I know lots of people hate to their guts what they do. I am definitely one of them and I can say that when I walk into my medsurg job, I can just tell all the joy, happiness and energy just being sucked out of my body. I don't understand the happiness or fulfillment you get when the "patients make your day" by smiling, talking, complimenting, thanking you etc etc. I am the type of person who does not get fulfillment from patient interaction at all; this is why I KNOW for fact that medsurg/bedside care is not my niche.
I do get kick out of hanging out with my friends or interacting with pleasant strangers, but do not get anything out of interacting with patients for some reason.
So after about 3 months, I plan to escape the medsurg and do something that I can at least say I somewhat like doing. I have done some serious research in this venue and found some soul searching of kind of nursing I like. I do not want to do anymore direct/bedside care with minimum patient interaction; preferably a work that matters something, not mundane stuff, treating frequent fliers or pushing narcotics to seekers, maybe even non-clinical setting.
I came to some lists: office job (but lower $), day surgery/outpt surgery, preop/pacu, endoscopy, GI/Cath lab, research nursing, clinic, and some corporate job. Hopefully there are some of you who found that patient care is not your niche and now do something that suits your boat. Let me know, Thanks.
I hated med-surg. I hated my mean co-workers. I quit. And I've been working happily in home health for 10 years. And I love my co-workers and the work I do. You just need to find what you love. Luckily in nursing there are so many avenues. You got this. Go after it and don't let anyone hold you back.
I'm a firm believer that it's possible to love your job, but loathe your specialty/department. Growing pains are very different from outgrowing a certain type of nursing. And if you've been doing it for so long, or you've just over time realized you've had enough, then maybe it's time to move on.
The beauty of nursing is its endless possibilities. There are so many different avenues to pursue that if you find one isn't for you, you can switch to something else. Not surprising, Med/Surg is a springboard. I've rarely heard of nurses staying long, especially in the inpatient setting. Take a look at what's ahead for you--try new things. You may find that a slower paced type of nursing is more your style. Patient interaction (aside from claims or insurance companies) will always exist.
I'd recommend phone triage, telehealth or nursing infomatics. A bit of distance betwwen nurse and patient is a good thing in my book. Oh and before anyone flames me, I have good reasons for feeling this way.
Ive been at my job only several months as a new grad and absolutely love it.
By far the most important thing is the environment and culture where you work though. Im in the OR (which tends to have many satisfied employees) but the entire ambulatory wing has extremely high employee satisfactions. ambulatory service unit,pre surgical testing, and the PACU people mostly love their jobs.
But part of it is the culture that the hospital facilities, where people can actually enjoy themselves as well. My hospital actually FORCES you to take legitimate breaks. During an 8 hour shift we get a mandatory 15 minute morning break, 45 minute lunch, and usually another 15 minute afternoon break.
On the floor (no ambulatory unit) theyre forced to take 2 15 minute breaks, a 45 minute lunch, and 45 minute dinner. Staffing is always well done, so you have plenty of food service aids, nurses aids, etc. So you dont feel like you are forced to do other tasks, and are able to concentrate on your job.
Unfortunately most of the other hospitals ive been to dont really have a happy positive culture, so job satisfaction really isnt as high. Best advice I can give is try checking out smaller community hospitals. Some of them wont be great, but i feel like thats where your best bet of finding a hidden gem is. I know I sure did
Plenty of people love their job, I'm not one of them...yet. I too had to stick it out on my unit until I was able to request a transfer to another unit I wanted. That particular unit doesn't hire GNs so I had to pay my dues and gain the experience needed to take me anywhere.
Many of the units you listed may require 1 year of experience, but you would know within your hospital if they will take you with at least 6 months experience before a transfer.
Wish you luck. Its truly about finding your niche.
I found Public Health nursing more to my liking. I love educating clients, hooking them up with referrals and providing nursing care that is more holistic and preventative. I work in Lead poisoning prevention, CHDP and Foster Care. It's a million miles away from clinical hospital care. Hours are good, so are the benefits. It doesn't pay as much as hospital, but my sanity is worth it.
I'm the opposite. I went into my current job with a horrible attitude thinking private duty was for the nurses who couldn't get a hospital job. I was angry, because I graduated with an excellent GPA and scored high in clinical and simulation. Now having been here 7 months, I love it and realize that private duty is so much more. There are skills I've learned that I will take with me everywhere I go. Sure, it's still bedside nursing, but it's with one patient who I've formed a relationship with, not just some patient in a bed I might know for a few days. Like you, the thank yous didn't mean much to me before, but now they really, really do!
i am currently seeking hospital jobs (partially unfortunately) because of the dollars... some of you have listed out-of-hospital jobs like public health, prevention, etc. I wouldn't mind doing them except the pay is considerably low and plus seeing so many frequent fliers, I came to believe that primary prevention doesn't work in this country because of apathy and ignorance. anyways, I am also torn heavily between cath lab and preop/pacu/OR gig.
wow, I suggest you re-read your last post and listen to your intuition. My guess is this time next year, you'll have bank, but be MISERABLE. Hope some of the patients you care for will be better off in spite of your ulterior motives $$$. It's so disappointing that nursing has become a money vs. profession for so many, no judgment...we all got bills/loans to pay...good luck
When I graduated nursing school I went straight into floor nursing on an Ortho/Neuro floor. I was there for 10 months and hated it. I have also done prison nursing....loved it but ended up moving so had to find another job in another state. Now, I have been a school nurse for 4 years and I LOVE IT! I have times where my clinic is quiet and times where I am busy and running the hallways. I have pretty much lost most of my floor nursing skills but gained new skills along the way. I love my kiddos at my school! If I had to go back to floor nursing I would just go ahead and retire my license. No way would I ever go back and work at a hospital on the floors. Not my thing and I recognized that. I have no doubt you will find what makes you happy. I wish you the very best!
Oh, I meant to add.....I took almost a 50% pay cut but I have my sanity and a smile on my face every single day. Plus, I have weekends, holidays, fall break, spring break, and summers off....still get paid. Very worth it for me. :-)
i am currently seeking hospital jobs (partially unfortunately) because of the dollars... some of you have listed out-of-hospital jobs like public health, prevention, etc. I wouldn't mind doing them except the pay is considerably low and plus seeing so many frequent fliers, I came to believe that primary prevention doesn't work in this country because of apathy and ignorance. anyways, I am also torn heavily between cath lab and preop/pacu/OR gig.
Usually preop nurses have tons of experience, and these jobs are given to veteran nurses who no longer can (or are tired of) bedside nursing. Not to suggest that you cant luck into one, but id imagine the facility is going to have a nurse thats been there 20-30 years who is going to want first dibs (as these jobs also generally have ideal hours as well)
PACU is amazing, ive rarely met anyone who doesnt love it. but most PACU jobs require 1-2 years of ICU experience (and depending on the facility can be very difficult to get into since they have some of the highest nurse satisfaction rates in nursing)
Dont know anything about the cath lab as my facility doesnt have one, but id imagine theyd want nurses with some experience)
OR is awesome I love it. But again its one of those areas very difficult to get into, extremely competitive due to the high demand. Plus rarely are OR gigs given out to new grads.
My personal 2 cents is find a facility that has a seemingly positive culture. Ask some nurses why its a great place to work. For example I graduated from a large state college (attached to a large state hospital). And whenever I would ask about the place the general answers I would get are the (state) pension is great. Or 6 months in the union and youll never be able to get fired !
Which were VERY common answers as to why I should work there. But ive never heard anyone say "everyone is so happy here, people get along and love to work together" or anything of the sort. So you really have to decide what it is youre looking for. If all you want is a great pension, and dont mind being miserable for 25 years go for it.
But I think if you can find the right hospital with the right culture/set of people that you could end up on ALMOST any floor and be very happy.
i don't know what your social situation is but if you're happy to be away from home then you'd probably love my job. I work as a nurse on cruise ships, I work four months travelling the world and then two months at home, it has changed my life so much and I couldn't be happier! I know some people live to work, but I work to live......enjoying your life is much more important than working most of it doing something which you don't enjoy, you have to enjoy what you do! Working aboard ships is very different than working on land, it's a big mix of emergency, first response, ICU, minor injuries and illnesses, geriatrics to paediatrics, it's very diverse. The work can be hard, but then the next cruise can be very quiet, you never know what's going to come through the door. You get extra training such as doing your own x-rays and testing blood samples, oxygen decanting and sterilising all the equipment.
The pay is good, food and accommodation is free, they pay for and organise all of your travel to and from home, your family can come for cruises, you get to see the most beautiful places in the world and do the most incredible things. Most importantly, you get to meet so many different people from all over the world, I have also found the love of my life, so now we travel the world together :)
imadoll1980
21 Posts
I hated med-surg. I hated my mean co-workers. I quit. And I've been working happily in home health for 10 years. And I love my co-workers and the work I do. You just need to find what you love. Luckily in nursing there are so many avenues. You got this. Go after it and don't let anyone hold you back.