StarletRN1

I couldn't agree more. I was completely relating to the OP because I feel the same way about nursing. It is frustrating feeling like you're stuck in a career that you hate because of the insurance and pay that comes with it. I also don't have any other skills except waitressing & customer service jobs. With my husband also unable to work, there would be no way I could make ends meet with what a waitress brings in. Feeling trapped is no way to live. You are doing the right thing not attending nursing school. If you don't like it as a MA, it is doubtful that being a RN is going to change that. I wish I had started out as a CNA or MA before attending nursing school because I might have come to the same conclusion you did and saved myself years of unhappiness and stress.

I'm in a similar situation. In orientation now for almost 2 months and I'm ready to leave. I wasn't sure about how much notice to give because this is the first job as a nurse where I have wanted to get out so soon after starting. I left my med/surg job to work in a clinic, which from what I've seen in other posts here would be an ideal situation for some nurses. But I'm discovering rather quickly that I dislike it immensely. On the one hand, it has been nice to work with patients that walk/talk, poop on their own and aren't a fall risk, but on the other hand, this new job is just not a good fit for me. I'm already feeling guilty about leaving, but after 9 years of nursing I don't have the energy to deal with a job that isn't working out.

For anyone interested:

I leave it up to my patients to make their own decisions regarding the flu shot, and I have the right to do the same for myself. I am also someone's patient, after all. There's also a "wealth of information" showing a link between the flu vaccine and neurological disorders. Misinformation would be telling my patients that the flu vaccine is perfectly safe.

I refuse the flu shot and wear the mask if there's an outbreak. I haven't had the flu in 22 years while some of my co-workers get the flu right after getting the vaccine. I'm ok with wearing the mask and believe that it's protecting patients more than a vaccine that may or may not work. I think the vaccine gives a false sense of security. Not to mention, there's not enough information out there to tell us what the accumulation of vaccines is doing to us over the long haul.

When he wasn't hollering out loud for everyone to hear, he was using the call bell to tell me he was lying on one of his testicles. I don't even know how that is humanly possible. lol

Usually when I'm quiet and calm it shuts them down real quick. If you're not taking the bait there's usually nothing else they can do. I have been reported to a manager before. Not because I said anything but supposedly gave lousy care. My boss just took it with a grain of salt and she came to me to ask what happened. She took my side because she was a bedside nurse for years and had put up with the same kind of thing. It helps when you have management who have been there and done that.

We have no visiting hours. I kinda wish we did because I find I'm being nurse to the visitors more than the patient sometimes. There are some that are really helpful. Especially with confused/impulsive patients. I completely see the benefits of having visitors around, but I don't think it would hurt to have some limitations on that. I find that more times than not when the family is there all day, the patient is exhausted when they leave...and the roommate, for that matter.

Left LTC in the first 6 months. I could literally walk to work from my house, but now I drive 30 minutes to a hospital. The convenient location wasn't worth it for me. The nurse/patient ratio was 1:40 and I was constantly stressed out. It didn't help that there was so much back-stabbing and unprofessional behavior among the nurses. As soon as I found another position I was out. And I hear this LTC is one of the best in the area.

I agree with the shadowing suggestion. Before going to nursing school, I wanted to be a L&D nurse, but after doing the Maternity/Newborn clinical I changed my mind. Now I work in geriatrics and can't think of doing anything else. Who knew?

And what do you guys do when there's a flu epidemic and most of the staff (including you) is sick? Show up anyway and let the rest of the staff and patients catch it? There are exceptions to every rule. Personally, if someone can't drive in good weather, I'm not sure I want them on the road in the bad. Nurse or not.

I've only had to call out twice for snow and that was because I couldn't get out of my neighborhood. Today was the second time. A couple things I find interesting about this thread, though, is the judgmental posts by some. One of the arguments is if you choose to live in an area known for bad weather, you should make it to work. With the economy being what it is, some posters may not have had a choice and when they relocated to take their job they may have been more concerned with paying their bills than whether it was going to snow this year. Another point was made that if you drive slow you can make it in safely. Not necessarily. A few years back I went into a ditch a block from my house. I didn't even have time to pick up speed. AND I'm watching the news now where a snow plow (of all things) just tipped over, so I seriously doubt being experienced is always going to mean you're safer. Now, it's one thing to habitually call out due to weather and it's another to use common sense and know you can endanger yourself or someone else by being on the road. OR you just can't get out of your yard. I live in VA, so I don't see the need to buy a SUV for the 2 times in 4 years I've had to call out. As for having someone in a truck from work picking you up, I've seen how some of those folks drive. No thanks!