Regret Leaving Nursing Too Soon

Nurses Career Support

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I graduated from nursing school with a BSN in May 2010. Nursing was my second career and I didn't start nursing school until I was 40 years old. I was in an accelerated BSN program in Los Angeles and found a job quickly out of school.

I worked on the floor for 8 months before moving to the OR which is where I thought I wanted to be. I only lasted in the OR for 15 months.

I am now working at another hospital in an administrative position and am starting to regret my decision to leave clinical nursing.

I am seriously considering trying to move back into the clinical arena but I know that I cannot go back to working on a regular med/surg floor or working in a busy OR. I am afraid that my lack of solid experience in nursing may hinder my efforts.

Has anyone else left clinical nursing early in their career and tried to return to the clinical setting?

Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Ruby Vee,

I wanted to apologize for my resonse. I have reread it and I realize that I was overreacting. I think that I am so frustrated and disheartened by my situation that I am overly sensitive. I thank you for your response and will take it to heart.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
ruby vee,

i wanted to apologize for my resonse. i have reread it and i realize that i was overreacting. i think that i am so frustrated and disheartened by my situation that i am overly sensitive. i thank you for your response and will take it to heart.

​apology accepted. i hope you find what you want.

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I'm not sure this is in the right place but here goes: I've been a nurse since 1979, in the same system. Moved around a lot within the system but loved ICU the best. I was "let go" in January and took time off for myself. Now the only thing I want to do is ICU. I will be 60 tomorrow. I've had 3 back surgeries, recent double mastectomy. Realistically I can't go back to ICU. I've always been a nurse but can't even think about going to the floor. The floor nurses have it so hard - unrealistic expectations. So...I'm looking at something I can do that is non-clinical, maybe even out of the hospital altogether. Would love something online. So fellow nurses, anyone who can relate +/or provide words of wisdom? Thanks in advance.

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Specializes in Hospice.
I'm not sure this is in the right place but here goes: I've been a nurse since 1979, in the same system. Moved around a lot within the system but loved ICU the best. I was "let go" in January and took time off for myself. Now the only thing I want to do is ICU. I will be 60 tomorrow. I've had 3 back surgeries, recent double mastectomy. Realistically I can't go back to ICU. I've always been a nurse but can't even think about going to the floor. The floor nurses have it so hard - unrealistic expectations. So...I'm looking at something I can do that is non-clinical, maybe even out of the hospital altogether. Would love something online. So fellow nurses, anyone who can relate +/or provide words of wisdom? Thanks in advance.

What about working for an insurance company? I would imaging they would love your years of nursing experience in general, and your critical care experience in particular.

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Hi I am currently in a nursing program where the instructor has literally been verbally abusive to me constantly embarrassing me in front of patients and I couldn't take it anymore and walked out of clinical . Now I realize I made a horrible decision and want to talk to the dean about her behavior and why I walked out of clinical. Have anyone had a similar experience. Will I be banned from the program??

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Sunshine, you may want to start a new thread, you're kinda hijacking someone else's post here. ;)

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Home health is kinda slow paced and hospice

I always cringe when I read that hospice and home care are "slow paced."

I personally found home hospice care to be overwhelming.

In home care/hospice, you're driving all over the place in bad traffic and weather, with your cell phone ringing every couple of minutes, and the amount of charting is overwhelming.

I returned to acute care hospital nursing, and find it more doable for me than hospice, home-care or LTC.

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