My job is melting my brain.

[chwcbesteph, RN]

Hey y'all. :) At the risk of being balled out by the seasoned nurses here, I need some support.

I've been working on the floor at a 25-bed critical access facility for eight months. My patients are mostly swing bed patients, rarely under 60, and are stable/uncomplicated. I'm also working nights.

Is it awful that I'm bored? I feel like I'm either babysitting or in a routine of task-oriented thinking. I feel valued on my team, am blessed to have very little drama between our nursing staff, and my nursing judgments seem to be appreciated by our providers. I'm just not being challenged or using the skills I came into nursing with (I have a background in perinatal education and community health work).

I don't have many options locally for employment (I would have to drive 70+ miles for any bigger jobs) and am not interested in pursuing critical care. What I **want** to do is build my existing business and practice as a nurse educator and holistic women's health practitioner, but I'm trying to work out a real exit plan.

Sigh. I guess I don't really have a question- I just need to get this down, maybe get some support, and see if it's worth sticking around at this job. I told myself that I want to get a year of floor work under my belt before moving on. I just wonder how much of that is worth it. I'm pretty miserable (my hair is falling out, I'm not eating, I'm fighting with my partner, etc.).

Thanks in advance.

[ClaraRedheart, BSN, RN]

Are you sleeping an appropriate amount of hours? Maybe your lack of sleep could be a huge part of your health and emotional issues (fighting with your partner). My husband strongly suggested that I switch to day shift. Looking back, I was kind of a basketcase when I was on night shift. I slept maybe 4-5 hours a night/day on average, and on off days slept odd hours too. Day shift was much more challenging as well, but sleeping like a normal person.. you can't put a price on that. :) Whatever you decide, I'm sure you will put a lot of thought into it and I hope it makes you happy. Best wishes!