Very Sad and Confused RN. Dont know what to do!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Ive been a nurse for two years and have always worked in the ER. I worked as a tech previously. Ive just come to that point where i believe i need a change. I work in comunity hospital ER that is not that busy so its not like the work is overwhelming.I just want to get away from the ER and my hospital for now and do something else. I dont feel like i belong somedays and maybe that is what it is. I inteviewed for an "IMC floor" and i did not like it. I guess it was basically tele and im not used to the tele routine so im going to refuse the job. I feel so confused and worried. A lot of people say that nurses who work on the floor sometimes would like to upgrade to the ER and its uncommon that nurses would like to leave the ER and go to another field like IMC or tele. Im so confused..i Need advice. I feel like a faliure......

Specializes in Rural Health.

I could've wrote your post!!!!

I was an ER tech all thru NS, graduated and went into ER. I've bounced around to 3 different ER's trying to figure out what my problem was. I just assumed it was the particular facility that was the problem. It seriously never dawned on me....it was the ER that I actually didn't like.

People thought I was freaking nuts. In my current ER position, I have a great job, GREAT hours and I work with great people, but every day I come home thinking....I really hate this about my life and I really hate my job. And when you start to hate your job, you can start to find fault in EVERYTHING around you, which is exactly what I was doing not only now but at my last 2 jobs.

I seriously have worked at 3 different places since I graduated from NS and I couldn't for the life of me figure out my problem.

I felt so lost, I felt so confused. My friends who were non ER nurses were like....WOW, you actually don't want to be an ER nurse???? What is your problem.

And I too work rural ER, we aren't busy, we aren't swamped and most mornings I can say....wow we actually had a pretty decent night last night. Very rarely do I feel scared in my job or overwhelmed.

So I started to evaluate what I wanted and needed from my career and from my life. I went back to my dreams and goals I had WAAAAAYYYYY before I even started NS.

My passion is OB nursing. My very long term goal is to become a CNM. Everything else in my life has changed and been turned upside down, that goal is one what has never changed probably 15 years or more.

When I graduated from NS there were VERY limited opportunities around me for OB nursing without driving about 120 miles one way. That wasn't possible, no matter how much I thought I would love the job. Everyone wanted experience, everyone wanted this and everyone wanted that. I just couldn't at the time deal with it all. I was so stressed with graduating from NS and taking my NCLEX.

ER for me was the easy job. While my friends all stressed about their jobs, bam, I had one and it was easy to get. I had worked there all thru NS, I knew the staff, I knew the doctors, I knew where stuff was. It was pretty easy. My orientation was easy. I had been around it for so long it was like second nature to me.

Easy does not = happiness though.

So a few months ago I really had to sit down and figure out my next step in life. I am not a religious person but for the first time in my life I found myself praying for some guidance on where to turn and what to do for my next step in life.

I put a lot of faith in myself for the first time ever too.

Then crazy things started to happen and things starting all coming together for me. Every sign started pointing me in the right direction. I just had to take that first step and I had to find some faith in myself to take that first step.

ER nursing wasn't for me and there is no real cut throat reason as to why. There are things I like about ER nursing just as there are things about it I don't like. I had to really examine both sides of the coin so to speak to figure out my next step.

I'm very happy to say that I'm going to be staring my next step in June as an OB nurse. For the first time in my life I have no regrets about my job and I'm not scared. It's where I'm supposed to be in life and I know that now.

I had to take a few steps forward and what seems like a million steps back to get here - but I'm finally there.

I wish you all the luck in the world in finding that job for yourself. It's hard to jump out of your comfort area and dive into something new, I know that, but if you can really evaluate what you like and dislike about the ER and start to look at other jobs out there in nursing I think you find your answer!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nursing is one of the few professions with so many different areas that one can choose to work in. Don't feel like a failure simply because you want to change. You can choose to have a career where you work in the same specialty for 30 years or you can periodically change from one area to another through the years in order to keep yourself actively engaged and free from burnout. Many nurses change specialties several times during their careers. You wouldn't be different in this respect. Just keep at it until you find the one that is right for you or continue to change when you need it. Just stop that negative self talk. You don't deserve it and don't need it. Good luck with finding a new nursing niche. :wink2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You are far from a failure my dear!!!!! YOu are just ready for a change. That is all.. One fails if they don't try. Do not beat yourself up... You have 2 solid years under your belt as a ER nurse. Plus your tech time. That is wonderful. The skills that you have can take you many, many places believe me. Are you tired of direct patient care??? Well if you are, (this is common!!!) then pursue something else.. medical sales, informatics, case management, the list goes on and on.

Just don't burn your bridges. You never know what you may decide later down the road. I have read many threads on allnurses from nurses who, go back "home". (ER). YOu may be one of these nurses.

So, for now find something else that makes you happy and makes you feel comfortable. There is a thread on allnurses dedicated to nurses whom don't work directly with patients. They seem very happy and most are making around the same amount of money as hospital work. Good luck to you!!! YOu need to wash that failure thing out of your hair.. TAke CARE

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, LTC, ICU.

Thank you soo much. I feel so much better now. I appreciate all the support.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.

haha ha ha hah ah

Up Vote Up Vote ×
haha ha ha hah ah

WHAAAAAT?!?!?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, PCU, Addiction, Home Health.

I appreciate this thread very much! I am one of those same ER nurses that left and did a few different things, and now I'm headed back "home" to an ER job ...... actually starting back tomorrow :coollook:

I did 2 years level 1 ER, about 2 years Home Health and 9 months management (Yech!)

My hubby and I might move soon, and ER nursing for me is like my "first love." I feel like I'll do a better job of it this time around, now that I've got some confidence and less worry than I did as a brand new grad. Everyhing I learn or tackle essentially builds on my ER skills. I can triage patients or management tasks just the same. I can assess respiratory distress or coworker distress :coollook::D

The other posters brought up good points about looking at different nursing tasks/specialties and seeing what you like.

Give yourself permission to make changes, and DON"t worry about what other people say! They're not the ones going to work for you every day. Always give a full notice when you leave a place and be gracious to your manager for the experiences you've had..............and go explore some!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.
Thank you soo much. I feel so much better now. I appreciate all the support.

There was one poster here who wrote everything that I not only felt, but also gave good guidelines to all of us. You can never expect to fit into every area. We are individuals, and nursing is so varied.

It can be so hard when you feel it is you in "the wrong". You are not a failure, you are recognising where your skills lie.

I wish you luck, happiness in the future, and the ability to find some area where you will feel comfortable, and your skills will be utilised to your satisfaction. I also wish you a place with a great morale amongst the staff.

Jay

Up Vote Up Vote ×

(sorry)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment