I really want to quit..any advice?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello...hope everyone is keeping safe,

I am looking for advice. I am a new nurse...1 month in practice and I literally think about leaving my job everyday. I am a med surg nurse and I am regretting choosing med surg. I am not enjoying it and I hate that I feel this way. I feel overwhelmed, resentful of patients being mean, angry and ordering me around. Get me this, get me that without a thank you. I'm caring for them and they are yelling at me. I know they are suffering but...any advice?

Hey,

Sorry for the long response.

I know exactly where you are coming from. It started for me with catty co-workers and turned into resentment towards patients. I stuck it out for about 2 years after I started having those feelings and for me I had to walk away because they never went away, even when changing work settings. When I finally quit nursing it was the happiest I had been in a long time.

During my career transition, I ended up taking a job as a cashier/recreation aid while I studied for an IT certification. I was able to study on the job and had no stress. I was successful in passing the exam and earned my certification and I start work in the IT field next week.

I made a post in Oct 2017 giving more back story and asking if anyone else had second thoughts about quitting. That post was met with basically telling me to grow up and that's what nursing is, which I feel you received some comments similar.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you can push through this and make it out on top.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Thank you so much for your responses. Everyone's perspective has really helped me. I still do not enjoy med surg but o have changed the way I have approached it and have had many accolades since.

9 hours ago, giggles6814 said:

Hey,

Sorry for the long response.

I know exactly where you are coming from. It started for me with catty co-workers and turned into resentment towards patients. I stuck it out for about 2 years after I started having those feelings and for me I had to walk away because they never went away, even when changing work settings. When I finally quit nursing it was the happiest I had been in a long time.

During my career transition, I ended up taking a job as a cashier/recreation aid while I studied for an IT certification. I was able to study on the job and had no stress. I was successful in passing the exam and earned my certification and I start work in the IT field next week.

I made a post in Oct 2017 giving more back story and asking if anyone else had second thoughts about quitting. That post was met with basically telling me to grow up and that's what nursing is, which I feel you received some comments similar.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you can push through this and make it out on top.

Thank you so much for your honest answer!

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.
On 4/6/2020 at 10:20 AM, Nurse SMS said:

If you think med-surg is hard, wait until you are dealing with financially, socially and employed stretched parents on top of being worried about their kid and mistrustful of you. You will relate with them just as often as the children.

Thank you for your post. I was one of those parents who had to care for a sick child for 12 years until she passed last year so I know these people well. I can relate to them so maybe peds might be a little easier for me.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
2 hours ago, Sunny Diem said:

Thank you for your post. I was one of those parents who had to care for a sick child for 12 years until she passed last year so I know these people well. I can relate to them so maybe peds might be a little easier for me.

That makes total sense. I lost my oldest son to cancer when he was 13, so we are members of the same club. I wanted to be an oncology nurse and discovered when I got into it that it was just too close to home. If you feel you have the capacity for peds, you will likely do very well. I wish you the best of luck. I am so sorry for your grief.

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Hey, new nurse here.

I hear you and I feel you. I’m constantly in a state of stress about my job, whether it is the patients or the typical nurse imposter syndrome kicking in. My coworker says it takes about 2 years to feel comfortable in the role of RN. I can’t offer much advice other than I see you, I understand, and we will both pull through this

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
On 4/6/2020 at 5:44 AM, Sunny Diem said:

Thank you everyone for responding. I think I feel this way because I regret choosing med surg over pediatrics. I am going to try to stick it out and work over to pediatrics.

Meanwhile, it might be helpful to check out what resources are available to you to help with the stress of your new work. Your mental and emotional health is really important as you find your best place to grow. We are not all the same and that is a wonderful thing. Having an older nursing friend or mentor to talk to might be of benefit.

One of my oldest friends died recently. She was my nursing mentor who became a close friend. Our children grew up as regular playmates and close friends. We encouraged one another through long and diverse nursing careers. Nursing can be a brutal and fulfilling way to make a living ... find your rhythm. I was never cut out for med surg either, many of us aren't. Just don't break yourself before you get out, please.

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