I switched from my previous career to pursue nursing and now I'm beginning to wonder if I had made the right choice. I've always had an interest in health, the medical field and I love helping people so I thought nursing would be a perfect "relatively quick" switch to a new profession. I was 26 at the time and I knew I eventually wanted to start a family.
But boy, I didn't realize those past 3 years of nursing school would entail compromising my emotional and mental health. It was the bane of my existence. I was so depressed, sometimes suicidal and my boyfriend made me seek therapy. It didn't help to talk about my feelings. In fact, I think bringing attention to it made it worse. My coping mechanisms have always been to ignore issues, compartmentalize and major denial. It's helped me manage through my past.
So finally, I'm a new grad day shift RN working on a cardiac progressive care unit. It's been almost 6 months and I'm beginning to really dread going to work. I didn't want to do med-surg because I wanted a challenge and now I'm beginning to regret it. At work, I'm so overwhelmed and I have so much to do that I never take breaks and I eat really late lunches. And even then, I get interrupted during lunch. Sometimes I feel that people who are not nurses don't understand how physically draining it can be and mentally draining to deal with egotistical medical professionals. The culture of the hospital doesn't allow for low self esteem and perfectionist individuals such as myself.
I feel myself burning out quickly. I worry about my emotional health because I'm beginning to feel the same way I've felt in nursing school. I'm starting to use food to comfort myself, I walk around with an empty feeling inside and sometimes when I'm pulling meds for my patients, I've considered taking some to numb myself. Now it's spilling into my non work days. I don't have the energy nor inclination to do anything.
I'm torn between wanting to quit to avoid spiraling down the depression path again versus not wanting to quit so that I don't look like a quitter to my family and friends. But I am one of the lucky ones whose significant other makes enough to support the both of us but I do not want to be a housewife. I've worked so hard to get where I am today, I worry that our financial security may not always be there and we're planning to have a baby soon.
I feel so alone and empty inside. I moved to Florida to be with my husband and I have not had time to make friends here. I feel so naïve and wish someone had told me that nursing is tough. Had I known what bedside nursing would entail, I may not have pursued this avenue. I wanted to reach out to fellow nurses and get your take of your first year and any advice that you may have for me. Do all nurses in their first year feel this way? What are some ways that I can cope in a healthy way?
We need to shoulder the world. ...you give so much more in nursing than you will ever be compensated for. Honestly, I do feel sorry for you.
I'm SO sick of having to pick up the slack for those who can't "COPE". I HAVE to cope....because if I don't, there isn't anyone else who can. I understand how "tough" it is......I've been doing this for over 18 years. I'm SO SICK of those-who-can't cope, calling in sick, getting notes from their MD, When they call in for their oh-so-frequent mental health days. I am the one who has to work short. AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm oh so sick of working short because someone goes into this and two years later, they are overwhelmed.I'm overwhelmed. Last night I sent an 80+ to emergent surgery...her daughter was alone, and terrified. I couldn't spend the time I should have with her....because I had to work short...AGAIN. I'm sick of giving crap care to my patients because some haveNOOOOOOOOOOO work ethic . Enough is enough, and I'm getting grumpy now.
Responding to above: I know it sucks working short, but please don't turn on your fellow nurse. They are human too and if they are sick, they are sick. Do you question a patient's pain level or do you treat their pain?
You are working short because the hospital is taking advantage of you. There are plenty of agency nurses who would like to come in and help you but there is a reason they are not there... think about it. There are not enough jobs for nurses and you are working short - again. Something is not adding up. $$$$$$$
Leave the field now. Nursing is a horrible horrible field and for a comperable amount of education, you can work in the business world, art world, fashion, chef or or anything you choose. You don't need a therapist, you need a career change. So what...you made a mistake. Better you get out of it now than later. Don't let 10 years go by and still be in this horrible "career".
Find out what you like and what you are good at then pursue that .
Well, I am also a believer and if somebody hates what they are doing so much, it may be that you are in the wrong job choice.
I hated nursing but was stuck in it for a long long time because I was a single again parent raising a child and didn't have the luxury of switching careers.
I can honestly say that after years I hated every day of nursing.
I am telling all of you who are young and able to get out....to get out. Be a doctor, lawyer, MBA, or anything....anything than this.
I hated my last career, got burned out by 30 and switched to nursing. I like nursing, despite all the issues in the profession. Maybe the solution is to work a little less as a nurse and find something to enjoy on your days off. At least with nursing, we can do that. Or find an area of nursing that suits you.
I hated my last career, got burned out by 30 and switched to nursing. I like nursing, despite all the issues in the profession. Maybe the solution is to work a little less as a nurse and find something to enjoy on your days off. At least with nursing, we can do that. Or find an area of nursing that suits you.
Well, if you like nursing then that's good. Most people don't. Yes, there are days off but when one gets older those days off are needed to recover from a 12 hour shift - and a full lunch break is considered a bonus.
However, I'm glad that you found something that works for you.
I wouldn't think most people don't like nursing. Maybe some people don't. I guess you have to take the good with the bad in every job, and try to find something about nursing that you do like. Certainly, nurses are overworked. But so are many other workers. I will agree that it takes at least 2 to 3 days to recover from the 12 hour shifts. That's why I don't want to work more than 10-12 shifts per month.
Responding to above: I know it sucks working short, but please don't turn on your fellow nurse. They are human too and if they are sick, they are sick. Do you question a patient's pain level or do you treat their pain?
You are working short because the hospital is taking advantage of you. There are plenty of agency nurses who would like to come in and help you but there is a reason they are not there... think about it. There are not enough jobs for nurses and you are working short - again. Something is not adding up. $$$$$$$
Actually, I totally blame the hospital for some of it- But SOME floors seem to attract miserable people who really have no work ethic. I moved to the ED about 8 months ago- I love it. The pace is killer, but the people I work with actually WORK- They don't spend 20 minutes complaining about the 10 minutes of work they have to do. It's funny, because the ED has only 2 of these people- #1 Birtha burned-out type who should have left 30 years ago, and 2. Wilma- won't you PLEASE come help me do x-y-and Z? Reguardless of the fact that it took her LONGER to find someone and to explain what needs to be done than it would have taken for her to do it.Everybody else pulls their own weight in a big way- And SURPRISE! the hospital fills short positions. There is no repetative call ins, no "I have a note from my MD that says I'm traumatized because they stopped making my favorite flavor of ice cream, so I'll be off for the next month trying to deal with the emotional turmoil!!! (Although I'm not sure how I'd cope if they stopped making Cookies-n-cream)
Thank you AnneCurrey! I have all my pre reqs done and was even accepted to a private college. Why do I keep putting it off?? Cause I've worked as an aide and basically, nursing sucks! I think I'm going the OTA route..
OK...first things first....chill...step back and think...what do you want in terms of person, family and career goals....second step....now, what nursing area will provide this to you....for example, I loved my Psych rotation...but I also found out from talking with the Psych nurses that your skills drop, and it's very, very hard to get out of Psych...now, I have no idea whether that's true or not....and my mentors recommended that I get into Med Surge for overall skill learning....in addition, the job market here in Columbus, Ohio is tight...and I'm about to start school again to know out my RN to BSN...cause I only have eight classes...bottom line, I wound up at doing Rehab nursing at the Adolescent unit. It's perfect....I have to do blood draws, wound care, etc....trust me, if you can nail blood draws, you can hang an IV bag, nuff said...but, I had the best of three tiers....part psych...cause I work with challenging kids and adults, and get to really nail the Psych meds and learn....part Med Surge, cause I still do blood draws, do some complicated meds, wound care....although I don't do cath...and being a male nurse, most of the time it was "um, can I have a female nurse do that..." hey, no problemo!....and I don't get to do Trach care...I'll do an NG on occason...and I still have the basic of vitals, glucometer, insulin, etc....and the third part, is working with adolescents from 13-18, I get experience that I could apply in Pedes at say, someplace like Children's....but, it's a matter of perspective...and, it's also a matter of having the discipline to take your time for, well, you....when my shift is over at 11/11:30pm, unless it's an emergency, I go home...and because it's a Rehab position with three tiers, its 2:30p-11/11:30pm, M-F with weekends off, or an occasional weekend of work. That's unbelievable! Now, after I finish off my BSN, I still want some full time Med Surge at a hospital, and then it's time to start my MBA.....and I too, switched careers...and at 49, bty...
Just take a deep breath, look around...ok, if you're not happy here, and you have experience, what type of nursing DOES work with you goals...everything always starts with you.....you can start something; you can stop something. It's your life...so make choices, but lay back, chill, discuss, and think first....you run your life, not your life runs you...not always easy, granted, but....
JB
I switched from my previous career to pursue nursing and now I'm beginning to wonder if I had made the right choice. I've always had an interest in health, the medical field and I love helping people so I thought nursing would be a perfect "relatively quick" switch to a new profession. I was 26 at the time and I knew I eventually wanted to start a family.
But boy, I didn't realize those past 3 years of nursing school would entail compromising my emotional and mental health. It was the bane of my existence. I was so depressed, sometimes suicidal and my boyfriend made me seek therapy. It didn't help to talk about my feelings. In fact, I think bringing attention to it made it worse. My coping mechanisms have always been to ignore issues, compartmentalize and major denial. It's helped me manage through my past.
So finally, I'm a new grad day shift RN working on a cardiac progressive care unit. It's been almost 6 months and I'm beginning to really dread going to work. I didn't want to do med-surg because I wanted a challenge and now I'm beginning to regret it. At work, I'm so overwhelmed and I have so much to do that I never take breaks and I eat really late lunches. And even then, I get interrupted during lunch. Sometimes I feel that people who are not nurses don't understand how physically draining it can be and mentally draining to deal with egotistical medical professionals. The culture of the hospital doesn't allow for low self esteem and perfectionist individuals such as myself.
I feel myself burning out quickly. I worry about my emotional health because I'm beginning to feel the same way I've felt in nursing school. I'm starting to use food to comfort myself, I walk around with an empty feeling inside and sometimes when I'm pulling meds for my patients, I've considered taking some to numb myself. Now it's spilling into my non work days. I don't have the energy nor inclination to do anything.
I'm torn between wanting to quit to avoid spiraling down the depression path again versus not wanting to quit so that I don't look like a quitter to my family and friends. But I am one of the lucky ones whose significant other makes enough to support the both of us but I do not want to be a housewife. I've worked so hard to get where I am today, I worry that our financial security may not always be there and we're planning to have a baby soon.
I feel so alone and empty inside. I moved to Florida to be with my husband and I have not had time to make friends here. I feel so naïve and wish someone had told me that nursing is tough. Had I known what bedside nursing would entail, I may not have pursued this avenue. I wanted to reach out to fellow nurses and get your take of your first year and any advice that you may have for me. Do all nurses in their first year feel this way? What are some ways that I can cope in a healthy way?
I am in my late 30s .. 3rd career choice also. I am precepting right now.. and I absolutely hate it. I do not like any part of the floor nurse job and everything about what the doctors do. I am wishing I was a doctor but it is far too late for med school .. Any advice? I leave upset every time I am there. I feel so stuck with my choices.
My first career was very demanding, I owned the company, I brought in the new clients and I made the calls. I sold that business after 15 years for several hundred thousand. I chose nursing as a second career. Big mistake! Nursing is low level, mind numbing, crap work. This is like being part housekeeper at a hotel and part secretary. Two years ago before nursing school I made more than all three of my managers put together. I really had no idea RNs were so far down at the bottom of healthcare. I'm about to quit nursing and go to law school to try to redeem some dignity. Get out early and don't waste your time with this nonsense. This career and industry is dog $hit. You'll be much happier after you walk away. I threw my BSN degree and license in the trash last week and started studying for the LSAT.
cosmicsun
113 Posts
Responding to above: I know it sucks working short, but please don't turn on your fellow nurse. They are human too and if they are sick, they are sick. Do you question a patient's pain level or do you treat their pain?
You are working short because the hospital is taking advantage of you. There are plenty of agency nurses who would like to come in and help you but there is a reason they are not there... think about it. There are not enough jobs for nurses and you are working short - again. Something is not adding up. $$$$$$$