I had to quit nursing

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi,

I've been a nurse almost 3 years on and off because of the birth of my daughter I took some time off. I quit a med surg job recently because I was too stressed out and miserable to continue. I am also 6 months pregnant for another baby and could not handle the smells of the hospital. I would run to the bathroom and dry heave every time I worked (if not on my shift then afterwards in my car). It was awful. I did not feel as if I could continue with it because of the nature of the job. You get treated like **** by patients you dont get to eat and you barely get a bathroom break. I tried to get taken out of work by my obgyn but her response was it wasnt a medical reason and I would have to go see a psychologist because of the anxiety. I have been anxious/depressed because of this field. I was on an antidepressant before but got off to get pregnant again. I dont think any job is worth having to be on an antidepressant just to stay somewhat sane. Its crazy what this field will do to you. I would not reccommend it to anyone!!!! I dont think I will ever go back to hospital nursing or any nursing for a while (probably forever) its not worth being drained of your soul. Anyone else quit nursing and having a hard time?

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why not try another facility or area rather than out right quitting?

best of luck on whatever you decide

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Hello. I haven't been a nurse very long, but I know there are other options out there besides the hospital setting. Hospitals are not for everyone. I was miserable in my job at a hospital, but then I found hospice, and so far it is such a better fit for me. With three years of experience I imagine that you could do all kinds of different jobs like management, case management, etc. Hospital nursing is kinda crazy, and I think that's kind of the nature of the job. But outside of the hospital setting seems a bit less stressful for me. Good luck to you! :balloons:

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You should rethink whether or not your MD is really meeting your needs. It sounds as if she is not listening to your concerns and really hearing what you are saying. Perhaps it is only the pregnancy that is pulling you down so far that you can't cope. Take some time off for motherhood and your family for awhile but please don't give up on nursing yet. Right now you are reacting to unusual circumstances. You might change your outlook greatly once you are back on your feet and able to try it again under different circumstances. Good luck to you and congratulations on the new one on the way.

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There are so many fields in nursing that you could go into besides the hospital setting. Don't give up so soon. Maybe take some time off while you are pregnant and after having the baby. Maybe bedside nursing is just not for you. Whatever you do, do not let you license lapse. There may be a time that you want to explore your options. Good luck!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Keep your license, but if you can afford it, take some time off and raise your babies. Maybe work 1 or 2 days a week just to keep your foot in the door. Going off your meds during pregnancy, while necessary for the babe, probably is making you feel worse. With a little one, and another on the way, everything can seem overwhelming. I don't know your financial situation, but if at all possible, take care of your family first, and your career will be there waiting for you.

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Specializes in MSN, FNP-BC.

Don't give up completely just yet. Why not try an office job? You could work for a health insurance company and there you get to sit in an office all day. Or you could go work in a doctor's office. We put too much time into our education to just give it up that easily.

I"m sorry that hospital nursing didn't work out for you. I wish you all the luck with your new baby.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

Good for you, I say! You shouldn't have to take psyche meds just to cope with unreasonable working conditions and a demanding public. I wouldn't mind getting out of nursing myself. I like some aspects of it, but hospital administrations and JCHAO are ruining it, plus a demanding, spoiled public that treats us like it's personal slaves. I stay because at least nursing pays well, you've got to admit that in the U.S. we get decent wages for our grief.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

As other posters have said, there are soooo many areas in which to practice nursing. Outside of bedside nursing, you could go back to school and get your MSN and become an advanced practice nurse where the hours may be more sane and where there would be more career mobility and autonomy. Also, there are nurses who work for insurance companies, nurses who are pharmaceutical reps, nurses who own their own businesses, nurses who are lawyers, nurses who are educators. I could go on and on but i'll spare you...

Good luck and I hope you dont give up....the sky's the limit!

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Hi,

I've been a nurse almost 3 years on and off because of the birth of my daughter I took some time off. I quit a med surg job recently because I was too stressed out and miserable to continue. I am also 6 months pregnant for another baby and could not handle the smells of the hospital. I would run to the bathroom and dry heave every time I worked (if not on my shift then afterwards in my car). It was awful. I did not feel as if I could continue with it because of the nature of the job. You get treated like **** by patients you dont get to eat and you barely get a bathroom break. I tried to get taken out of work by my obgyn but her response was it wasnt a medical reason and I would have to go see a psychologist because of the anxiety. I have been anxious/depressed because of this field. I was on an antidepressant before but got off to get pregnant again. I dont think any job is worth having to be on an antidepressant just to stay somewhat sane. Its crazy what this field will do to you. I would not reccommend it to anyone!!!! I dont think I will ever go back to hospital nursing or any nursing for a while (probably forever) its not worth being drained of your soul. Anyone else quit nursing and having a hard time?

The usual approach to your situation is to go ahead and discuss your situation with somebody else. Perhaps a veteran nurse. Even better a few veteran nurses (both male and female). chances are they have been in your situation (or have helped people who have been in your situation). They can then help you see the situation in a different light. A good opinion to think about would be that it doesn't really matter who you are if you are intelligent (and emotionally sound enough) to pass through nursing school there has to be something about nursing that you are good at, and enjoy.

When you have talked to these few people the solutions they will give you will probably be different but they will all have something in common. It is that common denominator that you need to apply in getting your situation settled. Sometimes when we look at the nursing field we tend to scream bloody murder at the first sign of trouble. All issues (whether in nursing or other professional fields) have a fix.

Some tips that we could use in nursing (or any other career field) when issues arise.

- Outline the issues you have

- Write down your own list of possible solutions to the issue.

- Ask other experts (or veterans of the field) their own opinions

- Add the opinions of those experts to yours.

- Combine your solutions with those of the experts.

- Draw out your action plan with these solutions.

This system (or other variations of it) are what you could use to attack/approach issues and problems at work. Do not let problems bully you. Over all, Godspeed in your new career.

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I agree that taking a look at your other options, outside of the hospital, may be a good idea. I am not a nurse yet, so I can't speak on that from personal experience. However, I have been in overwhelming situations before and now, looking back, I know that making any major decisions during that time was a bad idea. If you can afford to stay home with your children, or cut back to just a day or two, that could be a way to keep your foot in the door until you decide what avenue you want to pursue. (As someone else mentioned) Are there other things going on in your life besides the pregnancy which have been causing stress lately?

Good luck to you whatever you decide and big, warm congratulations on the impending arrival of your newest little one! :)

Tiffany

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I find allot of Nurses feel that it is their job to take abuse from others. Sometimes a...good attitude...will help with all of that stress at work. I do not care if you are the worlds greatest surgeon or the worlds most horrid patient. Just try to abuse me.

With that said, I agree with the general mantra of the other posters. Nursing is a large profession and has many opportunities to offer. If you can find a niche where you can excel, Nursing may in fact not be a write off at this point.

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