I need guidance

Swellz · Jan 10, 2020

If you browse through here, you'll see a lot of people question whether they want to continue in med-surg, in the hospital, or be a nurse at all. I question myself constantly about that, especially after the burnout I've been struggling with. It's very normal. You've just gone through a pretty big transition, so I think you need to give yourself some time to adjust.

I'm sure leaving nursing to start your own business with your boyfriend sounds like a great idea right now, especially while you're frustrated at work, but I'd caution you about doing that so soon in your nursing career and in your relationship. You will always have the option to do that later on, and more nursing experience under your belt now means more opportunities open to you later.

JKL33 · Jan 10, 2020

I would also recommend giving nursing a little more time. You said that you had trouble adjusting to the accounting office position, too, and yet now you are sort of missing it. That could mean that you might develop similar feelings about nursing once you have become more adjusted to it.

It's normal to miss something we were comfortable with when we find ourselves in the uncomfortable position of being in a new area. Sometimes it's that we really do miss the old thing, but sometimes we just miss feeling comfortable.

If you make it through the normal adjustment period in nursing and are getting along and doing well at work and you still miss your previous career - sure, look for opportunities in nursing that might involve some of those old attributes you miss, or consider going back to your previous career.

marie.rn2419, RN · Jan 11, 2020

As the posters above have said, nursing sucks at least for 6 months to a year. You invested in your education. Give it a shot, try a different unit. You took the time to get through nursing school. Its difficult to plunge back in to acute care if you get out of the field for a period of time, so I advise you to at least get the year of 'hospital experience' for job apps later, in the event you leave and then decide to give nursing another try. Good luck!

Davey Do · Jan 11, 2020

I admire the fact that you're doing some gathering of data in your problem-solving process, vanilla_brownie. I echo the advice of others: give nursing a real chance before you make this major life decision.

In life, everything we choose to do, the roads we take, and the people who we have relationships with, have their assets and liabilities. The decision is up to us on whether we want to deal with the liabilities in order to experience the assets.

Good luck and the best to you, vanilla_brownie!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Jan 11, 2020

Med/Surg is not for a lot of people. I don't think you've been at it long enough to throw your career away, however. You need to get that year + of experience in before you can really tell whether you enjoy nursing. And maybe it IS Med/Surg that you don't like, and you would be better off applying somewhere else. Urgent Care clinics, doctors' offices etc. are great for someone who likes M-F, no holidays (you may have to work the occasional Saturday though). They are also less stressful on the body as you won't be lifting heavy patients into and out of beds, and you're not dealing with dangerously ill patients for the most part, although they can surprise you and require urgent transfer to the hospital.

If you can, please consider sticking with your current job for at least a year, longer if possible. You will learn a LOT, which will stand you in good stead when you do decide to explore other options. It sounds like your workplace is pretty good if they have 5:1 ratios and decent administration. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, and if you went back to your former career you'd probably get bored and leave again within a fairly short period of time. Don't let the first year of nursing run you off---it stinks in the beginning, but it does get better after you've been at it for a while.

Good luck to you. Viva

kagephoenix, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Jan 11, 2020

My husband and I have a business together going on 4 years. I am also a new nurse, only 6 months in, and I work night shifts in the ED. Life is very busy but it is possible to do both! I work 3 shifts a week at the hospital and 2-3 days a week at our business. I'm still working out the kinks and figuring out a balance but we are making it work. Good luck to you!

Green Tea, RN · Jan 12, 2020

I found I made a mistake choosing nursing after I got into a nursing program. I graduated anyway and became a nurse. I have been a nurse for four years (a year of med surg and the rest in the OR). I am in school for a non-nursing degree now and work part time. I will leave nursing for good once I get this degree, but in retrospect I am glad that I did not quit nursing school or being a nurse abruptly because many nursing jobs are flexible schedule wise once you have experience (it helps me financially). As other people say, I would recommend you to finish a year of your med surg at least. Good luck.

choksantos, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2020

Nursing is not for everyone, it's good that you are starting to question your choice early on, it means you're not willing to be stuck on a wrong choice and be miserable, although my advice would be wait till you get a year in nursing then make a choice.Might not be a nursing but if you follow your boyfriend in his job and your relationship does not work-out,it will be an awkward situation.

2BS Nurse, BSN · Jan 13, 2020

Even my experienced RN friends say "Med Surg kicks my ***!" Finish up your 1 year then move on. Try another option before quitting altogether. You can move to outpatient but your earning opportunities will be more limited (no overtime, very small shift differential for the weekends).

Just me. · Jan 13, 2020

Nursing is the hardest job I've ever had. For me its a love/hate relationship. I've questioned numerous times, is this for me? I still question it 20 years later, why do I do this to myself? In part, even after all these years, I don't think I've found my ideal position. I'm working on it before it is too late.

When I left the float pool(med-surge included), it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I did it for 7 years. I have much respect for the nurses who love it, I cannot understand it.? I am glad for the experience.

You mentioned the patient load is okay, is there good team work?

Are you sleeping well after shifts?

Have you considered even trying another shift or part-time?

nursex23, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2020

On 1/10/2020 at 2:22 PM, vanilla_brownie said:
I've found myself really missing the office life. I miss the 9-5 schedule, dressing up and looking nice for work, and I really miss how predictable it is.

Have you looked into school nursing? I work 8-3, 5 days a week which is 35 hours but still full-time. I can wear business casual but I choose to wear scrubs to make it easier to get ready in the morning and my days are pretty predicable. I also get thanksgiving break, winter break, spring break, summer break and any holidays off. It is an absolutely amazing "office" job. I do a lot of clerical work such as filing papers, mostly doctor's notes and vaccines and physicals. I also get students in my office who are sick or injured and it's usually straight forward and obvious what to do. I came from an LTACH which is kind of similar to med-surg. It was way too stressful and I hated every minute of it. But even my good days on the floor were still worse than my bad days as a school nurse. It sounds like everything you miss about an office job, a school nursing job could give you including a better work-life balance.

Now this is just my personal opinion but I would not leave nursing to be closer to your boyfriend. I wouldn't put my marbles on I want to start a business with this person in the future. If you're going to start a business with someone, it should be because you both have a specific business plan that you both believe in and are wholeheartedly committed to. In theory, it would be nice to work closely with your significant other but it is a recipe for disaster if you both own a business together and the relationship or the business fails. I would approach the whole business thing with extreme caution.

I read your last post and I 110% know that feeling. Most of those feelings completely disappeared with school nursing so I highly suggest giving it a shot. The biggest thing I think you should do right now is take every day, every hour, every minute of working on your med-surg unit and learn from everything. Even building people skills will be tremendously helpful in your future whatever you choose to do. I was a soft, timid person who avoided confrontation at all costs but being put in situations as a hospital nurse really helped me grow a backbone and navigate confrontation.

I know it feels like your soul is being crushed but it's not all for nothing. You will leave this job/situation a better person because of it. I wish you all the best in what you choose to do.