Lost Nurse

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Hello Everyone!

Been a nurse for just over a year and I'm not happy anymore. I'm in PEDS and I'm looking for another specialty. Thing is, I don't know where to go. All I know is I'm not looking forward to going to work, plus that "click" - that special feeling that it's what I want to do - is missing. Come to think of it, it was never really there in the first place.

True, the management in my unit sucks. Hospital pays below than DC (I'm in Northern VA). New grads make more than we do. We need to go to "huddle" before each shift where there's a litany of reminders and rules. Turnover rate is very high, and frankly I can understand why.

Bottomline is - I can overlook the pay and politics as long as the passion for my job is there. It's missing and I don't know where to find it.

Please help.

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

HI acey! maybe try your luck at med/surg for a while. the good thing about med/surg is that you get a little bit of everything usually... ortho, post-op, sometimes tele, a little psych and even hospice.... its usually a nice mix. maybe you will find when you are there something really sparks your interest and then you can transfer to that specialty. :)good luck!!

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Specializes in Emergency.

Good for you for recognizing your discontent and having the courage to move on. My suggestion: write a list of qualities you want in your job and find a place that will work with those. Be extremely PICKY...work is hard enough without the dread.

I am undergoing the transition to ER and absolutely love it. My tele experience is very useful, and I can only imagine how many areas a peds background would be useful in. Good luck...you will find your home in nursing! One of the greatest beauties of the profession is the flexibility.

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Specializes in CVICU, PACU, OR.

I understand what you are going through. I have been in cardiac recovery for a year and have similar feelings. It is exciting and interesting yet I don't think it's where I belong.

I check job listings constantly to see if anything catches my eye. With a year of experience you have a lot of options.

Good luck finding your niche!

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Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.

Don't give up, find something you enjoy and go with it! There are many, many specialties in nursing. Find one you enjoy.

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Specializes in pediatric and geriatric.

Are you not happy as a nurse in general or just with your current job situation? If it's nursing in general then make a new career choice, but if your just having a bad time right now maybe take some time off and refresh yourself. Sometimes nursing is depressing. Maybe you are depressed?

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My mom LOVED working at Alexandria Hospital on Seminary Rd. (http://www.inova.com/). She got her diploma there and worked there for YEARS. Depending on the commute you want and where in N Va you live, there is also Fairfax Hospital. I think it is on Gallows Road? Anyway, they are both INOVA hospitals, so the above link should give you contact info for both of them. Just don't stay where you are miserable.

Best of luck,

David

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Specializes in Onco, palliative care, PCU, HH, hospice.

I work Medical Tele, and I like it but like you I know it's not what I "click" with, I've found that I particulary love having cardiac patients and once my year is up I plan on transfering to a stepdown unit where I would be dealing with cardiac issues all the time. One of the posters mentioned med/surg and I agree because you see SO MUCH of everything that you'll probably be able to pick out what you like and don't like. Best of luck to you and keep us posted

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Are you not happy as a nurse in general or just with your current job situation? If it's nursing in general then make a new career choice, but if your just having a bad time right now maybe take some time off and refresh yourself. Sometimes nursing is depressing. Maybe you are depressed?

I wonder if the OP has had enough time/experience to really know if it's nursing in general or the current job. Especially if that whole year was spent in peds. I think I'd have to agree with some of the others... just try a new area. Perhaps it will be as simple as that. I just hope you give nursing a fair chance. Good luck! :icon_hug:

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Why did you go into Peds in the first place? Especially since you didn't feel the connection from the beginning. Peds, I believe, is one of those specialties that either have people loving it or hating it.

Or maybe you just need a different area of Peds? Are you in a hospital that had different areas? Are there any Children's Hospitals around you?

Kris

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Educator.

Anyone "cruising" the classifieds needs a change. Recognize it and accept it. When you no longer do that, you are in the right place...for now.

Med/Surg would probably be a good idea...maybe not your love (but could be) and then you will qualify for ANYTHING.

Good luck!

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My mom LOVED working at Alexandria Hospital on Seminary Rd. (http://www.inova.com/). She got her diploma there and worked there for YEARS. Depending on the commute you want and where in N Va you live, there is also Fairfax Hospital. I think it is on Gallows Road? Anyway, they are both INOVA hospitals, so the above link should give you contact info for both of them. Just don't stay where you are miserable.

Best of luck,

David

omg...my mom died at fairfax hospital.

and i was blown away by the nurses in the icu.

beautiful, clean hospital, too.

leslie

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