Sorry this is so long, but I just really have a lot on my mind and any advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you guys in advance.
Hey guys, so I have a bit of a dilemma and I just feel so lost and confused
So I recently graduated last month, and I'm studying for the NCLEX as we speak and am planning on taking it sometime this Summer.
The thing is that during my Nursing school years, especially in my last semester of nursing, I had this terrible anxiety whenever I needed to work with my hands, such as giving medicine through an NG or G tube, and it was so bad to the point where I couldn't even do a glucometer reading because my hands would shake so much, like my hands just have a life of their own and I literally feel like I can't control my nerves and my anxiety over having to do hands-on skills.
It makes me feel really angry and sad, and almost like I can't be a competent nurse because my hands shake so bad. It's embarrassing and frustrating, I hate it.
I think if I had better hands-on skills and wasn't so anxious about nursing skills then I would have been more adamant about doing nursing.
Another thing is that I feel like I don't really have such a huge passion for nursing like my other friends in nursing school did. Don't get me wrong, I love helping people and meeting people from different backgrounds and with different perspectives. And that's one thing that I really like about being a nurse, just being exposed to so many different people.
I am passionate about other things and have a dream about doing things that I actually enjoy, and feel am good at (it doesn't require hands on skills and isn't nursing related at all, it's geared towards the art side), and I'm considering looking into those types of jobs, but they don't pay as much and aren't exactly "professional" and noble jobs like nursing.
I was seriously considering taking a year off after I (hopefully) pass the NCLEX, and try to do some other less stressful jobs such as working at a bookstore or finding some work that I might possibly enjoy more than nursing, and that doesn't require much hands-on stuff.
However, I've heard from people that I wouldn't be able to easily get a nursing job if I wanted to return to nursing and get a job as a nurse, if I took such a long break (1 year) after finishing nursing school.
Would any of you guys have any advice or life tips or really just any thoughts about my situation? I'm just extremely lost and in a whirlwind of confused emotions right now.
Thanks again for taking the time to read my long post!! Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated :)
Thanks everyone so much for your replies! I feel that I should conquer my anxieties and try to give nursing a try, I did work hard for this degree and I don't want to back down without a fight. I hope that I can become more comfortable with hands-on skills and having more confidence as a nurse overall the more I work.
If anyone has any other thoughts or general opinions/tips feel free to leave them here. Anything and everything is appreciated :)
Thanks for your reply! Yea I think that I will try to conquer my fears, insecurities, and anxiety by putting myself out there into the workforce. I think what you stated was a good idea, I feel a bit of a comfort on the idea of working at less acute areas like a doctor's office, and outpatient centers. Although I have a question, what do you mean by the health department? How would I find a job there and what would the job entail, if you have any info on that.
I was also thinking of urgent care clinics as well. What other places do you recommend that I look into that is less demanding and overall less nerve-racking for someone like me?
Go on government jobs dot com to find government jobs with local health departments! USA jobs dot com is for federal jobs!
I don't suggest you waiting, you will loose the skills you have just gain confidence while in clinical. I know someone who did wait and she did have a really tough time getting a job. Anxiety gets greater when you wait I feel. But ultimately do what you feel is best for you.
Thanks for your reply! By acute long term care/long term care do you mean like nursing homes and such?
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Yes, but factor in taking a year off before looking, and then another year to FIND that first job, OP is now two years out of school. Bad advice, IMO.
I do not think taking a year off after graduation will completely destroy your chances of getting a job. Many people, at least in my area, take over a year to get their first nursing job. I got my current job like 16 months after graduation with a history of job hopping, and people here told me I ruined my life lol, but I am okay and working. Plenty of people take over a year to get a job, and are just fine.
The problem is that you don't really have a reason besides anxiety. You won't be spending that year job hunting or volunteering abroad or something that would make sense to employers.
Instead, why not take a month off, then apply for jobs? Can you spend a month just resting and then begin the job hunt?
Do NOT take a year off. Do take the NCLEX. Study for it, get it out of the way. It is OK if you don't like nursing tasks/procedures. Even as a new nurse you will be able to find non-clinical jobs. And in the meanwhile you can start working on a master's or some other skill that will keep you out of clinical jobs. Consider grad school in another discipline. It is OK if you don't want to be a nurse forever. And in fact, I would say you are BRILLIANT for realizing this early. Focus your energy on your next career move and just get the nursing part out of the way and a job you can more/less be happy with.
As someone who suffers from anxiety, I can tell you the worst thing to do is to avoid your problem. I went to counseling and one of the things that really stuck with me was a phrase that we used all the time, "Feel the fear and do it anyway!" It's been years since I've needed counseling but to this day that's my mantra when I'm feeling anxious. Just know that it's OK to feel anxious sometimes but don't let it control you!
If nursing isn't what you want to do, that's OK too. But think about this decision and get help before you make it final.
Nursestudent103.2
6 Posts
Thanks for your reply! By acute long term care/long term care do you mean like nursing homes and such?