1 year in and I’m not sure where to go

Nurses Career Support

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I never thought I’d feel more lost one year into my nursing career than I did when I first started nursing but here I am antsy and confused.

It took me 7 years to complete my associates to become an RN as I was raising a family and working full time. I’m 40 years old, nursing is my second career with a background in office management. I’ve been working a stepdown floor and am cross trained to work the ICU. I don’t hate what I’m doing but I don’t really love it either so I’m trying to figure what my next steps should be to find a good fit for me.

I’ve learned that I love my job on days that I’ve had to really use my assessment skills due to a significant change in my patient that I’ve caught, had to puzzle out with the Drs the cause and was able to make a difference for their care or days that I’ve been able to provide support to the patients/families that are making big code status/hospice type of decisions. But the endless med pass and toileting and turning and water delivery and call lights and b.s. just down right bores and drains me. Am I being naive to think there is a position out there that would be a better fit? Where I’d be using my assessing skills, puzzling out issues for patients actually feeling necessary? I was considering ED but there are so many stories of nonsense (should have gone to their regular Dr) patients there as well. Maybe a trauma type of nursing? How does one get to that point of knowledge?

Also considering the total opposite end of the spectrum of hospice care, somethings telling me that may not be a good fit. Maybe back to something more administrative based where I’m fixing problems or teaching or? I just want to give back in some way, feel necessary and like what I’m doing needs to be done.

I have a passion for hospice as both of my in-laws passed from terrible diseases, I have a passion for domestic violence, trauma type support due to my own history. I want to make at least a little difference in this career.

I’m lost, no idea which direction I should be taking steps in and feeling too old to waste too much time.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Many, many nurses go through a "disillusioned" or "antsy" period after about a year of practice. It's very common. They are so used to pushing hard, learning new things every day, and being constantly challenged every day with semi-exciting new things/possibilities ... that the "daily grind" of doing the same job every day is a real let-down in comparison.

Don't make any quick decisions -- or assume that your current instinct to "move on" means that there is something wrong with your current job. Having a "boring" job can be a great thing sometimes as it means that you can save your emotional energy for other aspects of life -- such as your families, social-life, hobbies, on-going education, etc. Perhaps you can (and should) make your current job a bit more interesting by becoming involved in a few leadership activities, such as precepting, being a charge nurse, serving on a committee, etc. Maybe you could start thinking about becoming certified, etc.

A lot of nurses make the mistake of leaving their 1st job as soon as it is no longer a stretch for them ... before they have had a chance to master some of the nursing skills that are at the "next level up the ladder." A few years go by and they have had 3 or 4 different jobs, but still functioning at the entry level because they always chose to "move on" once the newness wears off rather than "move up."

But if/when you do feel you need to move on to be happy, take your time and don't rush into anything. You can't afford to keep leaving jobs after only 1 year repeatedly. You need to find a place where you would be willing to stay at least 2 or 3 years.

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Thank you, that makes a lot of sense. I’ve been under the gun for so many years I’m not sure how to do normal life anymore.

I’m even considering moving onto something more what I’m used to such as case management or some sort to have that family time, normal schedule etc since nursing isn’t quite what I was expecting. I’ll give it some time and keep my eyes and ears open.

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No one ever expects for nursing to be how it really is. I honestly think that if some people actually knew what they were getting into they would never do it. I mean really, you don't quit school ever, I had 60 hours of on line training just for a new position I took. Ridiculous. Anyway, don't waste any time like I did. Stay another year and keep your eyes open. The hardest part is deciding what you want to do and where you can get the most job satisfaction. Once you decide that you can take steps to get there. Also, do as many online CEU's as you can and get certified in the thing you love if you can.

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43 minutes ago, Forest2 said:

No one ever expects for nursing to be how it really is. I honestly think that if some people actually knew what they were getting into they would never do it. I mean really, you don't quit school ever, I had 60 hours of on line training just for a new position I took. Ridiculous. Anyway, don't waste any time like I did. Stay another year and keep your eyes open. The hardest part is deciding what you want to do and where you can get the most job satisfaction. Once you decide that you can take steps to get there. Also, do as many online CEU's as you can and get certified in the thing you love if you can.

I think that’s my problem I’m not sure what I love or where to focus my efforts. How do you have any idea before you jump into another position that ends up not being the right one.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, School Nursing, OB.
On 4/2/2019 at 4:43 PM, llg said:

Many, many nurses go through a "disillusioned" or "antsy" period after about a year of practice. It's very common. They are so used to pushing hard, learning new things every day, and being constantly challenged every day with semi-exciting new things/possibilities ... that the "daily grind" of doing the same job every day is a real let-down in comparison.

I'm glad you said this. What a great point!

On 4/2/2019 at 4:43 PM, llg said:

Having a "boring" job can be a great thing sometimes as it means that you can save your emotional energy for other aspects of life -- such as your families, social-life, hobbies, on-going education, etc.

This is also true. Everywhere I look, MOST jobs are not as intense as nursing. Every day jobs people seem content just working and not constantly rushing around putting out fires. I had a real struggle when I left the hospital to work in school nursing. It's just a slow pace compared to the hospital. It has much less stress and a great work/life balance but I miss the adrenaline and constantly being challenged. The problem with the constant adrenaline rushes is you burn out pretty quickly. I've had to learn it's perfectly Ok to work a normal paced job and that doesn't mean I'm lazy.

So the OP:

On 4/2/2019 at 3:13 PM, TammyTho said:

But the endless med pass and toileting and turning and water delivery and call lights and b.s. just down right bores and drains me.

I don't know many nurses that enjoy this aspect of nursing either. It just comes with the territory of acute care on the floor.

If you're interested in providing end of life comfort and support then hospice would be a good fit. If you're interested in making quick decisions and working under pressure then trauma or even flight nursing might interest you but to get into those areas you're going to need ED experience. You might also want to consider something like cancer coordinator where they help patients diagnosed with cancer navigate their care or even work in a cancer outpatient center where you administer chemo and emotional support all day. For those jobs they'll want you to have oncology nursing experience. Even L&D could be challenging as your constantly tracking a baby you can't see and making sure all turns out as well as possible. Maybe try a float position to see what units interest you the most. Just know, every job will have things you have to do that you don't enjoy or get fulfillment out of. Just by being a good nurse you're going to make a difference! Good luck!

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