Switching Careers After only 1 yr

telenurse212 · Mar 12, 2011

I don't have kids, i'm not married yet but I can start to feel the beginning phase of reality shock which will eventually lead me to the burn out phase. With that being said I can't imaging how tough it must be for you and changing careers after just 1 year seems like the best solution but it's not. Just realize that this is part of the burn out phase where you will feel like you may want to switch careers but first try to change a few things. Tell your boss you need the time off for the safety of your patients and for your own health. Remember, you got this far to become a nurse, don't give up without a fight. I know you must be so exhausted but don't give up until you truly feel like nursing isn't for you. The 1st year is always the hardest for us new nurses and just like in nursing school, it will either make you or break you. I wold maybe suggest transferring to a different department where it's less taxing on you and your life/family (but what nursing position isn't taxing on us?). Try that before really throwing in the towel because i truly believe that nursing is a fulfilling career once we pass the burn out phase. Good luck to you. = )

larniegrl · Mar 12, 2011

I can definitely see where you are coming from. There are so many things that drive me crazy about nursing, and make it feel as though I enter battlefield every time I clock in.

The first year is usually the hardest though. I've worked with a couple of new nurses, who just HATED what they were doing. It wasn't until they switched to another specialty or hospital that things worked so much better, and they started loving nursing. One girl would cry at least once a week about something that had happen to a patient, or the issues with doctors/coworkers/management.

Hold on though...get out of where you are, and try a completely different area. Like go from Med-Surg to Mother Baby or from 8hr shifts to 12's.

raebabelvn, LVN · Mar 12, 2011

I graduated from LVN school 3 years ago. After nearly 2 years of LVN work, and trying to finish pre-reqs to bridge into an RN program, I'm done. It seems like an endless battle, for a job thats becoming more dangerous, more political and more thankless. As of April 1st, I'll be starting a elementary education program, and I'll be a teacher before I would've finished an ADN program.

I love the medical field, but at the end of the day, when push comes to shove, I don't want to spend 12 hours a day in a hospital. I'd much rather have the satisfaction of knowing I'm making a difference in kids lives.

I honestly wish I had never wasted my time in LVN school.

PAERRN20 · Mar 12, 2011

Amen!!

GM2RN · Mar 12, 2011

I can absolutely relate. But no one can make you work extra shifts if you don't want to. Stick to 3 shifts per week and I'll bet you feel better.

nursejoed · Mar 12, 2011

I can absolutely relate. But no one can make you work extra shifts if you don't want to. Stick to 3 shifts per week and I'll bet you feel better.

People need to realize though, that 12 hr shifts are NEVER 12 hours. If you can tolerate three 13-14 hr shifts a week, go for it.

silentRN · Mar 12, 2011

I suggest trying to work in a Critical Care setting where you deal with 2 patients. It made a big difference on how I viewed my job once I went from floor nursing to ICU.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2011

Well, not married and no kids, but I definitely feel like nursing takes a lot out of me at times. I'm working on that.

One thing you said stuck out to me though. You said "I've worked six out of the last 8 days". Thats...........well, the avg. everyday schedule for M-F jobs. You work 5, weekend off, work 5, weekend off. If you took any 8 days in a row..........you'd have worked 6 of them. Were these all 8hr shifts or were there 12 hour shifts mixed in?

IDK, maybe going part time if its possible is what you need to do. I've seen a number of nurses at my facility go part time to spend more time with kids, none of them went back to full time or said they regret it. They do whatever to make ends meet and love the extra time off.

Me, my coping mechanism is to keep my personal life as simple as possible but yet still have it be fulfilling. Reading, time with family (the folks), two kittens I love, bike riding................

Having a fuller outside life reminds me of why I tolerate what I put up with in nursing.

Chin up · Mar 12, 2011

Don't get me wrong, I love nursing, but, I can definately see why many leave the field and why many just get burnt out. I feel like I have aged 10 yrs in the 1 yr that I have been nursing. We are always short staffed, the schedules suck and management doesnt give a crap if you have a family that needs you to be home a few days a week. I feel like as a married mother of 2 that my job takes too much away from the people that I love the most. For example, this past week I worked 6 out of 8 days and I am sorry but I need to rest, not only for my own sanity but for the safety of my patients and the 2 small children that I have to care for when I am not at work. For the mothers out there you know that we NEVER have a day off. It just irks me that some managers think you can work like a robot. I stay in nursing bc i love my patients just wish I had another venue to take care of them. Can anyone relate?

AxidRN,

You need to take two weeks off, immediately. That first week is for resting. You need to relax and have time at home. Sleep, rest and refresh. This is more important than most people realize. After that week, put your focus on home, your husband and children. Now that you are relaxed and refreshed, you will enjoy your home and family all the more. Do something alone with your husband, then have a day with just the Childen. By the end of this two week "mental health" vacation, your mind will be clear, your mood lifted, and all false guilt gone. You will see things more clearly and will be able to make the decision on whether to continue in nursing or maybe a change in department or shifts is all that is needed....the important thing is for you to take care of yourself....work will always be there, extra shifts will always be calling out to you, false guilt by managers, co workers and yes even family will always be there...we as women, have to learn to say NO when we are not equipped to handle something physically or emotionally. We also need to say no, when we just don't want to do something. We don't need excuses to take care of ourselves. Just a simple no will do. I am pulling for you. Just please, go immediately to heal thyself. Peace!

PACNWNURSING · Mar 12, 2011

This is why most RNs who gain experience leave full time work and go part time or work PRN.... Hospitals are still not getting it..... And nursing schools still promote this profession as the be all end all job...

netglow, ASN, RN · Mar 12, 2011

Does anybody actually fear taking time off? Like if you took time off to regroup, almost everybody would leave nursing. Letting yourself actually think about leaving nursing is, well, orgasmic sometimes.