Why do I feel like this?

Question

Eight years ago I decided to go to nursing school. I always loved anything to do with medicine and I can remember spending alot of my young life reading my brother and sister's biology books because I was so fascinated with anything medical. Well now I'm done with school and havebeen working as a nurse for years. I am so unhappy. The majority of patients are nasty and rude, my boss leaves alot to be desired, the doctors are rude and demanding, the paperwork is tedious, my knees are worn from constant walking on hard floors, I get sick alot from stress and germs...I could go on and on.

I just feel so down about my career ending up this way. I had one of my co-workers ask me why i became a nurse and I actually got defensive. I hated that she said what I needed to be asking myself. I know everyone is stressed at some time or other in their jobs, but I just don't know what to do to be more positve about mine. I know I'm a good nurse, but being like this makes me wonder. any advice??

I have recieved some really wonderful and thoughtful answers. I thank you all for just listening and taking the time to answer. Thank you all so much!!!

Answer 1

It sounds like you had a very different idea of what nursing would be like. Don't feed bad or guilty about not liking it. If you really don't like it, make a change. It could be the workplace or the type of nursing you practice. It may be possible to make a career change where you could practice a biology-related job without being face-to-face with patients, for example.

I have been in a similar situation, and I am thankful that I got out of it because there is nothing worse than getting up each morning dreading your work because you find it to be boring or meaningless.

Answer 2

I am also a nurse (RN). I have worked in a nursing home, a county hospital and now a city hospital. I also worked part time in a clinic. The clinic was less stressful, slower paced and the doctor was not mean, because you were "his" nurse!! They don't make as much money, but the hours and stress levels make up for it. Have you checked into working for Hospice. I have a couple friends whom have been nurses for nearly 20 years and recently went to Hospice. They visit patients at the hospitals, nursing homes and the patients homes!! They make their own schedule!! They have company cell phones!! They see only 1 patient at a time, so less stress!! They don't work holidays or weekends they just cover call on those days now and then. They love it. I am considering that trasition when I have children and they get to be school age. It sounds like it definately has it perks. Oh, and they make about the same money they were at the hospital!! Good luck!! Oh, also FYI: Insurance companies and other big companies (factories) like BUNN, John Deere, etc hire company nurses.

Answer 3

You don't say what kind of nursing you do, but it's time for a change. Maybe you're in a hospital now. Perhaps it's time to try a different service (switch from ER to pediatrics or neonatal, for instance). Or to try a private practice. Or public health. Or school nurse. Or ply your trade somewhere in the world where health care is not a 'given' and is therefore appreciated.

On the other hand, maybe you need a lateral career change, like becoming an EMT or a physician's assistant, midwife, or something else medical that isn't nursing.

Best of luck. It's hard, hard work, but those of us who have benefited from great nursing appreciate it more than we can say.

Answer 4

To me, it seems like you love the science behind being a nurse, not the physical settings. When you read your siblings' books, were you considering the patients, work settings, and social interferences involved, or were you just infatuated with biology? You seem like you would be an excellent biologist or pharmacist. Actually making the medicine and not having to treat actual people may be a better career for you. If you are willing to, going back to college and pursuing a hands-on yet less social major may be a good idea. Good luck with whatever you end up doing!

Answer 5

I can appreciate your feelings about your job in nursing. But as been expressed by so many of the others before, the great advantage of nursing is the versitility in the opportunities. During my career I have worked in a psychiatric unit, worked as the private scrub nurse for a cardio-vascular surgeon, worked in an operating room, managed an ambulatory surgery center, taught anatomy and physiology to nursing, medical and technical students, taught tropical and wilderness medicine to nursing and medical students, directed a surgical technology course, worked in family practice as a nurse practitioner, worked with spine surgery pPatients, wirked with chronic pain patients, worked with headache patients and performed research (some of these overlapped). By constantly challenging myself I have kept the profession alive and interesting, and tried to define where I wanted to be, where now I only work with headache and chronic pain patients with non-injury based pain syndromes.

Make a change, try something new.

But as a thought...and not trying to be rude or offensive...but look at how you feel about the other issues in your life. Your comments seem significantly negative, if you find these responses apply to other issues in your life, could the problem be something greater than your occupation? Just something to consider.

Answer 6

Well there are other areas that you could use your education and maybe some more education to help people:

Administration Nurse
Instructor
Nurse (working on a call center screening patients for urgent care -- Kaiser Permenente, etc.)
Geriatric Case Manager
School Nurse

Answer 7

Have you tried talking to someone, such as a counselor or career counselor for career change? You don't sound like you like your job anymore. I've tried this most of the time when I get really stuck in life. Sometimes I have no choice but to sit down and mentally talk to myself and ask myself what I want to do with my life.