I don't mean to sound like a whiner. I tried talking to my best girlfriend (non-nurse) about this and I think I made her mad because I make 3x what she makes as a receptionist and I still complain about my job. It took me so long to get here, and now that I am here I find that I am so depressed. It finally came to me: I hate my job. I hate the nights, the stress, the fact that I could kill someone. I work three nights a week with great co-workers, but we are so busy! I mean, the other night I had one guy who was actively dying, yet not a DNR, on a vent spewing blood everywhere, one guy who had just shot himself on suicide watch with a cna who kept wondering the halls, one old sweet lady who turned into hell. All on tube feedings, old lady pulled hers out, one was clogged, iv's infiltrated, etc etc. Hanging blood, abx, drawing labs. I try to keep upbeat but I just count my required days down and when I am home I am too exhausted I spend my days in my jammies watching tv. Yesterday while staring at my third infomercial, wondering if I could call in sick for today, it hit me. I really just hate med-surg. I am burned out. I used to pride myself on my scrubs and three day work week. Now I think that I would really like home-health (I did as a cna) and work everyday, but at least I would be doing something I enjoy rather than spending my days off thinking about "having" to go back. I think I am depressed. Thanks for the ear.
It sounds like you are really burnt out. You need to do what is best for you. In the field of nursing there are so many things that are available do!! You are the one that has the ability to change....start looking you will find it:redpinkhe.
I solved almost all of my work stress and dread by going into home health and highly recommend it. If not home health, then any change to another area. Then when you get fed up with that area, change again. Most nurses change at least once during their careers. Then there are also mental health days and vacation (extended mental health days). Don't be afraid to use them. They are well worth it. Sometimes all you need is to take two or three days off in a row to recharge your batteries.
I solved almost all of my work stress and dread by going into home health and highly recommend it.
I've never known a nurse who has switched to home health or home hospice who didn't feel the same way. I'm sure there must be some out there who don't like it and regret their choice, but I've never met one yet.
I've never known a nurse who has switched to home health or home hospice who didn't feel the same way. I'm sure there must be some out there who don't like it and regret their choice, but I've never met one yet.
Does give one something to think about, doesn't it? In school, my ride along day with home health was awesome. The only thing that gave me pause (and still does) was the paperwork--but even then, it didn't look like you had people on the call button q5min while you were trying to do paperwork...
Hospice was pretty impressive, too, but I'm not sure I'd be strong enough. Those people need big souls. Still, if you like feeling needed, there was no shortage of that.
Heh. Reading these posts reminds me of where I was just a short 3 years ago. Since graduating in Dec 2004, I have held 4 jobs... first lasted 9 months, second a little over a year, third made it 7 months... now... I have the absolutely best job ever. I've been there since August and the time has flown by. My coworkers are overall amazing. There are a few kooky types, but they are excellent nurses and the variety adds some flavor to the unit. I don't ever plan to leave. Even now, as I work on my FNP degree, I intend to remain in my job until I take time to study and pass the boards. I'll take my time finding a good job as an NP to avoid moving around too much. No pressure as I love what I do.
As you can can imagine, I have a very low tolerance of jobs that dissatisfy me. However, moving around has benefited me in that I've learned a few things along the road and now am very, very content.
Sooooooo... my advice is to not stick things out if you're miserable. Don't take the first job that's offered to you, but certainly consider your options. Ask around what other nurses recommend or find out where your experienced nurses have worked in the past. Try to get around the hospital and communicate your interest in learning something new. You might stumble across the perfect job like I did.
Best of luck to you. You'll be a nurse a lot longer if you're happy with the work you do.
ditto what everyone else says. the great thing about nursing is there are so many opportunities to do so many different things. so start searching and i gurantee you will find something better.
the one thing that's happened, that i hadn't expected, is that i'm making some great friendships on my unit, amid all the chaos - these are usually the ones who understand, as i found out this week - i had a particularly rough day, and my closest friend in the world, as much as i cherish our friendship, just didn't understand the impact , and kept saying, "it'll be fine" now that's all well and optimistic, but sometimes it isn't ok, and sometimes we just need to vent about the stress or cry about losing a patient.
op, i bring this up, as maybe there is someone on your unit whom you can talk to about this - dreading work is a horrid feeling, considering how much time we spend there .
You are there because you earned it, and you are good at your job. If you hate that unit, maybe try the float pool. You still have a position at the hospital, but you can float around and get a feel for new things and maybe will either find something you really love, or find you really like where you are at. Either way as everyone else has said you have experience I would kill for. Me being just an LPN. Good luck....
I don't mean to sound like a whiner. I tried talking to my best girlfriend (non-nurse) about this and I think I made her mad because I make 3x what she makes as a receptionist and I still complain about my job. It took me so long to get here, and now that I am here I find that I am so depressed. It finally came to me: I hate my job. I hate the nights, the stress, the fact that I could kill someone. I work three nights a week with great co-workers, but we are so busy! I mean, the other night I had one guy who was actively dying, yet not a DNR, on a vent spewing blood everywhere, one guy who had just shot himself on suicide watch with a cna who kept wondering the halls, one old sweet lady who turned into hell. All on tube feedings, old lady pulled hers out, one was clogged, iv's infiltrated, etc etc. Hanging blood, abx, drawing labs. I try to keep upbeat but I just count my required days down and when I am home I am too exhausted I spend my days in my jammies watching tv. Yesterday while staring at my third infomercial, wondering if I could call in sick for today, it hit me. I really just hate med-surg. I am burned out. I used to pride myself on my scrubs and three day work week. Now I think that I would really like home-health (I did as a cna) and work everyday, but at least I would be doing something I enjoy rather than spending my days off thinking about "having" to go back. I think I am depressed. Thanks for the ear.
I feel the same way, and I've only been a new grad RN for 2 months! I keep hearing it gets better, but I can't imagine that at this point...
I work days, so I know our stressors are different. I feel sooo incredibly overwhelmed on days, though. I accepted the position because I knew I'd learn more. Now, though, I feel like I spend the whole day reading orders, making sure they're entered, and making sure they're completed for the night shift. I'm so task-oriented that I'm completely unable to see the big picture. On top of this, I'm a neurotic perfectionist and can't seem to accept the fact that (as long as patient safety is maintained), it's ok not to complete a dressing change... And, on top of that, I'll be on my own for the next 2 weeks (though my preceptor will be on the same pod as me), and I can't imagine doing it ALL on my own!
I've had jobs in the past that were very demanding and required me to balance / juggle multiple tasks and clients at the same time. Nursing is far more difficult that I EVER expected though. I feel like it's NEVER going to get any easier!
Hey there. I really have been in your shoes, at one point I was counting down the days until my year was up so that I could move on. And honestly, as cliche' as this sounds... I joined a gym... I started exercising on my days off. I also bought a bike. On my days off I ride my bike and exercise. Just from going to the gym I've become much more active on my days off. I do yard work, garden, ride my bike, play basketball. I really enjoy my days off now. I don't just sit around and sulk in my PJs like I used too....
I've made it past my 1 year mark. I am still on the same med-surg unit. No, I don't love it everyday... BUT I no longer want to leave. There are more and more moments at work that I am glad to be a nurse. Sometimes when I'm off for a few days I find myself wondering what is going on at work, who is back in, who has died, who has gotten better and gone home... I'm actually sort of looking forward to going into work tomorrow...
Maybe you can find something that helps you escape. Something that allows you to enjoy your days off.
batman05
4 Posts
It sounds like you are really burnt out. You need to do what is best for you. In the field of nursing there are so many things that are available do!! You are the one that has the ability to change....start looking you will find it:redpinkhe.