New & Ready To Move On To Bigger & Better

ebear, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2007

Marie, Excellent post!!!!

ebear

HealthyRN · Dec 13, 2007

New Grad, I know exactly how you feel. I still go through periods of time when I am so angry at myself for choosing this career. I feel like I would have been much happier in any major other than nursing and I am so angry that I didn't see it sooner. I knew in nursing school that I didn't really enjoy patient care, but I let others talk me into staying. Like you, "It will get better," turned into, "Well, you're almost done..." and then it was too late. I try to remember that there will come a time when I am thankful for my nursing background. Education is never wasted and I have learned many valuable life lessons from nursing.

You could do as others suggested and stick it out for awhile longer. There are non-clinical jobs out there in which you may find satisfaction. Personally, I've come to the conclusion that I will never be truly satisfied in a nursing job and I made a poor career decision. There are people close to me that still try to talk me into staying in the profession, but I have to do what I feel is best for me. One obstacle that I have come up against is the general public's perception of nursing. I was just in an interview yesterday (for a job completely unrelated to nursing) and the interviewer spent most of his time talking to me about why I would want to leave such an in-demand and well-paying career. It was tough to answer his questions because I didn't want to appear too negative, but he just wasn't satisfied with, "It just isn't for me." Anyway, if you ever need to vent, I am here for you. Good luck.

EmmaG, RN · Dec 13, 2007

Does that answer your question??

Well, yes--- and no.

I see so many posts here saying basically the same thing, and it's generally understood that the nursing 'shortage' is in fact a shortage of nurses who are willing to work at the bedside. I see new nurses throwing up their hands and walking away almost immediately, and/or going from job to job, obviously unhappy and stressed out.

I guess what I'm saying is I'd like to know from those who are experiencing this is what exactly did you expect; specifically, not in general. While there has always been a disconnect between school and 'the real world' and new grads have always been hit with reality shock on their first jobs, there seems to be something else at play here.

Are instructors romanticizing nursing? Filling students' heads with unrealistic expectations? Are many of these students entering nursing programs these days expecting to start out 'on top'? Is it a matter of not wanting to get their hands dirty (I say that as some have expressed disdain at cleaning poop)? Is it those damnable (and completely unrealistic) J&J ads?

I would dearly love to sit in on some nursing classes and see just what it is that is going on in there.

HealthyRN · Dec 13, 2007

What did I expect? Part of my problem was that I chose nursing without doing a lot of research into what it actually involved. I had never worked in healthcare and I never job shadowed. I was a freshman in college, very young and naive. I chose nursing for the educational opportunities that were available at the graduate level. I wanted to be an FNP and this was the job that I spent a lot of time researching. Unfortunately, I never gave the actual path to becoming an FNP much thought. In retrospect, of course, I can't believe that I made such a seemingingly thoughtless decision that will affect the rest of my life.

Once I started the nursing clinicals, I realized that I wouldn't enjoy direct patient care or being a staff nurse. But again, I was motivated by my future goals. I placated myself with the fact that I would not be doing this type of work for very long. Also, I was assured by older students and instructors that it would get better and more exciting. I don't think that the instructors really "romanticized" nursing, but they didn't exactly tell the truth either. I was told to expect that it would be hard the first year out of school. But I had no idea of the horrible working conditions that I would be facing. In particular, I felt deceived with how the clinicals were set up for the first few years. In the first year, students did no more than 4 hours on the unit and then 8 hours the second year. Only in the final semester of the final year did students work for a full 12-hour shift. By the time you are getting a realistic peak into a nurse's day, it is too late to change your mind.

For me, it has nothing to do with not wanting to get my hands dirty or wanting to start out on top. What I did expect was basic respect from coworkers, administration, physicians, and patients and families, the kind of respect that I believe all human beings deserve. I expected a fair wage for the work involved and getting a 30 minute break to take a lunch. I expected to be treated as a professional.

Well, yes--- and no.
I see so many posts here saying basically the same thing, and it's generally understood that the nursing 'shortage' is in fact a shortage of nurses who are willing to work at the bedside. I see new nurses throwing up their hands and walking away almost immediately, and/or going from job to job, obviously unhappy and stressed out.
I guess what I'm saying is I'd like to know from those who are experiencing this is what exactly did you expect; specifically, not in general. While there has always been a disconnect between school and 'the real world' and new grads have always been hit with reality shock on their first jobs, there seems to be something else at play here.
Are instructors romanticizing nursing? Filling students' heads with unrealistic expectations? Are many of these students entering nursing programs these days expecting to start out 'on top'? Is it a matter of not wanting to get their hands dirty (I say that as some have expressed disdain at cleaning poop)? Is it those damnable (and completely unrealistic) J&J ads?
I would dearly love to sit in on some nursing classes and see just what it is that is going on in there.

EmmaG, RN · Dec 13, 2007

In particular, I felt deceived with how the clinicals were set up for the first few years. In the first year, students did no more than 4 hours on the unit and then 8 hours the second year.

That is very different than when I attended nursing school. We did full shifts pretty much from the start.

NursePaula · Dec 13, 2007

I have to be honest and say that I have worked in situations where co-workers, management and MD's were awful. It tends to permeate the whole environment like a fungus...but with that said, I also have to say that the ONLY career I EVER considered was a nurse (took the long way there...graduated in early 30's).

I love nursing, love most ;)of my patients and families and a good majority of the people I work with and for. The best compliment I get is "You sure do seem to love what you do!" And at least 50% of the time I am still amazed that I get paid for what I do.

Consider spending enough time where you are at so that you aren't "job hopping" but start networking and find a place that from the management down the nurses are respected and appreciated. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you luck cause I have been in the place where the thought of going to work would actually make me ill.

The best advice that I can give is to do something that you love, and the money will work out...and remember that life experiences are not a waste because they are the things that make you the person that you are. Take care of yourself and good luck.

marie-francoise · Dec 13, 2007

Amen to HealthyRN's post, above.

Agnus · Dec 13, 2007

This only will effect the rest of your life negatively if you allow it to. If you reallyfeel this strongly about this. Go do something else. You are not required to continue in nursing. A lot of people think they want to work in a particular career. Go on to get even Doctorate degrees only to discover they hate it and they move on to something else. You made a mistake it will not be the last. Let it go move on. Be glad you only had to get a 4 year degree before you found out.

Agnus · Dec 13, 2007

[quote=thrashej;2545022

Sometimes I do regret pursuing this degree. I really do. Because now if I want to do something else, nobody gets it. I just get that confused stare.

One thing I WILL NOT do is lock myself into this profession by getting a $2600 mortgage or something. I will live below my means to make sure that I can take a pay cut if I have to. I feel so bad for those that are locked into this career out of necessity AND hate it. I am one of the luckier ones.

Does that answer your question?? :lol2:

No one else had to "get it" if you don't like it, you don't like it. You do not owe anyone and explanation.

Please tell me where I can get a home for $2600! (I assume that is a home mortgage) I will move there today.

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2007

No one else had to "get it" if you don't like it, you don't like it. You do not owe anyone and explanation.
Please tell me where I can get a home for $2600! (I assume that is a home mortgage) I will move there today.

I meant, a $2600 per month mortgage payment. Obviously.

And I know I don't owe anyone else an explanation. I am slowly starting to realize and accept that.

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2007

Well, yes--- and no.
I see so many posts here saying basically the same thing, and it's generally understood that the nursing 'shortage' is in fact a shortage of nurses who are willing to work at the bedside. I see new nurses throwing up their hands and walking away almost immediately, and/or going from job to job, obviously unhappy and stressed out.
I guess what I'm saying is I'd like to know from those who are experiencing this is what exactly did you expect; specifically, not in general. While there has always been a disconnect between school and 'the real world' and new grads have always been hit with reality shock on their first jobs, there seems to be something else at play here.
Are instructors romanticizing nursing? Filling students' heads with unrealistic expectations? Are many of these students entering nursing programs these days expecting to start out 'on top'? Is it a matter of not wanting to get their hands dirty (I say that as some have expressed disdain at cleaning poop)? Is it those damnable (and completely unrealistic) J&J ads?
I would dearly love to sit in on some nursing classes and see just what it is that is going on in there.

You know what, for me, there isn't all that much to explain. :lol2: I didn't like what I saw of nursing in school and I didn't like it after I graduated and started working. I just don't like it. I don't like nursing. I just didn't want to admit that to myself, that it wasn't going to work out for me, while I was still in school. It was never my #1 choice profession, I just kinda landed on it. All the other things I thought I might like to do required either more school, more money, or had no future stability. So who knows...if I had picked one of those I could still be where I am today..doubting my choice! After all, you just can't predict life. Sounds stupid, but I felt like, well, if this doesn't work for me, what will? So I trudged on. And here I am. Maybe it is the field I am choosing right now (med surg) or my current life circumstances, but right now I just don't wish to stay in floor nursing. That's it.

My situation might be sad as far as figuring things out late, but I learned a lot in nursing school. Not just information but I learned a lot about people and compassion and I became a better person. So I will never regret the experience, just maybe the choice of profession.

Agnus · Dec 13, 2007

I meant, a $2600 per month mortgage payment. Obviously.
And I know I don't owe anyone else an explanation. I am slowly starting to realize and accept that.

It was not obvious to me. I was teasing you because I thought it was $260,000. I figured it was a typo and I was ribbing you. If you look I am queen of typos and I can't have tollerate anyone trying to usurp me.

Quite honestly I can not imagine a $2600 monthly mortgage pmt.