Nora Joyce

Thanks so much. I don't want to leave nursing, just the politics and stress of working in a hospital. It's become unbearable for me and it's time for me to get out into a less stressful job. I took a hospice job which is so much more flexible w my kids and lifestyle. And I have some other options too if I don't like that. I just can't deal w unsafe staffing and admin BS at the bedside anymore. It's too hard to take care of your patients anymore in that environment.

Hi Toni-I am right with you. I feel like now that I'm able to see the system in place being a nurse has caused a huge amount of moral distress. It continues to deteriorate and get worse. I just can't fake it anymore. I'm going back to home hospice for the time being for the schedule flexibility and I'll go from there. I'd like to teach eventually and I'm hoping for that. I'm not sure what the right answer is anymore other than I need to do what's best for me and my family and this career has definitely taken a toll.

I started as a new grad in the surgical ICU in a level one trauma center 18.5 years ago. It's possible. Not easy but if that's where you want to be then you can do it. I've been ICU my whole career and that's where I wanted to be.

I've always done ICU. I stepped away for almost two years bc the pandemic really destroyed my love of nursing. I went back bc the ICU is that dysfunctional relationship you seem to keep going back to but I think this time around it solidified it's not my space anymore. Even in a short time being gone bedside has changed so much. All the reasons I left in the first place are still there and worse now. It's tough to keep walking into that every day. I found another job away from the bedside that has a much better work life balance for me and I'm going to get out for good. I don't need to rescue anyone anymore. That job is for someone else now.

Personally it's been too long. Covid pushed me over in terms of exhaustion, stress and moral distress. I really shouldn't have come back but needed a job. I now feel like a square peg trying to shove myself in a round hole and it doesn't work. I'm supposed to go down to part time next month. I have some PRN options I'm hoping to utilize to help reduce my stress but ultimately I need to leave the bedside job within the next 6 months to a year. I'm done.

Good morning- I have been a bedside ICU nurse going on 19 years. I left briefly for about a year and a half to take a breather during COVID but I came back. It is not my place anymore. I feel it with every shred of my body. But I am terrified to leave the stability. I am afraid of failing but this job has caused me so much stress and anxiety the last few years especially and the toll on my mental health is too much. Any support/advice is much appreciated. Thank you so much.