Thinking about getting out of nursing.

I want to get out also, but I work full time so I have no time (work M-F) or money to get a new degree. It is very depressing. Good luck to you. There is no point in being in a job that doesn't satisfy you. Life is too short! Be happy!

You said in another thread that you haven't felt 100% about nursing since nursing school. That's a pretty long time to be in something that doesn't fulfill you. I hope I don't end up in the same boat (no offense ) What was going on in those 11 years that made you question the move? Were you waiting for job satisfaction? Were you financially bound to the income? Are you just a mentally tough person who was able to put up with it for 11 whole years? No judgement at all, I just want to know. If you'd rather PM me, please do. I'm interested in your story as I feel it applies to me. Either way you deserve happiness and I wish you luck in your pursuit of it!

What made you not want to be a nurse anymore?

Life's way to short to spend so much time doing something you really dislike.

I see you're in TX - if your goal is to work in public health, you may want to analyze the job market before making the leap to an MPH. I dearly love TX, but we have a very dismal level of support for any type of public health. Consequently, there are few jobs in this field. The school you attend will make all the difference. The UT School of Public Health (Houston) is stellar - very "tier One"... but admission is extremely competitive but TX residents are given preference.

Best of luck to you in your career change.

also do a search for H.O.T. Jobs thru AHEC (Area Health Education Center). The title stands for Health Opportunities in Texas. AHEC is all over TX and they publish material on various health-related jobs in Texas, including where to get the education/training, cost, salary expectations, etc. I do not have the website in mind but just google AHEC Texas and you will get hits. AHEC is a national non-profit organization supported by Congress thru the Dept of Health. Good luck!

I understand how you feel. I have been a nurse 8 years. Worked in psych then LTC. Been at the same LTC 4 years, DON for 3 years. Research shows the life span of a DON is 3 years. I think the last 6 months I have been burnt out and just trying to make it to the 3 year mark. What compounds matters of burn out is that in the last 9 months my pay has been dropped and the health benefits now suck BAD. I have a BSN. I was trying to get into ARNP and even though my GMAT scores were good it was the last year ARNP was being offered as a MSN. There was double the applicants to open positions so they accepted people based on who had the highest GPA and I didn't get in. Instead of switching to some other MSN (which I probably should have done and definitely would have got in), I changed to a Masters in Public Health Administration. I have 3 classes left before I graduate and no clue what I am going to do with it. I live in the middle of nowhere and to get a job that is not a 20-30,000 pay cut I would have to drive 1-2 hours to work. My kids are Sophomore and a Junior. I want to actually spend some time with them before they move out. Been looking for a new job and getting really frustrated. I also think Kansas nurse pay has been trending downward for the last year or two, not sure why. Just know I am BURNT - crispy fried. Do not want to be a DON anymore.

Glad Im not the only one who feels this way. I know 11 years is a real long time but i did a few different nursing jobs so thats what kept me going. I think im pretty good at what i do I just I think really needed to take time away to really decide what I wanted to do. I researched MPH positions and I didnt really want to take a pay cut. Im graduating from the BSN program in 2 weeks and it really re-energized me I think. Im planning to continue my education and hopefully become a nurse practitioner. I really feel that when you start felling burn out its time for a change and furthering my education will help me get that change I need. I live in a small rural town so part of my burn out is because my choices are so limited where I live. I always imagined how it would be to make a career change in my life but I never followed through because really deep down I dont see myself doing anything else than nursing. This was my first real job. I went to nursing school right out of high school and I know nothing else but nursing. and I guess thats not a bad thing :-)