I graduated in May 2010. Started working at a Pediatric Burn Specialty Hospital in September 2010. And quit there in January 2011... Due to my experience (or lack thereof) I did not get another job until recently.
This week will be my 3rd week working on the floor in a Pediatric IMU or CSC (Children's Specialty Unit) which are all names for a Pediatric step-down unit.
I'm just not feeling nursing anymore... I don't know if it's only because I am SO stressed out with all the struggles of being a new nurse, or maybe it's just the hospital setting, or maybe it's the specialties I have been trying... or something else. I stress at work, and then stress about work when I am home.
I just don't know what to do... I put so much time and hard-work into becoming an RN, it seems crazy to decide it's not for me now.
And something else about me - I hate failure and I also hate this stress...
NO idea if nursing is for you or not as i don't even know if it is for ME!. I have been working for about a year in med/surg and I can say that that feeling for me at least has decreased but is still there. In other jobs you have had(non nursing ones), did you feel the same way? If so, how long did that take to go away, if ever? Maybe you can try to find a job in a med/surg area in peds or adults? I think step-down units or ICUs may be too stressful for most new grads. ON top of the high stress from nursing even if you were on the "easiest floor" in Utopia General Hospital.
Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.
im but a lowly student, but i would say working in such an intense area as ped. burns...oh id quit too. i can handle it here or there but not all the time
like someone else said maybe switch to another specialty? maybe pediatrics in a docs office if u like kids...they're a lower acuity and not as emotionallly stressful to care for i would think
As a new grad in peds, thank you for all of your reminders that most new grads feel stressed and occasionally question their choice to be a nurse. I am on a very specialized pediatric floor with very sick kids and some days I struggle to leave work at work and most nights sit up thinking about my patients the day before. At the same time, I love the craziness and the business of the floor, I can't imagine being anywhere else. In school I was sure that I loved nursing, and most days I still do. Today was one of those occasional days that I left questioning my decision to be a nurse. So thank to those of you who said that every new grad experiences this from time to time, I needed that reminder today
i was wondering the same, i am looking to start school this spring to become a lpn, i've been working in the medical field for yrs now in the back office and i now want to become more interactive w/ pt's, more hands on. I have been out of high school for 11 yrs so im starting fresh, i know w/in my heart this is the career i want to pursue, i just keep hearing how hard it will be class wise, and it takes up most of your life. i have 3 children @ home and the school im looking into has day classes 8-2. any words or advice or encouragement? everytime i get excited and start doing more research on the career, something or someone makes it seem as its a career path i dont want to chose, my main focus is my family and i want to be able to provide for my children
Hey hang in there! I am a new grad and thinking the same thing. There is just so much to learn it is overwhelming! I decided to stick out my current job atleast 6mo before moving on if things don't get better.
A hospice nurse came to talk to us when we were in school he worked in icu and neurotrauma, but decided it wasn't for him...didn't like the stress. Anyway he is really happy now and loves his job. That is the cool thing about nursing we can do so many things with it!
So try to find what you like and maybe you will decide nursing is for you after all!
Thanks for you response, I am dedicated an willing to give it my all because i know its a career path i want to chose. after being in the "back office" for so long and wanting more, hands on patient intreraction i felt this is the best way for me to go, and i say this because i didnt just wake up one day & say hey i wanna be a lpn, i've been planning for this for almost a yr to make sure its what i really want to accomplish. i would love to get into a pediatric clinic if possible, but my main thing is helping and caring for others, w/ 3 kids especially knowing i can take care of them in all aspects of life is what excites me
I have a friend who is an LPN and got a job at Kaiser in a pediatric clinic. She loves it! You should try and pursue whatever you think you'll like then.
Glad you confirmed that, i had brought my kid to the dr's last wk & I was telling the Ma i was excited to be staring scool, i wanted to work in pedi etc.. her response was lpn's dont get hired in dr's off on we do, and we do more then lpn's & she gave me the name of her school, i asked her if she got a ref bonus ($$) lol... thnx for the chats i appreciated it, my friend just graduated as a lpn aswell she's "mentoring" me & helping me prepare, i got all her books, study notes, papers etc...
I graduated in May 2010. Started working at a Pediatric Burn Specialty Hospital in September 2010. And quit there in January 2011... Due to my experience (or lack thereof) I did not get another job until recently.
This week will be my 3rd week working on the floor in a Pediatric IMU or CSC (Children's Specialty Unit) which are all names for a Pediatric step-down unit.
I'm just not feeling nursing anymore... I don't know if it's only because I am SO stressed out with all the struggles of being a new nurse, or maybe it's just the hospital setting, or maybe it's the specialties I have been trying... or something else. I stress at work, and then stress about work when I am home.
I just don't know what to do... I put so much time and hard-work into becoming an RN, it seems crazy to decide it's not for me now.
And something else about me - I hate failure and I also hate this stress...
How do I know if nursing just isn't for me?
I have the same feeling. I know one of the reason I quite because I didn't like my department. I want to be a nurse, I also want to try something else. I am confused. But at lest I know I need a job pay for my bill. Good luck.
I discovered that I am not a hospital nurse. I am now doing hospice and adore it. As is said in the Yiddish, "For every pot there's a cover." You'll find your niche. And the first year is just a horror. Very few nurses are trained to handle the reality of floor nursing any more.
stick it out until you get a new job. try another area or two...
I know a lot of people on here say "I hated my life for the first 3 years and then it got better" but I think that's ridiculous. At the end of the day remember, it's just a JOB. And if you really hate it, look for something else...
anotherone, BSN, RN
1,735 Posts
NO idea if nursing is for you or not as i don't even know if it is for ME!. I have been working for about a year in med/surg and I can say that that feeling for me at least has decreased but is still there. In other jobs you have had(non nursing ones), did you feel the same way? If so, how long did that take to go away, if ever? Maybe you can try to find a job in a med/surg area in peds or adults? I think step-down units or ICUs may be too stressful for most new grads. ON top of the high stress from nursing even if you were on the "easiest floor" in Utopia General Hospital.