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...
Reading the posts from people who are brand new nurses almost brings tears to my eyes. I had such a hard time when I first started. I thought about work before during and after. I had nightmares about work. I cried often. I have been a nurse now for three years, and I can't tell you exactly when it gets better but it does. I promise. One day you just realize "dang, I DO have a clue what I'm doing" and its not so bad anymore. I still dream about work sometimes, but I only cry when something really crappy happens to a patient (I work in a trauma ICU). I don't think about work much when I'm home unless something really bad happens. As other posters have mentioned, stop job hopping. If you really can't stand it then ok, but the only way you're going to get a decent nursing job is with a little seniority. Stay in touch with your friends from nursing school, cuz trust me, talking to other newbies will help you. Thay feel the same way you do. Stick it out for a while. If you really can't stand it there are a lot of jobs for nurses that aren't bedside care such as case management and screening for rehab and nursing home services. Please keep your head up, it gets better!
Thanks so much rr82080! You described what I am going thru to a T! Can't wait to have that realization someday! I will keep my head up :) ... I may need to come back and read this thread from time to time, but I will do my best to stay positive.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Maybe once you say it this one for a while you can even just try for a regular peds unit. I enjoyed mine and was never feeling overwhelmed. Granted we were in our low census season.
Reading the posts from people who are brand new nurses almost brings tears to my eyes. I had such a hard time when I first started. I thought about work before during and after. I had nightmares about work. I cried often. I have been a nurse now for three years, and I can't tell you exactly when it gets better but it does. I promise. One day you just realize "dang, I DO have a clue what I'm doing" and its not so bad anymore. I still dream about work sometimes, but I only cry when something really crappy happens to a patient (I work in a trauma ICU). I don't think about work much when I'm home unless something really bad happens. As other posters have mentioned, stop job hopping. If you really can't stand it then ok, but the only way you're going to get a decent nursing job is with a little seniority. Stay in touch with your friends from nursing school, cuz trust me, talking to other newbies will help you. Thay feel the same way you do. Stick it out for a while. If you really can't stand it there are a lot of jobs for nurses that aren't bedside care such as case management and screening for rehab and nursing home services. Please keep your head up, it gets better!
Thank you for sharing your story. I am very confused about my life now. I am about start to work(now a international student). I don't know what to do for my Job. I like HR but nurse also. I will follow my heart any way. Thank you.
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rr82080
12 Posts
Reading the posts from people who are brand new nurses almost brings tears to my eyes. I had such a hard time when I first started. I thought about work before during and after. I had nightmares about work. I cried often. I have been a nurse now for three years, and I can't tell you exactly when it gets better but it does. I promise. One day you just realize "dang, I DO have a clue what I'm doing" and its not so bad anymore. I still dream about work sometimes, but I only cry when something really crappy happens to a patient (I work in a trauma ICU). I don't think about work much when I'm home unless something really bad happens. As other posters have mentioned, stop job hopping. If you really can't stand it then ok, but the only way you're going to get a decent nursing job is with a little seniority. Stay in touch with your friends from nursing school, cuz trust me, talking to other newbies will help you. Thay feel the same way you do. Stick it out for a while. If you really can't stand it there are a lot of jobs for nurses that aren't bedside care such as case management and screening for rehab and nursing home services. Please keep your head up, it gets better!