I'm only a newbie in nursing and, already, the thought of leaving this field gives me a strange sense of overwhelming peace. I almost feel odd for admitting it. I feel like I shouldn't even admit that. I'm actually a little nervous to see what kind of replies I receive based off my honesty. I hope that people aren't too harsh. It's a feeling I have been struggling with, yet pushing down deep inside of me.
Don't get me wrong, I am passionate about it, but I just have those days where I daydream of doing pretty much any job, but nursing. The thought of getting out of nursing and accepting a mundane, office desk job actually gives me this overwhelming sense of peace & relief. This means something, because I actually got out of the office environment to go to nursing school. I originally planned on going for my NP..but things don’t look so bright for that field either. I’m wondering if I finish my BSN if it’s even plausible for me to think that I would be able to transition to PharmD, MD, PA, or DDS (programs). I won’t lie, I have my eye on PharmD due to time. I also have a general interest in almost every specialty & health related career, so I wouldn’t be doing something I don’t like. I love science and really love math. I’m ok with fulfilling pre-reqs. I just don’t want to have to start all over again..and at the same time..I’m weighing everything out.
I thoroughly enjoyed (besides the corruption/disorganization) learning the human sciences, nursing process, etc. Dirty work, grumpy patients, and the chaos of it all never bothered me much. It's the fact that I go home feeling "less than". I don't feel like I was able to really reach out to my patients. The conditions that nurses work in..just seem to be going down the drain. Forget the fact that one can move around floors, specialties, states, etc. I have seen this pretty much everywhere. Some are just worse than others, but overall, this field is extraordinarily stressful for the ratio of pay. I'm sorry to say that I am not one of those nurses that thinks "But it makes me heart feel warm to know that maybe I just helped ONE patient". Don't get me wrong, I feel awesome helping others, but I don't think it's enough to keep me in the field. There just seems to be a lot of abuse, harassment, cattiness, bullying, work overload, burnout, and an overall ungrateful attitude towards nurses. I will always be a nurse at heart, but I am also a human being and my happiness is essential. If I had to take a pay cut of $15,000 less (for example) per year, I would..if it meant I would be happier.
I am not sure if this is normal. A few of my nurse friends have expressed the same thoughts. Some are new grads (BSN) and haven't found employment in the last year, so they don't have as strong of opinions. For some strange reason, I feel extremely pressured to stay in this field. Pressured by family, friends, and everyone. You're always hearing that this field is in high demand, has great pay..etc. I feel like everyone else cannot see what I see. So here is my Q...I haven't even finished my BSN yet...and I am hesitating doing so. I don't want to spend another 4 years in school, if I pick a different major..but I don't know of any different majors that I could apply most of my classes to, right now, and finish up a Bachelors in 2 years..so my BSN seems like the most logical choice. If it's not, please speak now! I was looking into a Bachelors in Health Care Administration, but I am unsure if it's even more difficult to find work in that field. I know some of this has to do with the economy.
My question is...if I finish my BSN (as that seems to be my only choice..unless I want to start all over again for a new major) would the transition to PharmD, D.D.S, or M.D. programs be possible? What about P.A.? If I had it my way and could start all over again, I would have gone for Biology, straight out of highschool, and applied to one of the above at the age of 22. Sigh, I just want to live life. I would like to settle down, have a family, buy a home..but at the same time I am trying to be realistic and further my career/education.
Any feedback? Again, I'll be honest with you. I have these moments where I envy people who majored in a different field, and while they aren't making tons of money, they have stability and they are happy. It strikes me as unhealthy for me to already be growing anxious about a field in which I just entered. I'm just trying to find out if there are other options out there. I don't want to be "stuck" in nursing forever. If nursing was different, or improving, then yes...but I feel like I'm ignoring my basic instinct by staying in this field...regardless of the fact that I know I would do the best for my patients and perform well.I really feel sad that I entered a field where I felt I could make a difference in patient's lives and help them..only to find out that nurses are just seen as a way of affordable/cheap health care and many are practically slaved. It is a little upsetting to think of such bright individuals being subject to that. Nurses are intelligent beings, but not always treated as such.
while i realize that your post states that you have never had the had the problems and issues that the op and many others on this board have had, may i ask why you have had 15 jobs in 20 years? that's changing jobs about every 15 months or so. what is so good about that? no disrespect intended, just curious.
many of those jobs were in ltc when i was a young un and thought the grass was greener on the other side. i've been at my current employer for over 10 years in a variety of positions and have held additional jobs for supplemental income outside of my current position. during ns i had 3 pt jobs at one (brief) time. does that answer your questions sufficiently?
eta: i should have added in my previous post that although i have been treated well by my co-workers i have worked for crappy companies, one other reason for changing jobs.
You actually have more opportunities in nursing than most other professions. I worked retail and then hotel management before obtaining my nursing degree. Every job that involves dealing with people can be rewarding, and also may suck at times. If you feel the politics is bad in nursing, try working in a hotel. The hours are longer, the pay is less. Politics even worse.
If you truly feel that nursing is not for you, that's ok. However, I can say that after 20 years of working, politics is everywhere. You simply learn to play the game. Often, you realize that life is really not better somewhere else. Think carefully before you spend more time and money.
Pursue your path of the passion of your own choosing. PharmD programs in most states accept any BS/BA with the pre-pharm prerequisites. I must say, when I read your posting, it punched me right in my gut; because your thoughts may be something that I may have to face down the road. It just felt so viscerally akin.
I was a pre-pharm during my postbacc. prior to my decision to apply for a nursing program. PharmD programs are tremendously impacted now, more so than that of circa 2005-6. This absolutely does not mean there are tons of pharmacists; it's quite the contrary. Just that you'd be competing against influx of other applicants, so, prepare well, check into each program that you want to apply to, and I say you go for it. You've already experienced nursing, so, now it's your turn to experience pharmacy.
You may enjoy clinical pharmacy as it offers both aspects of the rigorous academia and the clinical setting. My best friend is a clinical pharmacist, and I had a pleasure of shadowing her in many occasions. She thoroughly enjoys her profession and what it has offered her so far. Her residency in the beginning was a bit tough on her, because, as it is for everyone, it can be a learning curve to get along with everyone of differing opinions and their clinical decisions.
I, too, have passion for chemistry and math. I may have to revisit them later in my life when my circumstances allow for it. I've also learned that nursing offers many venues for one to pursue further education, so, for now, I am satisfied with my decision. When you have the means to switch gear, don't look back. Just plunge ahead and plough through it like a champ.
It's important to follow your heart and do what you love. I can tell that you've put a lot of thought into looking at other careers. I am a career changer who came into nursing just a couple of years ago, after many years in another aspect of healthcare. I'm a NP, and find that advanced practice nursing fulfills my desire to work directly with patients while still having a great deal of autonomy. There are many MSN programs that will bridge you directly from an RN (without a BSN) to the MSN, and there are many tracks to choose from, be it geriatrics, to palliative care,to forensic nursing. Yes, I'm biased, but I just don't want you to immediately discount the NP route. I find I'm very respected, I make decent money, and I don't have to work holidays, nghts, weekends. PA school will give you a different approach to healthcare, but in most workplaces the PA and NP jobs are virtually interchangeable.
Whatever you decide, make the decision that's best for you. We'll all be working well into our golden years, and it would be nice if we were doing something that we loved.
If you want to be a PA, MD, etc... it makes no sense for you to pursue a BSN. You are already a nurse. It would make more sense for you to pursue the pre-requisites for those programs as opposed to Community Health, ethics, and other courses that are part of the BSN curriculum. You already have the patient contact experience to be a PA and what a leg up on being admitted to these programs. But do you think being an MD or PA in a hospital setting will be any less stressful?
I wouldn't go through the stress and time of putting in the work to get that BSN that you don't really want. If you are honest with yourself and know that this is not what you want, get out before you've wasted too much time, money, and energy. Do what you feel you will love. It is your career. Good luck!
I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming amount of replies..most have been pretty nice and something I needed to read. It's nice to have some support and understanding. I can't really talk about this stuff to non-nurses because they just don't get it. I get REALLY annoyed when non-nurses attempt to tell me what the nursing field is like..what a slap in the face!
Since working in healthcare for the past 20 years (at least 15 diff jobs) in a multitude of positions and areas I've
A. Never been fired and always had excellent references
B. Never been so stressed that I hate my job
C. Never encountered other nurses that eat their young
I feel very fortunate to have had great supportive co-workers no matter where I've worked and I do realize there are probably some bad apples out there.
Nursing is a stressful occupation no matter where you are but I think a lot depends on your personal outlook on life in general. If you are at a place where you're unhappy in your life than make a change it's no good to be misreable, life is too short.
I too have looked into other careers specifically a PharmD program but weighed the pros and cons. It didn't seem worth it for me as I'd have at least 3 years of FT pre-reqs to be able to apply. I thought about it and fixed what was within me that was unhappy and figured I'd better stick it out at where I'm at since I don't really have it that bad in my current position.
How many years, of those 20 years, were you actually a nurse? I noticed that you have 1 year of LPN experience, and it looks like you went back to school and have another 1 year of RN experience...so 2 years combined right?
I am telling you that everything you are feeling is VERY common amongst new nurses ESPECIALLY during this economic downfall! We are pushed to the limits because hospital's and LTC facilities are cutting staff to save money. Our jobs are getting more difficult and the worst part about it is that the higher ups know that there is a line about 4 miles long of NEW/OLD nurses waiting to take the job. They can replace us like hot cakes and it makes the job worse than it need to be. I am sorry that you have to go through this. Like I said 5 years ago you could switch "areas" of nursing and find your perfect fit. Now your just kinda stuck where you are. It wont last forever but If you can make it through the world will be yours. You can move to any place in the nursing field you want to go. If you are really suffering then I say leave the profession for now. Things will change.
I am telling you that everything you are feeling is VERY common amongst new nurses ESPECIALLY during this economic downfall! We are pushed to the limits because hospital's and LTC facilities are cutting staff to save money. Our jobs are getting more difficult and the worst part about it is that the higher ups know that there is a line about 4 miles long of NEW/OLD nurses waiting to take the job. They can replace us like hot cakes and it makes the job worse than it need to be. I am sorry that you have to go through this. Like I said 5 years ago you could switch "areas" of nursing and find your perfect fit. Now your just kinda stuck where you are. It wont last forever but If you can make it through the world will be yours. You can move to any place in the nursing field you want to go. If you are really suffering then I say leave the profession for now. Things will change.
Thanks! You're a ray of sunshine (pun intended) . You hit the head on it! That's what I have seen, as well. Nursing looked SO much better about 3+ years ago.
Like you, I would like to say it will get better, but in all honesty, I see it only getting worse. I was thinking that perhaps I could explore new options and if it DOES get better, then go ahead and finish that BSN. :redbeathe
You have one life to live (Western culture anyways), and nursing ain't for everyone. I applaud you for being brave enough to be ok with the change. I wouldn't worry so much about what family and friends say. They don't know what's it's like.
. You hit the head on it! That's what I have seen, as well. Nursing looked SO much better about 3+ years ago. 
Up2nogood RN, RN
860 Posts
many of those jobs were in ltc when i was a young un and thought the grass was greener on the other side. i've been at my current employer for over 10 years in a variety of positions and have held additional jobs for supplemental income outside of my current position. during ns i had 3 pt jobs at one (brief) time. does that answer your questions sufficiently?
eta: i should have added in my previous post that although i have been treated well by my co-workers i have worked for crappy companies, one other reason for changing jobs.