Is this area right for me?

veggiegarden · Nov 8, 2006

I recently got my first nursing position on a busy unit. I work with a really great bunch of nurses and they all keep telling me that in time I will end up liking my job. Another nurse told me that I just have to get over that hump as a new grad and that they've all been there. Everytime I go into work I get this awful feeling and I know that I'm not genuinely happy there. I dread coming into work and often put on a fake smile. I've been there for six weeks already.

I've been at my job for a couple of months and I could have written this post, especially the bolded part. I'm really not happy in the area I'm in (med/surg), but in my experience that is where most resumes are forwarded to from HR...hence, that is where I took the job. Other units/specialties were not biting at the time. I have feelings of wanting to quit all the time, but I have issues with that as well (e.g. they are taking the time for me to have an adequate orientation--so I'd feel a bit guilty quitting, mgmt seems good--which *is* nice, don't want the short work history to reflect badly on my resume, etc.). I have a *wonderful* preceptor and most of the staff seem pretty cool. And I'm learning a lot. But I'm just not happy there. I'm new, this is not my passion or my true interest, and it is hard psyching myself up for work each day. Wish I had an answer, but I guess only time will tell.

CaseManager1947 · Nov 8, 2006

My response to the above posts would be this... You are both new to nursing and to this particular area of nursing where you are employed. I've been doin' this thing they call nursing for 38 years. Know that nursing has more career choices from which to choose than many other vocations. You can do Psych, home health, hospice, critical care, rehab, burns, forensics, and on and on and on... my point being --finding that you are not particularly enamored of say "Med Surg" is not a bad thing. Try to view each employment opp. as a place where they teach you new stuff, help move you along, you get paid, hey not bad. Yes, it can be stressful and hectic sometimes, (well maybe many times), veggie hit the nail on the head. Find your passion in nursing. In today's market, sometimes folks move on after a year, maybe two. I've had several nursing jobs on different areas, before I found my Passion, if you will. So keep on, look at potential ads that may seem interesting, even go interview. Interviews, even if you don't get the job are great experience-- for the potential manager in you, on how to ace interviews, all kinds of things. So basically, take this preceptor stuff, the new tricks you learn from the experienced nurse, combine with your own skill sets, and find out what you really want to do. Good luck:idea:

veggiegarden · Nov 9, 2006

In today's market, sometimes folks move on after a year, maybe two.

CaseManager, thank you for your support and insight. :) It seems you have made quite a career of nursing in your 38 years of service, and that is certainly commendable!

I quote the above because I often hear from others to "hang in there for a year," but right now that thought is a dreadful one for me. I don't even want to go back to work this Friday, much less stay for a year or two. I actually *do* know what I would like to do, but it seems that the job opportunity does not come up very often. I wonder if I should quit now, while in my probationary orientation period (where either party may let the other go for whatever reason, no strings), and hope this short stint doesn't ruin my job history and resume, or hang in as long as I can, pretty darn unhappy and stressed out but learning a lot... *shrugs.* I don't take leaving a job lightly--unless the job situation is horrendous--and do not want to look like nor be a job hopper. It's something that is always on my mind.

Juicyfruit, don't mean to take over your thread. Hope you are doing OK and come to a solution that is satisfactory to you. You are not the only one having these issues. GL!

RNKay31 · Nov 11, 2006

I have the same feeling, but I guess we will soon get over it, all the best

rnin02 · Nov 11, 2006

There's hope! I felt that way when I first started nursing, and after I was off orientation for a while, had a little more confidence in myself, and was also able to get my work done and have a little down time at work to get to know my coworkers better, I started to enjoy my position more. I used to come home crying from work, I hated it so bad. I recently transfered to a new unit, and I'm going thru almost the same exact feelings again. I think its just a matter of adjusting to your environment, having confidence in your abilities, and feeling like you have some friends at work. Good luck to you all!