I need to get excited about nursing

LovePurple · Nov 17, 2009

to add on to it.. I even thought about getting some random full time job.. but then think why make 10/hr if I can make 20! If I did anything BUT nursing I would feel like a loser. I mean that's what I went to school for. Feels like it almost comes down to sanity vs pay. And of course everyone I talk to outside of nursing is like oh it's no big deal! You'll be fine. You can do it. Just get used to it. But to me that's people's lives in my hands! And that's MULTIPLE patients for upwards of 12 and 16 hours at a time. sheessshhhh what to do.. what to do... it sucks to have to grow up

groovy jeff, RN · Nov 18, 2009

Why do you think the medication idea is wrong? Your not taking it because of a job, you would be taking it because of anxiety. Also it would probably be only a temporary situation; as you became more comfortable in your job you could stop taking it. I waited 35 years to become an RN and I truly enjoy this calling. I have only been on the job for 3 weeks total and yes it is stressful and I don't think I know what I am doing; I am going through all the stuff that we new grads are suppose to go through. I wouldn't flinch at doing what it takes to practice whether it be counseling, hypnosis, medication, etc.

Good luck & stay groovy!

LovePurple · Nov 18, 2009

I don't want to go the medication route because yes, it would be for the anxiety.. not for the actual job, but it would be anxiety FROM the job... remove that job from the situation and no medication needed. The last job I was at, There may have only been 1 girl on the floor not on some sort of anxiety medication. To me that should say something about the job/staffing/work load/hours. But it seems like everyone I talk to has the same issue.. even at other facilities. I kinda feel like life is too short to be stressed all the time and not enjoy it

Diaper, RN · Nov 18, 2009

First of all, you need to forget about your past bad experiences. Many people have had bad experience in their previous jobs but the only way you can move forward is to learn the mistakes from the past and move on.

A lot of times, things don't go as well as we planned, eg, patient died during CPR. On the other hand, many patients are able to recover from their illnesses is due to the care that they received from the hospital.

Instead of keep thinking about 'killing the patient', you should think more positive. Everyday before you go to work, you should tell yourself that you're going to help/make someone's life feels better. If you have faith to yourself, you can do it ! :up:

LovePurple · Nov 18, 2009

First of all, you need to forget about your past bad experiences. Many people have had bad experience in their previous jobs but the only way you can move forward is to learn the mistakes from the past and move on.
A lot of times, things don't go as well as we planned, eg, patient died during CPR. On the other hand, many patients are able to recover from their illnesses is due to the care that they received from the hospital.
Instead of keep thinking about 'killing the patient', you should think more positive. Everyday before you go to work, you should tell yourself that you're going to help/make someone's life feels better. If you have faith to yourself, you can do it !

thanks for the reply. i guess at this point I'm just scared of getting in another situation, taking a new job, and it still not being in an area that I'm happy with. i hate to keep waiting around and feel like the longer i'm out the harder it will be to get back in.. but at the same time don't want to take something and quit after 4 or 5 months. I'd like to find a 'home' in nursing.. but i guess that just comes with trial and error.. never know until you try.

jjjoy, LPN · Nov 18, 2009

Try to keep in mind that it would NOT be a failure or shameful if you ultimately left another nursing job. It would provide very useful evidence and experience. It would help direct you to an area where you can shine (instead of getting stuck in a job that makes you crazy but you don't want to quit). You could end up better able to evaluate future opportunities. You would refine old skills and learn new skills that could help you in future job pursuits. By being there, you might learn about some other great opportunity or make useful professional contacts. Or you might end up loving it and staying in acute care bedside nursing!

I totally understand not wanting to make a "wrong" choice. Yes, it could negatively affect hiring decisions in the future. On the other hand, who wants to work for someone who won't be supportive of an anxiety-prone newbie? Remember that it's okay to be less than perfect. While supervisors and colleagues may be quick to point out problems, that doesn't mean that you're hopeless. The reality is that every nurse, every person in the world has their strengths and weaknesses. We've all met wonderful, long-experienced nurses who still do things that at times make us wonder how they've managed.

Regardless of endless advice about careful evaluation and good decision making, the bottom line is if you don't know what job will work, how can you possibly know what the "right" choice is? You can't. And others will tell you what is best based upon their own experiences which may not be applicable to your situation.

So you roll the dice, see how it goes, and move forward with whatever new insight you gained in that experience.

----

Personally, I tried several bedside nursing jobs and didn't last long. Besides the usual dreadful struggles of feeling totally useless, overwhelming responsibility, managing chaos, etc. Even while my competence and confidence grew (when I started feeling like I really had something to offer patients besides a bumbling idiot), I was observing the experienced nurses and thinking 'THAT is what I'm striving for? To be running all shift, never getting a chance to really give holistic care to patients, constantly having to put off important tasks because an even more important things need to be taken care of. Sure, I could build my competencies & become more confident in my practice, but I'd still be looking for a way out of the chaos. And many non-bedside jobs rightly require a good deal of clinical experience. But if working a bedside-related job wasn't for me, then much of the job security & flexibility with decent stable pay etc that is so appealing about nursing flies out the window. Yes, there are other options. Through my experiences, I decided that instead of using my nursing degree directly, I could make good use of my background in other ways.

I applied to jobs that sounded like something I would really be able to be comfortable coming in for day after day, year after year, focusing on health-related job openings (eg local hospital, medical supply company). I ended up in health information and have taken to it like a duck to water.

guest64485 · Nov 19, 2009

great post by jjjoy! And I agree that you don't want to be in a job where you have to take meds to get through the day. Unfortunately a lot of hospitals run on chaos and short staffing. Please remember some things are not worth your sanity, and living each day dreading the next is no way to live.

Have you thought about applying for jobs outside of the hospital? Things like office nursing, school, insurance companies, community health, private care, etc? Click on the specialty tab, then nursing specialties to see a comprehensive list. It takes time, and is frustrating trying to find a job that will work for the long term. Give yourself a break, don't try to force things to work if it just won't.

Also right now a lot of public health departments are looking for help to administer the h1n1 vaccine. Get in contact with them for some temp work, and that will help boost your spirits and resume.

And if another career path is in your future, it is not considered a failure to not work as a nurse. It only adds onto your background as a knowledgeable person, with more to draw from. Your nursing experience would be helpful if you were to apply to nearly any hospital job - remember, they have marketing departments, HR (nurse recruiter), charitable giving department, etc.

LovePurple · Nov 19, 2009

Hey Thanks JJJoy and ayvah! Great responses! That helped a lot! I do have an interview Saturday..it's sort of a health fair type thing with DHHR and they have a few office positions available! I hope I can pull it off! I'm sure there will be many more experienced nurses.. but I'll just have to wow them with my enthusiasm =) I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. Hopefully something comes of it. I think it would def be a load lifted to have a normal schedule and still actually BE working as a nurse!

as for the hospital... if this doesn't work out i may end up back there.. basically because i need the insurance and $... then i look at threads and people are like we work at the hospital and it's chaos. It does get better but you still see the seasoned nurses running around their entire shift! Is that REALLY what we are striving for!? Just doesn't seem right. So anyway- I still feel like I should 'conquer' the hospital world when I see all these other nurses, but why put myself through that. so hopefully I won't have to.. and if I do, hopefully I can find something I really enjoy!