I am sad and disapointed

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi all,

I just need to vent. I am currently an RN in the ER and am rather miserable. I do not like being a nurse at all, at least in the ER I guess, but unfortunatly playing paramedic doesn't pay the bills. I feel bad because I also have a new grad to precept and I am just miserable most of the time. I hate going to work, actually I DRED going to work. I tried to transfer to L&D at my hospital, but they wont hire me without experience, I tried to transfer to special care and they some how managed to fill a position they only had posted for three days. GRRRRR.. Needless to say I am depressed and aggravated, gone are the days when I did not mind going to work.

To make matters worse I had a five year old the other day in the ER with a mother who I am sure is related to satan, so that did not help things. I understand you come across difficult parents, but this woman was worse than most, she had the attitude of a 10 year old, and would not speak to any staff after a while, and that was only because we couldnt get an IV on the first try in her five year old that weighed more than a five year old should.

I hate psych patients and we get many of those, hate needy patients, yup we get lots of those, hate taking care of elderly (I do beleive they deserve wonderful care), but I would rather not be the one giving them that wonderful care. I prefer pedi patients, but in order to specialize in just pedi critical care I would need to find a job in boston, which is almost impossible.

So has anyone else gone through this type of thing and things worked out???

Sweetooth :cry:

Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.
I would like to point out that pediatric patients also have parents that must be dealt with. Some can be as difficult as parents in the ER. Also...Psychiatric patients are everywhere not just in the ER.

Yes, I didn't just fall of the turnip truck, I know that. I seem to be able to calm a majority of parents down and handle them just fine. I know there will be nutty parents that will be a bit harder to deal with (as I made note of in my original post), but if it means not emptying grandmas bed pan for the fifth time then I am ok with it. I also know there are psychiatric patients in all ERs, again I didn't just fall off the turnip truck.

Sweetooth

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.
I am sorry to hear things aren't going well for you. I give ER nurses a lot of credit for what they do. Being on the front lines of healthcare is a hard job.

I suggest looking at your options. I wouldn't say "nursing isn't for me" but maybe "ER nursing might not be for me"?

The lovely thing about nursing is the options it gives us. I would start looking into those options straight away!

:icon_hug:

Tait

Tait,

Thank you for such a kind and thoughtful reply :saint:. I know that I should try other areas, and I will prior to quitting nursing all together.

Maybe I just need something new and more challenging, I have been doing ER/ emergency medicine type stuff since I graduated high school in 96. Might be time to move on.

Sweetooth

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I'm with you, Sweetooth. And it's not just the First Year Blues. I know this is not where my heart is or what I want to be doing. If I could just work with post intervention and pre open heart patients, I'd be in heaven. But the amount of medical overflow and just plain unpleasant and irritating people we get, coupled with having inadequate help, has me feeling pretty burnt out. Simply because I am burnt out does not mean I am not kind and respectful to my patients or that I don't do my best to give them the best care. And, it's much easier to say "just get a different job" than it is to do it. Though, I am working on it, and will keep at it.

Best of luck to you.

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in my own observational opinion, if every nurse that hated nursing left nursing, we would have very, very few nurses at all. unfortunately, i'm one of the ones that doesn't like it much either. there are minutes when i do like it, but then i switch right back to not liking it again. i'm exactly like you! i usually dred going to work and get depressed on the days i'm scheduled to work. here's to winning the lotto for all the nurses that hate nursing!! wooohoooooooo :)

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Specializes in SICU, MICU, CCU, Rehab.

I am sorry to hear that you are having a rough time. On a positive note: the paramedic experience you have can open a lot of doors. I don't know how experienced you are, but you might look into trauma nursing (either a trauma ER or ICU). Your first-responder expertise would be put to great use in those environments--plus, you won't have to deal with families very much and if your patients are crazy, more than likely they will end up sedated. My friend works ina level I trauma ICU and loves it. He was hired there as a new grad. Good Luck!!

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Hi all,

Thanks for all the replies, I am glad I am not alone. Please note that I am note mean to any patients regardless of how unhappy I am. I would never take it out on a patient!

On a good note I got an interview for a new job, so I am going say a few prayers and cross my fingers!

Sweetooth

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.
Hi all,

Thanks for all the replies, I am glad I am not alone. Please note that I am note mean to any patients regardless of how unhappy I am. I would never take it out on a patient!

On a good note I got an interview for a new job, so I am going say a few prayers and cross my fingers!

Sweetooth

Hey Sweetooth, you are not alone. I am in a similar situation. I loved EMS. I wished I didn't have to leave it, but I had to due to the schedule. I truly thought ER nursing would be a good fit and good substitute. I was wrong.

So....like you, I feel like I don't know where I fit in or where I would be happy. It's very frustrating.

Best of luck to you on finding your niche. I hope you find it soon!

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Have you thought of flight nursing?

Good luck in finding something that fits YOU!

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

I am a 'seasoned' nurse and I never ever had days in the begining where I hated nursing I dunno why it happens nowerdays maybe the expectations are harder.

But I do understand hating my job and wanting to move I have felt that several times in the past few years and I have moved and when I felt like that again I have moved. It has never been something which has gone against me so good luck I am sure you will find something suitable with your background-maybe you will need to throw the net wider

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.
Hey Sweetooth, you are not alone. I am in a similar situation. I loved EMS. I wished I didn't have to leave it, but I had to due to the schedule. I truly thought ER nursing would be a good fit and good substitute. I was wrong.

So....like you, I feel like I don't know where I fit in or where I would be happy. It's very frustrating.

Best of luck to you on finding your niche. I hope you find it soon!

Thank you for your reply.

Yeah, I know my stuff, because I have to when working on the ambulance. I miss doing that full time, mainly because I hate having to ask a doctor to give meds etc... Its a reall pain when your use to assessing patients and treating them on your own.

While most of the ER nurses are afraid to do certain things, I am the complete opposite I would be happy working in an ER minus a doctor :) .

Good luck to you as well medic2RN.

Sweetooth

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.
Have you thought of flight nursing?

Good luck in finding something that fits YOU!

hi,

yes I have, and I would love to do that, unfortunatly most programs around here want you to have at least a BSN plus five years of ICU or ER experience. I have only been a nurse for a year and a few months, but if I could put my two associates degrees together to make a batchelors I would be all set.

I truly have no desire to get my BSN, I do want a batchelors degree, but in biology or biochem, somthing interesting.

Sweetooth

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Have you thought of flight nursing?

Good luck in finding something that fits YOU!

I was just getting ready to post this because in her profile she said her passion was EMS. This is similar and will pay the bills.

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