I need to vent :(

Some (if not all--I'm not familiar w/ all) of our local county health dept's have RN-run programs that do a lot of home visits and teaching for new parents. The most involved programs are geared toward families that are low income or otherwise at risk for health disparity. Do you know if your program's requirements meet the PHN certification requirements? I ask because the RN-to-BSN program I'm doing right now has sufficient didactic and practicum hours that when we graduate we automatically qualify for PHN certification. That could be something for you to check into, since it could help give you an edge for this type of nursing.

Otherwise, what about becoming a lactation consultant?

You have expressed a lot of my same concerns being a new ER nurse. I get anxious on my days off just thinking about going back to work. I absolutely love it and love the people but my lack of knowledge has me feeling inadequate.

From what others have told me, I think you need to give it time. We are learning so much more than we learned in school. It is going to take time for us to feel like we belong.

Find your niche!!! I was a unit secretary in L&D for 4 years and could not wait to work in this area when I became licensed. NOT!!! I went to the NICU which I love for the most part. I understand how you feel. I work with a few young nurses who are not feeling it but are waiting to go to other areas like OR, ICU, and public health. Just hang in there and things will come to fruition. Be honest with your feelings is it the unit itself or the area you are not feeling? It could be both. Nursing offers a dynamic areas of practice choose what you love and go for it. :-)

Here's another option...when my twins were discharged from the NICU, we met with a nurse who was employed by the home equipment company. She educated us on how to use the equipment and what to watch for in terms of complications. She had more time to spend with us in education than the NICU nurses. I think there are a lot of options out there for you!

Thanks KelRn- I would be interested in those areas!! I will be looking into it. Thanks for responding 😁

Yeah I definitely think I had a different idea of how nursing would be after school and it was nothing like the reality. I think I would be great in public health nursing but I've always been told to get hospital experience before going into public health.

Klone- thanks for that!! 😁

CountryMomma- that would be ideal, dumb question but WIC utilizes RN's in the clinics? i thought it may have been strictly social work/dietary

Pockunit- I've been considering PP, as much as I want to leave now Im gonna try to stick it out for this yr. & use this time to look into other areas of nursing that may be more of my speed. Thanks for responding :)

Sjalv- I love the babies :) they make me happy even when the rest of my job is frustrating and overwhelming. I think its a mix of the intensity, the overwhelming feeling of the hospital, the being pulled back & forth. Its not what I thought it would be. But when I do get the time to actually build a relationship with the parents of my babies & teach them things it makes me feel very useful as a nurse. If I could find a spot in nursing that allowed me to have this satisfaction everyday I went to work I feel like I would enjoy going to work everyday :) I want to find that avenue, but I do think it would help if I stayed here for at least a yr to gain this experience as I am a new nurse. Thanks so much for responding

#NurseB- I agree being a new grad is very frustrating at times. I cant wait to feel confident in what I am doing and actually have the experience to draw from when making decisions. Good luck to you as a new nurse as well & thanks for responding :)