RN to OTA?

[StillWaiting115]

Hello, everyone. I made a thread entitled Has anyone else been in this situation? on this site a few months ago about my situation I'm not sure if having barely six months of experience still makes me a new grad RN, but I've come to the decision that floor nursing is not suitable for me. I admire those who do floor nursing and can balance it with ease and especially if they have a family, but I've done a lot of self-reflection, reading, and soul-searching and I don't think I can do the things that floor nurses are expected to do. It is not just the new grad nervousness that usually wears off once the 1-2 year mark comes, it has to do with my own personality (INFP/ISFP).

I got into nursing originally because I was a CNA before at a skilled nursing facility. I loved taking care of the residents there - seeing the same people each day, learning what they like, knowing their stories and taking care of them, I feel like they were like a distant family. No matter how tired I was, or how badly the soles of my feet felt when I went home, the pride and satisfaction of my job burned more and I was able to keep going.

But once I became a floor nurse, I realized that I don't have that time to do those things anymore, and what more is that I have low tolerance for very stressful situations that involve multitasking. It's not the time management or really the organization that I lack, it's just that taking a team of 6-7 patients drains everything out of me, and on my days off, I can't even fully relax without dreading about what I'll see in my next shift. I have found and even some of my preceptors have told me that the more stressful I feel, the more they see me become 'robotic' and mechanical in my tasks.

If I work the next day/night, and I wake up 6 hours before, I can not go back to sleep. My appetite gets low, the closer I am to the day/night that I work. I've also noticed that the stress and responsibility of this job has affected me emotionally and psychologically. I have pessimistic and even cynical pattern of thinking, I feel extremely anxious, and I always feel on edge until my last shift ends and then it's a few days off and then the cycle repeats.

If you read my other post, you'll get the backstory of what's been happening. I've spent time mostly in Medsurg and Cardiac units, and recently I told my managers that I don't feel floor nursing is right for me. I barely feel like I know the people I look after, I'm in charge of almost all the aspects of their care, I have to keep their family happy, and I'm still expected to gets things done on time and have a lunch break. They said that they recommended different settings, like a clinic or OR, but so far, no positions are open for people with less than a year of experience.

I realize that this may seem like I'm going backwards, from RN to Occupational Therapy Assistant, but I feel like this is more to how much I can handle. I've had the chance to shadow a PT/OT before, and I like what they do, especially the part with working one to one with people at a time. I've found that as a person, I do significantly better with working one on one.

I'm hoping for some feedback and some advice, if possible. Thank you.

[Nohanih]

Hi. I know your post was over a year ago but can you give an update? What did you end up doing? I'm currently going through the same pridacament. I'm not an RN. I'm an LVN but I'm at a crossroads between going to OTA school or pursue being an RN. I like the fact that you mentioned your Meyers Briggs personality type because it says a lot about what career you would thrive in. I'm an INFJ/ INFP. I get stressed easily, do better one on one, one patient at a time, and do well when I feel I am doing meaningful work. I have three kids and they are my priority, so i would not want to waste precious time away from them being stressed all the time. I think the job of an OTA would fulfill me more than nursing but for some reason, i keep thinking about nursing. I know nursing can either make me or break me. Anyway, what did you decide and how are you doing?