I've been at my first RN position for 4 months now. I don't think I want to continue. I know that I CAN, but I don't WANT to anymore. The stress is just unbelievable. All I ever wanted to do is be a nurse, and now that I am all I want is OUT. School was really no preparation for this, and it has left me very disappointed
I just cant rationalize to myself why I should subject myself to 12-13 hour days on my feet sometimes without a break at all, along with rude phyicans, rude patients, rude families and RUDE MANAGEMENT. For what reason??? I keep asking myself....the MONEY? NO. No way, it is NOT worth it at all. I rather make half the pay and have sanity and peace in my life. The funny thing is, the word around is that I work on one of the best floors.
I think I'm going to put in my notice this week. The problem is, I have no idea what to do with myself if I leave. Nursing has put such a bad taste in my mouth. What else is available for someone with only 4 months experience? I feel so lost
wut is PRECERT? I am a new nurse. Dr. office ive heard doesnt pay. Does anyone know what else i can do that pays hospital pay.. i am working on a med-surg floor for 4 months now and i am COUNTING DOWN till one yr comes, i dread goin to work and i dont think anybody should hate going to work, Nursing is not a job its a career. I am trying to look into other areas but how do i search where do i begin, i want to get away from bedisde/floor nursing, if there arent any other options then i may consider another floor in the hospital...
I've been at my first RN position for 4 months now. I don't think I want to continue. I know that I CAN, but I don't WANT to anymore. The stress is just unbelievable. All I ever wanted to do is be a nurse, and now that I am all I want is OUT. School was really no preparation for this, and it has left me very disappointed
I just cant rationalize to myself why I should subject myself to 12-13 hour days on my feet sometimes without a break at all, along with rude phyicans, rude patients, rude families and RUDE MANAGEMENT. For what reason??? I keep asking myself....the MONEY? NO. No way, it is NOT worth it at all. I rather make half the pay and have sanity and peace in my life. The funny thing is, the word around is that I work on one of the best floors.
I think I'm going to put in my notice this week. The problem is, I have no idea what to do with myself if I leave. Nursing has put such a bad taste in my mouth. What else is available for someone with only 4 months experience? I feel so lost
Kaycee,
Nursing is hard. It is hard to deal with people when they don't feel good because it makes most people difficult. It is hard to deal with staff that is over worked and stressed because it tends to make people short.
It took alot for you to become a nurse, so if I were you I would change floors or even hospitals. But if you got into nursing because of job opportunities and the money then I'm afraid nursing will always be hard for you. Only you know your motives.
You will always encounter people that are rude no matter what profession you go into. Whether it be in banking, sales, accounting, marketing every profession has its stresses. I have heard nurses and CNA's say to patients, "I'm here to help you and I'm doing my best. Is there something else that you need to make you comfortable that is reasonable."
This is a great thread with so many great responses ..... so many people identify with what you're going through!!
I'm so sorry you're having to deal with a crappy situation at your job.
I went through the same thing. I was at my first job for 5 months. I was so miserable. You talk about how you'd even be willing to make half the pay to keep your sanity, I felt the same way!! I used to look at the housekeepers that would come in to take our trash and clean the rooms and think "man, maybe I should just sign up to do that job!". It's funny looking back at it, but at the time I was TOTALLY SERIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT IT!! That's how much my nursing job was breaking me down.
But like you, I didn't know what else I could do. I had worked so hard to be a nurse and I had wanted it for as long as I could remember. The dreams I had of being a nurse were being shattered.
Then I moved on. I quit that place after 5 months. I went on to work at a new place that was the best thing I ever did. I was able to take breaks throughout my shift. My co-workers were supportive and helpful. The management was AWESOME and understanding. I realized that the old job I came from was not how it was everywhere. That nursing didn't have to be like that and I didn't need to settle for that. I'm so glad I didn't quit nursing, because now I'm able to do what I always wanted to do without crying every day.
LEAVE that place you're working at now. You only have 4 months of experience, but don't let that discourage you. Remember I was in the same boat, I had only 5 months experience, then I left and was able to find a place that gave me a new grad orientation with no problem.
It's time for you to move on, because you don't have to deal with the bad management and those bad working conditions.
I just wanted to say that I was in a similar boat. I have finally come to accept that I am not cut out for nursing. It feels so good to finally let nursing go. I have tried so hard to make nursing a career. I worked at a couple different nursing jobs for two years. There is just so much going against nurses. This decision has cost me my condominium and ruined my credit because I could no longer force myself to endure the many tortures of being a nurse in order to pay my bills. I don't have my own place and live with friends but I have never been happier!!!! I am back in school in the Non-Profit organization management program. I have finally realized that there are other ways to help people and society that don't involve nursing. Sacrificing my health, happiness and peace of mind for two whole years was a huge mistake, but a great life lesson. FOLLOW YOUR BLISS...
Acute care nursing is not for everyone. It is fast paced, high volume, high stress, and without a supportive culture in the workplace, I would imagine it could be very frustrating and downright demoralizing. I've been in my unit for about three months and am feeling that this is not where I want to be. I have wonderfully supportive coworkers and the culture is great. I love the patients. I love the families. But the feeling of being stretched too thin, of not drinking any water or peeing for eight hours straight, feeling like in order to take my breaks I have to drop important tasks and will not get caught up again, all of these things have me feeling that while I am competent and my heart is in the right place, this is just not where I want to be. So I can certainly relate to your feelings.
The wonderful thing about nursing is that there are so many opportunities. Working on the floor in the hospital is not the only game in town.
Acute care nursing is not for everyone. It is fast paced, high volume, high stress, and without a supportive culture in the workplace, I would imagine it could be very frustrating and downright demoralizing. I've been in my unit for about three months and am feeling that this is not where I want to be. I have wonderfully supportive coworkers and the culture is great. I love the patients. I love the families. But the feeling of being stretched too thin, of not drinking any water or peeing for eight hours straight, feeling like in order to take my breaks I have to drop important tasks and will not get caught up again, all of these things have me feeling that while I am competent and my heart is in the right place, this is just not where I want to be. So I can certainly relate to your feelings.
The wonderful thing about nursing is that there are so many opportunities. Working on the floor in the hospital is not the only game in town.
When I graduated from nursing school I got my first job in a nice Catholic community hospital. Boy, it was tough...you had the feeling of being stretched just like you mention. One night I almost went to the bathroom in my pants, two nurses with 20 patients, everyone had new orders, no secretary, no aides...I said this is really a nightmare. Then I got in trouble for not passing meds on time. I did my charting two hours after my shift was supposed to end. no respect from administration...some nurses nice, some not so nice...I wanted to go back to my old profession. H--- is a good way to describe how I felt. I also had a one day a week at a MD office, crazy, paid poorly but enjoyable. I stayed at thehospital for 16 months. When I left we had a terrible storm. I volunteered to go in and help 3 times, I could get in. No power, drove through deep water, brought everyone candy as the stores were sold outof everything. They gave me a hard time about giving notice in an untimely fashion and held my PTO money of almost 5 thousand ....after I worked so hard there and helped when I could several times. I kissed it goodbye. It was a lesson, a stepping stone. I then went to dialysis and like it, it is half the work for the same pay ...tough sometimes, has it problems but tolerable. Don't quit. Get one yr on the floor then go elsewhere. I understand totaly. Nancy
RNcutie
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wut is PRECERT? I am a new nurse. Dr. office ive heard doesnt pay. Does anyone know what else i can do that pays hospital pay.. i am working on a med-surg floor for 4 months now and i am COUNTING DOWN till one yr comes, i dread goin to work and i dont think anybody should hate going to work, Nursing is not a job its a career. I am trying to look into other areas but how do i search where do i begin, i want to get away from bedisde/floor nursing, if there arent any other options then i may consider another floor in the hospital...