My husband wants me OUT of nursing

[kids]

He finally came out and said it...

Over the years we have been together he has watched me wreck my body (floor work), work to many hours (salary) and be screwed over & treated like crap (middle management).

I love Pediatric nursing...after several years of bouncing around I finally found my niche. My problem is I have an eye for what needs to be fixed and good ideas (that work) on how to make a situation better and end up in management...unfortunately I am not the image of what Corp wants in a manager, not to mention plain spoken & loyal to "my" staff...politically incorrect of an admin.

He is right. I am burnt and disillusioned.

I emailed my CV to his company today...

I am going to persue a career in IT/Network Admin for a while...is a good entry level position to learn fiber technology and the new routers...the company trains and promotes from within, starting pay is 3/4 what I was making at my last job, the benes are good and I don't have to make decisions that affect peoples lives.

In a few months if I feel up to it I will go apply for a per deim position at a Peds LTC in my area.

I can't decide if this belongs here or in Off Topic...feel free to move it.

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

My husband was completely supportive of my getting out of the hospital environment (working PRN there versus fulltime - now working FT as a clinic nurse.) He says I am a much more energetic person, and less irritable. His job situation is not as stable as it might be, but we're going to stay where we are because we know the job I have now isn't one that could easily be replaced.

Good luck in your new venture - we all need a break sometimes - nursing will always be there.

[SmilingBluEyes]

A stupid question I have to ask.

What do YOU want? Sounds like he wants you happy. So decide what that would be and go for it.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree with SmilingBluEyes, "What do YOU want?" Do you really want that job you just applied for? or are you just running away?

It sounds to me that you might really need a break from nursing -- or at least a break from the type of nursing you have been doing. However, there is a difference between "taking a break" and "leaving for good." Perhaps, after a little while, you will find a way to find a way to build upon your nursing expertise and use your good ideas to make the world of nursing a better place.

I find it really interesting that so many nurses associate "being supportive of the staff" with "incompatible with management." Isn't that sad? Shouldn't the people who have the good ideas and are supportive of the staff be the ones to go back to school and develop the expertise needed to change the system?

llg -- who sometimes needs a break, too ... and who may someday leave for good ... but who, for now, keeps trying to develop new skills to try to make things better.

[SmilingBluEyes]

llg, you are HOT today. your posts are awesome.

[Dr. Kate, BSN, RN]

My first reaction on reading your post was "what a great chance to learn IT and IS" with that expertise think of what great things you could do back in healthcare. Consider ANIA (American Informatics Nursing Assoc.) for information and compatible people. I know someone who started out in Peds and ended up in Informatics.

Good Luck and keep in touch

[mattsmom81]

Originally posted by llg

I find it really interesting that so many nurses associate "being supportive of the staff" with "incompatible with management." Isn't that sad? Shouldn't the people who have the good ideas and are supportive of the staff be the ones to go back to school and develop the expertise needed to change the system?

In a perfect world this would indeed occur. Those of us who have tried midlevel management have recieved slaps in the face too many times for 'siding with the staff' or attempting to make things better for the staff through experience based problem solving.

The harsh reality in too many hospitals? Upper level management/CEO's want to primarily make money and cover their butt, and don't mind doing either off the backs of nurses, IME. This is why there's a 'nursing shortage'..nurses are choosing not to work. I see too many upper level managers giving lip service, trinkets, and 'symbolism over substance' which is not enough anymore. THAT is what is sad IMHO.

Now... I must adjust my mindset to this bit of knowledge, and I do. The above is my experience and that of many of my friends, coworkers and mentors in life and on BB's. If you are not experiencing this, and are in a midlevel position, I suggest you are working in an unusually good facility. Stay there. :)

And if you're going to school to make things better....hope you remember your goals once you're there. I've watched too many forget and adopt the CEO moneyline in self defense. This is sad too.:stone

[llg, PhD, RN]

To Mattsmom81: I agree with you that middle-level management positions are among the toughest in the nursing profession. I don't disagree really with anything that you wrote. I was just trying to make the case that if the ideas of the original poster (kids-r-fun) are really that terrific and she is really successful at making things better, then it would be a shame to lose her to nursing. She might be one of those people we really need to move into a higher level position to have more influence.

llg

[NurseGirlKaren]

Nancy--does the non compete clause still apply even though they fired you?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Good luck!

[LoisJean]

But I agree with Dr. Kate. Why not, in time combine both careers into one? Why not think about setting up your own business, in the future, with the skills you have developed and the skills you are about to develop.

In my experience, nurses who refuse to trade empathy for corporate apathy are the ones who function the best in Entrepreneural ventures. Fact is, many nurses who are "politically incorrect" are the ones who seem to pave the better road for others to follow.

I wish I had a dollar for every nurse I know who is 'restless, irritable and discontent in the employment setting because NO MATTER where the nurse is working, no matter how many different facilities and environments, the same brick wall eventually appears.

The go-get'um nurses have a thousand excellent and workable ideas for change within the structures they are employed in, so they are eventually moved upward-- only to find themselves in a position of prostitution.

As Agnus says, you may be working for a pretty good employer- and if so, stay there. But if you have a deep burning desire to branch out into something new and different, then for heavens sake go for it...what do you have to lose? What would be the worst thing that could happen?

Jeez, I hate it when nurses are compromised simply because they are good at what they do.

Any way, my 2 senses worth

Peace,

Lois Jean

[sjoe]

"My problem is I have an eye for what needs to be fixed and good ideas (that work) on how to make a situation better and end up in management...unfortunately I am not the image of what Corp wants in a manager, not to mention plain spoken & loyal to "my" staff...politically incorrect of an admin. "

Truer words were never spoken. In nursing, having such a clear eye, and plain speech on top of it, IS a major problem.

Good luck in your new field and hopefully they will appreciate your abilities. (It would be a nice change.)

[emily_mom]

I'm proud of you....:)

Kristy