Why Registered Nurses leave the practice of nursing....

MQ Edna · Aug 30, 2001

Hi,

I would love to tell you my story. Maybe it will help others who find themselves in my same situation. I had a very busy and successful 13 year career in nursing, peds cardiology nurse clinician, NICU flight nurse, and ECMO specialist. I became very open to leaving the long shifts and weekends, and holidays when I became a mom. I was desperate! There were days that my newborn son was the first kid at day care (5:45 am), and on my "on call" days, the director of the daycare would have to take him to her house because I couldn't get there until after the day care center was closed. We had no life. And, we were also financially dependent upon my salary. Completely trapped. To make a long story short, I am working from home for a wellness company. I have managed in one year to match my 13 year salary. Who in their right mind would stay where I was, if they knew that they could be successful income earners, and at the same time, extremely blessed stay at home moms!!

Feel free to contact me, anytime. Kathy--

h vigliotti · Sep 27, 2001

i am by no means thinking about leaving, but i can tell you why i would! i graduated in '97 with an adn, we are blungeoned through a program with only 8 hours of clinical. it does not prepare a new nurse for what lies ahead. in days past, a new grad could be competent at being a charge nurse. leadership, organization, they cetainly don't teach this, and yet these skills are integral even to a floor nurse. worrying about harming someone or getting sued, where do i sign up for this? in four years most of it as a traveling nurse, i have come to the conclusion that i no longer desire to be at the bedside because i'm giving it all that i got and i feel like i'm doing nothing. i don't want to quit nursing, but my patience with it is growing short...at least where it is so desparately needed most. sad, isn't it?

Originally posted by tbakerky
I am working on a Master's thesis and asking Registered Nurses why they leave the practice of nursing. I am looking at this phenomenon from a qualitative perspective and gathering "stories" from Registered Nurses about leaving the practice. If anyone would like to email me their "story," I would really appreciate it! If you decide to email me, please do not use any names or places of employment. I want to maintain anonymity as much as possible. Thanks so much for your help, and I do hope to hear from some of you!