Want to quit

Armygirl7 · Mar 7, 2017

bottom line- I feel 100% completely stuck, trapped and suffocated by a career that I just hate. I have anxiety every day when I have to go on. Anybody feel the same or have any advice???

For what it's worth try just changing your perspective a wee bit. OK so you can't go to school full time right now but maybe just take one class online towards your BSN or in some other subject or field that you might have a dream of pursuing. Sometimes a baby step in any direction gets you out of a rut! Try applying to LOTS of jobs in other areas of nursing and see if you get any bites. Especially if you indicate you have started a BSN program either in your cover letter or resume (and remember taking ONE class is starting your BSN :yes: ) , or indicate that you are willing to complete your BSN in X amt of years I am sure many places would look at you twice with solid ER experience.

If you see yourself as stuck you will be stuck. If you see yourself as having options then suddenly you have options, even if they are slim and will require some disruption in your life. Change is really tough, esp when you have little kids and a routine. Does hubby know how miserable you are? Sometimes the whole family has to shift a bit when someone needs a change - but that's what loving families do, they support and tolerate change when a person is suffering.

Good luck, and be kind to yourself, you sound like you work hard and need some TLC!

Peace!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 7, 2017

The way I see it, you can start from scratch in a new career field (more expensive, what if you don't like that one either?) or you can push to get that BSN so that you WILL have more options, possibly finding something that will be enjoyable. I'm sorry you feel so trapped. Where have you been chipping away at the BSN? Is it online? One school that people typically recommend for speed/sane tuition is Western Governors University (WGU.edu) â€” I have not attended WGU, but I have yet to encounter anyone with bad things to say about it. It sounds like the lack of BSN is the issue.

PaleomilesRN, RN · Mar 7, 2017

Thank you for responding! I have been finishing up the pre-reqs for my BSN. I started doing one per year in 2011 so I have been working on it slowly but surely. Last year I probably applied for 50 jobs. I know the lack of BSN is a hindrance but I really question the investment if I'm not sure I want to stay in nursing. I'm also struggling with some autoimmune health issues that have been really hard and limiting too so I'm just having a tough time overall I guess too.

Armygirl7 · Mar 7, 2017

Ugh - you have a full plate, and if you've already applied for 50 jobs that's pretty discouraging, sorry to hear that.

I did my online RN-BSN at City University of New York -School of Professional Studies. It was a tough program but very cheap! It took me 2 yrs.

What's your dream career?

I just bought a lottery ticket - that's my dollar and a dream!!! :cat:

.

bear14 · Mar 8, 2017

I did the Purdue online BSN course. It was all online and wasn't horribly expensive. Will your job do financial reimbursement? That helped us a lot. The Purdue course was easy it was just time consuming.

oceanblue52 · Mar 8, 2017

Have you mentioned specifically in your cover letter and resume that you are working towards your BSN? Some employers will look past you not having a BSN if you are actively seeking one, but it needs to be crystal clear in your application. And if you are invited for an interview they will want to know your goal date for graduating...something to think about.

Have you thought about joining a nursing association for a specialty you are interested in? Sometimes getting exposed to a new community with new ideas can give you extra motivation. And if you can become active somehow it could help with networking.

In the end though your happiness is what matters. I do think there is room for focusing on health and nutrition within the field of nursing. Might take some creative thinking, but nurses have a valuable role to play with our knowledge base and experience. Please feel free to PM if you would like to talk more.

Spine_CRNA, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2017

It sounds like you want it all.

~Cheap schooling

~High pay

~Online classes

~Make money, save money, save time

Something has to give to advance our careers.

Considering moving jobs, applying is only one way of moving. MANY nurses tap into their professional networks to get the things they want and that's a legitimate way to win in life.

And if you think not having your BSN is holding you back, then you know what you need to do no matter how unsavory it is: Get your BSN. There are RN-BSN online programs (with in person clinicals). It will take money, but hopefully your employer pays for part of tuition and for the other part loans will be necessary.

I don't know how many jobs you applied to, but often people need to redefine what "a lot" is. As a new grad I applied to very few jobs. When I left my job 3 years later I did 50 applications in a week and I got a lot of activity. With this, it's often that one gets what one puts in.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2017

Keep applying to other specialties. Mother baby has been my favorite specialty so far. I love love love it. 4 years later, still do and received my certification in Maternal-Newborn nursing.

You'll find your niche. Don't give up !

AntonellaB · Mar 10, 2017

Don't get discouraged! Get your BSN, one step at a time. It pays off at the end. You will be more competitive. At least you have CN experience in your career. ER nursing is a great specialty. Overwhelming at times but you learn so much.

And I always say that at times it does matter who you know. I still believe that some options are available for certain staff members. Good luck! :yes:

jaderook01, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2017

Hello-
I have been a nurse for nine years, working in the emergency room. I desperately want to quit this profession. I am very good at my job but I can honestly say I have never once enjoyed it. I have tried for at least half my career to get into something else within nursing- I've applied numerous times for L&D, mother baby, risk management, utilization review, case management, PACU, ambulatory surgery... I do not have a BSN and that's the only thing I can think of that is holding me back. I have great experience as an ED charge nurse, doing trauma...
I am overwhelmed and burned out by the requirements of the job. Anyone who tells you that nurses have tons of options and that there are always opportunities out there are lying! I cannot for the life of me get experience in anything else because once you start a specialty you are pigeon-holed. A new grad with a BSN will get the job you are applying for. Locally,BSN or MSN (yes you read that correctly) are required for pretty much every entry level new grad position. I have been slowly taking classes to work towards my BSN but honestly I just do not know that I want to pursue a degree in a field where I don't really want to stay to try and help me get a job that I really don't want.
I have no desire to be a manager, I have no desire to go forward and be a nurse practitioner. I feel stuck at the bedside. I have very young children and a husband who works crazy hours so going back to school really is not an option for me unless it is completely online, but even with that I have limited financial resources at this time.
my true and absolute passions are heath, nutrition, wellness and fitness but I cannot find anything that earns nearly the $$ I do now. I don't want to start working 5 days a week and take a huge pay cut.
bottom line- I feel 100% completely stuck, trapped and suffocated by a career that I just hate. I have anxiety every day when I have to go on. Anybody feel the same or have any advice???

I don't have any specific advice that may help you on how to get out when strapped for cash and with a family to provide for. My situation was different but the feelings of being stuck were the same. However, I am here to attest to the fact that there is life after your first career. Getting out is possible. Doing something else in life is achievable. If you're over it all, then you really don't have to listen to all of those that are trying to get you to make the best of it and stick it out. Stuck, trapped, suffocated, and hate are all words to describe the situation of someone that is burned out. There is hope. All you need to do is come up with an achievable plan for yourself.

PaleomilesRN, RN · Mar 12, 2017

Just an update- I did some long hard thinking and I'm going to stick it out. I feel like I just really need a change and I can see objectively that I just really need the BSN but I am willing to do it so I can pursue a change. I'm so invested in it now that i want to keep looking for my niche.

Thank you for your encouragement and honest feedback! Blessings!