In between jobs and feeling LOW

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care.

Hey everyone!

I'm a regular stalker here, I haven't really posted at all. Tonight I felt like reaching out because I'm feeling super low about myself.

I used to be an ambulatory nurse and left it to seek out a shot in hospital/in-patient nursing. I was able to get a job as a psych nurse who also got to float to med-surg and detox.

Last month I left that job because they didn't really provide a lot of training and the stress was intense. I don't want to give up though! I really want to find my place but its been so hard finding work.

Please tell me that I'm not ruining my career by jumping ships here. Has anyone else gone from outpatient to inpatient?

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I don't want to make you feel more down, but you may indeed be shooting yourself in the foot. Getting the opportunity to go from outpatient to inpatient can be a bit of a unicorn and it sounds like your job was a good one in that you got exposure to specialties other than psych. However, if they didn't give you a preceptor and a few shifts to train, they were derelict.

How long did you stay with that job? If it was more than a year, then put it on your resume and start looking for work hard. You may still be able to ride that experience. Once thing is certain though - the longer you stay not working, the harder it will be go to back, both to inpatient and to outpatient.

A lot of places are slower to hire now the Covid uncertainty remains - which I suspect it will for a few more months at least. That being said, I don't think you have ruined your career..if the job wasn't a fit for you, it wasn't a fit. I've never understood people who stay in positions that they know definitely are not working & no amount of time will change that just to hit the magical year mark..

I absolutely understand feeling low & concerned about finding a good fit/another job. I'm in a similar situation now.

I don't have any advice other than apply for any job that remotely interests you & think about agencies for a way to get back into the inpatient setting & to get working again. You never know where it may lead.

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