frazzled2012

First off I'd like to say thank you for the many positive posts that so many made in relation to the opportunities available in nursing. After reading what you all had to say I am now hopeful about continuing my nursing career rather than abandoning it altogether. I'm not entirely sure what I plan on looking into at the moment but I'm considering possibly dialysis or something along the lines of non-clinical. A few of the comments made almost seemed personal, if not hostile due to the fact that I mentioned wanting to minister to my patients. In no way do I "push" my religion onto any of my patients. By ministering to them, I meant showing Christ to everyone I take care of by my actions, how I choose to listen to their concerns and treat them with love. In no way did I mean quoting scripture or trying to convert anyone. I always told myself I never wanted to feel as though all I'm doing is collecting a paycheck at the end of the day. However, with floor nursing I feel as though I just don't have time to go the extra mile for my patients like I want to. Hopefully that makes sense. Please continue to offer your suggestions if you have the time.

I also wanted to add that my job seems to consist of rapidly giving meds as fast as possible, charting, and checking charts. I don't have time to shoot the breeze with my patients and talk to them for very long. So much for ministering to them, I barely have time to give meds, do a quick assessment, then I have to duck my head and get into the next room while my other 4 patients are hitting their call light for various reasons. I rarely have time to use the restroom much less talk to my patients and heaven's sakes there is never time for a break. It's gotten so bad that I have considered drinking alcohol - something I never would have dreamed before I got into nursing. I'm just so depressed and burned out..

I have been an RN since 2009 so I'm going on three years and I feel as though I might want out of healthcare altogether.. My initial desire when I went into nursing was to be able to be a servant to others and to show Christ to all those that I was to come in contact with. I made it through a BSN program and I feel as though clinicals did not give me a good picture of what nursing was all about. For example, the max amount of patients I was given was one and the patients were relatively all 'easy' looking back in hindsight. There were definitely some red flags as I went through nursing school however, so I can't completely blame the lack of experience from clinicals. To give some background, I have worked on a surgical unit and then for the past year I have worked on a medical unit that also cares for stroke and cancer patients, both of these being in a busy hospital setting. I have only worked the night shift to this point, as I would not be able to handle the stress of working days with all the many discharges, admissions, doctors and families running around as well. I have come to the conclusion that I may just not be cut out for nursing. I get incredibly stressed before each shift, and the unpredictability I fear may send me to an early grave. I have learned alot about myself from nursing, and I dream of a job/career that is predictable where I don't have to fear what kind of assignment I will be given as I'm driving to the job site. Working nights has also taken a toll on me and my relationship with my wife. All my friends and family members keep asking when I plan on moving to the day shift and I feel my ego is keeping me from telling them I will never be able to do the day shift working as a nurse because I just can't handle the stress... Thankfully my wife supports me and she agrees that I need to look for a different job. On the floor I work now we take 6-7 patients a night which I feel is completely unsafe as some of them are so incredibly sick and needy. Some friends have recommended doing critical care or working in a clinic. I know I would not be able to handle the stress of doing ICU nursing with those type of patients. Also, I have never seen male nurses working in any clinic that I have been to. I need some ideas, please. It's gotten so bad that I'm to the point of driving home from work and I see some guy mowing for a lawn service and I am envious of his job.