Hello all I just feel like sharing some thoughts with people who understand. i am a new nurse who graduated in May and worked as a RN for three months my first nursing job did not work out. However, this is not what this post is about.
I have been out of work for 2 months and will be beginning a new job at another hospital in December. And the truth is...I do not want to go back!!! I have seen what it is like to be a professional nurse in the real world and am not interested at all.But I have a degree,loans to pay back and need to make a livlihood for myself so I will be going back to nursing.
Since I have been off I have seen how others my age live. They are happier, have less responsibility. I feel the responsibilty of nursing and the stress has aged me beyond my years. I just do not want to go back to this profession. I have no desire. I have come to the conclusion that I need to give it a year and if I still feel this way I will pursue other options.Just felt like sharing.Thanks for listening
I think night shift is a great place for a new grad to start. The downside is that typically, the patient load is heavier, you have fewer aides and support staff, and if you need to call a doctor, you'll probably be waking them up. But many units make up for these things by being very cohesive and team oriented. Another plus is if the facility you work at has a night shift differential. This can be significant, and many experienced nurses choose nights because of the pace and the extra money.
Now, I am not a nurse yet (but I will be...hopefully), but I have several in my family and two of my closest friends are nurses, and I've also been working closely with them for the past couple of years as a CNA and currently, an RSC. So, though I am not a nurse, I do have somewhat of a grasp on what nurses go through. My best friend just experienced her first year as an RN and she went through many of the same emotions.
I wanted to pipe in and agree that if you can handle the hours, night shift can be wonderful. I've worked as an aide on all three shifts at several different kinds of facilities, and I have found that my coworkers on nights always seem HAPPIER to be there. You have more time to focus on doing well and more time to get your routine down. Also, you don't have big bosses and management breathing down your neck, so you might feel a lot more relaxed. Staffing is generally a bit less, so it's easier to get to know your coworkers, as well.
Assisted living and memory care are my favorite areas to work in. A lot less stressful and physically demanding than hospital work!
Either way you decide to go, good luck. I hope you find your niche and get comfortable. :)
Yes I am in my early twenties. i am 23. And the other jobs I have had were simple jobs like a cashier at a grocery store.So it may be just getting used to all of the administration and politics that goes with having a job. As I think about it that is the part I hate the most. It is not interacting with the patients.
I have been a nurse for a long time, and administration and politics are also the parts I hate most about nursing. These things are just so draining, time-consuming, stressful, and take our time and energy away from the pts. I found myself not wanting to start new jobs in antipation of all the bs, and I was job-hopping.
I found that the solution for me was to go agency. I'm much happier now.
After you get a solid year or two experience, you might want to consider agency nursing. You can just take care of your pts, then go home. No distractions of politics, meetings and so on.
I read your post & thought back to my first year & how I so badly wanted to quit & asked myself why I ever got into nursing, as I was sure I had made a BIG mistake.
I will never forget driving home in tears & making my mind up to quit. When I got home, I had a call from the med-surg unit I just left & was berated even then, in my own home!
What changed my mind was a call from the hospital supervisor, she told me she had my back, to take a few days off, but not to quit; she saw somthing in me that I couldn't see in myself.
I took her advice and six years later, I love working in the NICU, making a difference for my littlest patients.
Moral of the story: Hang in there, because we have all been there, & just remember: you have to go through hell before you get to heaven!
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I would also at least start paying back loans and gain experience. It is true, your mind may change. Are you an Associate Degree or Bachelor Degree RN? Most with Bachelor Degrees are able to seek employment in other areas than the bedside and that may be a great option.
Virgo_RN, BSN, RN
3,543 Posts
I think night shift is a great place for a new grad to start. The downside is that typically, the patient load is heavier, you have fewer aides and support staff, and if you need to call a doctor, you'll probably be waking them up. But many units make up for these things by being very cohesive and team oriented. Another plus is if the facility you work at has a night shift differential. This can be significant, and many experienced nurses choose nights because of the pace and the extra money.