Who's leaving nursing?

pedicurn, LPN, RN · Apr 7, 2011

Somewhat of an old thread but still so very relevant.

I am going to leave nursing too as soon as I can replace the income.

Still love looking after patients but almost all out of tolerance for the staff.

After all these years I have finally realised ....

- Nursing has a lot of really good people. Probably more good people than in other occupations. I am going to miss that.

- Nursing has more than its fair share of ignorant and/or dysfunctional people. Every unit has a bunch of these catty, gossipy and mean women. Adult women who are catty ? People who have no basic social skills? Dirty hair and general poor presentation? Lack professional level information handling skills? People who steal meds/equipment / coworkers food ? That's ignorant and I'm so over them. These people will drive me out of nursing.

BamaRN3 · Apr 7, 2011

It is an old thread but you are right still very relevant. 6 months ago I left homecare and returned to the hospital after 5 years because I thought I was burnt out just in homecare; however, I quickly discovered I may just be burnt out period. I am miserable at the job I have now and am actively pursuing others. I worked as a psych tech many years ago and always said I would go back to psych. I have not had any luck getting a job though. I am also interested in OR nursing and have made some contacts regarding a perioperative training program and if the transfer I put in for the psych ward does not go through, that will be my next choice. If I don't get into that program I will probably look at leaving nursing at least for a while. I never would have thought it. I was so eager and inspired :confused:

Biffbradford · Apr 7, 2011

I am definitely burned out on nursing, however I have not been able to find anything else that pays as well since I refuse to go back to school (I have two degrees already). So, I have recently started into dialysis with the plan of getting into acute care dialysis. Sedated and intubated? Beauty ... I'll just run my machine thanks. :)

Meanwhile, I'll continue to pursue my photography on the side, but to make a living doing that is near impossible.

BamaRN3 · Apr 8, 2011

I do hope that I am able to find my niche in nursing and rekindle the passion and drive that I had. I know its in me and I :redbeathe nurses! Here's to hoping that we all find our way and are able to benefit our patient's the most and be happier ourselves.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Apr 9, 2011

I plan on leaving in the next few years ( I have to go back to school ). Nursing is not what I thought it was. I knew it would be hard. I knew I would be underpaid and not appreciated. What I didn't expect was for things to be this ridiculous. I know I am meant for bigger and better things. I am heartbroken though. I went into nursing to make that difference in the world.

pedicurn, LPN, RN · Apr 9, 2011

I plan on leaving in the next few years ( I have to go back to school ). Nursing is not what I thought it was. I knew it would be hard. I knew I would be underpaid and not appreciated. What I didn't expect was for things to be this ridiculous. I know I am meant for bigger and better things. I am heartbroken though. I went into nursing to make that difference in the world.

Dunno how much difference I make in the world with nursing ? When I have an assignment of one alcoholic with gastric bleed, two smokers with infective exacerbation of COPD, two drunk /fell over and got a head injury and two OD's with history of multiple presentation with the same.....

I think one can do good in the world without being a nurse too.

People who grab a toddler before it lands in a pool or in front of a car save lives too. So do people who donate blood and bone marrow. The person who slips the poor elderly person $20 in the supermarket will never know the extent of such kindness ... maybe it means the elderly person could buy vegetables that week? Or maybe they could afford to get to the Dr? or get their meds?

Business owners who provide work for people do good. So do tradesmen who fix peoples drains and leaks - allowing them to live in healthy homes and get on with their lives. The auto electrician who fixes our car and allows us to get to work and support our families.

Healthy and safe housing /good nutrition / safe and efficient transport / a range of goods and services to buy / accessible current IT innovation / accessible and relevant education ..... all of these are just as important as healthcare.

Maybe if my COPD'ers had decent housing and could afford good nutrition - then just maybe they wouldn't get sick so much ?

Maybe if poor people had good access to relevant education - then they might make better health choices?

You get my point ... maybe we are not the center of the health and wellbeing universe here? :lol2:

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Apr 10, 2011

Dunno how much difference I make in the world with nursing ? When I have an assignment of one alcoholic with gastric bleed, two smokers with infective exacerbation of COPD, two drunk /fell over and got a head injury and two OD's with history of multiple presentation with the same.....
I think one can do good in the world without being a nurse too.
People who grab a toddler before it lands in a pool or in front of a car save lives too. So do people who donate blood and bone marrow. The person who slips the poor elderly person $20 in the supermarket will never know the extent of such kindness ... maybe it means the elderly person could buy vegetables that week? Or maybe they could afford to get to the Dr? or get their meds?
Business owners who provide work for people do good. So do tradesmen who fix peoples drains and leaks - allowing them to live in healthy homes and get on with their lives. The auto electrician who fixes our car and allows us to get to work and support our families.
Healthy and safe housing /good nutrition / safe and efficient transport / a range of goods and services to buy / accessible current IT innovation / accessible and relevant education ..... all of these are just as important as healthcare.
Maybe if my COPD'ers had decent housing and could afford good nutrition - then just maybe they wouldn't get sick so much ?
Maybe if poor people had good access to relevant education - then they might make better health choices?
You get my point ... maybe we are not the center of the health and wellbeing universe here?

Well that is GREAT for YOU! I however do many of the same things daily. I am as involved as I can be in patient advocacy and education. At the end of the day however most of those COPD patients will go back to their smokes, that alcoholic will head back to their booze, etc. So what difference did you really make? You and I just see things differently.

pedicurn, LPN, RN · Apr 10, 2011

Well that is GREAT for YOU! I however do many of the same things daily. I am as involved as I can be in patient advocacy and education. At the end of the day however most of those COPD patients will go back to their smokes, that alcoholic will head back to their booze, etc. So what difference did you really make? You and I just see things differently.

I was just trying to cheer you up ....you sounded upset about leaving nursing. I was trying to say we can do good in the world and make a difference ... even if we are no longer nurses :heartbeat

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Apr 11, 2011

I was just trying to cheer you up ....you sounded upset about leaving nursing. I was trying to say we can do good in the world and make a difference ... even if we are no longer nurses :heartbeat

Oh I see.. Thanks.

hoodiern · Apr 11, 2011

I wouldn't dream of leaving nursing for now, especially since I'm a divorced mom. Need to support my son with a decent salary and stable job, and don't know what else I would do that would give me such stability. I guess if I end up marrying one of the doctors at my hospital (got one now that I'm starting a relationship with), that would give me more career flexibility.

MollNick · May 30, 2011

Definately burned out and have been for a while now. I have no idea what I would do. I want to get out so very badly after 15 years. I am so sick of the lack of support for nurses, feeling of being easily expendable if we don't practice 'perfectly in our job 100% of the time', lateral violence, lack of respect from physicians, and at times patients and their families too, not enough staff with sometimes feeling that our licenses are in jeapardy, not having time to go to the bathroom, drink some water/coffee, eat and then having to stay over to get caught up on charting that should have been done earlier in the shift. I am quite sure other burned out nurses such as myself could add some of their own gripes to this list. I feel disgusted and heartbroken. It's not supposed to be this way.

CATHERINE RN · Jul 12, 2011

Yes,

I am planning to leave too. Somehow I have to secure health insurance for my family. Have done med-surg for 15 years. I tried to get into another unit at my hospital, and after 10+ years of excellent service, they said it is "not in their budget" to do a new hire orientation. So they hired someone in another state. I think it is actually a blessing in disguise - I'm sick of twelve hour shifts, and I really don't want to do nights anyway. I don't want to drive for an hour before and after twelve hour shifts to work in a big city hospital. It is to the point where I am considering going without health insurance (if necessary and rejected by private insurance . . . not ideal - my kids will get coverage for sure) because the stress of this job has been very hard on my health. I've become chronically fatigued, had to start blood pressure medicine, etc. I have lost tons of weekend time with my family over the years as well. It takes me up to two days to recover from a stretch of work. I always wake up the next day tired and unmotivated.

What will I do? Enjoy being a soccer Mom for a while. We can get by on my husband's income - won't be able to afford some luxuries, but I think that overall it would be good for the whole family. I sympathize with those who have to stay in nursing to make ends meet. I would like to volunteer at my kids' public school (schools are really suffering), church, and possibly community center. I would like to have the home where the other kids congregate and have a safe haven. Another job down the road ? . . . I don't know. I'd probably accept a job with half the pay, especially if it had benefits. FYI, we stayed in our first humble home, paid it off using Dave Ramsey's principles (on a middle class income) , and have gone without many vacations and even television at times to get in our current financial situation. God is good.

Blessings! :redbeathe:nurse: