Regretting my decision to become a nurse

Kitiger, RN · Jan 9, 2022

Can you narrow it down to what it is that makes you feel sick to your stomach and sad?

lhasa1956 · Jan 10, 2022

Why don't you try going into informatics or something that is more distant from the bedside like Case Mgt?

Gentleman_nurse, MSN · Jan 12, 2022

Hi FNPtoB

On 1/8/2022 at 1:22 PM, FNPtoB said:

What can I do now? I technically wasted 9 years of my life searching for the perfect specialty and hoping to enjoy my career. I literally feel sick to my stomach and sad when I have to go to work. I have worked in worked in many specialties (from Medical Surgical to Public Health) and nothing changes how I feel towards the nursing profession.

Nine years is not a waste. You figured out what doesn't work. I second Kitiger. What is it that you feel about the nursing profession that distresses you? I don't want to assume.

Ask yourself

What was the difference between a hard day at work yet you still felt good at the end of your shift vs an easy day at work but felt miserable at the end of your shift?

J.B.Chan, BSN · Jan 12, 2022

On 1/8/2022 at 11:22 AM, FNPtoB said:

What can I do now? I technically wasted 9 years of my life searching for the perfect specialty and hoping to enjoy my career. I literally feel sick to my stomach and sad when I have to go to work. I have worked in worked in many specialties (from Medical Surgical to Public Health) and nothing changes how I feel towards the nursing profession.

I'm sorry to hear that. By the way, you have not wasted nine years of your life. You have spent nine years of your life making a meaningful and positive impact on this world and have been a member of the most trusted profession in the US. You should be proud of yourself, being a nurse for nine years is a huge accomplishment.

I have been right where you are, and some days, I feel the way you do but I keep keeping on. Is there any possible way that you can take at least an entire week off from work? Sometimes a little time away from work can do wonders to help put things into perspective. Is your work environment toxic? What seems to be the main issues affecting you at your current job or nursing in general?

I began nursing many years ago in the ED and realized quickly that I had to get out of there because it seemed like I only saw the really bad side of humanity. I cherish my time in the ED- it taught me to be fearless and gave me the mindset that if I can handle ED then I can handle anything, but I needed to leave the ED or I was going to end up leaving nursing, entirely. I needed a big change, so I did a 360 and started working in Oncology. I thrived in Oncology because I truly loved it. However, I moved to a rural area in another state due to my partner's job promotion, so, unfortunately, I had to leave Oncology, but hope to return someday. Anyway, that's my story of how I made a change for the better.

I hope things get better for you, soon.

Dani_Mila, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2022

My stepmom in law was I think same way. She did 8 years of ER. She said that was a lot on her and the stress was just too much. Left the job and did case management for a facility for maybe 2-3 years. She enjoyed this one. I guess she had enough of nursing. After she turned 40 (yep young step mom in law), she said good bye to the profession and retired. Now she is doing what she loves which is breeding dogs for business. She came to love dogs and all the dogs that she takes care of seems to love her. She has not look back into nursing. She does volunteer at the hospital tho with her therapy dog. I for one have felt so many time of quitting nursing because of the pressure it puts the body both mentally and physically. I'm tired and burnt out even with only 4 years experience but I feel like I haven't experience all aspect of nursing. Here I am planning to go hospital setting to get a feel of how it is like working there. We will just see how this journey goes.

LeChien, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2022

What about nursing education?!

I've felt the way you are describing before. But those student loans aren't going to pay themselves and I found it quite dumb (in my case, not yours!) to take out more loans to go to school for something again that I might not 100% love.

Currently in an MSN program to become a nursing instructor. I always wanted to be a teacher when I was younger so I figured I could do both nursing and teaching in one. I'll be away from the bedside for the most part! Maybe look into that?

Jedrnurse, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2022

13 hours ago, LeChien said:

What about nursing education?!

I've felt the way you are describing before. But those student loans aren't going to pay themselves and I found it quite dumb (in my case, not yours!) to take out more loans to go to school for something again that I might not 100% love.

Currently in an MSN program to become a nursing instructor. I always wanted to be a teacher when I was younger so I figured I could do both nursing and teaching in one. I'll be away from the bedside for the most part! Maybe look into that?

I always had some doubts about this pathway. Should someone who hates something get an an advanced degree to teach what they hate?

Dani_Mila, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2022

How good are you with computers and data?? If you want to leave bedside which I think is the root cause of burnt out since a lot of patients are even more sicker than before and on top of that severe staffing issues! What do you think of nursing informatics?? It is a specialty when you get your Master's. I am thinking of leaving bedside after I get enough bedside nursing experience and am looking into getting a nursing informatics degree. This is quite opposite to what my friends are doing which is becoming a NP. I've hit LTC not I'm going to attempt hospital. I don't know if I will like it but who knows.