harumi22

It seems that the stars aligned for me, and I'm forever thankful. I found something way better than bedside, and it pays well, too.

I actually got into an auditing position first. I inquired about it when I got tired of working bedside, and they gave it to me. I did that for a couple years. After a while, I expressed interest in going into Informatics, and they eventually gave me the analyst position. I suggest trying to look for and ask around if there's an analyst position available and let your interest be known. Curious, how long have you been working bedside?

They may still see it as such. I was going off of what an administrator said when we tried getting assistance from nurses outside the hospital. The nurses were concerned of being forced to work bedside despite being out of practice for years. Said administrator mentioned they could lose their license for refusing. In any case, I will try to look further into it. Appreciate the reply and advice.

I would definitely prefer to help out with those tasks versus taking my own patients. You're right. It wouldn't be as stressful, and I still get to help out. They will let me know later exactly what I will be doing when I get pulled. Yes, if necessary, they will also get pulled.

Thank you! They will let me know exactly what will be in store for us when they discuss a bit further about the details of the plan. I definitely would prefer to just help my fellow coworkers out with what you listed instead of handling my own patients. Appreciate the advice.

Under normal circumstances, my organization would ask first if any nurses are interested in floating to other departments in need of help. However, when it's an emergency like this pandemic, they want all hands on deck. It's not uncommon for them to do this in these situations because when we were severely short-staffed back when I was still working the floor, we were forced to work 60+ hours a week. I'm glad you work for an organization that cares enough to give you a choice. Thank you for your advice!

Thank you for the encouragement!

Yes, I'll try to take advantage of the reorientation. Thank you!

Hi, Lemon. Thanks for the reply! I'd probably lose my job if I refuse. Even worse, since we're in a state of emergency during a pandemic, it's likely I'd get reported to the Board as well.

Hi lilly-may, sorry for the super late reply. It actually worked well for me in the end. I left bedside and got a nurse analyst position in the same hospital. I enjoy my work for the most part now. However, I might still leave nursing in the future and transition into a career in IT, maybe. What about you?

I've been working in a hospital and have been a nurse for a few years now. I worked in a Medsurg floor for about a year before I left and did something else. I eventually ended up as a nurse analyst and have been enjoying it so far for the most part. Very recently there's been a surge in Covid cases in my area, and my hospital is planning to deploy all nurses who are not currently on the floor to the floor to help out until we flatten the curve again. I left the floor because I didn't like it, it gave me anxiety and depression (I was even having suicidal ideation at one point), and I honestly believe nursing is just not for me. I ended up as an analyst because I enjoy working with computers and software, not with patients and doctors. Right now I'm very anxious to be forced to return. I've been out of practice for almost 3 years. I fear working on the floor for only 1 year wasn't enough to develop the level of knowledge and critical thinking skills that I would like to be in, so I'm not very confident with either of those right now. It also doesn't help that I suffer from low confidence and self-esteem. It was suggested for me to reorient, but I just can't shake this anxiety/nervousness away, and I feel my depression returning. People I've talked to keep telling me I'll be fine, but I have a hard time believing it. It's way worse now than when I first started working there, and I'm really dreading going back. Anyone have any advice?

Do you know a nurse who decided to settle for a lower-paying job like a cashier because they were desperate to leave nursing? Know anyone who has successfully left this career field? If so, how did they do it? I'm interested to know these kinds of stories. Feel free to share them and other stories related to these questions.

So you've left nursing for good? I'm still trying to figure out how to get out.

It's been a year working at this hospital, and my feelings haven't changed. In fact, it's gotten worse. They constantly pile more paperwork on top of the paperwork we already have. It's getting too much. Plus, we're always short-staffed, especially since we opened up more beds. I did get an auditing position as a nurse, so I work as an auditor and on the floor. However, I'm thinking of going part-time and get a non-nursing job, like a cashier or something, until I can figure out what I want to do or return to school for something else. I've given nursing too many chances, and I feel like it's time to move on to something better that will make me happy. Thanks for your encouragement. I hope all goes well for you, too.

Thank you for taking the time to give me some advice. Really appreciate it. I've been thinking of working a lower-paying job (outside of nursing) while I think about what I should pursue when I return to school. My new non-nursing job will probably enable me to focus more on myself, do some soul-searching, shadow people (like you suggested) and give me more time to plan my next steps. I'm just worried that I might not get hired because I have no experience outside of nursing; nursing was my first job ever. I'm also worried what people will think if I work at a lower-paying job. My mom already thinks I'm demoting myself if I do this. But I try to keep telling myself that this is only temporary until I figure things out. I know I won't be able to do this if I stay in nursing because it takes up most of my time and energy. You think this is the right move?

I'm a new grad who's been working on a medsurg ward for 8 months, and I'm burned out. I hate almost everything about nursing; hated it since nursing school. I saw the signs but ignored them. Now I'm considering leaving the profession for good and working a lower-paying job while I contemplate what I really want to do in life and what I should pursue when I return to school. Anyone else leave nursing only a few months or a few years after graduation? If so, how successful were you at leaving this field? What kind of job outside of nursing did you end up taking?

Hey, I enjoyed reading your post. It made me feel like I wasn't alone. I graduated from nursing last year and have been working as an RN for 7 months on a medsurg floor. The problem is, nursing is making me stressed and depressed. I just hate the stress, dealing with people/doctors, being pulled in so many different directions, demanding and ungrateful patients, not being able to take breaks 'cause I'm so busy, staying one or more hours to finish charting, working more than 40 hours a week, neglecting to take care of myself, and the anxiety and dread due to not knowing how my day/night is going to be. I also don't think my personality fits with nursing. I'm shy, introverted, quiet, and not confident at all. I always feel dead when going to work, and I never want to be there. And I've realized that I don't like people and don't want to care for them at all. Sorry if that sounds messed up, but that's how I feel. I don't mind helping people but not like this. I can't even enjoy my days off 'cause I'm always thinking about work. I want to leave nursing entirely like what you're doing right now, but I'm not sure what else I should do. I feel trapped. I want to go back to school but I don't know what career to pursue. Like you, I'm worried I might be letting my family down by leaving nursing cause I spent all that time and money getting my nursing degree. I admit that it may make me feel like a failure for giving up on something I worked hard to get. But nursing is draining me. I've hated it since nursing school but decided to give it a chance and graduate. But now I know it really isn't for me. Sorry for venting, but if you have any advice for me, I'd very much appreciate it. And I'm so happy for you that you're leaving and moving on to something that will make you happy. I wish I could do the same.

I don't know where to begin but here goes. Back in high school and first few years of college, I wanted to be a nurse; however, after my first semester in my nursing program, I realized it wasn't for me and wanted to switch majors. I'm very introverted and soft-spoken and don't like talking to/dealing with people, patients, and doctors. Problem was that I didn't know what other major to take up, and I was worried my scholarship wouldn't approve since I was already in my third year of college. In the end, I decided to just stick with it and graduate with a BSN despite the fact that nursing school made me depressed. I graduated Spring 2016 and passed the NCLEX in November the same year. I applied at a new private hospital and have been working there a whole month now under different preceptors. I originally wanted to go PACU because my nursing classmate went straight there and told me how she loved it. The hours are great, it's chill there, and the patients come and go. She and I are similar personality-wise and so I thought I would like it there, too. However, there were already a lot of orientees there at the time and I felt like the hospital didn't want to put me there, so I said I'd settle for medsurg floor. I thought I would be OK with medsurg because my other nursing classmate was telling me how it was chill there and that it wasn't so bad. But when I actually got there, I realized how really busy it was. I misinterpreted what she said, and now I'm regretting having agreed to go to that unit. The work environment there is positive for the most part, and my coworkers and manager are nice and helpful, but I just hate working on the floor. A couple weeks ago, I talked to my nurse manager about transferring me to PACU since a nurse resigned there. But she told me to just stay in medsurg a couple months to get basic skills down. I don't know exactly when she'll be able transfer me especially since other nurses in my unit plan to transfer, too, and I don't know how much longer I can last being miserable at this job. I hate all the responsibilities I have to deal with. I work 12-hour shifts and get only 30 minutes break. I'm miserable and dread going to work! I'm still on orientation, but I feel like quitting. I'm constantly worried that I hate my job, and I'm so scared of the thought of being on my own soon. I feel so incompetent at work. When patients ask me something, I feel like I don't know the answers most of the time. I'm always unsure of a lot of things and depend on my preceptors when I don't know what to do. I'm slow sometimes because I'm so unmotivated to be there. I feel like I also suffer from low self-esteem issues. Another thing is that I'm worried I may not like PACU either once I get there. I try to read similar topics on this site, and they do help me feel a little better, but it's only temporary. I vent to my boyfriend and friends, but again, it's only temporary. I can't really enjoy my days off because I always go back to thinking that I'm going to dread going to work again later. I get jealous of people who don't have to deal with what I'm dealing. Don't get me wrong. I respect nurses! My mom is a nurse, and she's very hard-working. I admire all that they do for their patients. It's just that I think nursing isn't for me. It completely clashes with my personality. However, I'm so stuck. I worked hard and sacrificed a lot to get here. I have to pay back my scholarships as well. But at the same time, I'm so depressed. Also, I don't want the hospital to think badly of me for quitting so soon. It's my first actual job; plus, I don't know where else to work. I can work at a clinic, but i don't know if they'll hire me with close to zero experience. I want to go back to school and possibly take something else, but I can't do that at the moment. Need advice! I really don't know what to do anymore.