Icu Nursing isn't for me help

[RN-icu]

Looking for advice! I am a relatively new RN-bsn, almost 2 years in, all day shift critical care. I also worked as a cna in the same department during nursing school. So I feel that I have given critical care enough time to know that it's not for me. I spoke to co-workers and managers previously, all said stick it out because I'm a good nurse and I will see that at the one year mark. They said everyone feels like this at first and if it doesn't get better you can go anywhere with icu experience. Well that doesn't seem to be the case. I am still extremely stressed when I am there and always afraid I'm going to make an error. I don't have fun or enjoy my time at work because I am so stressed. I feel like icu nursing lets me know a little about everything, but I'm not an expert on anything. I have applied to numerous specialty fields (mother/baby, l&d, surgery, and oncology) with the hope that I might like nursing if I could become an expert in one thing. I never even get an interview. All the job postings say they require x amount of years experience in that field. My mom is a clinical manager for a hospice company. Although she has offered me a job there, I'm not sure I would like that type of nursing either and I do not want to put my mom in a bad spot if it doesn't work out. She reviewed/edited my resume and cover letter and feels they are very good. So how do I go about getting out of icu? Are there any other jobs besides nursing I can do with my BSN if I can't get into a specialty field? I am just lost and have no idea what to do. Some times I debate going back to college and starting all over with a new career, but really can't afford to go into that much more student loan debt. Any advice would help.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

Try switching to a different hospital.

[keyrrah]

I'm an ICU Nurse as well and I feel the same way. I feel overwhelmed alot and I feel like I still get caught up with all the tasky things I have to do. Not to mention, I feel like it takes me forever to do things that the nurses who came in with me are now breezing by. I also feel like I lack expertise in my area and the array of things to know is overwhelming. Just like you mention I'm not really a fan of codes or MTP'ing patients. I get frazzled and can barely think clearly. Thank goodness for a great team! Now that I'm 2 years in the ICU, all I can say to myself is I should know this stuff by now! I work in a teaching trauma/vascular ICU at which most people would kill to work in. I'm starting to think bedside nursing is just not for me. I don't really enjoy working in a hospital that much. I'm really considering family NP school. I want to have the luxuries of working in a clinic and having holidays/weekends off and not feeling so overwhelmed with having to know so much about the complexity of patient conditions. I love talking to patients and educating patients as well. However, I think maybe going into advanced practice isn't for me being that I don't really enjoy bedside nursing. But then I think it's a totally different field and the setting I'd work in for advance practice would be totally different. I don't know. I feel kinda lost altogether as far as what advance degree I should pursue. Any advice for me?

[nurseman78, BSN, RN, NP]

I know this is old but I'll just add my two cents: I've done ICU for about four years. Went to CRNA school, had a bad experience, dropped out, now back in ICU, don't like it. Looking to get out permanently. I've floated to train in clinics and cath lab, which were a lot of fun. Totally different. Nursing isn't just floor/ICU nursing. There is a wealth of jobs available for nurses that you may love. I am looking into endoscopy, cath lab, EP lab, IR, home health, dialysis, research... You don't have to work in inpatient nursing. That is just one small area that our training covers.

[Tbutbu]

I have colleagues that have jumped ship and were to GI and IR. They both get to use some of their ICU skiils and are extremely happy!