The stress of nursing is ruining my general psyche.

[AB1489]

I have been a nurse for close to two years now, first working at a large teaching hospital on a neurosurgery unit, and then moving to be a float nurse (to explore other specialties) at a community hospital close to home.

I have been a float nurse for slightly over a year now, and it is seriously making me question my decision to even be a nurse. I feel less confident in my skills than I did when I was first off of orientation at the teaching hospital. I just feel completely unsupported and unsafe. Today I floated to the critical care unit, where I had to take care of 4 patients. Literally everyone else on the unit had 1-2 patients, and one person had 3. I do not understand why I constantly get the short end of the stick? I am a good worker, and I used to be so resilient but now I just feel so worn down and I am at a loss of what to do.

I don't mind stress, but I don't want to be so stressed out that I constantly feel unsafe and never get to eat or pee (at least like once a week would be nice), and I just don't know that I want to put other people's lives in my hands in this current work situation.

I had year evaluation yesterday and my manager asked if I had any issues with anything, and I do, but I really didn't know where to start so I just gave one example of patients' heparin drips not requiring a second check from a nurse. Safety issues run rampant at this place. We do not have charge nurses, and we never get report from the ED when there is an admission. Every unit that I go to is different (obviously), and I spend valuable time looking for things when I wish I knew where they were to begin with. I hate going to 2 different units, occasionally 3 per shift. I just can't deal.

I like taking care of people, and my patients like me and compliment my care all the time. I just feel so exhausted and constantly on the verge of tears.

I was talking to my boyfriend about how I don't like how I act anymore, and my he told me that I used to be infectiously positive. I can't stand the negative person I have become.

I know I should get a new job, but I'm trying to figure out what is right for me. Should I even be a nurse? I have been interested in things such as counseling and teaching before. I am currently in a masters program but have also applied to a midwifery program and am waiting to hear back. I am truly just questioning all of my decisions in life.

Thank God I am on vacation after tomorrow... I don't know what I would do after this week so far.

[itsmejuli]

Have you tried getting a permanent position on one unit?

I would lose my mind as a float nurse

[AB1489]

I have thought about it, but none of the units at my current hospital that I like enough to consider have been hiring lately... so I've been keeping my eye out.

I thought that float nursing would be a good idea initially... and I have learned a lot, but it is just so stressful.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Been there, done that, got the emotional scars to prove it. Being the float nurse stinks---you get all the crappy assignments, you're pulled here and there, and nobody gives a hoot whether you get your breaks or not. I don't really have any advice beyond taking a regular position, but believe me, you have my sympathies.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Been there, done that, got the emotional scars to prove it. Being the float nurse stinks---you get all the crappy assignments, you're pulled here and there, and nobody gives a hoot whether you get your breaks or not. I don't really have any advice beyond taking a regular position, but believe me, you have my sympathies.

My name! Taken in vain Could not agree with you more, though.

Float nursing is THE most difficult position anywhere. OP needs to pick a unit and stay there.. until her fabulous credentials opens up a suitable position.

[mtngrl, ASN, RN]

Nursing is stressful for sure...I am on a quest to leave it behind forever!!! I was a VERY happy, positive person before I became a nurse. But ever since I did I have become negative, depressed, anxious, constantly worrying. I am now feeling anxiety basically the entire work day...and I have a so-called dream nursing job, case management, working from home with field visits also. Case management was my last ditch effort to see if I wanted to stay in nursing since I thought maybe it was just the clinical jobs I didn't like. Wrong....all nursing is just massive responsibility and liability and I hate it. I cannot wait until I am not a nurse, I really do think I will get back to the happy person I was. Everything else in my life is great except this darn crappy career!!!!

[Mysteriousdarkness]

Float nursing is awful. There's such a nursing shortage in so many places, surely there are permanent jobs? Even at a differenthospital, aged care, community/ district/ home nursing- caring for disabled people in their own homes is far less stressful and you get to know them personally so you get that feeling of job satisfaction- they appreciate the care so much and become something like friends. I just liked not having shift work anymore- I had a set roster.

fingure out what it is that's annoying you- do you love what you actually do for the patients and the satisfaction you get and just hate the current situation where you fill in for every crappy job that someone needs doing? Because thats your answer- hunt desperately for a permanent job.

or do you hate the whole thing? I got to a point where I literally couldn't stomach any of it anymore- even the stress of popping a Panadol for someone became this massive panic attack (what if they go into liver failure and die and I go to jail).... It was mental. I never wanted to see a blood pressure cuff again in my life, it got that bad (because if the blood pressure was off, that meant I had to call in doctors and page people blah blah blah....) the stress was literally destroying me.

Quitting nursing was the most amazing decision ive ever made in my life. I feel like I can actually breath. No more understaffed shifts, no more "code browns", no more being hit- kicked- bitten- screamed at, no more working Christmas! My mood has completely changed- I'm the old me again- my boyfriend is so happy because I've been so stressed and sad, not the girl I used to be- he was worried sick about me. Now he can't stop smiling at me because I'm me again- happy, cheerful, joking, enjoying life and hopeful for a better future (with no more nursing!)