theend · Feb 12, 2014

I'm in a similar position. I want to LOVE nursing. Right now I dread most shifts. I'm depressed going in and when I leave. Part of that is because of being disrespected by the other nurses and doctors and part of that is because I am new to nursing and new to my floor and I hate being the one getting help instead of being an expert. I'm thinking some of this will change as I gain experience.

Like you, I've tried multiple jobs in a short frame of time. I've found things I like about nursing this way but have found many more I dislike, leaving me to wonder if I am "cut out" to be a nurse after all.

I like:

Helping people/ making a difference Learning about health and medicine

Making good money

Working a non mon-fri schedule

Putting in IVs (weird right), doing EKGs

I dislike:

Being rushed so I can't provide the best care Liability

Pushed beyond my limits physically, mentally, and emotionally

Being disrespected by drs and nurses

Not feeling capable to do new tasks I've never done before and not feeling like I have the right resources to help me when those things come up High stress

I'm working on my masters because I believe in educating myself as much as possible but sometimes I wonder if I should drop that and walk away from nursing altogether! Right now I'm really struggling with do I try another floor after this? Or do I get out.

I'm leaning towards trying a different hospital and different type of nursing. One more hurrah before throwing in the towel. I worked too hard for this degree, I'm making progress in my masters, and I feel good to be able to call myself "a nurse". Like you, I'm committed to staying on my new floor to try and gain some confidence, knowledge, build my résumé, and see if I can't learn to love it. God knows I want to.

If I don't love it or at least like it somewhat after a year or two I think I'm going to try mother-baby or just something else totally new. I have also considered hospice care- I really think I'd like that. So maybe there are a few more things out there for me to try. Maybe there are for you, too. It's this being new business that is hard. I think you and I have done ourselves no favors moving around so much. GL to you!

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 12, 2014

I'm in a similar position. I want to LOVE nursing. Right now I dread most shifts. I'm depressed going in and when I leave. Part of that is because of being disrespected by the other nurses and doctors and part of that is because I am new to nursing and new to my floor and I hate being the one getting help instead of being an expert. I'm thinking some of this will change as I gain experience.
Like you, I've tried multiple jobs in a short frame of time. I've found things I like about nursing this way but have found many more I dislike, leaving me to wonder if I am "cut out" to be a nurse after all.
I like:
Helping people/ making a difference Learning about health and medicine
Making good money
Working a non mon-fri schedule
Putting in IVs (weird right), doing EKGs
I dislike:
Being rushed so I can't provide the best care Liability
Pushed beyond my limits physically, mentally, and emotionally
Being disrespected by drs and nurses
Not feeling capable to do new tasks I've never done before and not feeling like I have the right resources to help me when those things come up High stress
I'm working on my masters because I believe in educating myself as much as possible but sometimes I wonder if I should drop that and walk away from nursing altogether! Right now I'm really struggling with do I try another floor after this? Or do I get out.
I'm leaning towards trying a different hospital and different type of nursing. One more hurrah before throwing in the towel. I worked too hard for this degree, I'm making progress in my masters, and I feel good to be able to call myself "a nurse". Like you, I'm committed to staying on my new floor to try and gain some confidence, knowledge, build my résumé, and see if I can't learn to love it. God knows I want to.
If I don't love it or at least like it somewhat after a year or two I think I'm going to try mother-baby or just something else totally new. I have also considered hospice care- I really think I'd like that. So maybe there are a few more things out there for me to try. Maybe there are for you, too. It's this being new business that is hard. I think you and I have done ourselves no favors moving around so much. GL to you!

I think you have to not only gain experience, but stay in the same place long enough to become comfortable and competent in that job. You really have done yourself no favors by moving around so much.

%63theend · Feb 13, 2014

Agreed. I moved around for reasons other than not liking my jobs. I had valid reasons for both moves but I think if I could've stayed at my first job I would be a lot better off right now as far as knowledge base and confidence level. I know I'll stay on my current floor for a long time because I have the need to be an "expert" and I want my résumé to be in good order. I also hope I'll grow to love my floor and not want to leave it. There are things about it that I like and I really do believe in time that list will grow.