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 have decided to take the bull by the horns-I have an interview tomorrow with a home-health agency, and another on Monday. We'll see how it goes. Perhaps all of that laying around in my jammies has motivated me. Thanks allnurses and wish me luck!
Good luck with your interviews for home health. Hope you find a good position that gives you satisfaction as well as a paycheck. We're all rooting for you to be successful.
I feel this way often. On my days off and during certain very difficult periods on the floor at work. I miss my old career (in marketing) and how creative I could be -- how I could work without interruption. Of course, I made no money, but now I'm starting to wonder if money is really the important thing.
I'm hoping someday to combine the two careers in a more creative position. Then again, once I get really good at nursing, if ever, perhaps I can find ways to be more creative -- but the outlets are just fewer with all the stresses.
I may personally have to do that creative thing on my off days -- find an outlet -- or write, or something.
Just for all the reasons people have been discussing on this thread. It's just not my thing. My passion is peds, and I'm so over taking care of adults lol.
Just for all the reasons people have been discussing on this thread. It's just not my thing. My passion is peds, and I'm so over taking care of adults lol.
Ah. Ok. Go with your passion. There will always be a need for all areas of nursing. Adults aren't always fun. I know that peds would be tough for me, so I'm glad there are nurses out there unlike me. :)
We all have been there. Like the other person wrote. I work in the er and love it.
It is my niche!
You need to see if there is another unit you can transfer to. DO NOT FEEL DEFEATED. You are not at a loss. That is med surg nursing!!!!!!!!!!
Personally I have anxiety (got that from my father) but I use it to my advantage. The er requires you to be fast on your feet and sharp with your mind. On the med surg floor I was bored. And the anxiety grew. I would count down the time til my next cigarette break to get off the floor. Basically what I am saying is "I was not being ulitized to my fullest potential!". When I made it down to the ER I was floored at how busy was but realized "crap, 2 more hrs to go" Some days I left exhausted, others "I could have done more". day by day my effeciency grew to my present state.
Floor nursing IS HARD, b/c there is no 'quck fix' for problems that arise, like the ER,OR,RECOVERY" and much less the autonomy on the floor than these units I mentioned.
Be the first one to float. People hate floating, but use it to your advantage and see what floor is to your liking! That's the beauty of floating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
blueiwahine
203 Posts
Totally understand where you coming from...if your not happy there, try a different area...until you find what you like.