jack1971

I too would love to become an aesthetic nurse. I am so torn as to how to go about doing this. I am in an ICU currently and am so unhappy. Before nursing, I worked as a nail tech, so I love the salon atmosphere and want to get back into that environment. I plan to attend a training course at Natl Laser Institute in May. I am also going to start cosmetology school in July so I will be able to do hair also. Good luck to you!

Thank you both for the kind words. Since I have been out of school for almost 2 years, I don't think I would be a candidate for a nurse residency program. And floor nursing would mean a huge patient load, which I have a hard time with also. I Honestly have no idea how nurses with 6-8 patients do it. I have considered working in a clinic. I know I will more than likely take a major pay cut, but it will be worth my sanity in the end. The problem is, I am not sure how to find these positions because they are not advertised like hospital positions are. And I worry about the golden question--"Why do you want to leave the ICU?"

I am a relatively new nurse. In May, I will only have two years under my belt. Currently, I work in an ICU. I have been in the ICU for a little over a year. I still have so many questions and it is obvious the other nurses think I should know more than I do by the questions I ask. However, I am so afraid of doing something wrong and harmful to a patient, I ask anyway and just let them laugh behind my back. But it's really starting to take a toll. For the past month now, I have not been getting ICU level patients. Which means I haven't been getting vent patients. I haven't had a vent patient in so long, I worry I will lose the knowledge I have gained working with these patients. Apparently, the charge nurses are giving me the easier assignments due to a lack of confidence I portray.I am seriously contemplating finding another job because I worry I have formed an impression I won't be able to shake. With that said, I don't work real well under the pressure that goes along with ICU nursing. And taking care of several patients at a time is a lot for me, so I guess that counts a regular floor out of the option also. As you all probably know, there is a "type" of nurse in the ICU and I am not that type. As juvenile as this may sound, I truly don't fit in. I don't enjoy the adrenaline rush of a code and have a really difficult time thinking fast when an emergency happens. I think I am in the wrong area of nursing. Because of my experience on the patient/family side of the spectrum, I tend to be more attentive to my patients AND their family members than my co-workers do. I have been told time and time again I am "too nice." I really love my patients and care that they are comfortable, have everything they need while keeping their family members just as happy and comfortable. Maybe that is not the way a nurse needs to be in the ICU? Either way, It will be hard for me to change and be so professionally focused that I lose the ability to see a grandpa, grandma, mom, dad, daughter, or son lying in that hospital bed. To sum it up, I am thinking I either need to leave this profession or find another area to work in. My worry is, what answer will be considered acceptable if asked why I want to leave the ICU? I am very bad at lying and I hate interviews. Thank you in advance the advice!

You know what, I totally agree with you 100%. After re-reading how I responded, I overreacted most definitely. Honestly am sorry I came across as yelling. That was not my intention. But it stems back to some issues that occurred in my past that I won't get into. But again, I do agree that I probably do need to get some help with my anxiety. Since posting, I have applied for many positions only to be told, "sorry, you don't have experience at the bedside." That is so frustrating. I have seriously considered giving up on nursing. I am not good at it and it is completely obvious to everyone around me. Thank you for your response.

Thank you to all that have taken the time to post. I have read some negativity, but for the most part, everyone has been helpful in trying to give their advice based on the experiences they have had in nursing. I appreciate that! I want to clarify why I quit my job without a job lined up. I quit because I was still on orientation and knew I wasn't going to stay. It made me feel guilty knowing how that works. They don't only pay me, they pay two nurses for the same job. My conscious got in the way. I agree with those who posted that home health is not a good option. My assessment skills are not on that level. I also feel that LTC may not be the place for me because of the one-on-one care I strive to be able to give to my patients. ICU on the other hand, I have considered. I have also considered hospice. I have a few interviews over the next week. Hopefully God will place me where I need to be. Thank you to those who have been supportive!

I found myself spending WAY too much time in my patients room causing me to become behind. I was even told that from time to time by other nurses. I became a nurse because I TRULY care about people. I know, I know, eyeroll... But it's really why I wanted to be a nurse. In reality, you can't spend that quality time with a patient while working on a floor. So if they start talking to you about something that may take more than 30 seconds, you literally have to walk toward the door hoping they will get the hint and let you leave. I hated that! It made me feel so bad. Just really hope I can find a position where I can give more attention and quality care. It would be an environment more conducive to learning for me.

I appreciate your comment. In my 40+ years I have never been called names like, "special snowflake" or "buttercup." I'm actually laughing. :) Yes, I did start this post. But I guess what I don't understand is the fact that if floor nursing is not for a nurse, then why is there something wrong with that nurse?? My posting was not asking to be ridiculed for any anxiety I may have toward taking care of 5-8 patients at a time. The posting was simply asking for any advice toward jobs that are available besides bedside nursing for inexperienced new nurses. Please re-read the title.

Thank you! I finally found someone who can relate to me!

Thank you for your comment, but please be careful who you advise to get "treatment" unless you know their whole story. The last thing I wanted to do was get into controversy over an internet post, but I take that remark VERY offensive. Not everyone is the same and just because one does not have a "personality" to be a floor nurse is certainly not a reason for psychiatric treatment, assuming that is the type of "treatment" you are referring to.

As far as correctional nursing, that wouldn't be my first choice, no. What scared me on my floor were the number of patients and the type of care they required. Bedside nursing is not for me. As far as dialysis, the positions I applied for are in clinic and not home care. No, I do not feel like I am ready to be autonomous in the field. Nurse residency programs are now accepting apps for c/o 2017. So I believe I missed my chance for that. You're probably right, I guess. I probably should have stayed, but I was feeling so scared and stressed. I know that's not healthy. Thank you for your response.

I graduated in May and started my first job as an RN in July on a busy surgical floor at a local hospital minutes from my home. It was a perfect set up. The nurses I worked with were awesome, the supervisors were supportive and helpful, and as mentioned before, it was minutes from my house. The problem was I was about to be off orientation and I was terrified! I am definitely not cut out to be a floor nurse. The thought of taking care of 5-8 patients all by myself scared me to death!! I felt overwhelmed and worried that I was going to miss something when I no longer had my preceptor to catch me when I fall. The type of fear I was feeling wasn't normal new grad fear. It was clearly my personality and I can't change that. Anyone who has been a floor nurse should know what I mean. You either can do it or you can't. And it's not safe to "wing it." I recognized this was not where I belong as a nurse. I was always running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. So, needless to say, I decided to leave my job. Now I am unemployed and truly worried I have wasted the past 4 years of my life going to school for a career that I am not going to be able to do. My husband and parents think I'm a failure. I'm beginning to believe it also. I love patient care and would work a lot better in an environment where I could spend more one-on-one time with my patient, but where are jobs like that when you don't have experience? And now I'm worried it will look bad that I quit a job after 3 months, but I truly felt like something bad was going to happen if I didn't get out now. I have applied at 2 dialysis centers, ECT, and considering correctional nursing. But again, all of those positions state experience required. I applied anyway, but not feeling too confident. If anyone has any sound advice for me, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you ALL for this positive feedback! Today was a little better. I've heard from so many nurses each day gets a little easier. I needed this support system. Really glad to hear I am not the only one. Thanks again!!

I graduated in May and started a new job 2 weeks ago. I was so happy to get a position at the hospital of my choice, however I am now beginning to wonder if nursing is going to work for me. I cannot explain how overwhelmed I feel! I ask questions that sound like I haven't stepped foot in a classroom (when I clearly know better). I go down the wrong wing to find the elevator...I am just a bundle of nerves!! And not to mention the charting. The charting is so much. All I can do is think, how in the heck am I ever going to get this? I am beginning to worry others are sensing my insecurities. Let me just say, nursing school doesn't even begin to prepare you for an RN position, bottom line. I guess my question is, is this normal? Other new hires (new grads) don't seem to be having the same trouble.

Reading these posts makes me scared that I am may have a problem. Fifteen years ago I went to school and bombed my GPA because I had no support system. A support system means everything when you are trying to go to school with small children. I also have a child with cystic fibrosis. We have literally lived in hospitals for 20 years. Because of the experience I have had as a parent with a sick child, I felt a calling to become a nurse. Last summer I went back to school and tried to start over. However, your GPA never goes away. It has taken me 4 semesters taking full loads to bring my GPA up from a 0.65 to a 2.9 (embarrassing). I quit my job in the spring to concentrate solely on my classes. But reading all of your posts with the exception of one, everyone is saying you need some kind of job experience in the field. I am not sure I can work AND go to school. I am not the kind of person who can stay up all night studying. I usually get up extra early when the house is quiet for that. So, being at work all day and having to study would be hard for me. Also, when would I have time to go to classes? I am at school everyday this fall for at least a couple of hours per day. And the thought of being rejected and setting me back 2, 3, or 4 years makes me a little uneasy. I am not young.