TCH91

CrunchRN, I definitely want to try outpatient nursing. I would like to work in a doctor's office or something but most job postings I see where I live ask for an LPN or medical assistant. Any tips on finding jobs in this field?

I have thought about case management nursing. I think it would be interesting. I loved maternity nursing when I was in school. It was the only area I genuinely liked a lot. Unfortunately, there aren't many jobs available in this field and the ones I tried applying for right out of school wanted experienced nurses.

Hi thecrossfitrn. Thank you for your input. I appreciate it. I didn't think I was a high anxiety person until I became a nurse. I understand that it's normal to have anxiety when you're a new nurse and all, but I didn't think it was this bad... My unit is extremely busy. Multiple discharges and admissions per shift. Constantly acknowledging new orders and having to change something or transfer a patient. Too many meds to give or basic nursing duties to complete that it takes away from providing excellent nursing care. My coworkers are great and luckily there is good team work on my unit. I don't think the unit could even function without it.I think my education prepared me well, but it doesn't prepare you for when you actually work as a nurse. I'm not sure if there is anything I could change with my current job that would make it better. Probably a lower patient ratio, but that's a staffing issue that usually exists everywhere and isn't fixed.I sometimes feel emotionally supported at home. My fiance knows when I have a horrible day (most days) and will comfort me but doesn't really understand what I'm going through. I explain but I suppose it's hard to understand unless you're a nurse and actually experience it. He doesn't have much advice to give except "get a better job in the future." I am able to vent, but I don't get much advice in return. I've concluded that I should probably try getting a job that isn't bedside nursing and is slow-paced, predictable, and suited for my personality. Luckily my fiance is supportive overall of how I feel and wants me to be happy. It's just a struggle of finding what I should do at this point.

Hi TheCommuter. Thank you for your response. I have definitely considered the fact that it's the type of nursing that I hate, not nursing in general. I guess we are the same personality type then because the preferences you mentioned are exactly mine too. I don't do well with fast-paced work or not knowing what types of patients I'll be getting (we get any and every kind you can imagine). It sounds like acute care nursing is not for me. I find that I don't do well under pressure and my judgement and decision making is poor when I feel rushed. I don't feel I'm giving good nursing care because our unit is so busy all the time and we have such a high nurse to patient ratio. What types of nursing positions would you recommend and what has worked for your personality type?

I graduated from nursing school a year ago but have only been a practicing nurse for a little over 6 months. My first job on a surgical unit was way too far from where I live and extremely high stress so I ended up leaving after 3 months. My current job is close to home but is also very stressful. It's on a hospitalist unit, which is med-surg. I get extreme anxiety the night before I have to go to work and morning of. I have a history of depression but have never been this anxious before. In nursing school I would get a little anxious but not like this. So far, I don't enjoy being a nurse at all. I dread going to work. My stress level gets so high that some days my HR is in the 120s at rest. I've started getting these migraines. I had one so bad for 3 days straight that I had to call out. I'm in my early 20s and this doesn't seem to be beneficial to my health. I'm not sure if I just have an awful job that I hate or if I actually hate being a nurse. I don't do well under pressure and if I had known nursing was nothing like nursing school, I wouldn't have chosen this career path. Has anyone ever experienced anything similar? I'm thinking that I will need to go on medication just to be able to continue working so that I can handle my anxiety and stress. Advice would be appreciated

Hi Squirrel, I couldn't relate more to you. This is my predicament currently. I graduated last year in May. It took me months to get a job. I wasn't really sure why being that the majority of people I graduated with got jobs within a month of graduating (and in their desired field or where they precepted for their senior practicum). I went on 3 interviews near where I lived (I wanted to stay close to home). I had commuted 40 minutes one way for school for 3 years and wasn't about to commute for work. Unfortunately I didn't get any of these 3 jobs. I finally started applying far from home close to where I went to school. I was desperate for a job after looking for almost 4 months. I interviewed on a surgical unit and got the job. I always hated med-surg nursing in school and promised myself I wouldn't get my first job in this field. I lasted about 3 months there. The unit had an insane workload and a 45 minute drive from home to boot. I was depressed, scared, dreaded going to work and made myself sick to my stomach. I searched for jobs near home and tried to "stick it out" until finding a new one. I had to resign because it had taken a serious toll on my mental health and was starting to mess with my physical health. I was so stressed out that I had a resting heart rate of 115. I got my thyroid checked. The fast HR was from STRESS. That was the last straw. I went on a few more interviews after quitting and got hired at this hospital a few miles from my house. I had had several clinicals there in nursing school and always liked it. I currently work there on a medical unit. Again, an area of nursing I hate. The unit is crazy but not as bad as the last one. I'm about done with orientation and start on my own on Monday. I will tell you, I really don't like it. I've been there 2 months and am already thinking of where else I can work. I guess that's what you get when you work in an area of nursing that you despise. I like postpartum nursing a lot. I like working with kids and infants. I also love women's health. My dream job would be working in a nursery taking care of newborns or in an ob/gyn clinic. I haven't been able to find that job that "suits" me yet and I graduated almost a year ago. I don't want to leave this current job already, but I also care about my happiness. Life is too short to settle for less than what you deserve. I believe all nurses deserve to be happy and to thrive in the field they love. Afterall, we bust our butts making others happy. Do what you feel in your heart is the right thing to do. I have had many days where I've questioned choosing nursing as my occupation. I also don't like bedside nursing much either. I think outpatient would suit me better. If you don't like your job right now, just remember, you are in control of your life. There are so many areas of nursing you can be in. Try to find what you love. There are little reminders here and there that will pop up and make you think "oh yeah, that's why I chose to be a nurse." Best of luck to you.