I need guidance

[vanilla_brownie]

I became an RN 6 months ago and started my first job ever in a hospital immediately. I work nights on a busy Med-Surg unit. Staffing ratios are pretty good, and I've never had to take care of more than 5 patients at a time. It was (and still is sometimes) very rough for me. Before this, I worked in an accounting department and had so much trouble adjusting. It has gotten just a little easier, and I've somewhat developed my own flow. Of course I still have bad shifts.

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. My boyfriend of 1+ year works in a tax office and is working towards earning his CPA, and I would love to work with him. We've talked about the possibility of opening some sort of business in the future. However, I'm not sure how that would ever work with us being in such different fields.

I have been thinking that maybe I made a mistake, and I should have just stayed in accounting. However, I also feel that it might be a mistake to make a career change so early on. Everyone says to give nursing a year before it gets better, and there are so many different pathways I could take. Maybe Med-Surg is just not for me. I'm just not sure what I should do, and I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar experience?

[CKPM2RN, ASN, EMT-P]

Absolutely what nursex23 said! My sister is a school nurse and she loves it. The hours are 100% predictable, you have all the school breaks (with some exceptions for in-service and start of year planning), and there are opportunities to make extra cash by offering to work summer school or school camps.

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

There is so so so much more to nursing than working nights on a med-surge floor. If you want to stick it our for a year, to get experience, fine. But the light at the end of the tunnel can be “find a 9-5 nursing job that I love” rather than “quit nursing.” My job is 8-4:30, no holidays, very few weekends. I truly feel like I am making a difference and USING my nursing training (just not in the traditional way of starting IVs and inserting catheters). The wonderful thing about nursing is that you can find a job that fits your schedule, your talent, and your ambitions.

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

I'd advise you to look back and remember why you chose to leave accounting for nursing, and then try to find a nursing job that helps fulfill that desire. As they say, the grass isn't always greener, but I wouldn't fully give up on nursing just yet until you explore other pathways within the career.

[Golden_RN, MSN]

I cringe when a married couple opens a business together because if it fails or flounders there is no "regular" salary & benefits for the couple to depend on. There are plenty of 9-5 nursing jobs if that's the lifestyle you miss. You may need some more patient care experience to qualify for some of those 9-5 jobs, but in my opinion you put too much work getting your nursing education to leave so soon.