am wanting to leave nursing

[reese-2000]

I've been a nurse for the past 7 years and can't imagine doing it much more. The trouble is am not sure what's to become of me. I'm an oncology nurse who on a good day loves to take care of pts. actively living and dying of cancer. The trouble is between my co-workers being insensitive and management treating me like i'm just a body to fill their staffing needs, I'm feeling lost and depressed and am very rarely having a good day. I look at the want-ads for other jobs and few and far between other me half of what I now make. BTW I live in IA where the last time I checked led the nation in lowest nursing salaries. What do others do when they feel burnt out and need of change. A change in depts. or locations just doesn't make my heart pitter patter. A few years ago, I started taking computer science classes. Unfort. I didn't have the time and now energy to complete my degree. It's hard to write programs when I come home from work crying. I cry alot and very little pertains to patients dying. I went into nursing so I could feel wanted. These days I feel invisible. When I try to talk to my nurse manager about my frustrations, she asks me if I have talked to the EAP person (yes I have). There's more to the story, but right now its just too painful to go into. Please help me, even if its just a caring eye on the other end of these words. --- R

[nursing6]

I am thinking of going into nursing-pretty much made the decision, but need just a little more time. Your piece was inspiring to me. I used to have problems with standing up for myself, but no more. One day the lightbulb came on and I realized how angry I was for taking stuff and then wishing I had said something. I know I will be viewed as a "*****" sometimes, but better that with self respect than the former:angryfire Have you ever thought about being a psychologist, too? Anyhow, have a great day. It was truly awesome to come across your piece on this board:balloons:

[missmercy]

[i am not going to tellyou that I have loved every day of th elast 15 as a nurse, that would be a lie! Boy, I can remember thinking that I had wasted alot of time and money getting a degree to do stuff that I hated! I agree that you should look into why you came into this in the first place! I found that I REALLY couldn't enjoy doing something else -- found that I got my motivation from the few incredibly bright spots I got from patients and learned to turn a deaf ear to some of my collegues who were mean. I too suggest that you make an appointment with your doc. Clinical depression is real and can be treated! If that is even part of the issue -- things will be alot better if you can get that under control! You'll be in my thoughts and prayers! Keep us posted and remember - there are people out here that give a rip about you and wish you all the best WHATEVER you choose to do!

[UK2USA]

I am so sorry that you feel this way, but unfortunately nurses do end up feeling just as you do (even in the UK). If you still have a love for the provision of health care then I may have a suggestion. In the UK at the moment pharmaceutical companies and medical device companies pay good salaries for nurses to demonstrate equipment etc. There is often no requirment for you to sell the product, just demonstrate. There are also training companies that pay well for nurses to demonstrate basic life support to groups of people (such as new mothers, office workers etc). There may be something similar to these suggestions where you are. However, sometimes you just nneed to call it a day (even if it is temporary) - do not feel guilty about this, you will be better suited for the demands after you have taken care of your own needs. I really hope that everything works out.