LybargerAZRN

missrn11, i absolutely understand where you are coming from. i turn 31 next week and am a total loss as to what i want to be when i grow up. i love nursing, educating people about their health, taking excellent care of others loved ones, but i have compassion fatigue and really am starting to dread my job. i have only been a nurse since 2008. i enjoy telemetry nursing because it has it's challenges but i know if i go to another area i will be just as unsatisfied. i have had thoughts of getting my fnp and actually started at university of phoenix. after four classes there was an issue with my financial aid (a whole other story) and i dropped out of the program. i was considering grand canyon university because i have coworkers who attend the same program, but really do not know if that is what i want to do with my life. i have a criminal justice degree prior to my bsn, but i feel forensic nursing is a little far behind in az compared to other states so i do not want to be a sane nurse and do not have enough experience to be a legal consultant. i am at a stand still at this point. i am going to apply for a master's degree program so i can teach nursing students but i know i do not want to be a career nursing instructor, but i know there is a need for energetic instructors who love what it means to be a nurse. i don't ever want to lose that reason i became a nurse. i just feel like i am giving too much of myself at the bedside, i cannot turn off my caring. so you are definitely not alone. if you are thinking of different areas contact a nurse in that area and see if you can shadow for a couple hours. i am sure there are nurses out there that would love to give a little of their knowledge about their career area. good luck!!