Only been an RN for 3 mos and want a different job...

[FDE123]

I have only been nursing for 3 months on my own as a new grad nurse. I work on an Intermediate Care Unit that has high acuity patients in a level 2 trauma hospital. As of right now, and basically since I have started nursing, I am realizing that I might have gotten into the wrong profession. I feel disrespected, over worked, under paid and taken for granted on a daily basis.

Is there any jobs out there that I can still use my nursing degree but not have bedside practice with this little of experience.

I believe I would love trauma ICU since ICU nurses typically are more respected in my opinion, but I feel trapped on the floor I'm on since I have only been here 3 months. I would have to transfer in house (we are the only trauma 2 around). I feel like I need more challenges to possibly be satisfied.

Anyone have some advice...? Should I just suck it up, stay for 6 months and transfer? Should I look for another job, maybe in the corporate world? Is there jobs for nurses is the corporate world?

Help?!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I'm sorry you are having such a disappointing experience in your first nursing job. Based on my own experience over the years (decades?) with new graduates, this may be partly due to unrealistic expectations. Patient care is not a role that provides very much external validation. For the most part, our patients don't even want to be there. Their families are focused on the needs of loved one (as they should be) - paying little attention to services provided unless they think it hasn't been good enough - then they complain. Overall, nursing is not a good fit for anyone who needs external acknowledgement. It may sound trite, but the only reliable source of positive feedback is the nurse's own sense of a job well done.

Respect must be earned - it isn't automatically dispensed based on position, rank or job title. Nurses who have achieved success in a difficult and challenging environment have earned that respect. IMO, this is not limited to high visibility environments like ICU. I have enormous respect for nurses who provide excellent patient care in any setting, especially areas like LTC, where chances of positive recognition are the rarest.

Those "corporate" jobs require an RN only because the incumbent is accountable for functions that require a nursing skill set &/or licensure. If a job only requires basic nursing knowledge, it might be suitable for an entry-level nurse. However, most of those jobs require advanced knowledge and in-depth understanding of clinical processes - so they will require experience. Nursing is a difficult job - physically and emotionally demanding - so there is never a shortage of experienced nurse applicants competing for "corporate" jobs.

Is it possible for you to connect with a nurse mentor to provide support and advice when you need it? Have you talked to your supervisor or unit educator about your situation? Chances are, they aren't paying you any attention because they believe you are doing very well. They can help you but you need to let them know what you need - they can't read your mind.