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Discussion

Second guessing my career

So I've had two jobs since graduating. I started in LTC and hated the feeling of not being able to really spend time caring for my patients. I felt like I just gave them some meds and left. Plus the other nurses were doing some shady things. So I took a job in private duty, thinking I could spend more time on patient care. I absolutely hate it. I get bored, I miss having coworkers and I feel like I use zero nursing or critical thinking skills. I was feeling like if I went back to school to get my RN that would provide more job opportunities, but after looking on here I see so many posts of people even with BSNs that feel stuck in private duty or long term care. I'm also starting to question if I just hate nursing in general. I loved clinicals in school, but I just don't know anymore. Do I just need to find my niche? Is it even possible to get hospital/ambulatory/different types of nursing jobs without boat loads of experience anymore? I would love to get my RN but I don't even know if it's worth it. Maybe I could get certified as a surgical tech so I could scrub? I just feel so discouraged. This isn't how I thought it would be.

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    • Expert

    Perhaps it is time to write a list of your likes and deal-breakers, and proceed from there. This should help guide your next decision.

    For instance, I'm not a touchy-feely person. I have a reserved, introverted personality. I do not particularly enjoy direct care and have never had a burning desire to be needed by patients. I dislike mingling with patients' family members, especially the unrealistic ones. Finally, I don't necessarily need the company of coworkers.

    I now work from home for an insurance company. The 'paperwork' side of nursing is enjoyable to me and, best of all, my face time with patients is limited only to a few minutes. This job suits me well, but might not be for someone who is looking to bond with patients and coworkers.

    Since you are looking to spend time caring for patients, my suggestion is inpatient acute rehab. The patients tend to have lengthy recoveries from strokes, motor vehicle accidents, spinal cord injuries, and so forth. You'll get to know them, and your patient load will be smaller than if you were to return to LTC.

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    LTC and home care are not your only options. I am in occ health, its great hours/pay, and not hard to find a job once you have experience in it. Google all the jobs for LPNs in your area, you may be surprised at the different environments you can work in. I am in school for my RN because I do the majority of the same job as them and I want their salary lol. Plus I would to explore other employment opportunities in the future only available to RNs.

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    You sound like me. Tried nursing home and the trainer told me to STOP talking to patients, that I only have time to drop off the pill and leave. All I really wanted to do was to hug that poor patient.

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