In or out of Nursing?

[nurse4eva]

I am an R.N. and have been one since 1989.I have had only 3 jobs during my career that I felt satisfied in. In the past 3 years I have bounced in and out of jobs repeatedly because of the stress involved.Now I feel I have reached bottom and am torn over where to turn now.I am not a young nurse and this profession is all I know.I am a skilled and qualified nurse that has never been questioned but my personality has changed for the worse.I have had nursing assistants clap their hands in my face when I have requested something be done...I have had nursing assistants abuse patients and have had no recourse ...I have had colleauges backbite and backstab...worked too many hours with too little staff and been reprimanded for petty details and going through the channels of adminstration was futile.I feel demeaned...dehumanized..and now depressed.I loved nursing when I began my career,loved the challenge and felt I was contributing something positive...I was successful for many years in my field.I feel I have hit a wall and cannot find a direction in which to turn.Has anyone been where I am now in their career and how did they get through it or did they? Any suggestion would be aprreciated...I am out of the profession now for the last few months as I find I cannot be positive and professional any longer when confronting these stressors...

[briansgirl]

I sympathize! I tend to hate nursing now more than I like anything about it. I have been in nursing in some capacity for more than 10 years. I can only say think outside the box. There are jobs out there that are WAY less stress that you can do utilizing your RN.
I couldnt stand it and a few years ago took a job with an insurance company as a telephonic medical case manager. You work 9-5, get to wear normal clothes for a change and the money isnt THAT bad! Its worth a slight pay cut to save your sanity!

[SoldierNurse]

I have been in the healthcare field since 1995 and have been an RN since 1998. I decided to give the USAR Nurse Corps a try back in 2003. I liked what I saw and wanted more. This past March '06 I transferred to active duty Regular Army Nurse Corps. It is one of the best career decisions I've ever made. The professionalism associated with the Army Medical Department & Army Nurse Corps is outstanding. I enjoy the opportunity to work along side other AMEDD RN's & LVN's both military and GS Army Civilian nurses. Plus, it is an honor to be able to take care of Veterans, Active Duty [and their dependents], and military retirees that need critical care attention.

The AMEDD acts as a heathcare TEAM with the patient being the #1 priority. IMHO, it takes a certain individual to be a good nurse. I say be a team player and be proud of your career. Find the positives around you [and within yourself]. If, you don't see such, then move on to a different medical facility, or a different career.

... my 2 cents

[OhbowhntrRN]

The professionalism associated with the Army Medical Department & Army Nurse Corps is outstanding. I enjoy the opportunity to work along side other AMEDD RN's & LVN's both military and GS Army Civilian nurses. Plus, it is an honor to be able to take care of Veterans, Active Duty [and their dependents], and military retirees that need critical care attention.
The AMEDD acts as a heathcare TEAM with the patient being the #1 priority. IMHO, it takes a certain individual to be a good nurse. I say be a team player and be proud of your career. Find the positives around you [and within yourself]. If, you don't see such, then move on to a different medical facility, or a different career.

Cary,
This is absolutely correct!!! While I served on active duty, nurses were part of the team, not just the "ball boys and water girls" that many of the doc's in the civilian sector try to demote them to. I certainly enjoyed that type of job where the doc's respected the nurses and their opinions. As a civilian, I have dealt with many doctors who have absolutely no respect for nurses and their opinions, and they are missing what may often times be THE most important part of the picture. A nurse can make a doctor look good or look bad, and we are the direct representative of whatever facility we work in, therefore, we should be treated with more respect. I generally command respect in my facility as a 6' 240# man who looks like a NFL linebacker, I don't very often get disrespected in person. Unfortunately, my wife as a 5'3" 145# female cannont command that same physical presence, and she has frequently been treated with disrespect. The one thing us men DO bring to nursing is a more powerful, and equalizing appearance in many cases. Unfrortunately, nursing isn't football or a construction job site, and my physical appearance doesn't really make me any more competent to perform my job duties as a nurse as my wife, it only commands more respect out of a "fear factor," so to speak.

[mamcgo]

Not a Nurse so I can't answer the in or out part. Sometimes wish my wife would just get out though.

But thats not why I am repling. over the last 10 years or so I have had some major surguries. Ths last being an Aortic valve replacment and the one thing I have to say is:

God Bless All Nurses


If it wern't for the nurses in the icu unit I was in some of those D___ Doctors would have tried out every D____ Contraption they had on me just to see how they worked never mind whether I needed them or not. The Nurses knew better and at times gave me a sign behind the youngsters back letting me know not to agree to the treatment. Kosher I don't know but I bless them one and all for saving me a lot of discomfort.

[sleeplessrn2003]

You've been in nursing for a whole year now. How are you? Have you found a niche or are you struggling like so many other nurses? I'm a travel nurse. I couldn't be happier. You can't be afraid to walk away from a job that isn't fulfilling ou. I tried Med/surg, of course right out of college. Didn't like it. Went to oncology. It was hard work, but fulfilling, but still not the fit I knew I'd eventually find. Then, off to mom/baby and level II nursery: love, love, loved it! Then decided to challenge myself and leave the hospital to start my own "Mom's Helper" job and work for new moms and their babies. Great work and fantastic pay, but eventually, needed more of a challenge. Now, I'm a travel nurse. I work home hospice; it's my calling. I finally found it. I've been a nurse for just over 10 years. I'm 39 and very fortunate to have found a good place for me. In time it could change, but the beauty of nursing is that there are SO many avenues you can go with it. We don't have to burn out. If we stay in one place and it isn't filling us with passion and fulfillment, it's time to get out! Fast!
I do hope all is going well. Email anytime.
Jessica
sleeplessrn2003@yahoo.com
:luck:

[SoldierNurse]

Not a Nurse so I can't answer the in or out part. Sometimes wish my wife would just get out though.

But thats not why I am repling. over the last 10 years or so I have had some major surguries. Ths last being an Aortic valve replacment and the one thing I have to say is:

God Bless All Nurses


If it wern't for the nurses in the icu unit I was in some of those D___ Doctors would have tried out every D____ Contraption they had on me just to see how they worked never mind whether I needed them or not. The Nurses knew better and at times gave me a sign behind the youngsters back letting me know not to agree to the treatment. Kosher I don't know but I bless them one and all for saving me a lot of discomfort.

Thank you for the kind words! BTW, is your wife a member here, too?

BTW2, glad your doing well after your AVR. :thumbsup:

[SoldierNurse]

You've been in nursing for a whole year now. How are you? Have you found a niche or are you struggling like so many other nurses? I'm a travel nurse. I couldn't be happier. You can't be afraid to walk away from a job that isn't fulfilling ou. I tried Med/surg, of course right out of college. Didn't like it. Went to oncology. It was hard work, but fulfilling, but still not the fit I knew I'd eventually find. Then, off to mom/baby and level II nursery: love, love, loved it! Then decided to challenge myself and leave the hospital to start my own "Mom's Helper" job and work for new moms and their babies. Great work and fantastic pay, but eventually, needed more of a challenge. Now, I'm a travel nurse. I work home hospice; it's my calling. I finally found it. I've been a nurse for just over 10 years. I'm 39 and very fortunate to have found a good place for me. In time it could change, but the beauty of nursing is that there are SO many avenues you can go with it. We don't have to burn out. If we stay in one place and it isn't filling us with passion and fulfillment, it's time to get out! Fast!
I do hope all is going well. Email anytime.
Jessica
sleeplessrn2003@yahoo.com
:luck:

Jessica, I enjoyed your post! I've always believed if an individual truly loves nursing the opportunities are endless to prevent terminal burnout.

[mpicray]

Crabby old nurses
Disrespectful physicians
Unsupportive administrators

A POX ON ALL THEIR HOUSES!!!

Actually, I've always thought slap therapy or ice water enemas till clear might straighten up an attitude or two. You mess up your biorhythms, miss time with your family, and get your blood pressure up trying to meet everyone's needs and still be done with your charting by the end of your shift so you don't get nagged about overtime and who really appreciates or cares about what you do.

I have to tell you, describing nursing as a love/hate relationship could 't be closer to the truth. After 30+ years of saving lives, doing good deeds and emptying bedpans I still have to describe it as one of the most provoking and at the same time rewarding professions out there. At the end of the day, I didn't twist x widgets onto x gizmos. I eased some pain, reassured a fear, gave needed medication, tucked someone under a warm blanket for a bit of sleep and, generally, served as the best advocate for health most patients will ever meet. Is it easy? Nope! But, at the end of your career, you'll be glad you stuck it out.

That said, burnout is always lurking in the Halls of Healing. I had a job at one time that I hated, Unsafe patient ratios and terrible stress had me crying every night before I went to work and every morning when I got off work, ashamed of the care I'd given because there just wasn't enough of me to go around. My dear aunt, who is also a nurse, listened patiently to my description of the nightmare this job had become and said, "Sounds to me like you need a new job." She was right. I found a new job and was much happier with my career after that. Ironically, when I left, they replaced me with not one or two but three RN's. I actually helped improve patient care by leaving!

If you're not happy with what you're doing, you need to do yourself and your patients a favor and find something else to do. Nursing is blessed with the numerous open doors attached to it. Find one and go through it. But please don't abandon the profession. It needs every dedicated soul it can get right now.

'Nuff said,

mpicray

[shanemcmillian]

Hello I have a question I got n indecent exposure charge in 99 and have a few hot checks on my record will the board turn me away when I complete nursing school