New & Confused RN

[Noel777]

Hello,

I decided to join this website and start a thread because I am desperately in need of opinions from my fellow RNs.

I have been an RN for about two years. My first year of nursing I worked on a mother/baby unit (I thought babies were my passion). However, due to multiple reasons (night-shift, getting called-in on a regular basis, the monotony of postpartum care, etc.) I became bored/disappointed with the unit and began to dread going into work every night. I became nervous as I felt like I was already burnt-out on nursing and it was only my first year. I decided it was best to look for another job. I landed a job on a med-surg unit at a hospital closer to home (my current job). Although med-surg isn't necessarily my passion, I thought it would be best to expand my skills/knowledge as a nurse. It is day-shift, close to home, less on-call hours...sounds like the perfect job, right? This is where I'm struggling. I already hate this job too. I thought my hatred towards my first job was due to different circumstances, but now that I hate this job, could it be that being an RN is not my calling? Has anyone else felt this way? What did you do about it? I mean, I know most people aren't super excited about going to work everyday, but I can't imagine feeling this dread to go to work everyday for the rest of my life.

I feel like I'm stuck in the middle of hating my job but being too embarrassed to quit and start a new career outside of nursing since nursing school consumed 4 years of my life and my family and friends were so supportive and excited for me every step of the way.

Should I stick it out or quit?

Thank you,

New and Confused

[caliotter3]

I do not think you have given it enough time or different experiences to make that call at this time. Perhaps all you need at this point is a very good vacation. Your return on investment would probably be better served after you have worked as a nurse for at least two to three years. If you identify another career interest, there is nothing to stop you from starting courses toward another degree on your off time, if that will move you in a different direction.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

I think you should stick it out in med/surg for at least a year. Learn enough so you don't feel overwhelmed and then reevaluate. Med-surg is not for the faint of heart. Most people who leave med-surg say they will never look back. I left med-surg for the ED and I share this sentiment. I will never never do med-surg anything more than PRN again!

There are dozens of areas of nursing to try.

Have you considered pediatrics? Critical care? School nursing? Emergency department? Outpatient? Endoscopy?

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Get out of acute care. I can't guarantee you will love it, but you might find it a better fit.

[Dranger]

If you dreaded M/B or postpartum (arguably the least stressful of any nursing floor, especially at night) and hate Med-Surg, then I don't really think acute care is for you.

Stay away from critical care, you will burn out in two weeks.

[Dranger]

Have you considered pediatrics? Critical care? School nursing? Emergency department? Outpatient? Endoscopy?

You really think after the OP hated mother/baby and Med-Surg that she will all of a sudden be a fit for crtitical care/ED?

lolwut:nono:

Go outpatient.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Expound on "hate" and "burnt out". Define for yourself what is stressing you.

Then search the many threads here that will assist you to find a position that you can enjoy.

Yoiu have the golden two years of experience.... it opens many doors for you.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

You really think after the OP hated mother/baby and Med-Surg that she will all of a sudden be a fit for crtitical care/ED?

lolwut:nono:

Go outpatient.

She hated mother/baby for multiple reasons. One was that she wasn't stimulated enough.

She hasn't said why she hates med surg. I can go on an on why I hate medsurg. I can go on and on about why I love the ED. They are both chaotic and busy but the ED makes sense somehow and at the end of the day most things you did were necessary and important. Cant say the same thing about medsurg. The double documentation, the customer service stuff, the excessive and unnecessary rounding, the catering, the lack of respect (varies from place to place) etc

[RN420]

You have so many more options to try within nursing! Don't give up yet . I didn't even try to go into acute care I just knew it wasn't for me .

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Stay on M/S for your year, learn every little thing you can with the intent of a good foundation. Start looking around at other openings in your facility and see what interests you. Then go speak to the manager of the unit, and as what you need to do to work there.

ED is faster paced, variety, chaotic but time flies. So this may be where you could want to end up. Or IV infusion, or same day surgery...

Best wishes

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

I have NEVER heard of anyone going from M/B to M/S. It is usually the other way around. People would kill to get a nice, chill-back (most of the times) PP gig. That being said, how long have you been at this current job? And what made you want to be a nurse?

How about psych?

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

I've struggled with whether nursing was really for me, and have tried a few different jobs. Now I can honestly say that I love my job and I'm glad I became a nurse. For me, what it took was being willing to take some risks and try different things.

That being said, it's important to establish yourself as a good worker and an asset to your team, because when that dream opportunity does come along, you're more likely to get the job if your current employer values you and has good things to say about your work habits, reliability, integrity, and team spirit. So I say, stick with your current job for at least a year. Work hard. Learn all you can. Identify your weaknesses and work on improving yourself. Put yourself into it whole heartedly, and in a year, start looking around to see what else is out there. But do not apply for any positions that you are not willing to stay at for at least one year.

It's only one year.