kmftiko

Thank you all again for your support and guidance. Just to answer some of your questions, I actually served over in Iraq in the field of Finance, which had nothing to do with medical. I was so down and out just coming out of school. But, I do not regret any of it! Currently I work on a medical-surgical floor at a teaching hospital that in the scheme of things does not seem so bad. It is chaos and everyone seems to be stressed to the max, but I do not feel that there is alot of backstabbing and for the most part the managers are not that bad. They were even going to extend my orientation. The hospital is not bad at all. But it is a hospital, and there just seems to be too much liability and not enough control over anything. It was just a wake up call. I don't feel that the university really prepares it's students well enough to the reality of it all! *Sigh* I do know one thing and that is I love this country. We have it so good here!! Thanks again!!!!!!!

Thank you all so much for your advice...I can't tell you how appreciative I am. I will be getting some counseling and see what comes from that. It is weird, I thought that I could just swing back into things once I got home, but the world has moved on without me including my nursing classmates. I just want to get a low-stress, 9-5 (I am tired of not having a normal schedule) job right now and work on setting some roots first before I go into nursing. I don't have enough right now to give back to my patients....and their safety is number one! I just pray that it won't be too difficult to come back with such a large gap from being out of school and no experience. Anyways, thank you all again and bravo to nurses!!!!! What would this world be like without us!

I completely agree with all of you. I am in a different situation. I was deployed to Iraq and came back to start up my nursing career to finally get some experience ( i was deployed right after graduating from school). I have reached burnout and have only been a nurse for a few months. I just do no want to do it. I do not enjoy bedside nursing at all. I like being able to help people, but not at the expense of myself. I have come back home to freedom to only find that I am giving up my life yet again...and this time it is for nursing. I know that I should work for a year in nursing to at least get more experience so that I can find that better job. You can't find your niche in nursing if you do not have any experience to offer...it's a catch 22. If I do decide to just take a break from nursing all together, than I will probably not be able to come back into nursing because the window has closed. I would not be considered as a new grad, and my options would not be promising at all. I am just down and out....what to do Thanks for listening everyone...I have so much respect for all of you nurses that have stuck with it! How did you did it I don't know!:uhoh21:

You all are Godsends...thank you for your support! :balloons:

Thanks SmilingBluEyes, Yes, I am going to use the service to help sort out the burnout I am feeling. I have come to realize that nursing is just not a good fit for me. I want to exhaust all means to make sure leaving nursing right now is the best option for me. I just don't want to the EAP to have my employer's best wishes and try to sway me to stay working in such a difficult environment. Thanks again..and I am glad to hear that this program has helped you!

Thanks for your reply! Anyone else have any experiences with this?

Has anyone ever used the employee assistance program? I will be using it and wondered if anyone has had negative/positive experiences? Is there anything I should watch out for? Thanks so much :)

Great advice! I actually wore business casual and it was most acceptable. I did not touch anything though. My experience was wonderful and the nurses there were truly amazing. I never saw such a cohesive team. It is motivating to see that there are nurse teams out there that can get along! I am moving to Orlando, and I am not sure what I will be getting myself into :roll You are great! Enjoyed the comments :)

Hello all! I need your opinions. I will be job shadowing on an NICU floor, and did not ask for the dress code for this meeting. I do not want to call the administrator back and seem silly for not asking in the first place. What would you all recommend to wear?

Everyone's comments are very informative and interesting. I guess it just comes down to what's really important to me :) If I can get in, than I will take the position...but I have been reading previous posts and it has often been suggested to go into the well baby area first before NICU. I think I would like that :) You all are so great! I am truly inspired!!!!!!!!

Thanks so much for the advice!

Hello all, I just need some friendly guidance or suggestions. Is it easier to get a job in NICU coming right out of school as an RN, or is it better to have had a year of Med-Surg experience? I am undecided on what I want to do, but I definitely know that I want to do NICU. I often hear advice that it is better to get that year of MED-Surg experience to be a better nurse overall. BUT, I hear that NICU likes to mold new nurses and sometimes does not want the experienced nurse. One reason that I chose nursing is that there are so many areas that we can get into. I liked many of those areas and do not want to hinder or make a not so good move now, so that I can have great chances to move in the future. I would really appreciate your thoughts! I just love this forum!!!!!!!