Quarter Life Career Crisis: Not sure what I want to do, but don't want to job hop

[citygirlnurse]

Disclaimer: I am going to sound like the stereotypical early-twenties millennial... but it is true and it is who I am...so no hard feelings if anyone has differing viewpoints.

To start off: I have NO CLUE what I want to do with my life.

I had some major life events happen during the middle of my college career. They sort of took priority over school. I was focused on coping and getting my personal life together after those events, so I just kind of stuck with nursing. I enjoy helping others, I liked the idea of it enough, and I wanted to graduate.

I started on a geriatric med-surg floor right out of college. Most patients had dementia. Not many were mobile or capable of doing ADLs without maximum assistance. It was the typical short staffed scenario - high nurse turnover (especially of new nurses), always getting called to pick up overtime, feeling unsafe with the amount of higher acuity patients per nurse, etc. I felt like I was developing well as a new nurse, and doing good at my job...but I was miserable and did not enjoy it. I would get so anxious before work, worrying about how short staffed we would be. I had horrible work/life balance - it felt like my job was my whole life. I did not feel healthy with the amount of anxiety work gave me.

After just shy of a year, I decided I needed to give myself a break, do some maturing, some soul searching, and figure out myself as a person.

So I have been working at a doctors office for the past half year. I plan on staying 1-2 years, just to have some consistent job experience. However, I know this is not permanent. My job is super low stress, LOVE the hours, enjoy my co-workers, and the pay is actually not bad - all good things. I have developed good work/life balance. I am just focusing on enjoying my life and having fun in my 20s. Unfortunately, I just don't feel challenged. I also don't feel the fulfillment of making a difference in peoples lives. I stay busy throughout the day, but often find myself feeling bored despite the busy work.

I don't know where to go from here.

How did you figure out what specialty you wanted, or what career you wanted?

Some of my friends have always known what they wanted to do. I have never really known. The most I can say for myself is that I know what I like, and what I don't like through trial and error.

If I stay in nursing, I have no clue what specialty I want to do. I am literally open to everything. The problem is that I don't know how to try different career paths without affecting my resume and being a "job-hopper".

I also have considered other careers. I think I would enjoy teaching. I LOVE english. I have considered going back to school for an english degree, or becoming a personal trainer, or trying my hand at being a relator. I have considered getting an MPH to branch out of nursing, or case management. Other days, I think "you know what, I should just drop everything and be a flight attendant for a year!" I am ALL OVER THE PLACE! :/

I want a job that I am passionate about and feel fulfilled doing. I don't know how to find that.

Does anyone have any advice for finding out what you truly want to do?

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

Dude/dudette...you have a REALLY good thing going. Great schedule, good pay, nice coworkers, good work/life balance...

But I understand that you are young and want to expand your horizons. Is there anyway you can find challenges outside of work while you rehabilitate your resume? Perhaps volunteer, get involved in professional organizations? This way, you can continue with your current job and yet find ways to get more active and stimulated.

[Hollybobs]

I know the feeling. Do you have any travel-type jobs in America, like cruise ship nursing? There is such a thing as a travel nurse, isn't there? That would allow you to job hop and have loads of new experiences but not adversely affect your resume.

Or an entirely different career of course! You are young and in a great position, the world is your oyster etc :)

[daisy8762]

I feel the same way but I havent finish school yet or got into a program. I knew I wanted to be a Rn since i was young but I am really starting to hate being a cna :CCC i dont think i can do this job for another year at all.

[Purple_roses]

You sound like you're really enjoying your job. I wonder if doing some volunteer work on the side would give you the fulfillment/business/experience you're looking for?