When do you know it is time to hang up the stethoscope

[Coloradogirl814]

Since graduating from nursing school in 2014 I have had the worst experiences in nursing. I took the NCLEX 3x before passing. My first job was as a private duty nurse and hated it. It made me really depressed and that depression has been carried to every job after that. I then worked in the hospital and hated that too for multiple reasons. Next I worked at pediatricians office and then I was a field nurse doing visits. I have hated every job, experiences with the companies I worked for were horrible and I just don't know if its just the atmosphere i have been in or if nursing is just not the right path for me. How much time do I give myself before I call it quits and do a career change?

[llg, PhD, RN]

What would you rather do instead? If you are depressed in general, no job will feel good to you. Take care of the depression and then see how you feel about your career path.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I secodn what LLG said. The only thing in your roles that share a common demonitor are that it is nursing and that it is you doing it. One or the other of those are the culprit. Before you toss a whole career, look into your depression. If you can get that to lift, likely the clouds around this will too and you will be able to decipher which way to go.

I hope you feel better.