I need some advice I am a new RN as of about 6 months now. After graduating with my BSN, I got a job right away on an oncology unit at a major hospital in Boston. I make great money, it's great experience and my peers are very supportive. I realize I am very lucky; however, I have really realized in the past few months that I HATE the nursing lifestyle! I am mentally and physically exhausted all the time from working such an erratic schedule (36hr rotating to all shifts). I have developed serious anxiety issues from being stretched thin from the job itself as well as losing almost all of my non-nursing friends because they don't understand why I am too tired all the time to go out to bars etc. I knew coming to this that "it's temporary" and that seniority rules at my hospital; however, judging by my colleagues' # of years on the job, I won't have any "seniority" for at least 6 or 7 years. I don't think I can wait that long to be able to gain some schedule regularity and be able to take vacation time when I want (not after everyone else has picked their time!). And I really miss my friends on the weekend! I never thought I'd envy my friends with 9 to 5's!! I am wondering what else I can do with my nursing degree. I am interested in maybe a nurse educator position or something but not sure how to go about it. I am afraid no one will hire me without more experience, I mean, I am only 23 and have only had this one job. PLEASE give me some advice on different roads to pursue. I would really appreciate it :)
I think that rotating shifts are an invention of the devil and that no one can feel good doing that.
See if you can get to nights, period - that's where the most difficulty in hiring is - and see if you feel any better. I could not POSSIBLY change to days to evenings to nights all within a week and feel remotely human, let alone for months on end.
I hope that the OP sees this and updates us on what has happened with her. I'm interested to hear if she stayed with the same job or managed to change jobs. I had to work rotating shifts and know firsthand that a person can not maintain their health or personal life when they are constantly either at work or trying to recover from work.
chgoreid
42 Posts
Woops! I just realized this original post was from 08 and not 09! Maybe you'll see it anyway. :)