PrettyNerd

After reading all the replies, I feel discouraged and sad, I have a knot in my throat because I feel like crying. I haven't been able to sleep because I keep thinking about if I'm making the right move in working there without the vaccine and torn between if I should get it or not. It is my body and I am not 100% comfortable about putting something in my body thats new. I was excited to finally start working, and was thanking God for it. I was mistaken thinking that things were getting better, I am not following the news only our health department website to see how covid has been doing and it seemed it was getting better. My fiance that works in a hospital told me they had ZERO covid patients and all departments were back to normal. It wasn't until I was around other people outside of my circle that basically made me feel crappy about it. Thanks for your replies.

Thank you for being the only person that at least asked why I don't want to get it, instead of just telling me to get it. First, I don't feel comfortable putting something in my body that we don't know much about. It's a different type of vaccine in the way that it's made and how it works in your body. Since its new, we don't have enough information about the long term affects of it. I've even heard of it affecting a person's fertility and I don't have kids yet, but I want to soon. I've heard people are still getting sick WITH the vaccine. I've heard about women experiencing blood clots. I felt the vaccine was rushed and came out too soon without doing additional tests. I don't even think its FDA approved. I don't keep up with the news or read up on the vaccine so I admit I am ignorant in the topic but I know for sure that it is new and there isn't enough research on the long term effects. I am worried about how it will affect me in the future. I am torn because I care about the patients and people are making it seem like I'm selfish and don't care about them, which is not true, but you guys have to understand that when I go home, I am still in my body and if I quit the job, im still in my body for the rest of my life. That scares me

I feel like if they were in desperate need for a warm body, they would have it all over job search websites. I applied for one position and ended up being offered another. To answer your question, no, I do not drink soda, alcohol, do drugs, or smoke. Never have, never will. I try to eat as healthy as I can and exercise 3-5/week for the last 15 years. Never been hospitalized, never been diagnosed with health illness and I would like to keep it like that, thats why I'm paranoid about the virus. Yes, I will be looking to see what else I can do from home. I was just excited to get hands on experience but I thought the pandemic was slowing down.

It is not mandatory at the SNF I applied. But they will be testing me for covid once a week which I'm fine with. Yes, I know the flu shots are required and I do get them the times when I've worked. Yes! It did scare me, and if I'm the only person in the world who was scared of the virus then I must be a rare breed. Because I took all precautions to NOT get sick, and guess what? I didn't get sick! I have a lot of anxiety with diseases and its a fear of mine to get sick especially with this deadly virus! Its nice that I'm being pushed to get something injected into MY body that I'm not completely comfortable with.

So I wanted to come on here because I've been thinking about something and it has kinda taken away my excitement. So I haven't worked in 2 years and I haven't really had a hands-on, bedside care nursing experience since I graduated nursing school 5 years ago. So last year I didn't work at all because of the pandemic and since I don't have any real nursing experience, I didn't want to start during a pandemic, I didn't feel I was ready for that. I was really scared. So now that (I thought) the pandemic is slowing down I wanted to start looking for a job, I applied for a CNA position at a SNF I used to work at, at least to start working again. Surprisingly they are looking for an LPN for part time. I was so excited because I thought it would be a lot better now since everything is slowing down. However, they asked me if I am vaccinated and I said no. I had set my mind to not get the vaccine but now that I got this job I feel bad if I'm the only person that doesn't have the vaccine. I don't want to get anyone sick and I would feel bad if I'm the only one unvaccinated because I don't want people to not trust me. I don't know how bad it is at SNFs but I feel a little stressed now, and I was honestly excited to FINALLY get an LPN job after 5 years of graduating. I've also been hearing about this new variant virus, which sucks because I thought we were close to the end of the pandemic. I've not been keeping up with the news because honestly I get a lot of anxiety over the virus and it discourages me from looking for a job and I really want to get back to work. I don't participate in risky behavior like going out and not wearing a mask. I didn't get sick at all last year and I pretty much just stay home. My question is: Are there any nurses out there that are working and are not vaccinated? Also, what can I do to be safe at work? Is there anything I should bring with me, like disinfecting wipes, spray... Also, curious question, did anyone NOT get sick last year? Thank you!

Hi nurses. I am coming on to here extremely frustrated and I am extremely embarrassed of myself. Last post I mentioned how I am trying to get back into nursing after 5 years. I am on my phone so I am not sure how to post that link. Anyway, I have been looking for jobs and nothing seems to be to my liking or appropriate for me. I am extremely ashamed of myself for being 31 and jobless and on top of that, not knowing what I want to do. In my last post I mentioned how I regret leaving my last CNA job because they were already offering me an lpn job there. I was stupid and wanted to "explore other opportunities " which only lead to me getting fired and being jobless for over a year an a half. I need a job asap! Like I need a job a year and a half ago. I am so embarrassed to see other girls younger than me and newer to nursing and they are so brave to immediately get a job at a SNF or hospital or wherever. I deactivated my social media since 2016 because I was seeing my classmates move on and get good nursing jobs while I was over here just waiting to test for the NCLEX. I miss my high school friends and would like social media back but I promised myself not to get social media until I was happy with myself because it was making me depressed.That was 5 years ago and I'm still not a nurse. I am still embarrassed to put myself out there when I feel depressed knowing people are stronger than me and im just here afraid I'm gonna make a mistake, afraid I'm gonna be fired again, afraid I won't have an income anymore. Im literally crying right now because I hate myself! I need money STAT!! I'm so frustrated in myself because I'm only getting older and im not a nurse. Thats what I went to school for and I don't want my education to go to waste. I don't know what to do. How do I get out of my head? I want to be able to talk to people about my career and not have to hide from people because I'm embarrassed of myself. I feel like I need therapy. I literally have no friends. And I wanted to come on here to vent and maybe someone can tell me what to do. Im so tired of living in my head. Im too afraid to start my nursing career. It's been 5 years since I graduated. Does this mean I'm not meant to be a nurse? What do I do? Why am I so afraid to apply to a nursing position? Am I not smart enough? Am I too slow for nursing? Why do I overthink this?

To be honest, they wrote some things on paper to make me look bad and have a reason to fire me, although I never heard anything negative from patients or coworkers except for the "supervisor " which apparently didn't like me because according to other people she was insecure and thought I was there to take her job. She was the only other LPN there and then I came along. Some of those thing they wrote down was "lack of confidence" and apparently that was their big issue. They also said I wasn't completing my work although I was getting more work done than the other LPN, and she would sometimes give me some of her work because she was too lazy to do so herself. So there's the "reasons"... sorry it still angers me.

Hi and thank you for your words. Yes, although technically it's been over a year since I held the title of nurse, I feel like its been 5 since I graduated and did nursing hands on. I guess the reason why I say "I'm dumb" for not taking the SNF job is because I decided to take the clinic job instead which after working there for about 9 months, I was fired. The SNF job would have been guaranteed, they WANTED me there. I really feel like crying right now because getting fired has made me feel so unmotivated, discouraged, and somewhat depressed. This was my career and I felt I had worked hard to get into the nursing program. But I do need to work soon, its really hard to think about going back to work, but I need to.

Hi all nurses! I have a quick question and seeking advice. If anyone has gone through the same experience, please share with me, it'll help me feel better in that I'm not alone and things can turn around. Long story short: I graduated nursing school in 2016, I didn't get approved to take the NCLEX until 2017, which I thankfully passed on first attempt. I was working as a CNA at the time at a SNF which they were offering me a job there as an LPN and I stupidly and regretfully turned down because I "wanted to explore other options besides SNF" since I had only been working in geriatrics and thats all I had known. In late 2018 I got a job at a clinic as an LPN, only lasted a few months until like mid 2019. In 2020 corona hit and I just stayed home all year without working. I am embarrassed to say I haven't worked since 2019 and haven't put my nursing skill to practice since I was in nursing school. I made a dumb mistake in leaving the SNF to "explore other opportunities" (I feel dumb). At the clinic, I was only answering phone calls and barely had any patient interaction in person, if I did, I didn't use any of the typical nursing skills we learn in NS. Anyway, my question is: I feel scared, incompetent, now going back to looking for a job because its been 5 years since I graduated NS and haven't really been a nurse in that time. Im not sure if its a sign I shouldn't be a nurse because this ride is taking too long and something always comes up, like every year practically. How do I go back to nursing after 5 years? How do I get over my fears of not knowing what I'm doing? And to add to my reasons why I'm scared, with coronavirus I feel like im not competent to work with covid patients because I haven't even began working as a nurse, so how do I even posses the skills to treat someone in this pandemic. I need to start working soon. Im only getting older and feel like im just throwing my life away staying home. I need to move forward in life (ugh sorry, so much I want to say) Any advice? How do I get back to nursing after 5 years?

Hi NurseAsh89. Thank you for sharing your story with me. I'm glad to know there are other people who were once in the same situation as I am right now. It really shows that things do get better. I'm so happy to learn that there are other people who at one point felt "dumb" but were still able to get jobs and get through it. I will push myself and try not to let my mind get in my way. Hugs to you too ?

l Aaaaww! Can we be friends? Lol you are very encouraging! Thank you for sharing your story with me. It does really help me knowing that there are others who have felt and gone through the same thing I did/am. Especially hearing stories of people who were able to get through it and get a job. It makes me feel like this is only temporary and I will move on and work. You should definitely get your LPN if that's what you really want. I know you will make it, you seem very smart and know what you want. Thank you so much for your encouraging words ?

Hi Dave. Wow, I am glad to hear I am not the only one with a similar journey. Thank you so much for sharing. This is really comforting to hear, I mean, it sucks that it happened to you and I, but I'm so happy to hear that things turn out and get better, this is not permanent. I will definitely get there and start applying anywhere I can. Thank you for the encouraging words ?

Hi Nursex23. Thank you so much for your reply. You gave me awesome advice, I think I should write myself a 5 year plan, and have it as motivation to keep going. I think I will take on a job at SNF. It seems like that is the best path to take just to get started. I do feel incompetent at times, especially since getting fired. I do want to eventually go back to school to get my RN, but I do want to gain some experience. Thank you again, for your encouraging words, this really does help ?

Hi. I'm sorry but I am not by any means throwing myself a pity party. I don't want/don't need anyone to feel sorry for me. You said "for the majority of us, no one held our hand throughout life" but isn't it what these platforms are for? to ask for advice, give someone a "helping hand"? You said you've been on your own since you were a teenager, good on you, also sounds more like you are bragging. That's fine and all, but when someone is down and wants some type of encouragement, that kinda makes them feel worse. Instead, you could have explained WHAT you did to get yourself through hard times (if you had any). Just FYI, for any future post out there asking for advice, this was not the best answer.

Hi Scribblz, I really appreciate your reply. Your words do give me encouragement. Thank you! You are completely right in that I do feel discouraged and isolated, like I said, I don't know anyone that I can reach out to for advice regarding nursing. So I find myself dealing with all this on my own, which is so hard. I appreciate this. I think I will go back to SNF, this time work as a nurse. I was terrified when I got offered the job when I was a CNA at the SNF. But if I want to gain experience, i believe this is the best way to start. Thank you for the TED advice, I will definitely start watching some videos. Again, thank you for giving me the encouragement I needed ?