I'm throwing in the towel, as HARD as it is to say because I did fight the good fight

[CrystalClear75, BSN, RN]

I had enough in the nursing field. With the economy being the way it is, it's very difficult to find a hospital/med surge position without any hospital experience. Sooo I worked at a nursing home for 2 and a half years. The first place I worked at was a LTC facility scheduled the graveyard shift. Got tired of that and bid on a daylight position at another facility since I had a difficult time finding daylight hours at the facility I was at. So this "facility" was in the city and in one of the worst neighborhoods(high crime) but that was alright by me, I grew up in a similar area. Well the establishment was horrid, I won't go into detail. I can take a lot of crap but I wouldn't even know where to start. Quit there... moving forward(making this short). Got a job at a Catholic facility, worked there for 3 months and got fired because I was told to speed up on my med pass since there was no secretary...I told the supervisor I am trying my best...she was well aware that we were short on aids ALSO(and secretart(. So, again she said you need to speed up. I had frequent fallers, screemers, it was a hell beyond hell night I was running literally with a bladder full and had it. I told her if you don't like the speed I'm going and the help I'm giving this poor CNA which should have at LEAST one more down this hall, fire me. Well they did. I got a job today at TGI Fridays, back to waiting tables. I can get insurance from my husband...and made good money as a server in the past and was MUCH happier. I'm SICK of being miserable and forcing every part of my being to go to work in those places. It sucked the life out of me, I CHOOSE not to live my life that way. Forget the idea of having a prestigious position as an RN, most of my coworkers were unhappy and miserable. I give those of you credit who stick it out with and I mean with a fair positive attitude. I've been looking for a job for the past few months and nothing. I'm done. Maybe I'll go back in the future when the working conditions improve. When I went into the restaurant to the interview I felt a sense of peace knowing that if I don't want to, I never have to go back :) BYE nursing industry, most of the administration topped with the laziness of many of these places sicken me. Feels good to say PEACE. Much love and luck to all of you. I hope your not miserable and just fake it to maintain your status as an RN...if your unhappy, get out. Life's too short to be miserable over a piece of crap job(the places are a piece of crap). PERIOD.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

Good for you- it's good you were able to go on your spouse's insurance and land another job. I wish I could do that. At least as a server if you screw up , you either get yelled at or fired- at least you aren't legally liable to be sued. What a relief that must be. Good luck. Oh, and I doubt conditions will EVER be favorable in the future. Just brush off the nursing as a bad lesson in life learned.

[CrystalClear75, BSN, RN]

I'll keep an eye open...but for now nursing is out :)

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

You do what you have to do.

I used to think I hated nursing. I left for 4 1/2 yrs and was a SAHM.

I did go back after that period of time to an amazing working environment. It was then I realized it wasnt nursing I hated. It was my previous place of employment. I love my job, my facility and my co workers. Even my manager is an ok person. :)

[caliotter3]

Good that you have other options and this happened while you are still (assumption) young. Advise you to keep your license in an inactive status just in case. Good luck.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

Good for you. Depending where you work at you can make as much serving as being a RN .

[beast master RN]

bosses suck every were u go ,get used to it, theres people waiting tables begging to make 25 bucks a hour. not that i have to stand up for nursing, but its not meant for every one.

[Fiona59]

Congratulations for having the strength and insight to walk away before you were injured or a total nervous wreck. I admire you far more thatn those who say keep trying another area of nursing. The great job in a great facility with great co-workers is hard to find and all it takes is one personnel change and it can go to hades in a handcart.

[JZ_RN]

You only worked in LTC? I would have left nursing too if I had to stay in one of those places. It was like a living heck working in LTC. understaffed, underworked, constant falls, screaming people, violent dementia, crappy aides or not enough aides, no one cares and my liability is on the line. I quit LTC too.

[Kashia, ASN, LVN]

Amen and agreed. And industry is getting worse. You did what I know so many nurses just want to do and for variety of reasons can not or do not. Best to you!

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Good for you for having the strength to decide what's right for you. It's not easy! But I'll echo what was said earlier, and just be sure to keep your license current so if later you want or need to come back, you'll have fewer hoops to jump through.

[calwen, BSN, RN]

Good thing to leave before you are burnt out to a crisp, and maybe realize nursing is not for you. Otherwise you turn into a very angry person-I have worked with my share. You may be surprised after some time away by how you really feel though-I am assuming there is a reason you wanted to be a nurse in the first place.

LTC nursing is horrid unless you are in a top-notch facility (very very rare), and hospital is not much better these days. My husband begged me to leave nursing because of nights/weekends/holidays plus the stress too, as well as ultra crappy management that treated us like children. Zero respect, recognition or support-just a body to fill a shift. So many nights I would lay there and worry, go over my shift again in my head. I finally ended up in Urgent Care after too many years in Med-Surg and though I still had to work some weekends it was sooo much better. If you work with a good group it is way less stressful and you get to deal with mostly normal people, and have a chance to pee, and *gasp* eat lunch!

I too, fantasized about leaving nursing altogether A LOT, but there are other areas that are still interesting and challenging, but don't have as much as crap as LTC or hospital. I am now starting a new job in community health nursing after some time off, and I am actually looking forward to going to work. Never thought I would say that about nursing!