movenurse

I gotta say, it's so inspirational reading these messages. To know that there are people out there who were able to change directions (outside of healthcare completely!) and be successful helps me feel better and like it's actually possible.

I definitely won't let my license lapse, but you bring up a good point. I'll have to do a little soul searching to figure out what else I even wanna get into that will keep food on the table. I'm spoiled because there's SO much to do in nursing! But I really do believe I need some space from it right now. Thank you!

Thanks everyone for the advice!! It's very much appreciated. I think I'll take some time and try to figure out my next steps, whether it be nursing or not. But no matter what, I definitely won't let my license expire!! Thank you again!

Hi everyone, I have a feeling this has been discussed already but I can't seem to find it. Anyway, after 10+ years I feel like I've come to a dead end in nursing and I don't know where to go. Has anyone successfully/happily transitioned OUT of nursing into a different career field? The job market overall seems pretty abysmal so I'm not feeling very optimistic ? All suggestions and ideas welcomed. Thank you!!

I agree with the other poster. It sucks but it happens and we'll probably never know why exactly. I had this happen to me a few years ago with a job I was REALLY excited about and they seemed really excited about me!! It was almost guaranteed I'd be getting an offer, but nothing happened. I called/emailed multiple times and they never called me back. Finally I took the hint and moved on :/

Wow that is awful and I'm so sorry you experienced that. I think I read it in another post here where someone mentioned freezing during any code could be normal depending on your personal experience, and I remember decompression huddles being very helpful for me and my team. It's your first code and they are very scary. So now that you got the first one out the way, the only way to go is up! I really don't like when nurses belittle other nurses the way your charge nurse did you. It's totally uncalled for and doesn't help anything. If you feel comfortable (or care enough about it), maybe consider bringing it to your manager. That needs to be addressed--just my humble opinion. Your manager might also be able to give you some tips for next time (heaven forbid) or recommend something else. I really hope you're able to shake this off and learn from it. Try not to beat yourself up too much.

I'm not familiar with that part of the country at all, but I will say getting med-surg or med-tele experience can be a game changer for your career. If you can get into a teaching hospital, even better! They usually are more welcoming to new/inexperienced nurses and have somewhat lengthy residency programs to help your transition into bedside care. And if you can do a year on that floor, that will open up many more opportunities for you. I also don't see any harm in trying to negotiate a raise at your current job if you wanna start there first. Just try not to make it known that you're considering leaving. After 15 years of being a nurse, I still struggle with imposter syndrome so I can absolutely relate to you on that front. Like someone else mentioned, you completed your nursing program and passed your boards. Think of that and all your other accomplishments when that imposter syndrome starts sneaking up on you. Give yourself some grace, and give yourself some credit!! You got this!!

I tried a local contract some years ago (well before covid, so I can't speak for currently) and the health insurance (in my opinion) with travel companies is pointless. I was also the first to be called off at the local hospitals if they were able to find in-house coverage...which was pretty much every shift I signed up for. I did a covid assignment out of state which was great pay (I didn't get the insurance). More recently I've heard from other people that contracts are now back to being sub-par. But there's no harm in reaching out to a few companies and seeing what they have to offer...just be ready for a barrage of calls from every single company out there afterwards LOL.

I would go online and check with your state's board of nursing. Depending on the state and how much time goes by after the expiration date could determine the steps needed to renew. For example, some states require extra CE credits/classes after a few months past the expiration date while some states require extra fees to be paid. While you're there, I would also check to see if they have some sort of hardship exception or something. It never hurts to check or call to see what your options are! The worst they can say is no :) I truly wish you well with everything!

I was in a similar situation recently. I stopped NP school right when my clinicals were starting because it was the same time COVID started. I picked it back up when COVID was winding down but I also had a new baby at that time. I got through 2 clinicals with only 3 left and decided it was NOT for me. It was too much with a new baby, a husband that traveled constantly for work, and I was still working part time. Plus, the perks of being an NP just weren't incentive enough for me to keep going. I gave it some serious thought and decided to just walk away even though I only had 3 clinicals left. The only thing I regret is the extra loans I had to take out. I still get emails and texts from the school asking if I want to to re-enroll, so that tells me if I change my mind down the road it'll still be an option. Ultimately, just do whatever you feel is best for you and know that it's OK for you to change your mind. I wish you all the best with your new bundle of joy on the way!!

You not having a cover letter shouldn't be an issue. I didn't start using one until recently since I felt like I had some explaining to do lol. And it's only been 4 days so I wouldn't worry about it all. I'm sure you're ready to get to work and 4 days feels like 4 years, but it's still pretty early in the process

Hi! Most employers (based on my experience) will e-mail you to let you know that they are not interested in interviewing you, but by that time so much time has passed that you've already gotten the hint lol. As for how long will it take for them to reach out to you if they are interested is hard to say. Some hospitals call within the same day, and some call after a week or several. Since you came from another country and had to complete additional testing, I can't imagine that the year off would hurt you but make sure you have a good explanation. I found that attaching a cover letter to my resume that professionally explains any gaps or job hopping seems to help. Good luck to you!

I know you said school health nurses are mostly outsourced through agencies in your area but it may be something worth looking into. Of course, it depends on the school and how busy their clinic gets, but I imagine it would still be a considerable improvement of time spent on your feet. Also, look into some community positions: clinics, health department, corrections, rehab centers, etc. Another option is insurance companies. A lot of those positions allow nurses to work from home most, if not all, days. And I have heard of new grads getting into those positions with less than a year of nursing experience. It's all in how you present yourself and your resume. You also said nursing is your second career so maybe your prior positions can lend a hand in that area. If you haven't already, also try doing a Google search of something like "nursing jobs easy on my back" or something like that. Google has the answer to everything I hope this helps and I wish you well in your career.

I am so sorry to hear about everything you are going through. I can relate to the feelings towards nursing that you have right now. I've been a RN BSN for 8 years and feel like I've tried it all. I, too, got to the point where I thought of quitting nursing because nothing seemed to bring me joy anymore. I even bought a book about changing careers! I remember vividly being at work one night feeling like I was going to explode. It was a quiet night and all my patients were "easy" so I had some time to think. As I sat in my chair, I reflected on my courses and practicums from nursing school. A light bulb went off when I realized I had the most fun in my community health courses. After that, I looked up positions in that field and came across a position in corrections and I truly enjoy it. Maybe try doing something like that. Try to remember why you got into nursing in the first place. I also highly recommend going to counseling as Nurse Beth suggested. It really does make a difference. I wish you and your husband the best.

I was nervous too after reading mixed reviews. Also, the program was still a little new-ish when I started so that made me nervous as well. But so far, so good! And actually, my soon-to-be supervisor at my new job just graduated from Chamberlain recently and didn't have anything bad to say about them either. Good luck to you as well!

Thank you both so much for your help and guidance!

Hi Hope124, I started the program last summer and haven't had any issues so far. The people at student services have been helpful when I call and I get quick e-mail responses when I e-mail them. The work is pretty steady but not overwhelming. I like how they gradually increase the "difficulty" in the classes as you move forward in the program. The classes aren't really difficult per se, but as you move forward some of the assignments become a bit more demanding and labor intensive. Also, I haven't bought a textbook yet and have been doing great ;)