drewaves75

I feel like I could've written this post word for word exactly! I've been a nurse for a year on a Med Surg floor, and I hate it for all the reasons you mentioned. I feel like HCAP scores and patient satisfaction surveys have made our jobs impossible and set us up for failure. I was also a CNA for 2 years before becoming a nurse, but I hated that too. But I do not regret becoming a nurse at all. After a LOT of soul searching I realized that I am just not meant to be a floor nurse. In my case I really don't enjoy direct patient care. I am good with patients because I was raised to be kind and helpful and treat people with respect. But on the inside I am too introverted to really enjoy patient care. I feel awkward and uncomfortable around them 100% of the time, even the nice ones who I can establish a good report with. I have learned ways to appear outgoing and comfortable with patients, but it is really difficult to keep up that facade for 12 hours a night. Especially with the nasty, hateful frequent fliers who just come for their Q2H dilaudid and refuse everything else and treat us like crap and take time and resources away from 5 other patients who actually need medical assistance. But there is so much more to nursing than this. My true passion is to either become a nursery nurse or an OR nurse. I may have to "pay my dues" on the floor for a year or so but it's just a stepping stone. It sounds like you aren't 100% sure what type of nursing would work for you yet, but you will figure it out! FTW I thought I'd like NICU too, but definitely not now. The possibilities are eendless though. Never regret becoming a nurse because being a nurse is not limited to the hospital floor. It is definitely NOT for everyone! You will eventually find your calling and you'll be thankful you stuck it out. Good luck!