regret?

serenity1 · Feb 7, 2011

I think many of us question our decision from time to time. There are threads about it every now and then. I have been a nurse just under a year and I go back and forth. Today, I am happy again that I am a nurse, but I recently went through a period of thinking about what I could go back to school for. I LOVE patient care, I just don't get to do enough of it. I have decided that concentrating on my patients and not the bs that goes along with administration is the best way to love my job again. I am also going back for my BSN and taking some certification classes offered by my hospital. If you asked me a couple weeks ago, I would have said "no way am I doing this for any longer than I have to". Am I happy every time I leave the house to go to work? no!! Do I still have days I dread walking into the mess? yes!! But I do love my patients, my co-workers and my schedule. I am very thankful to have a job. I can't think of anything else I want to be except a nurse. So....even though I have posted that I would never do this again....I think I would (today lol). I think it's normal to question your decision now and then. I hope you find what makes you happy and fulfilled. Maybe an advanced degree? Teaching? Case management? Best wishes.

itsmejuli · Feb 7, 2011

One of the best things about being human is our ability to reinvent ourselves when need be. Nobody said you had to love nursing and nobody says you have to be a nurse forever.

Do what makes you happy :)

fancyhen · Feb 7, 2011

The great thing about nursing is that there are limitless possibilites with your RN license. If you don't enjoy the type of nursing that you are doing, try something else. Do some research on this site involving the specialities and see what looks interesting. There will never be a job that is exciting and wonderful every single minute of every day. There will always be difficult personalities, mistakes, turmoil and mundane parts of the job. That's life.

You might want to look at other aspects of your life too. You can't expect a job, even a profession that's as dynamic as nursing, to meet all your needs and make you happy. Take inventory of your personal life including relationships and hobbies. Make sure you're enjoying your down time too. Personal and family life make up a huge part of overall satisfaction. Sometimes it's easy to focus on your job not meeting your needs and making you feel good....but your profession is only one part of your life.

If you're a new graduate it's really easy to feel let down because nursing isn't perfect. There is so much preparation for it and your focus is totally on nursing but once the "real world" intrudes, it's easy to feel discouraged.

Nursing isn't for everyone but you worked hard to become one. I think we are a pretty awesome group of people and I'm always proud to be a nurse. Good luck

Ahhphoey · Feb 7, 2011

We definitely all go through this from time to time. I tend to change jobs when I get bored. The organization I work for now I've been at for almost 6 years and in that time I've held 4 different jobs at 3 different hospitals (its a large system with 8 hospitals). I think I've kinda found what works for me now, though (at least for the time being): I have a full time M-F job doing education, clinical support, leadership type stuff, then I work per diem in the ICU at another hospital and occasionally do bed-flow at the hospital where I work full-time. It sounds confusing, but it keeps just enough variety to keep me from getting bored, plus I stay up on my skills since I don't do bedside nursing at my full time job.

Prior to this I was working part-time in ICU and part-time as a nursing supervisor at two different hospitals. Think about changing areas...if bedside nursing is for you, try education, wound care, diabetes educator, case management, etc. The possibilities are endless!

rntim49 · Feb 7, 2011

Yes I do regret my decision. Everyday, I moved to western wisconsin, completed my BSN and now am $35,000 in debt and have been out of work for 6 months. I am so depressed with this job market, I am now blaming myself for leaving a great job in another state for this?

merlee · Feb 7, 2011

Fun? I don't remember becoming a nurse to have fun. Challenged? Yes. Excited? Yes.

Try some different areas of nursing. My most favorites have been Acute Dialysis, in a large university hosp setting, and home health. Both kept me on my toes, made me reach deep into my brain, and let me see on a day-to-day basis that I made a difference in this world.

BTW, I could not tolerate outpatient, chronic dialysis - - it's more about the money sometimes, and the patient is always right.

There are so many possibilities, it's important to keep your eyes and heart open.

Best wishes!