Not sure if I want to be a nurse....

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After many years of thinking I wanted to be a nurse, I went to nursing school in my forties. Just graduated this summer and thought I would take some time off. Now I feel like I "should" start looking for a job, but deep down I don't want too. I don't want the stress of today's nursing jobs. Not sure I want ANY job. Has anyone known of someone who graduated from nursing school, then never worked as a nurse?

...the patients and their families vent their frustration with the system on you, the doctors treat you like a fixture without a brain, and the hospital treats you like meat...expensive meat, at that. No wonder nurses run for the door!

Absolutely right. After a night of listening to patients, who dislike their dr.s, but refuse to change providers and women with UTI's for several days, who call at 10pm demanding meds right away, I wonder why I keep going to work each day.

Last night, I had to listen to a women, who expected me to know HER insurance benefits. I told her it was not my responsibility to know her benefits and that it was HER responsibility to know what they were. ( I also provided her with the insurance dept.'s number ) and was told by the patient that she was too busy to make a call to them.

Specializes in ER.

Sometimes I feel like a prostitute...I am getting screwed every day, I do it for the money, and I am making too much money to try anything else. Sad feeling sometimes. Maybe I just need a vacation.....hey wait a minute, I am on vacation!

bump for OP (original poster) we have not heard from you since your originial post. What's up? Let us know why you feel the way you do? What is it that seems to be driving you away from nursing? Why do you feel you don't want to work as a nurse?

It seems you have gotten a lot of support here, give us a little update.

bump for OP (original poster) we have not heard from you since your originial post. What's up? Let us know why you feel the way you do? What is it that seems to be driving you away from nursing? Why do you feel you don't want to work as a nurse?

It seems you have gotten a lot of support here, give us a little update.

I'm sorry, I was out of town for a few days and the motel Internet connection was too slow to use!

I am not sure what my problem is...maybe I am spoiled as I stayed home to raise my kids and have not had to go to a job for 24 years. Maybe it's that the stress of nursing jobs and the responsibility overwhelms me. Maybe the real job is nothing like the fantasy I imagined over the years. I don't like the feeling of being the "new guy" that does not know much.

Maybe I just need more of a break. The last year of school both my kids moved away from home, we had two close family members that were hospice patients and died within 4 months of each other, and other intense problems to deal with. It was so crazy I am not sure how I made it through school. I am just now realizing that the kids are actually gone--if that makes since. Maybe this is my mid-life crisis--death of parents, kids moving out, feeling old!!!

My husband has had the same job for 30 years so he has 6 weeks vacation that I would not have....

I would rather stay home I think...I just feel guilty for not working. We could get by without the money but I could be saving for retirement....I am mixed up. And why should I get to stay home...thousands of people work that hate it!

My plan now is to take 2 more months and get in better physical shape...a 12 hour day on my feet would probably kill me! I never have been very fit, but the last 4 years in school with all the time sitting and being on the computer has me short of breath with very little activity.

Oh well the person that wanted an update is probably sorry they ask! I am trying to possess it all myself, I will let you know what happens...

I love medical stuff, I love helping people, but the responsibility of my job is really getting to me. I always worry that I will make an error that will cause harm to my patients because the docs write illegible orders. I hate night shifts, it is so hard to feel like your working top notch when all you want to do is pass out in bed! I moved from medical to psych, thinking the load would be less. Well it is technically, except now I feel the need to save the world! I have a hard time sleeping after some shifts, I lay awake wondering if I forgot to do anything important, if the nightstaff will understand the changes to the careplan, how to deal with co-workers obviously struggling with their own issues, etc. I would be out of this job in a flash if I could afford the paycut! I think we will all be beating down the doors of walmart for that greeter job sometime in the future!! I have also thought of being cashier at a pharmacy, it's kind of nursey...not! RN-04, it sounds like you may just need a break. Work out some pros and cons. Be true to yourself. Like another poster said, you can always take a refresher course in the future if you decide to go back to nursing. And, your skills will not be wasted, you will be an informed consumer in your own health care!

I'm sorry, I was out of town for a few days and the motel Internet connection was too slow to use!

I am not sure what my problem is...maybe I am spoiled as I stayed home to raise my kids and have not had to go to a job for 24 years. Maybe it's that the stress of nursing jobs and the responsibility overwhelms me. Maybe the real job is nothing like the fantasy I imagined over the years. I don't like the feeling of being the "new guy" that does not know much.

Maybe I just need more of a break. The last year of school both my kids moved away from home, we had two close family members that were hospice patients and died within 4 months of each other, and other intense problems to deal with. It was so crazy I am not sure how I made it through school. I am just now realizing that the kids are actually gone--if that makes since. Maybe this is my mid-life crisis--death of parents, kids moving out, feeling old!!!

My husband has had the same job for 30 years so he has 6 weeks vacation that I would not have....

I would rather stay home I think...I just feel guilty for not working. We could get by without the money but I could be saving for retirement....I am mixed up. And why should I get to stay home...thousands of people work that hate it!

My plan now is to take 2 more months and get in better physical shape...a 12 hour day on my feet would probably kill me! I never have been very fit, but the last 4 years in school with all the time sitting and being on the computer has me short of breath with very little activity.

Oh well the person that wanted an update is probably sorry they ask! I am trying to possess it all myself, I will let you know what happens...

Not at all, it all makes good sense. I feel that you have to do what you want to do, all things come as they are needed and your answers will too. Good Luck with the situation and don't sweat the small...it's all small stuff

After many years of thinking I wanted to be a nurse, I went to nursing school in my forties. Just graduated this summer and thought I would take some time off. Now I feel like I "should" start looking for a job, but deep down I don't want too. I don't want the stress of today's nursing jobs. Not sure I want ANY job. Has anyone known of someone who graduated from nursing school, then never worked as a nurse?
Hi

I'm sorry that you went thru all that to learn that you do not want to go into nursing. But relax, you are not unique, there are always some that go your path. Nursing is hard work regardless of the setting, do not be fooled by the comments on school nursing. But at least you completed your goal of completing nursing school. Many have the regret later of not even going. I got my RN this year after working as a LPN for ten years and prior to that I was a Lab Tech for 18 years. I love nursing. You'll find what is best for you. Good Luck and God be with you.

:balloons:

After many years of thinking I wanted to be a nurse, I went to nursing school in my forties. Just graduated this summer and thought I would take some time off. Now I feel like I "should" start looking for a job, but deep down I don't want too. I don't want the stress of today's nursing jobs. Not sure I want ANY job. Has anyone known of someone who graduated from nursing school, then never worked as a nurse?

Hi,

I have done all kinds of nursing Labor and Delivery, School, Camp, Correctional, Education and you name it. Find a place that seems right for you. You even can work for the red cross doing CPR. I suggest shadow a nurse for a day in the job you a thinking of. I just started a one day a week job at a tiny school in Vermont and it is wonderful. Best of luck in looking. There is also a book for nurses who want to start there own businesses.

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