I want to change jobs, be a Walmart Greeter

justme1972 · Apr 21, 2007

I have no advice, because I'm not a nurse, but if you were here I would give you a big hug and take you out for coffee and a good stiff chocolate dessert!

CHATSDALE · Apr 21, 2007

some times we reach a point in our lives when we know it is time to move on

if you have been a successful ob nurses all these years you have the smarts to do what you make up your mind to do

good luck

crissrn27, RN · Apr 21, 2007

Take some time before deciding. This is a major change, and if you really liked your job before now it could be a bad move. I'm sorry you are having to deal with this, and some times they just hit you harder than others. Like they all add up and you feel like you have had enough. Maybe you have, but think it though and if you do leave, leave the door open just in case.:icon_hug: :icon_hug:

jill48, ASN, RN · Apr 21, 2007

I've worked L&D at a small community hospital (
Anyway we had a tragic event, a uterine rupture and a newborn death. It totally freaked me out. I was there when she came in, but not when it happened. I've always loved my job but now its different. I have been applying to insurance jobs, utilization review jobs, research jobs, although I have NO experience in these matters. I've thought of hospice or home health or anything considered less risky and less scary. This wasnt the first tragedy we've had but this one seems worse, or I've taken it worse. I keep thinking that I want a 7-3 job, no hollidays, no WE, non-clinical, something CALM. I've never wanted a desk before EVER. Help! Has anyone else felt the same way? I am trying not to make a rash decision but I still keep applying to other jobs. Does this make sense???????????

I am so sorry that you are sad. This is the exact reason that I knew I could never be a baby nurse. Everyone wants to be a baby nurse in the begining, but when I thought about the sick babies (or even worse, the deceased ones), I knew this was not somthing that I could handle emotionally. I always said it was you guys that are the true angels; I just could not do what you do. Good luck to you.:kiss

tencat · Apr 21, 2007

Take some time to decide what you want to do. If you've loved your job, try to figure out why this particular case hit you so hard. Does your work have an employee assistance program?

Maybe the stress of working short with few resources has finally gotten to you. Our small hospital has few OB nurses, and the ones they have they work into the ground. (I'm not one of them, thank heavens!) Maybe it is time for a change for you. That's ok, too! Hang in there.

Dolce, RN · Apr 21, 2007

So sorry to hear about your tragic story. That does sound stressful. Have you considered OR nursing? With your scrub/circulation and OB experience you would be an asset to any OR. While there is WE/Holiday call for most OR positions, they are usually M-F. Another option to think about is trying out an agency position and only working part time. Sometimes just switching to part time for a while helps after having a stressful experience. Hope you find something that is ideal for you. I think a nurse with 13 years of experience is qualified for many different areas.

first_lobster, RN · Apr 22, 2007

I've worked ICU for the last 3.5 years and I've seen my share of those that should NEVER have passed on. I've been more than freaked on more than one occasion and have put serious thought into Alpaca Farming more than once. Getting freaked out over this only makes you human. At the end of a really bad day, instead of thinking about the patient that I just lost, I think about all the ones that have walked out. Then I say a prayer for all those that have passed on, and I ask God to give me strength and courage and ask him to put me where he wants me. I always seem to end up here. Maybe a change would do you some good, or maybe just a new perspective. Keep your head up.

ERNurse752, RN · Apr 22, 2007

It sounds like your unit manager needs to get a CISD (critical incident stress debriefing) for the staff on your unit.

It also sounds like staffing is super crappy on your unit.

If it were me, I'd probably make sure I got my CISD/counseling to deal with the event...and then find another job just based on unsafe staffing. I don't think right now is the time to make the decision to totally switch specialties though. Unless you were already thinking that direction before this happened.

SmilingBluEyes · Apr 22, 2007

Agree with the above post. Time for debriefing for the entire nursing/medical team involved in that tragic event. Do not make any rash decisions until you have received some counsel and had time to process this event, please. I know first-hand about how you feel; I almost quit my job on the spot a few years back after a very tragic outcome. Just take the time you need and be very good to yourself. You need some serious TLC.

SmilingBluEyes · Apr 22, 2007

PS: 400 del/month is a BUSY unit, way too busy for the staffing you describe here. I would really think about the consequences as I make the decisions I need to. But again, debriefing is necessary here and sooner rather than later.

JaneyW · Apr 22, 2007

Is there a teaching hospital around you? I used to work at a place that sounds like yours. I also loved it and the people I worked with, but there were too many near misses for my taste. I went to a large teaching hospital and am much less stressed there. However, you give up a lot of your autonomy. Sometimes I get really frustrated by lack of autonomy and think of going back out in the big world and then we have a crazy day and I am so thankful to be there where it is so safe.

I am a CISM peer counselor at my facility and I agree that you guys could use a de-briefing. Maybe a holiday? Big hugs to you. I cringe every time someone tells me that L&D must be so happy.