Nursing,2nd career choice and bit of disappointed

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Hi there everyone,

Just graduated from a UK college, full registration and all but all I am offered in terms of nursing jobs is NH nursing.

I was top of my class and focused on the scientific basis of nursing. I am kind of disappointed seeing that none of my analytical are really used. All I am asked to do is change diapers and wash people's behinds. Enough is enough I say.

I am thinking about quitting the field all together, or maybe find the nursing area that doesn't involve washing and toileting people all day. All my respect for people doing it and caring and nursing for people in need.Really. But it's not for me.

What options do you think I have? Are there any?

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Sounds like you are a victim of economics if the only job you are offered is in NH. You need to put yourself in the position of finding a job that is more to your interests. Critical care has always been an avenue for men in nursing. Still have to toilet and administer to personal needs but you also get to use your analytical skill.

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Sounds like you are a victim of economics if the only job you are offered is in NH. You need to put yourself in the position of finding a job that is more to your interests. Critical care has always been an avenue for men in nursing. Still have to toilet and administer to personal needs but you also get to use your analytical skill.

Thanks for replying WWIU!

I am thinking A&E is the one field where toileting is done to a minimum. Or maybe working as a scrub/theater nurse.Is this correct?

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The OR for sure. Not sure what you mean by A&E? PACU is another area. Dialysis is another. Outpatient surgery as well.

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A&E is accident and emergency here in the old UK.

Maybe opthalmology? Or in dentistry? Really tired of what Ive been doing lately...

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ED is not a place to avoid toileting. there is a lot of of it there. Ophthalmology is a great field. I loved it and I may be reentering that field as the Administrator of a chain of eye surgery clinics.

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anyone worked as a scrub/theater nurse? whats it like from this perspective?

PS thought in ED(emergency dep.) you treat patients for their immediate problems then let them go. Like a day surgery or outpatient unit....

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Try ICU work if you can find it. I mean, sure... there is still a good bit of diaper changing and wiping ass, but I get to do a lot of critical thinking and put most all of the analytical skills I learned in nursing school to use on a regular basis. Don't get too discouraged, it's really just the nursing home bit that's getting to you. ED would probably be a good fit for you too.

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The ICU is one thing, ED is another. I would expect toileting in ICU its only normal .

What aboit being a theatre/scrub nurse.

Is that "dirty" also? Do you do enemas and toileting there?

Any scrub male nurses here who can enlighten me?

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Specializes in PACU.

I'd look into all of the different types of critical care settings if I were you. Yeah, there's some of the dirty work, but that's not the focus of your job. I personally don't mind doing a little of the dirty work, it's kind of par for the course.

I love the PACU personally. Lots of problem-solving and individualization in patient management. The patients usually don't poop while with me. I average maybe a couple per month out of however many scores of patients, and often they can use the toilet with a little help getting there. Having to urinate isn't all that uncommon, but I don't mind handing a dude a urinal or helping a gal roll onto a bedpan if they're unable to walk yet.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.

Is this your first job in healthcare? If so, then you are simply paying your dues.

If you look, you will find many areas to apply analytical skills in a NH. For example, my first CNA job was in a nursing home. I used to calculate how many minutes per day I (and other staff) was spending doing tasks that did not involve taking care of patients.

This single example could keep an analytical mind busy for untold hours, but that mind would first have to open up and look for it.

Your skills and interests could be applied in an infinite number of ways in a nursing home environment. If you choose to keep your focus on being disappointed with toileting care, that is up to you.

After I put my time in, I moved on to other environments that gave me even more opportunity to use my caregiving and analytical skills. But without that nursing home experience, I would never have got there.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Managed Care, Onc/Neph, Home Health.

So why did you go into nursing anyway? Did you not think "ass cleaning" wasn't a part of it??? As a new graduate, I would get all the experience I could in that nursing home setting, then I would most likely be more attractive when looked upon to be hired in the acute care. Trust!!! You will not be hired directly into any critical care unit without paying dues, regardless of your GPA.....

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