Where Do I Go from here?

Oncology is rough but if you can learn how to take care of yourself emotionally and physically, you can make peace.with your choice.  You have to work at it and it's a long learning curve , but skills you learn will serve you for every aspect of your life.  Work hard, play hard healthily.

Oncology is an excellent place to learn so much nursing in my opinion. [Disclaimer for what I'm about to say: Yes, these elements can be found in other specialties.] Okay, with that said, oncology patients don't just have cancer...they have cancer plus whatever co-existing medical conditions they already had before their cancer diagnosis. Plus the serious psychological aspects of having cancer. Plus the numerous secondary effects of cancer itself. Plus the side effects of the treatments for their cancer. And the occasional oncologic emergency. And the affected family dynamics. And it goes on and on.

I can't say enough about having started my career and spent a respectable length of time there before switching gears to the ED. I formed my foundation for my entire career (with the help of two absolutely excellent preceptors and a generally well-run, supportive unit), in Oncology.

It is hard. It will, in some respects, change you as a person (but I think that can be said about nursing in general). You will forever remember some faces and stories for really happy reasons and some for terribly gut-wrenching reasons. 

There is seemingly no end to what can be learned and honed in Oncology, in my opinion. When you get down the basic nursing task-y stuff, one can work on thoroughly understanding the pathophysiology of the diagnoses and all the downstream effects. Then the numerous laboratory derangements. And the pharmacology of the treatments given. Etc., etc.

I wouldn't consider this a "backward" move for any nurse.  But then again, I tend to not think of nursing in those terms anyway. I'm probably sounding older than my age with this, but..."nowadays" there are relatively few expert-level bedside nurses and a lot of people people with relatively little experience trying to "advance" to what they imagine are more superior specialties. I say what is actually superior is becoming an expert at what you do, no matter where you're doing it.

I think you should give Onc a whole-hearted second chance. It has a lot to offer.

Best wishes on your return there! ??

Thank you, Beth.

have you ever thought about changing careers completely, I ended up feeling the burn out of working for the NHS so I ended up going and doing a Botox training course so I could work my own hours and the income stream was even better, this might be something you could consider? there's nothing worse than feeling burnt out and not loving your job

JKL33 said:

Oncology is an excellent place to learn so much nursing in my opinion. [Disclaimer for what I'm about to say: Yes, these elements can be found in other specialties.] Okay, with that said, oncology patients don't just have cancer...they have cancer plus whatever co-existing medical conditions they already had before their cancer diagnosis. Plus the serious psychological aspects of having cancer. Plus the numerous secondary effects of cancer itself. Plus the side effects of the treatments for their cancer. And the occasional oncologic emergency. And the affected family dynamics. And it goes on and on.

I can't say enough about having started my career and spent a respectable length of time there before switching gears to the ED. I formed my foundation for my entire career (with the help of two absolutely excellent preceptors and a generally well-run, supportive unit), in Oncology.

It is hard. It will, in some respects, change you as a person (but I think that can be said about nursing in general). You will forever remember some faces and stories for really happy reasons and some for terribly gut-wrenching reasons. 

There is seemingly no end to what can be learned and honed in Oncology, in my opinion. When you get down the basic nursing task-y stuff, one can work on thoroughly understanding the pathophysiology of the diagnoses and all the downstream effects. Then the numerous laboratory derangements. And the pharmacology of the treatments given. Etc., etc.

I wouldn't consider this a "backward" move for any nurse.  But then again, I tend to not think of nursing in those terms anyway. I'm probably sounding older than my age with this, but..."nowadays" there are relatively few expert-level bedside nurses and a lot of people people with relatively little experience trying to "advance" to what they imagine are more superior specialties. I say what is actually superior is becoming an expert at what you do, no matter where you're doing it.

I think you should give Onc a whole-hearted second chance. It has a lot to offer.

Best wishes on your return there! ??

Beautifully said.  I spent most of my career in oncology and loved it for all the reasons you mentioned.  We ended up moving to a small, rural area and I went to work at a small community hospital bc I did not want to commute 1 1/2 hrs one way into the city.  I primarily worked med-surg where we also did outpatient care on weekends & holidays (ie, wound care, transfusions, IV antibiotics, etc) and acted as overflow for post partum when L&D became over-full.  I also spent time in the ED, special care unit (cardiac & insulin drips, ect).  My years in oncology taught me how to handle all of that!  

You are still a baby nurse, growing and learning what is right for you.  You tried NICU and found it wasn't right for you.  Besides the night shift which is a non-negotiable for your health and your relationship, it left you too stressed out.  You are not a failure!  Instead, you explored another specialty and learned it wasn't the right fit.  

Going back to your comfort zone with a day shift position and a decent manager is a smart move to make for you right now.  From there you can recover from all the stress and when the time is right decide if you want to make another career change, maybe to an outpatient clinic.   Nurses working outpatient are usually happier and have a better quality of life.  Something to think about you don't have to work as a bedside nurse forever.  For now, just rest and refresh and reframe your experience from failure to learning NICU wasn't right for you.  It's totally normal and common to explore different jobs and switch if it isn't working out.  It was also smart that you left your first job on good terms so that you could always go back.  It is actually a compliment that your manager wanted you back so look at it that way!  

One other thought, the OP mentioned being burnt out from oncology I'm assuming regarding the potential of death.  I'd like to suggest checking out https://www.YouTube.com/@NurseHadley

She is a hospice nurse and has even written a book about her experiences,

The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments by Hadley Vlahos R.N.

Her YouTube video's of her experiences caring for dying patients are hope filled.  Maybe they will even change your view and lessen the stress of working in oncology.