New nurse leaving hospital for office job.. advice?

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I’m a new nurse and took a job on a busy medsurg floor and started in early June. After almost four months of constant anxiety, seeing therapists and having some medication prescribed, I still feel so anxious that I never stop thinking about work and don’t even enjoy my days off. It's affected my everyday life, relationship, and perspective on nursing. I either don’t sleep well or feel like I can’t get out of bed, I cry constantly when I’m at home and at work and I just don’t feel hungry anymore. I’m at the point where I question if I picked the wrong career field as a whole. 

I’ve had multiple conversations with my manager at my current job and she’s been nice enough to agree I shouldn’t stay where I’m miserable. I’ve applied to and been offered a few office jobs. I’m hoping that a change in setting is what I need to enjoy my career choice as a nurse. I’ve always had the plan in my head that I would be a bedside nurse, get my experience, and go to grad school. Any advice for someone going into office nursing? Also, what kind of grad school education I can get with minimal hospital experience and some office experience under my belt? TIA!

It’s along the same vein so probably would have been best to keep it in one place, especially with the back-story.  The mods can merge this for you. 

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Oh okay, that makes sense! I can just add the original post for this to the other thread if that is easier, I’m not quite sure how to contact the mods since I am fairly new. @Wuzzie

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After 2.5 years on med surg, I too recently left the hospital setting for a clinic. I'm a few weeks in and, so far, ZERO regrets. Some people don't thrive on med surg. I kept trying to "stick it out" thinking that someday my anxiety would improve. It didn't. When I finally started getting a *tiny* bit more comfortable, the powers that be decided to start making me charge...anxiety immediately through the roof again. Some previous posters have made very valid points (less money, experience, etc.) but you have to do what is right for you. I didn't realize how miserable I was until I left. Both my husband and teenager have commented that I am a completely different person...in a good way. There are so many opportunities in nursing, find what works for you. Best of luck!

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If you hit that little triangle with the exclamation point in the lower left of your post it will open a window and you can ask them to merge your thread there. 

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Specializes in Dialysis.
28 minutes ago, Grengemly said:

After 2.5 years on med surg, I too recently left the hospital setting for a clinic. I'm a few weeks in and, so far, ZERO regrets. Some people don't thrive on med surg. I kept trying to "stick it out" thinking that someday my anxiety would improve. It didn't. When I finally started getting a *tiny* bit more comfortable, the powers that be decided to start making me charge...anxiety immediately through the roof again. Some previous posters have made very valid points (less money, experience, etc.) but you have to do what is right for you. I didn't realize how miserable I was until I left. Both my husband and teenager have commented that I am a completely different person...in a good way. There are so many opportunities in nursing, find what works for you. Best of luck!

OP has <6months acute experience if they fall on their face. You had 2.5 years, which was enough to get you back into the acute game if you needed to. No one's telling OP not to, but to be careful just in case. The grass ain't always greener

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@Hoosier_RN do you think if I were to find myself not liking the office setting that I would be able to return to the acute care setting if I were in a better mental state? I know job availability in whatever area I’m in can have an impact on it but do you think employers in a hospital setting would shy away from me after having office experience? Thanks for your input!

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37 minutes ago, Grengemly said:

After 2.5 years on med surg, I too recently left the hospital setting for a clinic. I'm a few weeks in and, so far, ZERO regrets. Some people don't thrive on med surg. I kept trying to "stick it out" thinking that someday my anxiety would improve. It didn't. When I finally started getting a *tiny* bit more comfortable, the powers that be decided to start making me charge...anxiety immediately through the roof again. Some previous posters have made very valid points (less money, experience, etc.) but you have to do what is right for you. I didn't realize how miserable I was until I left. Both my husband and teenager have commented that I am a completely different person...in a good way. There are so many opportunities in nursing, find what works for you. Best of luck!

@Grengemly thank you for your response, I appreciate it! I’m glad you’re in an area that’s better for you! I’m hoping I feel the same way when I start soon, it makes me feel a little less nervous about it after hearing your story! :) I know the grass isn’t always greener but it’s hopefully worth a shot trying!

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Specializes in Dialysis.
1 hour ago, Cabana said:

@Hoosier_RN do you think if I were to find myself not liking the office setting that I would be able to return to the acute care setting if I were in a better mental state? I know job availability in whatever area I’m in can have an impact on it but do you think employers in a hospital setting would shy away from me after having office experience? Thanks for your input!

It's a good possibility,  one that you need to consider. Read the various threads on here and see that even experienced nurses are having a hard time finding jobs in many markets. You won't want to mention any mental status, as employers may already view you as a flight risk. That will definitely put a damper on hireability. Just look at your market for the just in case scenario

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Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.

I quit my first Med/Surg job after 7 months because the 6-7 patient per shift was too much for me as a new grad (and too much for the seasoned nurses!). I worked in an FQHC and did many of the things you described, phone triage, in person triage, point of care testing, IV fluids, etc. I learned a lot! How to do EKGs, swab for strep and flu, assess quickly which patients were emergent vs urgent vs routine. I did work in a huge clinic in a major city so I saw a lot of stuff, not sure where your clinic is.

I ended up returning to the hospital and I think what I learned in the clinic is useful. I also learned primary care stuff that's useful in my day to day life when I or family/friends have non acute care complaints. I never treated strep throat, yeast infections, mild headaches, etc in the hospital. All experience is valuable. I hope you love the job, and if in the future you want to return to the hospital I think it will be possible. I live in Northern CA where it's very competitive and I was able to get in, but I know the pandemic has changed things. It might require moving temporarily, but I think that's thinking too far ahead! First thing is to see if you like the job, and I hope you do!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Threads merged 

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I’m an LPN and have only worked office/clinic settings because my kids are young and I need my evenings/weekends/holidays off to be home with them. Anyway, I know I’d have a VERY hard time trying to get hired on at a hospital because my skills are rather limited. I’m an expert at shots from working allergy (subcu, ID, and IM), neb tx, recognizing when and comfortably administering epi; I’m good at prioritizing from ENT work. Bear in mind, it’s not the same level of crazy as hospital work but we can see 40-50 pts A DAY in a 6 1/2 hour time span. Our busiest day had 60 pts for 3 providers. Yes, we’re doing vitals and med reconciliation, but we also do in-office procedures, surgery procedures, and even have active nosebleeds come in for tx.  We’ve had the ER call us to have the provider go consult on a pt in the ER, only for the provider tell them to come to us, so the ER sends us pts directly from the ER. There’s cleaning and processing of instruments, autoclave, and processing endoscopes.  We get phone calls from pts, pharmacies, other providers, hospitals, and insurance companies. We have to deal with PAs for RX and procedures. The hours are better but 8:30–5:00 doensn’t mean you walk out at 5:00; I’ve been there as late as 6:45 when the doc is running behind (then getting fussed at for OT).  It’s easier but still a LOT of stress. 

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Specializes in Trauma hospital/Acute Care/Ambulatory.

Same problem here. I am a newly licensees RN and currently working yet looking for an acute care setting hospital jobs. I live in Glendale and willing to drive under 25 miles. I have been using indeed, LinkedIn, and Craigslist various websites to find a job, but no lucks. Any tips? 

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