I want to get out of nursing

[nurseygrrl]

Hello all :)

I have been an LPN for 12 years and I really do love nursing, but over these years I have seen so many bad things. Sad patient stories, being hit and threatened by patients and families, meanness by co workers, administration, families of patients and patients themselves. It is very anxiety provoking. All of you reading this, I'm sure, understand what I mean. I feel it is time for me to get out of nursing, even if just for a little while. Has anyone done this? Any suggestions where to start? What type of jobs to look for? I know it will be hard to find something that pays as much as nursing, but I think it will be worth my sanity!

[AtomicWoman]

Jeziba, The agency nurses I sometimes work with tell me they love the freedom to say "NO" to any assignment. And they like going in, working their shift and not dealing with the facility politics. Also, agency nursing will expose you to a lot of different facilities and types of nursing, so you might see an employer or a type of nursing you like.

Have you thought about home care? With 12 years of experience, you would be a prize catch for a home care agency! Every home care nurse I've ever talked with told me they loved the autonomy and they loved being able to spend more time with their patients.

Other possibilities: Get your MSN and teach in a nursing program. Become a geriatric care advocate (a growing field). Do private duty nursing. Become a certified diabetes educator. And on and on....

But first take some time for your head to settle down. Relax and think about what it is about nursing that you *like* and then think about what kind of job would allow you to tap into that.

Good luck!