Seeking Niche-Should I Stay or Should I go?

[infirmiere02]

Hello Everyone,

Just seeking some advice related to my job situation. To start out my nursing career I worked in a general hospital setting. Seeking more meaningful one and one bedside nursing over time, I transitioned to home health and found it to be a much better fit, but still felt that something was missing.

I decided to take a role in management within home health but now I am feeling that it may be a mistake, especially considering numerous things, such as high turnover rate that have led to major structural issues/stresses. The management here has gone through multiple managers in the last year and many aspects of the department are in shambles (which makes me nervous because I don't want to jeopardize my license, etc.) Part of me wonders if maybe I just 'can't handle it' but all I have heard is that I am doing a great job and I don't give myself enough credit.

There is also a very high accuity, not enough clinical support and the company is going through many changes that create very unrealistic expectations for employees. I am the type of person who likes to do my job and do it well. I don't like to settle for less, but this job is putting me in a position that in order to complete things 'satisfactorily' requires me to work many more hours than I am being compensated for and I have yet to have that 'I am doing a good job' feeling, because things just keep piling higher and higher.

I have been tolerating it thus far, because I like to give things a fair chance and my boss keeps saying that 'things will get better'. I am trying to figure out what to do, as it would be difficult to 'demote' myself and go back to working exclusively in the field, but I am not opposed to doing it. In addition, I have very different goals that I would like to accomplish that do not pertain at all to this area of nursing, such as further schooling and other nursing specialities. Considering my current working conditions (the very high stress, excessive time commitments, inadequate compensation, on call duties, defunct management etc.), I am wondering what in the world I am doing.

I don't want to let people down, yet I need to choose in favor of my health and job satisfaction as well. I am planning to have a discussion with my management, but I am just trying to be careful about what direction I take it. Since I am relatively new to nursing, I don't want to burn bridges, but as I mentioned, I really have great desires to go back to school and to even enter areas of nursing that are completely different than my current route. Unfortunately, I don't see how I could possibly do school now considering my situation.

In addition, I don't want to become a job-hopper, but I am becoming more and more burned out.

Any thoughts or ideas that anyone would like to share? I really appreciate the feedback, as I am trying to gain some insight into which direction to move. Thanks for reading! :)

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

if furthering your education is your goal then that is also your excuse. Do what you have to do to get your education. If your management does not understand then you will never be content there. You might consider that once you have more tools (from more education) you might be worth more to the company and can help them grow. Personally, I would consider working prn somewhere till you graduate.

[Herbalnurse]

What is your passion? Is your current situation something you are passionate about? If not, do some deep soul searching. You may want to do a vision or dream board. Place pictures and word ideas where you can visualize your ideal life and job. What type of education would you want if money were no object. Where do you see yourself in your dream job in 5 years? What's stopping you from doing what you really want to do...

[infirmiere02]

Thanks so much for the replies so far; it's nice to hear some other thoughts. I think the management understands my desire for education. It's just that I realize that with the huge time committments this job has, it would be setting myself up for failure if I were to do school part time. They might say, "yeah, sure, go for it", but I know that it would be too much all at once. I could only see myself working 2 days a week max if I were in school. Not 50-60 hours per week!

I like the idea of setting up a dream board, it is a very visual and hands on approach. I think I need that to help me more clearly identify the best path for me!

It's just hard because I am missing the one on one care I used to provide, yet I understand that my promotion to doing management should be a good thing, on my resume and otherwise. I feel like I have my head buried in paperwork all the time. I am never caught up, and I can't stand that feeling. My schedule is too unpredictable. The pay is better, but is not equitable to the amount of time put into it. I don't want to become another statistic, as the turnover rate around here is known to be high, but then again, maybe it is high for a reason!

Help!

[Herbalnurse]

I can't tell anyone what to do. You just sound like my twin about 4 years ago :) I had left management. Was back in school. My daughter went back. I was watching her son as well while she was in school. Too much. I stepped back from school. I now still work on the weekend option program. Running my nurse health coaching business during the week. Wanting to retire nursing in Oct of 2011. Living my passion :)