What else is out there?!

[Raechel_92]

Hello!

I am a new registered nurse with just under 6 months experience under my belt. So far, I don't like it. I have a long commute and I'm working nights (12 hour shifts). I'm curious about what other nursing jobs are out there. And what type of experience/certifications do they require? The two I'm really focused on are school nursing and pre-op nursing.

Are there any other nurses out there who went through the same situation and found their place in this field? I'm questioning whether I chose the right career. I worked so hard to become an RN, but med-surg nursing is not for me! Help please!!

[llg, PhD, RN]

It's funny that you mention only the 12 hour night shifts and the commute as being the things you don't like. What about the work itself? What do you like and not like? Would you like your current job if it were close to you home, day shift, and you got along well with your colleagues? Imagine you job with all the "extraneous factors" taken away (such as schedule, commute, etc.) and focus only on the work itself. What do you like and not like?

Figuring out what type of work you actually like to do is the key to finding the right fit for you. Focusing on the extraneous factors will get in the way. Stripping all that other stuff away and focusing only on the work itself, what aspects of nursing do you like? What aspects of nursing are you naturally good at?