Jobhopping or just trying to find my field

imanedrn · Mar 28, 2008

I have been reading so many posts in regards to first year nursing and when to switch jobs in hopes of finding something that better fits one's experience.
I have been in med-surg for about a year now, and recently switched hospitals due to better scheduling, management, closer to home. etc. It's okay, but honestly, have to drag myself to work every night. I cannot get organized, always seem to be in a situation that is overwhelming, basically want to vomit before swiping my badge, and feel like an outsider. I have even considered nursing outside of the "hospital", and have an interview for a new physician office next week-but do not want to keep jumping jobs. I choose this hospital because there seems to be a great deal of opportunities, once you get that "experience".
But am just not sure how long I can wait or endure. So many of my school friends went right into their specialities-but I am just not sure what mine is. I honestly hoped things would have been better now a year out of school-but I still feel so uncomfortable and inadequate. I can't tell you how many times I just want to quit. Any advice????

I'm in the same boat (thought only 3 months out of school). I'm in med/tele for the broad background but don't love it at all. Have friends who went into specialties, are totally happy, and I envy them so much.

I actually like nursing because it affords the opportunity to "hop" around -- which I hope to do once my 1 year contract ends.

Otherwise... I look forward to the advice that anyone else posts!

lveroflife · Mar 28, 2008

i say do what makes you happy. if you are miserable you might end up making a med error or something because you are so upset....

other older nurses i talk to say that they moved around alot. its natural to take time to find a place that is a "good fit" and that does not make you a bad nurse at all.

I think you should not be hard on yourself. Its worse when people get stuck in the same job for years cuse they fear the change since they stayed there.....yet they are those "grumpy nurses"

leave when you have the courage to go out and find what is best for YOU:nurse: :rolleyes:

nurseby07 · Mar 28, 2008

I know how you feel. I am leaving just shy of my 1 year mark. It is really one of the scariest decisions I ever made. Nursing is full of opportunities and life is too short to let fear keep you in a place you don't like. Good luck and start looking around!

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Mar 28, 2008

I think that nursing is a broad enough field that you should be able to find your niche. Some people are lucky and fall into their niche out of school, others aren't so lucky. I like my specialty, but it is beginning to wear on me, I hope to finish up my second year before moving on. One of my good friends is on her third job since we graduated 18 months ago.

imanedrn · Mar 29, 2008

I wanted to leave my job REAL bad, but I contracted to work with them for 1 year -- lest I owe them money. When I signed the contract, I -- of course -- didn't think twice and assumed I'd be perfectly happy there. HAH! It's not what I expected... but I'm content enough to live up to my obligation.

To make life more manageable, I've taken on a part-time home health job. My husband and I will need the extra money soon, so it's great for that reason, but I figure it will help keep me sane also because I know I'd end up burning out and hating my job if I were to work OT for them, instead.

Once I've finished my 1 year obligation, I'll reassess what I want to do then... I always thought I wanted to work in women's health. I wanted to start in med/surg, though, because I knew it would give me a broad background of experience. I'm sure this experience will either cement my desire to flee to women's health (and never leave!) or make we want to hop around a bit before I settle down.

rnang123 · Mar 30, 2008

I am a fairly new graduate (July '07), and have already switched jobs once. I was in the hospital on a telemetry unit...but now work in an agency that serves adults with developmental disabilities as a nurse in the ICF-MR setting...COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. I am glad I did...to put it mildly...and nursing affords you the opportunity to do so. Employers are generally more understanding in a field such as nursing because of the wide variety!! Find what you like, you will not regret it. I love going to work every day!!!!

MistyBlue · Mar 30, 2008

There are too many options in nursing to stay in a place that makes you feel ill. When I was a new grad there were many LPN's in the PP unit who hated the job but stayed because they didn't want to go to med-surg and there weren't many "appealing" options available to them. They were absolutely miserable.

I am a RN who went to nursing school to work in L&D. I never had a desire to do anything else. When L&D started to lose the things that attracted me to it in the first place I moved on. There were times when I thought that I would never find an area as enjoyable but I didn't let that fear keep me stagnant. The point is this- as a nurse you can do almost anything so keep looking until you kind your niche.

I don't know what your relationship with your manager is like but if he/she is approachable consider talking to them about your other interests in the hospital. When you are about 6-8 months into your contract just say something about enjoying what you are doing but you want to see what the OR is like or whatever interests you. Ask if it is possible to shadow a nurse in a different unit to see what it's really

like. 3 years ago I told my manager that while I still loved working in L&D I was tired of our judgement being replaced with checklists and such. We couldn't even decide when to increase the pitocin without 3 different checklists/forms. A week later she asked me if I wanted to spend a day in the cath lab to see what it was like. They would rather have me happy somewhere in the hospital than out the door and while she didn't say this I am sure still having me PRN wouldn't hurt either.