Relatively new nurse- unhappy and unsure with job. anyone else?

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Okay, this is a bit of a long story. I am still a relatively new nurse. i've been a nurse for 2 years, but have only worked like 1 year and 5 months. I graduated in one state and after school moved out of state to where my fiance' was finishing up school. I started on a step down unit that I had no desire to work in, but i needed a job and that's what i found being a new graduate. (in a smaller city). i never wanted to work the floor but they promised me after i got a years experience in i could change positions.

so i worked a year and 3 months, my fiance graduated school, and we moved out of state again. so i started the job search all over again. being new to the area, i started looking online for jobs. there were more hospitals here so i was able to find some positions. but once again, i heard the same thing at the hospital i now work at. if you work here on this unit for awhile then we'll move you to another after we see how you do here kind of thing. so i took a position working the floor. i have been working there for 2 months now. i never liked working at my old job, but i tolerated it. now i feel like i'm starting over. i worked nights before and i did okay. i had a schedule that was more blocked than the one i have now. i worked 6 12 hr in one week and then i had a week off. so it was easier to adjust i guess. i had a break for a few months now i am back working nights and i can not sleep. i work more of a 2 day off 2 day on 2 day off 2 day on kind of schedule. i am stressed all of the time. i feel like crying everytime i even think about going to work.

I don't know what else I would like to do, but i know i can't keep doing this. I feel like quitting every single night. I feel like the job is affecting my health. The people around me are suffering from my job. I am lucky if i eat more than 1 meal a day.

I have 2 degrees. i have a bachelor of arts in psychology and my bsn. i feel like there has to be something out there for me. i have thought about going back to school, but there are things about nursing that i truly love. i love the brief :wink2: moments you actually get to really talk to your patients without thinking of something else at the same time.

i guess *after my VERY long winded complaint story* i'm just wondering. has anyone felt like this? what did you do to overcome it? is anyone feeling like this now? I was thinking about applying for a school nurse position. it requires 2 years experience however and i don't have that yet. but i thought i could try for it. i enjoyed my community health rotation in school. how bad would it looked to a prospective new employer if i have only been employed at my current job for 2 months? any thoughts or words of advice would be appreciated :redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe

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Specializes in Did the job hop, now in MS. Not Bad!!!!!.

Live-n-Love,

sounds like my own CV being narrated. Even to the point of the 2nd degree. I can empathize with you wholeheartedly. As a matter of fact, I'm currently typing this on one of those 2 days off at 4AM because I was awakened in a panic attack with racing thoughts about what will happen with my next admit and how I have no idea where to turn for answers, etc...I have managed to lose my "freshman 15" and now at 5'5, I'm down to 107 pounds because I don't have time to eat on my 12's at work and when I'm home, all I want to do is sleep.

In answer to your question about advice, I can only suggest what I'm trying to do, which is learn the skills you'll need that will take you anywhere. Get that year-2 under your belt and perhaps consider a private sector job? Travel nursing? Community health as you wrote?

I'm reading more and more posts about how it's so difficult for new nurse grads to find jobs. Makes me all the more determined to stick it out and learn as much as I can to be more marketable. This is my :twocents:

Where are you located LnL? Is hubby getting moved around much more, or can you focus on a particular geography?

Now I'm going long. Sorry, I'm exhausted!

Let us know your decision!!

Good luck

Chloe

:nurse:

RN-BSN, BA

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I can definently relate to what you're going through...I've been a nurse for a year and a half now, been working med/surg this whole time, and some days I marvel that I've lasted this long...I still dread going into work, I still have that terrible fear of all the potentially bad things that could happen on my next shift. My first job I completely hated, but I recently took a travel nurse job at a different hospital and it's not as bad, but still not ideal. I know for a fact that bedside nursing is not for me, but I'm gonna try and stick it out until I hit the two year mark and then hopefully get a clinic/office/outpatient-type job.

Is there anything you could do with your other degree? It's gonna be hard but I'm planning on going back for a different degree, once I figure out what to study...because I don't think I'll ever be completely happy in nursing, no matter what area of it I'm in.

I hope things get better for you...you're definently not alone in how you're feeling.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Surgical, Renal, Oncology.

I hate my current job because I am overworked and I do not feel supported by the other nurses and patient care technicians. I have my one year experience on the surgical floor(every nurse I interviewed said that I need one year med surg experience before going to a unit) and now I am transferring to MICU. I noticed a big difference in the comraderie and overall teamwork on the unit as opposed to the floor I am working. I don't start in the MICU until a couple of more weeks but I've noticed an overall sense of happiness in knowing that I will be leaving the floor I'm on. It was always my intention to go to a unit. I think you should follow your dreams/goals. If community health is what you are interested in then, by all means, do all you can do to get a job in community health. Nurses are in demand. I don't think being at your job for only a few months reflects adversely on you; it just means that your current floor or unit just didn't work out for you. That's the great part about nursing; there are so many different places we can go. Good luck.

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Specializes in behavioral health.

I keep telling myself that i am never 'stuck' in life. Ive been at my job for 3 months and night shift is already ruining my health and I feel like nursing is an abusive profession. Nursing is weird.. i drive home either exhilarated or ready to quit. Im considering a masters degree or looking into outpatient nursing. What to do with a short work record? I'm at a loss at this one as well. People told me not to work psych as a new grad. I did anyway because 'i wanted to'; im tired of 'should do this or that'. as frustrated as i am with nursing, i would miss psych a lot.

im not sure this was helpful =P

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilities.

I've only been a nurse since July 2007 and I have changed jobs already. I began on a telemetry floor (not too different from a step-down floor...at least my particular floor because we have vascular patients too)...I worked six weeks of days and six weeks of nights, my schedule was constantly changing and I never got to do anything besides work (working weekends, nights, you name it!). I hated it and became a completely different person, constantly stressed out and became very depressed (I think it was because of working against my circadian rhythm, not seeing friends, and there was one coworker that was absolutely HORRIBLE to me). Combined = disaster. It sounds like we have similar type situations.

Don't give up on nursing! I almost did until I found my job now. I worked at an agency that supports adults with developmental disabilities during nursing school. I found a nursing job at a similar agency (working with 24 clients in ICF-MR homes). I absolutely LOVE IT! For me, it is a good fit...I work Monday-Friday during the day (I do take call every 4th weekend and two nights a week, but I typically don't have to go to the sites while on call)...everyone for the most part is healthy (my job is more of maintaining health by making sure they have their required scheduled appointments, quarterly health assessments, and assessing staff concerns with a client, monthly vitals, checking monthly MARs, plus random fill in the blank). I did take a pay cut, sometimes it can be super annoying to get paged...but a bad day at work is MUCH better than a bad day at the hospital for me. I get to build relationships with my clients/staff/supervisors etc. and the people I work with choose this area because they truly enjoy it...not because of the giant paycheck. The people who work here are really happy...not burnt out and miserable...which can be contageous on the floor. I also wear jeans:wink2:

Some nurses do enjoy the floor and that is great! We need nurses everywhere and everyone has their own niche. There is something for everyone though...and you don't need to feel bad about trying different nursing jobs until you find the one that fits you!:nurse:

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilities.

Also, I have a bit more to add...I also have a degree in Psychology, which can be very helpful. My job also wanted a nurse with a BSN and two years of experience...but having the experience of working with this population and my other degree helped. If you have any volunteer experience with working with schools, teacher's aid...anything...you could always add that to your resume. They may overlook the requirement if they feel they have the right candidate.

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I understand what you are going through. In my previous nursing job I was very unhappy and knew in my gut that it wasn't the right place for me. The best thing to do is to move on from that situation. Leaving a position for a better lifestyle and greater job satisfaction will make you feel fulfilled in the end. I noticed you wrote that you have a BA in psychology, have you though about doing psych nursing? Or another option would be that if you are trying to switch specialties to apply for a nurse internship at a large healthcare facility if there is one in the area you live in. There are too many opportunities for personal and professional growth out there and nurses should not feel constricted in a unit that they are miserable in.When you find your niche you will be relieved. Hang in there and research your options. When you secure a position somewhere more optimal then you should leave your current workplace.

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Specializes in Rural Health.

Here is my long sorted tale of jobs not liked.

My very first job was on a tele floor as a GN. I lasted 8 weeks. There were a long string of events that lead up to my untimely departure of the unit but largely it was d/t this 75 min drive to and from work every day and some crazy schedule I was on while working nights (one shift on, one shift off deal) and I was dangerous on the road. I could've drove better drunk I'm sure. My manager was nuts too.

So, offered a job VERY close to home at the ER where I was a tech during NS. I took this job but I should've known better. My original job offer was nights and nights in this particular ER meant you were the only nurse (after 11p). This was a very rural ER with limited staff and budget. So I take the job but I drag my feet thru orientation and I work all summer filling in for people on the 11-11 shift so I won't be alone but come August I can't drag my feet anymore and my manager says...you HAVE to work nights now. So, as a new grad of all about 8 months I reluctantly go to nights and I work alone (after 11p). I've never been so scared in all my life. I cried, I prayed, I did all kinds of stuff. Lucky for me a person quit so I got to go to days but it still wasn't better. I was alone from 7a-11a and believe me, crazy stuff happens in an ER early in the morning.

So I do this until Nov of last year and I get another ER job, bit of a further drive but the staffing is great and wonderful and so nice. My job is finally OK....but not really because now you see I don't really like the ER much anymore and there is this nagging feeling I should do something more in life.

So I start looking at school and getting my MSN. I keep getting drawn to the same school and the same area of interest. I start getting obsessed about it. I really want to be a CNM.

Oh, got to interject here at this point - last summer I took yet another PRN job because I was nuts and needed some $$$$ and this place paid good and it was quick money. It wasn't easy money though but it was a decent sized ER with lots of good experiences for me. However, I couldn't be the nurse I wanted to be and I felt crazy unsafe when I was there, so I quit after almost a year.

So, that's 4 jobs.....3 different ER's and 1 Tele unit since Dec. of 2006.

Now, guess what???? I've gone and done it yet again and I'm quitting. But this time it's to follow my dream, my desire and my long term goal which is OB.

My husband wants to kill me, my coworkers think I'm crazy. My poor manager at ER #3 (current full time job for 3 more weeks) has been probably the most wonderful and supportive during all my soul searching but she also thinks I'm a tad bit nuts.

So, after a long winded explanation of my life.....yes it's OK to not have a job that you feel like you fit. However, I stress to give it some time unless there are just things in your life that prevent that from happening.

The more time you give a job the more time you begin to learn a little about yourself, your likes and your dislikes about certain areas.

For me I really had to just finally sit down one day and say......what was my long term goal and dream when I wanted to be a nurse? What do I like about ER right now? And then it finally dawned on me, in order to actually be happy at any job, I had to #1 be doing what I love and what I have passion about and for me that was the easy part...OB nursing. #2 I had to find the place where I would fit and that's what took the me longest to find and was the most difficult.

You'll get there, I know you will. If you enjoy community nursing, go for it. Psych nursing might be another field that you like. There is a place for you out there, I know there is!!!!

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Thank you to everyone who wrote replies! I have not been back on this website in some time! I tried to stick out my job that I was working at when I wrote this b/c I needed the money at the time to help with wedding expenses. I got married in October so sometime after that I was able to move to a prn position. I still work on the same floor but I only have to work a minimum of 40 hrs/month. It is nice in some ways b/c I've just started back running again and I am sleeping again which is great of course :) But it is still a night shift position which still messes up my sleep cycle,I still hate it, and obviously the money isn't great.

I've started back the job search and have been religiously searching the internet. I'm thinking about posting my resume on a large job search network. I've been looking for public health and school nurse positions again...No current openings to be found right now without relocation. So things are better....less time at work = a happier me lol However, I miss the paycheck! My husband and I are okay without the additional money but I still would like to have it! I hope everyone is doing okay in whatever they are doing now!

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Specializes in CTICU, Interventional Cardiology, CCU.

I just wated to tell you, your story sound similiar to mine..I will post more later gotaa go back to work in a few hours but if you ever need to talk just send me a message

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How long did it take you to find a new job? I am in a similar situation, and misrable. I feel trapped. I have less than a year of experience so that really limits where I can go, but if I stay where I am, I will go crazy:(

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