Switching Careers from Nursing because I hate it so much

kristine_bean, RN · Aug 11, 2020

I hated nursing when I was new and some really bad days make me wonder about a new career. But it depended on the hospital and unit I worked for. I've been a nurse for 9 years now and my favorite part is getting to know the patients and making them feel well cared for and important. I still don't like the emergencies, chasing a doctor for answers to the same questions all day, or the need to be in 3 or 4 places at the same time. With that being said the bad days are not frequent. I usually have a very steady day of work flow with very helpful charge nurses (most of the time) that help me when I get behind and at a certain point you just learn the ropes and start to feel comfortable. For me a new job takes 9 months to a year to truly feel comfortable. I have considered moving to a different type of nursing, like case management or home health but I like 2 or 3 twelve hour shifts with several days off on a regular basis so the work life balance for me keeps me at the bedside.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Aug 11, 2020

You have a degree and one year of experience. No need to switch fields.

Get cracking on the job boards, and networking ...to find something outside of the hospital.

Good luck

Lovethenurse2b25, ASN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Aug 11, 2020

7 hours ago, nursingworldwhy said:
Hi guys,
I am a new nurse that graduated May 2019. I have held 2 different RN inpatient jobs at this point and I have hated both of them in every fiber of my being. The first one was completely terrible: poor staffing, high ratios, etc. The second one I have now is objectively better but I still hate nursing. I have been an RN at my second job for about 6 months. I was scarred from my first job, but told myself I would give it 6 months to regroup. 6 months later, I still hate my job so much. I would literally do anything else but nursing. is it irrational to switch fields completely? I am also a very introverted person. I dream of having a desk job and I am starting to resent the entire healthcare field in general. I want to be left alone. I don't want people yelling at me. I don't want to run around stressed all the time. even when things are going well, I know anything can go wrong at any point and am just never settled, calm, or happy.
I used to be such a positive person but nursing has sucked the life out of my very young soul. I get that it's normal to feel negatively about nursing for the first couple of years, but I am just so miserable. the fact that I resent healthcare is telling me I really should switch fields...I just want to be left alone at a desk where I can do my work and leave. anyone know what job that is? sign me up!
not to mention, when I was in nursing school I never liked clinicals...like ever. I guess in retrospect this should have been a sign, but I am very book smart and enjoyed learning. so I guess I just ignored the reality of what my job would be like after my classes were over.
I was also reading a stat the other day that about 1/3 of nurses leave the profession within the first couple years. this is telling me it's not just me and that my feelings are never going to get better. is it crazy to switch professions this early on? Does anyone have a job that is not stressful (or AS stressful as the bedside)?

I am a novice nurse also, and since working as a nurse I have not found my niche. But leaving nursing, a degree I worked so hard on is not an option. Don't give up! Keep in mind we started as nurses during the worst time possible considering how terrible the pandemic is. Give it time things will get better, with experience. A nursing desk job with tons of paperwork and the phone ringing all day also does not sound much better.

JKL33 · Aug 11, 2020

I think you should consult a professional who can help you sort through the variables and understand their relationship to your feelings. There are a lot of variables even in the short post you wrote: The specific job characteristics and demands, the culture of the workplace, the aspect of being newer to the profession, your personality and preferences, etc., etc.

All of that put together is too much for anyone to say, "yep, you sound like a true introvert, this will never make you happy" or "it's because you're still new..." or "find a different place to work..." or any of that.

You need help putting it all together and figuring out what fundamental things make you feel whole and then figuring out if those characteristics can readily be found within this profession or if you truly would be better off focusing your energies elsewhere.

There is no right or wrong answer here with regard to staying in or leaving the nursing profession, only right/wrong answers as far as what makes the most sense for you.

Take care ~

allnurses Guide · Aug 11, 2020

You can bail if you want. Just make sure you do the math and weigh that out. You won't qualify for government assistance on another degree and your parents are likely tapped out. The cost of financing a different degree plan can be enormous and take a lifetime to pay off.

I would advise that before you jump out of nursing and into some other unknown, which you might or might not hate just as much, that you investigate all the other ways your degree can work for you outside of inpatient care.

Best of luck.

Neo Soldier, BSN, RN · Aug 14, 2020

On 8/10/2020 at 8:40 PM, nursingworldwhy said:
when I was in nursing school I never liked clinicals...like ever

You and me both.

Before you tap out, may I suggest looking into a different field- of nursing. You can work at a clinic psychiatry, or a rehab. You could even look into teaching- you will need some nursing experience for this and a Masters degree. The hospital settings can be overwhelming even for the more seasoned nurses so I can only imagine what it is like now with COVID. You've worked hard to earn this degree; let the degree now work for you. Good luck.

speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Aug 14, 2020

On 8/10/2020 at 11:40 PM, nursingworldwhy said:
Hi guys,
I am a new nurse that graduated May 2019. I have held 2 different RN inpatient jobs at this point and I have hated both of them in every fiber of my being. The first one was completely terrible: poor staffing, high ratios, etc. The second one I have now is objectively better but I still hate nursing. I have been an RN at my second job for about 6 months. I was scarred from my first job, but told myself I would give it 6 months to regroup. 6 months later, I still hate my job so much. I would literally do anything else but nursing. is it irrational to switch fields completely? I am also a very introverted person. I dream of having a desk job and I am starting to resent the entire healthcare field in general. I want to be left alone. I don't want people yelling at me. I don't want to run around stressed all the time. even when things are going well, I know anything can go wrong at any point and am just never settled, calm, or happy.
I used to be such a positive person but nursing has sucked the life out of my very young soul. I get that it's normal to feel negatively about nursing for the first couple of years, but I am just so miserable. the fact that I resent healthcare is telling me I really should switch fields...I just want to be left alone at a desk where I can do my work and leave. anyone know what job that is? sign me up!
not to mention, when I was in nursing school I never liked clinicals...like ever. I guess in retrospect this should have been a sign, but I am very book smart and enjoyed learning. so I guess I just ignored the reality of what my job would be like after my classes were over.
I was also reading a stat the other day that about 1/3 of nurses leave the profession within the first couple years. this is telling me it's not just me and that my feelings are never going to get better. is it crazy to switch professions this early on? Does anyone have a job that is not stressful (or AS stressful as the bedside)?

First, you are a newer nurse and many nurses question their career choice in the first year. Second, it sounds like you know why your first job didn’t work out. Chronic understaffing and poor support will deplete the best nurse. Third, why did you choose to go into nursing? Think back about this before you change careers. You worked hard to get through school!

I actually didn’t like clinicals either but I think I was bored during them. I had been a paramedic prior to nursing school and worked as a tech in the ER and wasn’t used to the med surg flow of things. I am also an introvert - actually an introvert/extrovert. I am very quiet until I am comfortable with my team and then it’s hard to keep me quiet ☺️

There are plenty of other areas of nursing to explore. Other forms of bedside nursing from ICU to OR.....eventually non bedside nursing as well. If you like desk work and are good with book work, then maybe you could try nursing education, informatics, telephone triage, etc down the road. Just a few thoughts.....

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Aug 14, 2020

I think if you hate it then move in. It is not for everyone and that is fine.

Keep your license active, but in the meantime find that desk job in a non healthcare setting and give it a try. See if it makes a big difference for you. Why not?

Assuming you do not have huge financial considerations of course and can afford a little "fling" to see if something else is better for you.

Jedrnurse, BSN, RN · Aug 14, 2020

1 hour ago, Neo Soldier said:
You could even look into teaching- you will need some nursing experience for this and a Masters degree.

I respectfully disagree. I would not advise someone who so far hates nursing to aim for a position teaching it to others.

londonflo · Aug 14, 2020

4 hours ago, Jedrnurse said:
I would not advise someone who so far hates nursing to aim for a position teaching it to others.

Even if an educator thought they were good at faking enthusiasm for the profession, I would think the students would see through it.

On 8/10/2020 at 10:40 PM, nursingworldwhy said:
. I would literally do anything else but nursing. is it irrational to switch fields completely?

To OP, I truly hope you find some peace with what ever choice you make. I have taught several students who didn't like nursing and didn't want to be a nurse. There was a great deal of parental pressure and the students I am thinking of were young. After working a year or two they had the money and confidence to pursue other career options like interior decorating or fashion, elementary education or music and have done very well. When I was in graduate school I worked for the boys club in a grant funded position teaching basic health skills and practices. There was no stress, I was not responsible for breaking up fights and only had minimal first aid responsibilities. That was fun!

Best wishes - it is very hard realize what you worked so hard for is not after all what makes you happy but on the flip side, there are many posters on AN who are second career nurses or have a bachelor's in something else before ABSN programs. Hopefully their stories will comfort you.

LibraNurse27, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2020

Bedside nursing is definitely not for everyone. But if you're not 100% sure you want to completely switch fields, there are desk jobs in nursing. Insurance companies, case management, research, informatics. I think it is hard to find a job with absolutely no human interaction, but there are definitely jobs with much less than bedside nursing. Working in a lab doing research, utilization review, etc. One nurse who used to work with me on the floor went to utilization review and loves it, because he hardly ever talks to patients. Mostly paperwork and if on the phone it's talking to companies, not patients with volatile behavior. Good luck!