Need Advice..

[burns636]

Hello, all

I have been in nursing for 7 years. I have been absolutely miserable. Every position I have had started and ended in a very bad way. I have been called everything except human. I am tired of the bullying, name-calling, individual put-down sessions with collegues where I am given all the reasons why I should not be a nurse. In every case? I could trust no one. As sure as I thought I could trust them? As sure as I thought my preceptor would help me? I found that instead, they were turning their back on me. They all spread lies about mistakes that never happened. Or, if I asked too many questions, then they would go and tell the manager that I needed to go through nursing school again. It was interesting how the "he-said, she-said that I did" turned into something that cost me my job. The "in-crowd" generally made their choice from day one. They knew nothing about me. But, they knew they did not want me on their unit. While they had no proof to back up their statements? It was all that was needed to get me out the door and make them happy.

Now, I am going to graduate school for healthcare infomatics with a certification in IT security. This program takes somewhere along the lines of 65 credits. It will be 2012 before I graduate. I made my choice..after my last miserable job. I deserve better than this. I deserve to be happy. I deserve a job I feel I can depend on.

That said? I have been unemployed for 8 months. I would accept another nursing job if I could find one. But, I can't. Still, it remains that I want out of nursing. So? Do I really want to do that? Not exactly. I would have to become some what of an actor to make the hiring manager believe that I did.

My question is? What are my options now? I need a job that will get me through graduate school. I hope at that point, I can find a position with a company that designs software programs for healthcare institutions or the IT department of a major hospital chain.

I really don't have any other experience other than my nursing background. While I was in college, I worked in retail,for minimum wage as a cashier. That is the only non-nursing position I ever had. I need options. I need a decent job. I don't mean bagging burgers or groceries. Although? It might come to that. I need the money regardless.

I hope that some of you here can offer me suggestions. I have no clue where to go or what to do now. All I know is this: I can't put up with the high-school bullying, name-calling, crap anymore. I don't need anyone else telling me I don't belong in nursing or that I am too "stupid" to do the job. I have had it with all that.

I hope that I find some understanding and some sort of direction for my future.

thank you

the RN (retarded nurse..get it?) heard it too many times...

[Guest717236]

My suggestion is first....don't knock yourself down. Your patients had the

benefit of your skills and care, so don't forget them.

Second, who cares about those colleagues. What type of nurse manager

allows that? If this is an unprofessional environment you are better

off out of there. So let go and move on to your future in Informatics.

Third, you are on the right track. Getting a job in software for a co that

makes Health care software. Or a job in the computer dept of a hospital or

other business for the experience. If your school has an MBA program,

ask them about job positions too.

You can tie this nursing and computers together and do your own

consulting at some point.

So, take each step as it comes and the very best of luck to you!

Have confidence~!:anpom:

(PS-It may not have been you as the target of your peers, they

may have wanted to get a friend in your job position. I have seen

that situation before.)

[burns636]

Thanks..

I think the biggest joke was when I was supposed to be in orientation. And, the preceptor was never around. Who knows? She went out to smoke? Left me alone, just got my license..in the ICU. I had to admit someone directly from surgery with

a lot of IV's, a vent, a pulmonary tube..everything. And, I couldn't read the orders. The providers did not write them so that they were easy to read. I was so scared. Not just for the patient, but for myself, my career, my license.

Anyway, yeah grad school is going great. But, I really can't sit around without a job for the next year and half till I graduate. So? What do I do now? Career services is only available to students who have completed 3/4 of their credits. I won't get help there. Not for a while.

I was always in it for the patients. I knew what I did mattered to them. I knew to spite the former managers rant about how stupid she thought I was? I saved a number of lives while I worked there. That said? If I can find something as a nurse again? I would probably take it. But, having been through all this? I'd rather move on now.

I just have no clue what type of work I could look for and I really need a job.

You go through these things long enough? You really start to question yourself and wonder? If they are right? Or, if there is something they see that I cannot? Perhaps if I knew what that was? I could do something about it.

ohh..Merry Christmas!

thank you!

[Guest717236]

I was thinking about talking with the business professors, sometimes

they have an idea of where to start to look for a job now..

So, good luck in your Job Search and your studies.

Keep an optimistic attitude and things will fall in place...

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

So, let me get this straight - Seven years in nursing spent in several different jobs and everyone hated you? hmm. Reminds me of the recruit who got chewed out for being out of step and said - "It's not me, everyone else is marching the wrong way". Have you ever stopped to wonder if maybe - just maybe - you were part of the problem? The only other explanation would have to involve a conspiracy of epic proportions, and we all know that nurses are not generally that collaborative - LOL.

I do admire the OP's willingness to change directions, and it sounds like some introspection is already happening but I would advise taking formal steps in this area... does the college offer counseling services? ALL healthcare jobs involve collaboration & communication. In healthcare, the role of IT is always subservient to patient care providers so a key characteristics of successful healthcare informaticists is the ability to work with clinicians. If you can't, you don't last very long. IT folks with the best 'people' skills rise highest in the organization. My perspective comes from my oldest is a software engineer with a grad degree in biomedical informatics. Her job requires continuous interaction with those pesky clinical end-users.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i'm always suspicious when i read a post about someone who has had a number of jobs but her managers always hate her, co-workers always pick on her and she's always being victimized and bullied. it makes me think the poster lacks insight into her situation. if everyone always hates her everywhere she goes, she's definitely doing something wrong. if it's the same thing everywhere you go, you're part of the problem.

another thing that gives me pause is the claim that lies are being spread about you everywhere you go. perhaps in one job, but for seven years?

if you hate nursing this much and are so convinced that nurses do nothing but bully and persecute you, don't take another nursing job. you can always wait tables, which i hear pays well and has flexible hours. i suspect, however, that if you're looking for high-school behavior, name calling and bullying you're going to find them everywhere. my best advice -- and i mean this to be helpful -- is to take some time for introspection and soul searching. everywhere you go, there you are. an attitude adjustment may be the best thing you can do for yourself and your career.