I hate nursing, never thought I would say that but after 1.5yrs of working as a floor RN, I know this crap is not for me. This job will suck the living life out of you.
Your emotional, physical and mental health will suffer along with your family life. I have finally decided to leave the bedside and I've never felt so happy. At only 25, I felt like I was going to be stuck in this state for the rest of my working life but I found the courage to finally make the decision that saved my health and my marriage.
I went into nursing with the intention of helping people and being the one to make a difference to those who may feel hopeless. All my intentions were quickly shut down when I started working on the floor.
We deal with some unappreciative, sarcastic, rude, and egotistical (patients, family members, physicians, coworkers, and managers). There is no care in nursing just bottom-line concerns.
My first nursing job was ok, I worked in ND at the time, I moved to FL and that gave me the green light to officially leave floor nursing. I hate the anxious feeling before every shift, the nagging family members, pts who are rude self-entitled, coworkers who throw each other under the bus, physicians who disregard concerns, and a whole lot of other things I can elaborate about that is just downright awful.
I'm glad to say my degree didn't completely go to waste as I am now an RN case manager. I believe being away from the bedside will renew my interest. I refuse to live a day dreading having to go to work, nursing has literally changed how I respond to people before I use to smile at everyone now I walk past people with my face looking like a pit bull ready to bite.
Whenever someone would tell me to smile I thought, "Wow I have changed for the worst" I refuse to be a martyr for this profession.
Taking care of myself is more important than risking it for people who **** on theirs.
I am an LPN and I feel the same as you. My idea of what nursing was...or was suppose to be...was quite different than the real world. It is nothing but politics and "dog eat dog" with your coworkers. I even thought if I did extra to help make thir lives easier it would get better...HA was I wrong!!! After 1.5 yrs I got out. I tried Psych nursing for about 4 yrs then finally left because I was tired of fighting to protect my license. Admin kept trying to force me to do things that were not even close to being in my Scope of Practice. Ive been out of nursing for the past year and other than missing the patients I dont miss the rat race a bit!!!
If you're miserable than you're making the right choice of getting out. Life is too short....
There are plenty of other opportunities in other areas of nursing. I truly hope you find what you're looking for. Ignore the haters, take care of yourself and your family and be happy.
You give a very negative view of bedside nursing, what about all the good bits, job satisfaction, not all clients are rude egotistical, some are extreemlly grateful, some are so miserable laying in bed sick, but their faces light up on seeing the nurse walk in, even if only for a few seconds out of her busy day, the miracle patients who get so much better knowing you have helped them achieve this, surely you knew the job before you enetered it
I completely agree - I work in LTC and it has turned into a political nightmare - upper management expects us to work with very limited staff all because of the almighty dollar - these are not little old ladies sitting in rocking chairs knitting sweaters - many of these people have multiple medical issues - I work in the dementia units often and the behaviors are a handful while still trying to pass meds, do treatments, etc. - I love my residents but dealing with the families is tough - I am also a family member as my father is a resident in the same facility so I see it from both sides - I just accepted a position in a clinic doing phone triage - I do not feel like I am "wasting my degree" as some people have stated to me - I am doing what makes me happy before I burn out completely - there are many options in nursing and each individual needs to choose what they can excel at while still enjoying going to work everyday!
Nursing has made me bitter. 19 years experience and all in ICU, I am nice to my patients , but the families. The hotel, I mean hospital I work at now is all about the customer satisfaction. They allow all ages in the ICU to visit, bring in food, sometimes the patient is there long enough that the room is decorated and this for a vented, sedated patient. And most of the time if there is a complaint, the nurse is questioned and not believed, so I can see why she left beside nursing so early in her career.
If you really truly mean that you 'hate nursing' when you're say 'this crap is not for me' then I strongly suggest you find another means to use your degree..and I don't mean that in a rude or condescending way, but bedside nursing isn't for everyone...I was working with med-surg/rehab/post op patients who were outrageously demanding and very unappreciative for the first few years of my nursing career. I went home every day and felt abused and defeated and most aspects of my life suffered. Then I got a job working in oncology...a lot of people asked me why I would ever take a job with that patient population, but the cancer patients I work with are some of the strongest, most determined and appreiciative souls I have ever had the privilege to care for. Maybe you just need to find another facility or specialty? You obviously didn't chose nursing for the money (let's be real) you've only been in the field for a short time, don't give up on nursing all together...weather you make a difference at the bedside or in case management or in administration you chose nursing for a reason, never lose sight of that
I feel like this is why no one should be allowed into nursing school until you have been a CNA for at least a year. I was a CNA/tech phlebotomist for 10 years by the time I graduated nursing school. Too many people go into nursing with unrealistic expectations of what it will be like. For the first 3 years of my CNA career I said "never mind! I don't want to be a nurse"! But slowly I adjusted and realized my love was still there. I see students everyday that are years and thousands of dollars into their education before they realize they hate nursing. Imagine the time and money they could have saved themselves by taking a CNA class and getting a "pre-education"..
Maybe you should rethink a different kind of nursing... I was NEVER cut out to be a floor nurse... My passion is surgery, so i've an operating room nurse for 20 years... Doctors are happier ( its their playground) patients are greatful ( its life or death) and family members greatful over you saved their love ones...
you are only 25, give it time, look around for other kind of opportunities... I know lots of nurses, who left floor nursing to come to the OR.
Wait until you have to deal with the patients and families who shoot down any and all placement options you so diligently make available. But they know they can't go home, either. That's always special. I fear you're going to find the same but a different method of madness in case management.
I am in the same boat. It is awful on the floor. I just switched to hospice nursing after a year in med surf and I find it soooo much more relaxed, rewarding, and well, fun. Families are grateful for your help. Patients are appreciative of you. Comfort is the goal and that is an easy one to focus on and to achieve usually.
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I am an LPN and I feel the same as you. My idea of what nursing was...or was suppose to be...was quite different than the real world. It is nothing but politics and "dog eat dog" with your coworkers. I even thought if I did extra to help make thir lives easier it would get better...HA was I wrong!!! After 1.5 yrs I got out. I tried Psych nursing for about 4 yrs then finally left because I was tired of fighting to protect my license. Admin kept trying to force me to do things that were not even close to being in my Scope of Practice. Ive been out of nursing for the past year and other than missing the patients I dont miss the rat race a bit!!!