Seeking advice/guidance please..

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In need of advice/guidance…


So I have been a nurse since January. I started off on a busy medsurg/tele floor but left because my floor wasn’t very supportive of new grads, and it was a nurses eating their young situation. 

A few months ago, I started working in psych as I always believed psych NP was my end goal. I loved it at first and still like it. It was such a relief from medsurg, but now I’m conflicted. It feels like all I do is give meds, do paperwork, and then basically sit and watch Netflix all night LOL. I know some people would consider that a dream job, but I miss the medical side of nursing and having a challenge. I’m not using or learning any nursing skills other than passing meds and I miss that. 

I always wanted to work in peds, the children’s hospital in my area offered me a job before I started at my first job, but I passed it up and I don’t even know why LOL. I have 2 interviews set up at the same children’s hospital for either next week or the week after depending on when they can get me in. Working with kids is my dream but I don’t know much about the children’s hospital or the people who work there. 

However, my old job offered me a day shift position back. If I could have stayed on days there, I wouldn’t have left, the night shift people there just weren’t supportive but the day shift staff were the complete opposite. Plus I’m kinda tired of nights, and if I got a job at the children’s hospital, I would have to be on nights there too. 

So as you can see I’m very lost. I have no idea what to do and I just would love to have a second opinion or some form of guidance.

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

Questions to consider:

How do you know that days is a better environment than nights at the old job? Are you reasonably certain that you'll have the support you need simply by switching shifts on the same unit?

Is peds your passion, or is it one area of interest you have? Think back to why you didn't take the first job at the children's hospital; the is undoubtedly a reason. Is that reason no longer applicable?

As someone who has changed jobs an uncomfortable number of times in the past few years, I feel compelled to offer this perspective as well: every job you take, there are things you'll notice that make you wonder if it was the right choice. No job will be perfect, but that doesn't mean you chose wrong. Try not to overthink it; just go with the option that sounds most interesting and will afford you a good life outside of work too (consider the pay and benefits package for sure).

Good luck!

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 9/8/2021 at 10:37 PM, Jess Dunaway said:

 

A few months ago, I started working in psych as I always believed psych NP was my end goal. I loved it at first and still like it. It was such a relief from medsurg, but now I’m conflicted. It feels like all I do is give meds, do paperwork, and then basically sit and watch Netflix all night LOL.

I have been working in psych for close to 20 years and at the facility where I work I do a lot of medical tasks. Vaccinations, wound care, COVID testing, EKGs etc.

You do have to seek these opportunities out and take CE classes that are relevant to medical issues. With this type of training you will be better able to distinguish anxiety attacks from genuine cardiac events, etc ...

For instance I am currently completing requirements for a wound care cert. My facility did not pay for it but I needed a big tax write off this year so I went ahead with it.

You are the only one who knows what’s best for you! I certainly wouldn’t seek advice from a bunch of people on an anonymous forum.

Also, nursing is a very small world so consider changing your name to a anonymous acronym.

Good luck to you!
Hppy

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Ditto re the name change. Anonymity is safer.

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