Newby RN, I hate my job and feel like quitting nursing field

[Green8b]

I graduated with an ADN 2014 moved to Colorado and have only landed home health positions as a new grad in 2015. I have hated the two jobs I have and feel like I picked the wrong career. It seems like the companies I work for are profit driven and have provided literally zero training , not even a skills check off . It's so nerve racking to be new and to feel uncertain of clinical judgment with no one around to see what you are seeing etc. I am extremely detail oriented and thorough but seem to have such little support that the burden and responsibility feels too great to bare --not to mention a potential risk to patients having an inexperienced nurse untrained and a liability to my license and definitely detrimental to my health due to extreme stress .

It's incredibly competitive in this area and you won't even get an interview in a hospital without experience and or a BSN (which I am pursing)-- but maybe I'm too sensitive for this field because of how much I Have hated my first jobs and even some of nursing school .They say, nurses eat their young . Any words of wisdom for highly sensitive people in nursing that are second guessing their career choice after lack of quality training and support? Seems like a shame to quit after all the hard work , but maybe I didnt really know what nursing was about.

[cucumberly]

First off, I'm sorry that you're feeling like leaving.

I think that you should give it a little more time. Especially after you get your BSN. Hospital-based nursing (acute care; heck, even long term care) are so much different than home health. Maybe you'll like bedside nursing better.

I can relate to the profit-driven and poor training part of your issue. My last job (an acute care hospital Med/Surg floor) really wasn't concerned about anything other than money and saving money. I know from friends who work at different facilities that this is NOT always the case and perhaps finding a different niche of nursing will change your mind.

Best of luck!

[Green8b]

I really appreciate your perspective , thank you for your response .

[thecrossfitrn, BSN, RN]

I feel for you... I really do.

When I started nursing I thought I had made a big mistake. A large portion of the nurses I worked with were very "nurses eat their young" and seemed jaded, constantly complaining about their job and making me feel like crap. Now, I don't "love" my job, but I honestly can't see myself doing anything different. Know what changed... I did. I started to make friends with other nurses who were great people and loved what they did and I sought out opportunities for new things. I became involved in committees and met upper management, whom I realized weren't as money driven as I had originally assumed. I really realized that nursing wasn't the problem, my attitude and where I started was.

So, with that in mind... here's my advice:

First, consider getting out of Colorado. You said you moved there for a job, but it's notoriously hard to get a job out of nursing school there. I realize you're not a brand new nurse, but you'd have a way better chance of getting a hospital job in New Mexico, Arizona or Texas.

Second, consider a complete change in specialty. Try something that sounds interesting, and go for it. Sometimes you really don't know what you want to do until you try it out. I started in acute med/surg, and while I love bedside nursing, I'm ready to try something new in the realm of NICU or ER. I think from what you've shared that bedside nursing may be more your thing.

Lastly, hang in there. Nursing politics suck, but there is no career choice that are immune from them. Look at the bigger picture of what you are doing and how your patients are benefiting from your care and hold that close to your heart. We are considered the most honest and trustworthy profession for a reason. Be who your patients need you to be, and there you will find that will to get up every day and do it again. Best of luck.

[lavenderskies, BSN]

If you're pursuing your BSN maybe consider taking a non nursing job (if you have only hated what's available to you as a ADN) until you finish your BSN.

I ditto the sentiment of considering a move to somewhere you can get into a better position with better training. That might only come now after your BSN since you're essentially no longer a new grad.

Another thought. If you truly are considering ditching nursing all together is it possible you'd be able to embrace the idea that it doesn't matter if you "lose your license" for some performance reason (which is unlikely but the idea seems to plague a lot of nurses). Maybe if you could let that fear go you could be free to be inexperienced and learning as you go. :)

[Archerlpvn, LPN, LVN]

I worked in home health as an LPN with several companies in the Denver metro area. I know the RN's had more to do with starts of cares and recerts, but I found a few really good companies :) I highly recommend Accelerated home health- the DON is amazing! She's very supportive :) elite home health is another great company. If home health isn't the way you want to go, staffing agencies are always hiring and sending RN's to diff hospitals even across state lines. :) I miss Colorado :)

[Green8b]

All of these insights are extremely helpful. I will give it more time and try to find an area that suits me. I guess my deepest fear is accidentally harming a patient and never being able to forgive myself . I am definitely a perfectionist and am working on being more flexible and balanced with training and learning. Fingers crossed that I find a patient, kind and supportive mentor to train with. I really truly appreciate your words of wisdom and support . Thank you all very much .

[SMYSJanie]

Have you considered long term care? It can be very rewarding to take care of the elderly. The staffing and pay are not always the best, but the smiles are worth it. I only did PRN in LTC facilities, but I really liked getting to use my assessment skills and thinking outside of the box. :)