Where to go next?

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Hi. Just looking for a little input. I've been a nurse for a year and a half. I started on a tele/neuro floor and after just a year and a half I'm feeling a bit burnt out. I was told in school that I should try something where my contact with patients is not as intimate as I get attached quickly. I struggle at times with the fact that all day I rush and rush just to get my responsibilities done and sometimes I feel my patients get neglected. Our ratio is 1/6 and that's just too much. I don't know where I want to really go in nursing. I thought after a year and a half I would figure that out but it hasn't happened yet and as for where I am I'm already feeling ready for a change.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Not sure it will be any different in any other department. Nursing is hard. Talk to HR to see what is available in your own facility as that would be the easiest thing to do.

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

Can you shadow in other units?

OR doesn't allow for much connection with the patient -- they're unconscious most of the time you'll see them. PACU and ER both have a lot of patient turnover, so you don't have much time for connection there, either. Same with endoscopy or radiation. ICU has a lower ratio because the patients require more direct care, and your tendency to "connect" to your patients might be more beneficial there because your connection would allow you to quickly catch on to small changes in status (so crucial to detect those small changes early on in critical care).

Shadowing for a day in another unit should be enough to let you know if you have an interest in a different area.

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Specializes in LTC and School Health.

Talk to HR to look for transfer opportunities, thankfully you got your solid year and a half experience. This will take you far.

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