Taking an indefinite hiatus from the Nursing Profession

[CaffeinePOQ4HPRN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Has anyone taken an extended hiatus from the nursing profession? What did you do instead to earn a living and how long were you gone? Did you go back to school? If so, for what? I want to escape ASAP and need ideas, suggestions, any help!

I can sum up my experience as a nurse with this:

Warning: below is a RANT. I'm upset/disappointed/burntout/angry. Read at your own discretion:

I have exhausted all my resources trying to improve my station or escape nursing, but I keep coming up short. I have worked with employment centers, have my resume professionally written, applied for nursing and non-nursing positions, my nursing association's career counselor's answer is to "go back to school or freelance yourself", I have reached out to the education office at my hospital... I am in desperate need of help but everyone kind of just shrugs their shoulders and blames the economy when they're unable to provide advice or assistance.

I have already submitted applications for degree programs to retrain for another career. I don't have hope for this profession based of what I have seen, heard and experienced or have been told what's to come in the near future. At work, I feel sub-human and there's no potential for flexibility/options or career advancement. I am tired of martyring myself to continue running on a hamster wheel for rounds of whipping. Nursing at the bedside feels like a dead-end that beats the **** out of your mind and body, then tosses you aside with no benefits or career options once you're too injured for modified duties. My decision to leave nursing has been dependent on how much nursing could change in the future for the better. The way it is today it isn't very inviting. We are treated like disposable slaves. I have struggled so much with this decision, I have tried to make it work.I wouldn't mind staying or later coming back to the profession if there were options, rights, protection from abuse, and dignity for nurses. I haven't been able to advance my education, my hospital is treating us like garbage, they've cut our hours to the point that I am going broke. As an RPN only nursing homes or LTC will hire me and I strongly dislike gerontology!!!

[Fiona59]

If I remember right, you are in Ontario?

I know that here in AB if I don't have reportable hours of employment for three years, I have to do a re-entry to nursing course. You might want to look into that.

I hear what you are saying. Although I work in Acute Care, I feel the same way. We are all replaceable despite being unionized. Bullying is rife on my unit. The manager has her favourites. If you are a good worker and know your skills, you are worked into the ground. Bit workshy but say the right things, your life is golden.

We won't even discuss the abuse given to us by our patients and their families. No appreciation and every word they say about a nurse is believed, no matter how blatantly untrue the complaint. My healthservice is going to the dogs and not the nice dogs.

[Miss Infermiera2b, BSN, RN]

I'm so sorry about your frustrating situation. I know you will do the right thing for yourself.

As for your question, I do know someone who left the nursing profession, although she never went back. She went back to school for a library science degree and is now the manager of an entire library branch. She's an incredibly creative personality and is very happy with her choice.