Quit nursing already?

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Hi all,I'm a fairly newly graduated nurse working in the community (I could never do the hospital shift work thing). I like the community a lot more than the hospital, but as a new grad, I feel like I've done both my patients and myself an injustice. I graduated with excellent grades, and am willing to learn and ask questions, but I'm all by myself for the most part with the type of work that I do. Almost every day I am googling something medical because I am not familiar with a patient's condition. This leaves me so stressed out that I am actually feeling depressed. I feel like the company I work for doesn't care about educating me; they just want to fill their quota for patients seen. I sort of regret my career path and choices, and am embarrassed to admit that I am thinking of changing my career already just short of being a nurse for 1 year. I went for my degree looking for a challenge,wanting to help people, but I feel like this isn't me (I'm more the creative type and partially went into nursing due to family influence). Anyways, a lot of my patients like me, and most of the time I feel some sense of reward helping them, but I'm scared for them and my license (working on my own). I'm thinking about using my background of medical knowledge to get into technical or medical writing. Any suggestions or insight? It would be much appreciated...

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Hi all,I'm a fairly newly graduated nurse working in the community (I could never do the hospital shift work thing). I like the community a lot more than the hospital, but as a new grad, I feel like I've done both my patients and myself an injustice. I graduated with excellent grades, and am willing to learn and ask questions, but I'm all by myself for the most part with the type of work that I do. Almost every day I am googling something medical because I am not familiar with a patient's condition. This leaves me so stressed out that I am actually feeling depressed. I feel like the company I work for doesn't care about educating me; they just want to fill their quota for patients seen. I sort of regret my career path and choices, and am embarrassed to admit that I am thinking of changing my career already just short of being a nurse for 1 year. I went for my degree looking for a challenge,wanting to help people, but I feel like this isn't me (I'm more the creative type and partially went into nursing due to family influence). Anyways, a lot of my patients like me, and most of the time I feel some sense of reward helping them, but I'm scared for them and my license (working on my own). I'm thinking about using my background of medical knowledge to get into technical or medical writing. Any suggestions or insight? It would be much appreciated...

At least you have enough sense to do some research to understand your pts.

That's smart.

Too bad you aren't getting more support/education/training from work.

That's stupid.

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Specializes in ICU/PACU.

I still google stuff and I've been a nurse almost 7 years:) Sometimes working in a hospital gives you more experience, just a thought.

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In a perfect world we would have all sorts of educational opportunities available in every workplace. REALITY is that as adults we are quite often in charge of our own learning. I constantly google concepts and new medications I an unfamiliar with, and I find that I can educate myself quite well.

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The difference with my position is that I don't have a colleague nearby to "come look at this wound," or what have you. I don't have the experienced eyes of a senior nurse, so I feel overwhelmed. Yes, I have considered working at the hospital. I hate it though. I have a medical condition that does not bode well with 12 hour shifts, chaotic environments, and night shifts. Of course, I didn't have his problem before going into nursing school so didn't think of this issue. Deciding what to do is overwhelming. I'm seriously considering throwing in the towel to become a struggling writer, artist, entrepreneur, etc. Whatever will leave me feeling content with my life in general. Such is life though.

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Specializes in PACU.

You might try looking for an outpatient surgery job. More support there, but typically less physically taxing than inpatient units and often there are 8 hr shifts. Same goes for various other settings.

I wouldn't necessarily throw in the towel if I were you, especially before lining up a decent job that will turn into a career. When I became an LPN I started off with a private duty agency and ultimately taught myself a lot as time went on, asking for guidance when appropriate (I was blessed with a supportive team--there was always a supervisor to call if necessary and several colleagues gave me their numbers and told me to call if I ever had questions).

No nurse knows everything. Every single week I learn at least one new thing (hence my user name). Know your limitations. When a lack of knowledge might lead to trouble, phone a friend or look it up.

Read this: http://allpoetry.com/poem/8460213-The_Quitter-by-Robert_W_Service

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Specializes in nursing education.

There is a creative side to nursing that can come out once you have a little experience. I applaud you for continuing your own education via the internet. Learning can't stop once you graduate. I think my first few years would have been a lot better if I had learned more, but the med-surg environment was very stressful and I missed some opportunities.

Can you send a cellphone pic of a wound to a co-worker for an opinion? Wounds are the hard. There is an experienced WOCN in one of my classes and she said she and the other WOCN's at her facility disagree about the best treatments sometimes, that's one of the things about wounds- a lot of different choices that might all be a right choice.

Also, all the creative entrepreneurs I know are reaaally stressing out and working hard to get gigs etc. The steady paycheck, while a grind, sometimes is the least stressful choice.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU.
I'm seriously considering throwing in the towel to become a struggling writer, artist, entrepreneur, etc. Whatever will leave me feeling content with my life in general. Such is life though

Of the people that I know that are either writers, artists, creative entrepreneurs, ect. some are not content with life because they really are struggling to carve out an earning doing "what they love". Most had to acquire 2nd jobs just to support the dream job, which has left little time for anything else. I agree with the others. There are so many different settings in nursing, I'm willing to bet you could find something that suits you well.

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Hi all,I'm a fairly newly graduated nurse working in the community (I could never do the hospital shift work thing). I like the community a lot more than the hospital, but as a new grad, I feel like I've done both my patients and myself an injustice. I graduated with excellent grades, and am willing to learn and ask questions, but I'm all by myself for the most part with the type of work that I do. Almost every day I am googling something medical because I am not familiar with a patient's condition. This leaves me so stressed out that I am actually feeling depressed. I feel like the company I work for doesn't care about educating me; they just want to fill their quota for patients seen. I sort of regret my career path and choices, and am embarrassed to admit that I am thinking of changing my career already just short of being a nurse for 1 year. I went for my degree looking for a challenge,wanting to help people, but I feel like this isn't me (I'm more the creative type and partially went into nursing due to family influence). Anyways, a lot of my patients like me, and most of the time I feel some sense of reward helping them, but I'm scared for them and my license (working on my own). I'm thinking about using my background of medical knowledge to get into technical or medical writing. Any suggestions or insight? It would be much appreciated...
Listen up! Usually, as in my case anyway, new nurses are followed around by little angels, protecting them from making huge errors. Keep looking stuff up, eventually you will be comfortable, and know what to expect. You can only be an experienced know it all nurse after you get more experience. I look stuff up all the time in my hospital job that you think you can't handle. You could, believe me.
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Usually, as in my case anyway, new nurses are followed around by little angels, protecting them from making huge errors.

Good Lord, isn't that the truth. Thank heavens for new nurse guardian angels! :bowingpur

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Thanks for the advice and thoughts. I realize I have strong perfectionist tendencies which end up stressing me out when I don't know everything an experienced nurse would know about a patient. That and my constant comparison to others and thoughts like,"will I ever be as competent and knowledgeable as her?" have gotten me down. I think I'm going to seriously practice shutting my mind up from time to time and just pat myself on the back for all that I've learned thus far. I'm thinking in a year from now I will try to make the switch to public health and get into the more creative/educative side of things (if I could just curb my stage fright). Maybe write some health articles on the side to curb my creative appetite. Sigh...

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I do want to add that I have a few colleagues that I can call or text with questions. My biggest fear is walking in on someone with severe problems and not being sure of what to do. I'll try to be confident that I'll be an excellent nurse with time.

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