Options for Nurses who HATE nursing.

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For nurses who have found unfortunately that they hate nursing and it is not for them but would like to stay in the health field. Have you all ever thought about returning to school for other rewarding, less stressful careers like Radiation Therapy, Sonography, Respiratory Therapist, Radiology tech. These positions pay the same as nursing and they 're less stressful have better hours and you're dealing in that one aspect unlike nursing which is so broad that you're running around the hospital doing many different things at once. It may require a litte extra schooling but you already have the prereqs done. I think it's worth looking into.:paw:

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Interesting string of thread topics.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

I have a friend who is a nurse and she is about to finish her teaching degree, although that isnt something I would want to do. She is wanting to teach elementary kids. Ive been thinking of going back to school, but I am so unsure of what I would want to do. I love nursing some days, but usually I hate it. Its just too stressful on me.

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Interesting string of thread topics.

I'm the most inquisitive person ever. Most of what I learn is from asking questions.

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I'm the most inquisitive person ever. Most of what I learn is from asking questions.

Was there a question in the OP?

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.
Was there a question in the OP?

I don't think so.

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I am not sure that those jobs are better in the sense of pay or hours. The basic resp therapist or rad tech started out about 2-3 dollars less an hour at my old hospital. They also have to work night shift and weekends.

I have never known a registered nurse to become a resp therapist or rad tech, I am sure it happens but I have a relative who went back to become a RN after being in radiology. There are also other careers such as physical therapy assistant that may be on par.

It is important to like what you do, you can work in radiology department as a RN. The strength of a RN degree is the flexibility, opportunities and demand. Once you get about 5 years of hospital experience, depending on where you live, there are a lot of options out there.

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Specializes in Emergency Room.
I am not sure that those jobs are better in the sense of pay or hours. The basic resp therapist or rad tech started out about 2-3 dollars less an hour at my old hospital. They also have to work night shift and weekends.

I have never known a registered nurse to become a resp therapist or rad tech, I am sure it happens but I have a relative who went back to become a RN after being in radiology. There are also other careers such as physical therapy assistant that may be on par.

It is important to like what you do, you can work in radiology department as a RN. The strength of a RN degree is the flexibility, opportunities and demand. Once you get about 5 years of hospital experience, depending on where you live, there are a lot of options out there.

you are right, those jobs are not necessarily better than RN jobs. i know quite a few rad techs and they are always looking to do something else because they consider the job boring and the pay isn't stellar. sure they don't have the RN responsibilty, but they also don't have the options we do either. being a nurse isn't just the bedside and i think when people get fed up with nursing they aren't creative enough. there are other jobs out there that doesn't involve patient care but they are more competitive and if its something you really want to do you will do what it takes to get those low stress m-f jobs. give your RN degree a chance to work for you before you run back to school for something else.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Respiratory Therapist definately does NOT belong in that list. Their pay is not that good, they work the same hours as nurses, and they are generally more stressed out than I am.

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Specializes in LTC, med/surg, oncology, cardiac.

Popejane3rd,

I'm not sure any of those jobs have better pay or hours (I know where I work they sure don't), BUT I am planning ahead for when I do HATE being a bedside nurse. :D I am actually looking at going to law school, which I can still keep my foot in the health care setting and make a heck of a lot more money than bedside nursing. Like I said, I am just looking in to it and if I have to go back to school and take more classes, I am sure not going to take out loans or waste my time/money if I am not going to make a bunch more money than what I am making now. Do not want the responsiblity of being a MD, PA, or DNP (They took away the masters program for NP now). Do not want to waste my time getting my masters in education or any other masters program, and still make what I make now, or a bit more.

Food for thought!

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I think every job has its own degree of stress. I'm the first in my family to go into health care. Mostly teachers, engineers, or attorneys. If you're going into law, it's a whole different level of stress. Plus, the pay can be less than nurse's pay. As with engineering, my brothers each have major stress and responsibility. My mom, a teacher, says she'd rather work at McDonald's than go back to teaching if she felt the need to go back to working (she's retired, and did so early, as soon as she could). We each must find our own answer as to what we're willing to do to be happy with our jobs, but I do think that simply changing careers often isn't the answer. But, if someone truly hates what they do, it can't help anyone involved if you continue. The only thing is, if you're going to make any money, there usually is going to be some sacrifice, whether time, extensive education, major stress and responsibility, and usually, all of these elements at once. I think it's a lifestyle choice, as, are you willing to earn less and be happy doing what you do? I mean, most stories I know of where people simplify their lives involves major sacrifices in pay.

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Specializes in med/sug/onc/geri.

I think about it all the time. I wish I would have been smart enough when I started school to either go with Radiology or Physical Therapy. Much less stress, better hours, pay about the same. I suppose I could finish a teaching degree in not too terribly many years, but would only teach college level. Can't deal with other people's children! :bugeyes:

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