SteelyJones

This REALLY interests me. I wanted to teach before I went into nursing, but I didn't think it would be a lucrative career. How much more information do you have on this? Thank you!

I appreciate your bluntness--I think it's welcomed here. But I refuse to resign myself to the fact that we have to be miserable in our job because it's a job. To accept that is to be miserable--to have something "suck"--and I won't spend the majority of my life working and living under that assumption.

"La chica suerte" qué buen nombre. Eso a mí me gusta. Thanks for your comment. I'm not sure about your area, but here in Richmond, VA, this nurse residency is unique. No other hospital around here offers it. In fact, it was one of the main reasons I took the job. Anyway, I'd like to think I understand what nursing can offer. Through the residency, I experienced not only unit-based nursing, but "special experiences" as well. These included three ICUs, two med-surg floors, and a couple cardiac-focused specialized floors. It also included rotations through same-day surgery, two PACUs, the cath lab, OR, wound-ostomy care, angiography, and an infusion center for cancer and outpatient infusions. The irony of the program is that it made me realize I didn't enjoy nursing.

Thank you for your comment, NRS86. I feel like you're hitting on points I'd like to make in this post. We don't tell people to stick it out in a relationship when they're not happy. We don't imply that more experience and familiarity with someone (or something; i.e., nursing) will make him/her/it more enjoyable. We don't say that because we understand that not liking something for what it is is reason enough not to do it. We should allow ourselves to be happy—that's what's most important. And I'm not happy with nursing. And it seems downright naive to me to expect by paying my dues” the universe or some force will grant me with a career I all of the sudden enjoy. That's melodramatic, but it's the truth. Just because we put in the time doesn't mean there will all the sudden be a position that redefines what we enjoy in a career. I also want to make it known that I do not devalue the importance and impact of experience. As a matter of fact, the experience I've gotten as an independent nurse over the past year—including the gamut of rotations throughout my residency—is the reason that I understand nursing isn't the career for me. It never was, but I didn't want to admit it because of the effort I had put forth and for fear of being labeled a quitter.

The same reason many people continue to work jobs they don't enjoy, be with people they don't love, and go into a career for the wrong reasons. They don't want to be considered quitters, they don't want to stop when they're almost finished, and they don't want to be belittled by a society that favors commitment and perseverance in the face of misery. I continued because I was afraid to quit after all the effort I put in and all the support I received from my family, friends, and program.

I appreciate your taking the time to comment here and I understand what you're saying, but this comment is neither helpful nor is it nice. People come here for advice, and calling that "dumb" negates your joining this site (and commenting on this post) in the first place.

Wise words. Thank you for taking the time to offer me your advice!

This definitely sounds like a success story--I'm happy for you! What you say about appreciating bedside nurses is something I can't stress enough. These people are warriors. But I'm not the kind of guy to convince myself to go to I job I don't like because it's coveted and respected. I want to be happy. What type of clinic is it and what do you do? Also, what was your experience beforehand and did it help you?

Hmm. That's definitely something to think about. What in the world that would entail, I have no idea. I'd be like the Horatio Caine of nursing. Thanks for your comment!

I understand the disparity of many seeking jobs right now, and I am thankful for mine. That's why I don't regret having chosen nursing. At the same time, I'm looking for potential career advice from people who have been in my position. Thank you for your comment though.

I knew coming here that this was the answer I was most likely to receive, and I understand why everyone offers it. It makes sense to give a job time, but when you know, you know, and this just isn't the career for me. This post was more about what kind of options I might have with the degree I have, etc. Thank you!

Hello! This is my first post on here because I didn't feel like I was getting anywhere through Google searches. Quick background: I'm a new nurse (graduated in May, '15 RN, BSN) and I've been working since July at a level-II trauma center. I went through what I considered a fairly unique program at my current hospital that was called a "nurse residency." It lasted 12 weeks and allowed me to work on different inpatient units throughout the hospital to see which ones I liked. The residency ended a couple weeks ago and I'm now working on my "home unit." It's a 32-bed ICU (medical-surgical-trauma). I chose this unit because I had worked there as a student during my senior practicum and, out of all the units to which I travelled in the residency, its staff was the most friendly and welcoming. I thought I could grow there and have a smooth transition. What I've come to realize--essentially since my second year of nursing school (and especially since I've worked as a registered nurse)--is that nursing just is not the career for me. I don't enjoy the patient care and 12-hour shifts, I don't look forward to what I do every day, and I'm sad to think bedside nursing could be a lifetime career for me. The problem is that I don't know quite what to do. I can't stay in this profession--I know I don't have much experience, but this just isn't the work I enjoy. I grew up working retail and working for my parents' landscaping company. I chose nursing because of its practicality, job security, and salary, and I don't regret having chosen such a bountiful career. I do, however, resent my feelings towards nursing. I cannot convince myself that this is the career for me, and over the past year or so, I've realized that that's OK. I just need to find one that is. So, my question to you all is: what should I do? I've considered non-clinical nursing jobs, but I honestly don't think I have enough experience and I have no idea how to go about researching those positions, finding them, or even understanding what they entail. I've also thought about going back for pharmacy school. I'd have to fulfill a few more prerequisite requirements and be accepted, but it's definitely an option. Then again, I don't know much about the career aside from its basic description and the roles of the clinical pharmacists on the unit. Any advice you all have to offer--especially those who have been in my position--would be most welcome.