Wanting to totally bail out on nursing

raxie · Jun 12, 2011

i feel for you. i used to feel this way but a change in scenario and speciality made me recover my heart for nursing. i used to work in opd for the longest time. it was not very rewarding in the sense that we didn't do much as a nurse there plus the fact that our work were not really appreciated by our managers who are not at all supportive. by the grace of God, i got accepted as a nurse specialist in something that i have not experience at but the people i work now are very very supportive plus the fact that the speciality i'm in is so interesting. my move from the hospital to the community has renewed my love for nursing. now i can say i love my job!:redbeathe

applesRN · Jun 12, 2011

I burned out at about 2 years into nursing, maybe less. I took a year or two off and did nothing but occasional prn work (living with family). I finally decided to give nursing one more try and went to a temp position at a children's hospital. It was there I decided nursing was not all bad and I did like parts of it. I knew that if I was going to survive, I could not be at the bedside forever, so that meant goin back to school for my BSN. It took 7 years, but I finally have done it- only to find that in this economy there are few jobs. So, I am still in bedside Med-Surg, and I really don't like it, but it pays the bills while I apply for lots of positions. I am going back to school again in the fall for my FNP. If you are burned out, step back and take a look at your options. Perhaps a change in department, hospital, or city could be the anser. And consider going back to school to open up more options in the area you want most.

Mulan · Jun 12, 2011

It doesn't sound like burnout to me.

It sounds like being realistically fed up.

onedayitllbeme · Jun 12, 2011

Quick question: What do you mean "never being able to leave work at work"? Do you mean emotionally or literally? The reason I ask is because this is one of the thing that draws me to nursing. In my current profession (where we are not paid overtime), we work in an office setting around 55 hours a week and also work when we get home and get called overnight and in the early morning. So it really feels like we can't disconnect from work unless we leave for a week or 2 and even then we can be called. ( Just want to make sure there is nothing I am missing about nursing.. in general you are not called and asked questions for example when you are not working, right?

Fribblet · Jun 12, 2011

For the past two years I have been really thinking of getting completely out of nursing. I feel guilty about this since so much prestige and pressure is put on the nursing profession.

AHAHAHAHAHA!!

Oh man, that made me LOL.

Otherwise, I feel you. Take a break, change specialties and all the other things everyone else has said. Ultimately, things won't have changed, but you'll buy some more time before the disappointment sets back in.

Biffbradford · Jun 12, 2011

If you truly are planning on bailing, then make sure you've got something new lined up because that nursing education will get you nowhere outside the medical field. (first hand knowledge here folks)

Fribblet · Jun 12, 2011

It doesn't sound like burnout to me.
It sounds like being realistically fed up.

I'm with you. It's totally acceptable to be sick of being treated like ****.

Mandy LVN · Jun 13, 2011

I know how you feel! I agree with trying a new specialty before bailing. Try taking a vacation before starting the new job. You may just need some extended R & R and a new perspective on things.

canchaser, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2011

@ Stacyann1, to answer calls from work. As a former ICU nurse, yes I would occasionally get calls about missing teeth, CPR documentation other missing documentation. When the crap hits the fan on the weekends without management around there might be follow up calls. Nursing is a very emotionally draining job. You will have the family keeping the member alive as a full codeand full of cancer and decubs you keep breaking ribs and providing futile care. Can u go home and disconnect from this? The code that happens as u r giving reportGetting home hours after the shift was supposed to end..wondering after your shift how r they doing what did u miss??Should I call and check no, I don't wanna bother the nurse. I really wanna know. Ok so u call to find they are fine. The person who was a full code for your entire shift fighting for every breath finally at 5 decides they can't do it no more and changes their code status, I've seen many nurses cry as they let em go. Me included!!! As u get into nursing you must do things to refuel yourself emotionally.

To the Op, I suggest a change from bedside, I had to for the above reasons. Try looking into research, case management, clinics. Or public health?

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Jun 13, 2011

I agree with trying a change of workplace and/or specialty before bailing altogether. Don't get me wrong, it's not good to be a job hopper either, but gone are the days where people stay in one hospital for 10,20,30 years. Sometimes change is a great thing and it keeps you adaptable.

I also try to have a life outside work and I'm starting my BSN program in the next few weeks. This will give me more options long term as well.

Good luck, OP. Hope things come tegether foryou.:)

tokmom, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2011

I was the poster child for burn out. I quit for almost 5 yrs and never looked back. I had to go back into nursing out of need. This time I made sure I worked for a different hospital. I love, love my job. On my days off, I look forward to going back to work again. Who would have ever thought??

Get out for awhile if you need to or do what others mentioned and switch hospitals or specialties.

JustaGypsy · Jun 13, 2011

My first impression was also you are need of some R&R. Heal thyself first...