I have been thinking about this the past couple weeks and just needed to let it out and see if anyone can give me advice. I have been a nurse for about 6 years now. My family makes nursing sounds so great since I was young and because of that I feel like I never really thought that there are other career options more suitable for me. When I started working as a nurse, I didn’t necessarily love it. It wasn’t how I thought it would be. The high anxiety for 12 hours, worrying about time managment and balance between checking off the work lists and keeping my patients safe and comfortable and happy, short staffed, and being away from family long hours, weekends and holidays. I just feel like everything is sucking the happiness out of me. I tried working on different specialties such as psych, home health, rehab, med surg floor, and now ICU for 6months. I really thought I would finally find my niche and be happy to be finally an ICU nurse since that was originally my career goal. However, I feel like it makes me even more anxious going to work now and also switching from days to midnights makes me even more dreadful going to work. I just feel deppressed because I am at lost and don’t know what to do. Should I just stick it out for a year to gain that experience for better career opportunities in the future? Should I just leave bedside nursing all together and be a case manager, utilization review or nursing consultant? Maybe work in a clinic or procedural nurse? I just want to be happy and go to work without being so anxious and stress. Thanks for reading.
Outpatient nursing isn’t for everyone, but it is for me! I work in an FQHC. Of course it can be stressful (show me a job that isn’t) but it is totally different from inpatient. For one thing, nobody’s life depends on me while I’m at work. I also clock out and leave at 4:30 every day. It is a really great— very underserved— arena in which to work.
When I started working as a nurse, I didn’t necessarily love it. It wasn’t how I thought it would be. The high anxiety for 12 hours, worrying about time managment and balance between checking off the work lists and keeping my patients safe and comfortable and happy, short staffed, and being away from family long hours, weekends and holidays. I just feel like everything is sucking the happiness out of me.
@MM008 so sorry to hear this! I don't think you should feel bad about feeling this way or considering leaving your ICU job. I think it's important to prioritize our mental and physical health.
I don't have any advice, but I empathize because it's uncool to have a job that sucks the life out of you... and that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid myself. During my clinical rotations at the hospitals is when I realized that nursing wasn't how I thought it would be. I noticed very fast that the nurses weren't very happy at work. I'm a new nurse and I absolutely hate the idea of having to work night shift during a residency. That sounds so depressing to me and I used to feel bad about thinking this way since it's part of being a nurse. I now realize that I need to prioritize myself and my loved ones. I'm not so sure that I want a job that is going to steal my life and become "my entire life." There's no such thing as work/life balance in nursing. I'm sure there are so many people that feel the same way you do. You're definitely not alone.
Specializes in Progressive Care, Med-Surg, Geriatrics.
Don't feel bad. Do what make s you feel better. Maybe go part-time or PRN?? And then, once you find a full time job then quit altogether. That is the way at my current job. lots of full time nurses go PRN then they just don't pick up shifts LOL
Nurseroxieo
55 Posts
FQHC?