I don't think I'm cut out for nursing

K. Everly, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2021

Nursing is such a vast field. Not all of it is acute care. There is definitely a place out there for you if nursing still feels like a calling!

Personally, I am headed onto an acute rehab floor (working primarily with neuro pts) as a new grad and I start on Thursday. I felt like the pace of ortho med-surg for the 4 weeks we oriented there was a nightmare for me. The people weren’t unstable enough to need progressive care, but I was still absolutely shocked by the ratios and expectations considering half the ppl were on Tele and had a crap ton of stuff going on and in immense pain. I don’t think I would have sucked at it forever but it would have taken me a lot of time to get comfortable. My preceptor had to tell me many times to cut myself some slack because my expectations of myself were higher than his was for me. Thankfully I didn’t quit the job or anything, because orienting on a med-surg floor is standard for my residency and then we bid on permanent unit placements, which worked out well because I knew 100% after this experience that I did not want to work in med-surg or intermediate/PCU.

It sounds like maybe you aren’t giving yourself enough credit too. Nursing is very hard, but it’ll be less difficult when you find a place that you really love.

JBMmom, MSN, NP · Dec 14, 2021

Be kind to yourself. You started in one of the most difficult years anyone in nursing has experienced in recent times. You are very quick to point out areas where you feel you fell short in your performance, surely there were areas where you did very well, or perhaps you weren't doing as poorly as you perceive but you were not set up in a place to be successful. If you're at all interested in med-surg or ICU, you can do it. Everyone is slow with assessments and things like lab values, it takes time to make connections. If you're an academic type learner I recommend the "made incredibly easy" books. There's a med-surg edition. It has things laid out in a logical manner and presents some good pearls in a way that they're easy to remember. You're still within your first year, you can probably find a new grad program. If you had any classmates that you still keep in touch with, maybe they had a good program and would recommend you apply there.

You can find a place in nursing and if you want to try acute care again, go for it! Good luck.

Jules19, RN · Dec 18, 2021

It is great that you speak up for yourself and admit that you do not feel comfortable, and I am sorry that you have had such a bad 1st year! Your 1st few years are learning experiences; you SHOULD be slow with med passes and assessments. And not knowing what labs are vital...that is very poor training on your companies' part. I don't know how many hospitals are in your area, but I strongly recommend that you check out different ones. You don't mention in your post, but do you actually like nursing? Figure out what you truly love about the job and then talk with a mentor about what you need to do to get there. If you really love what you do, I have no doubt that you will find your way! When I graduated, I knew that I absolutely hated hospital nursing. I got a job at a drug/alcohol rehab center and hated that. I interviewed/shadowed/researched every job I could find (wound care, foot care, laser hair removal, administration) and I realized that I did not actually enjoy nursing. I am now working behind the scenes in a lab at a company developing life-saving meds and I LOVE what I do!! We need nurses now more than ever...we are literally in a crisis! If you at all enjoy what you do, please persevere and in 5 years I guarantee that you will enjoy the hardships that you have gone through!!

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Dec 20, 2021

On 12/13/2021 at 9:25 PM, mzilos said:

I've reached the 1 year mark as a nurse and as I'm looking to transition into a new role (aka find a new job). I realized a few things 1) my first nursing job out of school traumatized the hell out of me because I started during COVID and I realized I was a slow learner/was not cut out of the pace of the floor, 2) I've been a clinic nurse for over a year now and I'm still not confident in my knowledge, and 3) feels like I have imposter syndrome.

All that being said, I would like to try again on the floor, but not med-surg. I'm too afraid because I had a bad experience the first time around. My preceptor and educator were constantly gaslighting me, I wasn't quick, my med pass and assessments were slow. I didn't know what labs were vital, honestly even when I read through books on cardiac nursing, some things didn't make sense to me. And when I was honest that I didn't feel ready to be on my own, I got tossed somewhere else.

Needless to say, my floor experience was so bad that it shot my confidence and made me never want to revisit acute care nursing again... until now, and I'm still hesitant. I wish I was cut out for something like ICU or even med-surg, but I feel like I'm just not cut out for nursing, period. I feel so lost now trying to figure out what I would actually be good at, but even with neuro I still feel like I don't know much.

Now is not a good time to be a nurse in the hospitals. Why do you want to quit your present clinic job? Are you trying to prove something to yourself or is there something wrong with your present job ie mgr, coworker etc? I would suggest trying another clinic job, maybe in a specialty you would like ie family practice, internal med, dermatology, cardiology, etc.

As someone who persevered and worked almost 30 years bedside, I would not advise it. It was always stressful, but working conditions have seriously worsened over the years and then all the cost cutting hit the fan when covid came.

This should be a wake up call to improve conditions, but it doesn't sound like many hospitals are interested. Instead they are looking for the federal government to bail them out, calling on the national guard or their state to give them money and nurses. I don't know of places with plans to lower patient ratios or add CNA's or LPN's and other support staff. Instead this crisis gives them the excuse to raise ratios and cut support staff and work short because of the so called nursing shortage.

I've read around 1/2 million healthcare workers have quit their jobs since covid. Some retired, some took non bedside jobs and some just took a break for the safety and mental health. I took early retirement due to the unsafe and terrible working conditions of a greedy corporate system that I felt was endangering my physical and mental health to stay and I don't mean covid! I mean a heart attack or a stroke and a nervous breakdown!

I wouldn't advise wading into this mess when you already are hesitant, doubt yourself and had a terrible experience the first go around. Many hospital nurses are looking for an exit plan and would be overjoyed to have your clinic job! Think twice before going back to the hospital!

GBC_Student, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2021

On 12/13/2021 at 10:25 PM, mzilos said:

I've reached the 1 year mark as a nurse and as I'm looking to transition into a new role (aka find a new job). I realized a few things 1) my first nursing job out of school traumatized the hell out of me because I started during COVID and I realized I was a slow learner/was not cut out of the pace of the floor, 2) I've been a clinic nurse for over a year now and I'm still not confident in my knowledge, and 3) feels like I have imposter syndrome.

All that being said, I would like to try again on the floor, but not med-surg. I'm too afraid because I had a bad experience the first time around. My preceptor and educator were constantly gaslighting me, I wasn't quick, my med pass and assessments were slow. I didn't know what labs were vital, honestly even when I read through books on cardiac nursing, some things didn't make sense to me. And when I was honest that I didn't feel ready to be on my own, I got tossed somewhere else.

Needless to say, my floor experience was so bad that it shot my confidence and made me never want to revisit acute care nursing again... until now, and I'm still hesitant. I wish I was cut out for something like ICU or even med-surg, but I feel like I'm just not cut out for nursing, period. I feel so lost now trying to figure out what I would actually be good at, but even with neuro I still feel like I don't know much.

I just passed the 7 year mark as a nurse. I still do think I'm cut out for it. But I keep showing up and no one has told me to stop.

I don't care for med surg, I never enjoyed it and don't plan to go back anytime soon. Keep trying new jobs. If medicine isn't your thing try psych or community or school nursing or something else. Like others have said, nursing is such a wide field. You may continue to find bed side nursing isn't your bag, but don't give up, it does get easier.

Dani_Mila, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2021

On 12/13/2021 at 10:25 PM, mzilos said:

I've reached the 1 year mark as a nurse and as I'm looking to transition into a new role (aka find a new job). I realized a few things 1) my first nursing job out of school traumatized the hell out of me because I started during COVID and I realized I was a slow learner/was not cut out of the pace of the floor, 2) I've been a clinic nurse for over a year now and I'm still not confident in my knowledge, and 3) feels like I have imposter syndrome.

All that being said, I would like to try again on the floor, but not med-surg. I'm too afraid because I had a bad experience the first time around. My preceptor and educator were constantly gaslighting me, I wasn't quick, my med pass and assessments were slow. I didn't know what labs were vital, honestly even when I read through books on cardiac nursing, some things didn't make sense to me. And when I was honest that I didn't feel ready to be on my own, I got tossed somewhere else.

Needless to say, my floor experience was so bad that it shot my confidence and made me never want to revisit acute care nursing again... until now, and I'm still hesitant. I wish I was cut out for something like ICU or even med-surg, but I feel like I'm just not cut out for nursing, period. I feel so lost now trying to figure out what I would actually be good at, but even with neuro I still feel like I don't know much.

How are you doing? Just reading your post made me even more fearful of med-surg. I currently work in sub-acute rehab facility and I have been wanting to leave it and move to hospital setting but my fear of acute care/hospital is holding me back. I have lots of what ifs moments going inside my head. I did not want to make any mistakes. however, looking into the current environment ar my workplace, I feel the need to get out.