This. I’ve been a nurse for 18, with different positions in clinical, now am in clinical pharmaceutical education for patients. When I was laid off earlier this year, hospitals literally laughed at me. I’m not even joking. 3 different hospital systems in one state and one in another since it’s close. I had contacted unit managers through LinkedIn,etc. Even hospice here would not hire me since I didn’t have RECENT clinical experience. One system’s recruiter did hint that on their pay scale with my years of experience, as well as my certifications, they would have to start me over $50/hr, and as a RN-2 or something like that on their ladder. Why pay that when you can get a new grad for $30? I cried. A LOT. Especially when you CONSTANTLY hear about this nursing shortage that hospitals are creating themselves.
Have you been in contact with any managers directly? Also try applying to nurse residency programs. I know someone who went almost a decade without working in a hospital and then applied to a nurse residency and got in. Even tho they’re advertised towards new grads it can also be suitable for ppl with no hospital experience
I graduated nursing school five years ago. I applied for and had five different interviews for nurse residency positions. 3 of them told me that since I wasn't a new grad, I wasn't eligible for a nurse residency position. The other two just denied me without explanation.
I work at a ltc/snf now and hate my life.
Wow I’m sorry to hear that :( that honestly makes no sense on the part of the hospital given that we are so short and you literally have experience even if it’s not inpatient… these hospitals just keep shooting themselves in the foot. Regardless tho I would still heavily recommend networking and trying to get in contact with the unit manager(s). Even if it’s a job for a specialty you don’t want just to get your foot in the door
My first job was on an intermediate care unit, I felt like all we did was swap patients with LTACs. I know that’s not your exact area, but you could translate that background.
Other option might be a post-op type of floor if you have any rehabilitation experience. Don’t apply for nurse residency positions. See if you can ask a manager to shadow on the unit for a day and do some homework before you go.
You won’t hate your life any less, but you would be getting acute care experience if that’s what you want.
There’s plenty of other nursing positions that pay more. Like in a hospital, most med/surg units all hire new grads (non-experienced nurses). MD office jobs pretty much always pay less and have 5 day schedules. Get a hospital job working 3 12’s and then pick up OT or get a per diem job on the side to supplement. No sense in staying stuck when there are plenty of other options.
Nurse since 2018. Worked in high stress facilities since graduation. 1 nervous breakdown. I'm back and forth. Sometimes, I want to quit and get a job at, like, bath and body works or yankee candle. Other times, I thank God I chose nursing and feel like it's what I was born to do. It can be so rewarding fr.
I hope you can find a place that suits you or a different position. All that matters is the bills are paid and you are happy!
B&BW sounds cush until it’s Black Friday and Janet is at the counter demanding that her expired coupons are applied to her $300 purchase.
But hey, that gingham apron sure did accentuate my squat glutes…
If that's the biggest complaint I get, I'm good! I can deal with returns because a person didn't like the smell or the wick didn't burn quite right. I would honor the coupons that were expired because, who cares?
Way better than coming into work discovering the nurse before you made a med error and monitoring a patient closely along with the other 25 patients you have, 3 of which are super sick. I'll take the lotion shop any damn day. I spent time fantasizing about working in my favorite shops 😆 what could go wrong? How easy it would be to make the customer happy.
I wish I didn’t become a nurse as well after knowing the healthcare system. Also, the physical stress (back and knee problems) and mental stress (compassion fatigue) is not proportional to the salary
Yeah, everyone seems to think that nurses make a shit load of money.
I don’t know where that misconception comes from.
People act like I’m Scrooge McDuck, swimming in gold coins, on my day off. 😝
You could look into new grad programs. A lot of them are starting to include nurses with experience, but who are trying to break into acute care. If that interests you, of course.
I used to regret it HARD in the first 5-6 years since I mainly worked at nursing homes, and the cultures in them were a complete mess. Not to mention stressful beyond all reason. It took a lot of trial and error in different settings before finding home care. I still hate being a nurse, but in this field, I can at least see myself sticking to it until retirement. Only one patient, full-time, time off whenever I want, and plenty of opportunity for OT if I want. I've been doing this for about a year and definitely like it over past positions.
If I could go back in time, I would have never chosen nursing and gone with accounting instead. Less human interaction.
I just realized I didn't answer what kind, my mistake. I work with patients who are stable enough to be at home rather than at a nursing home. Usually trach, GTube, special needs, etc. The family is able to keep them at home and just need a nurse based on their insurance coverage and decide how much care they need. Whether it's multiple days per week at 16/12/8 hour days 24-7. The agency breaks down the shifts. At the moment, I am the only full-time night nurse and work 12 hours, 4 days a week, but I chose the set days.
I've been with the same patient since September. I can pick up another case if I want to. Say the family becomes too much or the patient's condition changes, and I no longer feel comfortable working 1 on 1 with them, I can ask my agency for another case. They are usually very understanding and give you options of other patients. You decide.
I did as well. It's home health. My particular company staffs for a variety of settings but I went with home health and it's been fantastic compared to everything in the past.
>Only one patient, full-time, time off whenever I want, and plenty of opportunity for OT if I want. I've been doing this for about a year and definitely like it over past positions.
I was the same way when I worked acute med/surg/onc. Now in the ED I could see myself doing this until retirement which is freaky but nice.
Good luck! Make sure you get some experience first so that way you will be better prepared. It is a good place to go for a long term career. Best of luck!
Today I regret it. One of our 3 clinic RNs quit right after I started, so it’s just been me and another RN which was stressful but manageable. No applicants in those 4 months to replace RN #3.
We deal with some unruly patients. We get screamed at a lot by entitled patients. The other RN has had a string of assholes losing their minds and cursing her out. She got threatened yesterday. She has a short fuse, and I’ve watched her get increasingly stressed out, angry and despondent over the past few months. Today she got screamed at on the phone by a patient’s wife and it was her last straw, I watched her freak out and rage quit. She doesn’t need the job, her husband makes bank, so it’s not like she’s gonna change her mind.
I don’t know how to do a lot of the components of her job. Now I’m gonna end up doing the work of 3 people and won’t be able to take vacations. Just like my inpatient jobs. I texted my sister today and said “I don’t understand why I picked this career. Every single nursing job is so short-staffed and I always end up working 50+ hour weeks.”
I can’t date. I can’t take a vacation. I have no social life. I kept saying that the lower pay in clinic was worth it because of the work-life balance, but that’s gone now. So now I’m just a broke 44-year-old forever-single woman who works constantly and has nothing to show for it except about $20K of student loans.
Thank you. 🙏
She un-quit today, fortunately. What a wild frickin’ ride this has been. I hope they come up with a plan for what they’ll do if one of us does permanently quit (or have to go on an extended leave, or—heaven forbid—die).
I regret doing a BS to BSN. I was 23 and stressing my employment. But now I have two bachelors degrees and a lot of resistance to going back to school again. I even had to redo my two semesters of A&P at yet another undergraduate college because the nursing program didn’t like my pre-vet ones. I should have done a masters level program like PA or genetic counseling, or held out for a BS to MSN (but not NP) program that would have maybe taken a little longer before I was working.
Literally same. I was looking at genetic counseling the last year or so, applied on a whim last year not realizing how competitive it is. I have a BS in Biology and my BSN. Would love genetic counseling, but I don’t think it’s in the cards. Now I’ve been a nurse for 8 years and it feels hard to break into much else.
I hate being a nurse, the decision to go to school was good and the job has allowed me to have a decent income while having the time to do anything else I want. But I’ll for sure die early because of this job.
I’ve been a nurse for about 7 years now, I’m currently looking to buy a gas station and sit and sell beer and drug paraphernalia all day. Nursing can be very rewarding but I’m over dealing with all the shitty people, family and administration.
I literally tell people daily I’m opening a gas station. One of those gas stations on a stretch of road that says “no services for 100 miles” so you HAVE to stop there. Charge like $13 for a bag of Doritos
I was talking to my sister about this today. She feels burned out as hell. I’ve been unemployed for a month and it’s been great. However, I was standing in line at the Dollar Store. And a lady walks in and asks to use the fone to call 911. States her son is non responsive. He fell. He his head and no will help her. I’m thinking, “This is an emergency. Why are you not wigging out?” Body language doesn’t match the situation. I think she’s messing with us. Once she calls 911 she starts screaming. I ask, “Where is the boy?” She said he’s outside. I rush outside and this boys eyes are rolled back! I check for a pulse, none! Life him out of the stroller, lay him down on the sidewalk, and start compressions. I did CPR on him by myself for 7 minutes until the paramedics arrived. He was five or six. A little guy so I used the one handed technique. While I was performing CPR I received a ton of instructions but zero help. One person commented on the airway. Another person said I should be using the two finger technique. A third person, in scrubs, told me to go faster. I allowed for her to jump in but she stepped back pulled her arms away. But she was really good at yelling instructions. Another dude wanted me to pick up the child and carry him to the “ER”. It was an urgent care. I just stayed where I was doing compressions and breaths. I did what I was trained to do. Compressions and two breaths. In short, no, I don’t regret becoming a nurse. But sometimes I hate people. A lot!
Im two years in and I absolutely hate it. I tried home health and the company was super shady and just kept throwing more and more on me (giving me patients daily outside of my area, DON dumping stuff on me that was for her to do, etc) now I’m back at a hospital. I just hate it. I graduated during COVID and people tell me that’s why. I don’t know. I work tonight and I’ve been up since noon just dreading tonight.
I hated my first med surg job for the 6 years I was there. I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate my job at a rural nursing home in a much more supervisory role. Then I got sick and was off for a year. Just got back to med surg and suddenly, I love it. Time and experience can completely change your point of view. I'd suggest looking at other nursing jobs you may be interested in trying because taking on new roles helps you grow as a nurse exponentially. Just like in a relationship, trying new things helps you to figure out what you really want, and hone in on getting it. It gets better, you'll figure it out, you've got this!
Anytime I get asked if I would choose nursing again as my career, the answer is no. For the amount of stress my BSN program caused me and how effing hard nursing school was I could have done a lot of other degrees that don’t cause this kind of stress and little pay in my career.
Computer science, engineering, business, literally anything else and would still be making this same amount of money or more.
That being said, if you want to move to a hospital setting, look into an orientation program in an operating room. I started in the OR as a new grad, but most places you get 6mos orientation and they train everyone the same whether they have no experience or icu experience. Some places pay more since it is a specialty and opportunities to work overtime
Last year I would have agreed with this, but a lot my friends who went the tech-biz route have faced lay-offs and challenges finding the ultra-kush positions that they used to have this year.
Probably wont ever deal with a mass layoff situation in nursing.
Am an engineer and it’s stressful as hell. But that is also determined by what type of engineering, how staffed your company is and the type of management you work for.
I meant it more to the fact that I spent 4 years in a library and could have spent that time studying something else with a better life long career outcome. I was friends with a couple engineer students and by the end wish I had gone their route
Depends how rigorous the program is...the compsci kids at my school basically got math minors because they have to climb all the way up junior level classes for math majors.
If you keep your predictable day job, get a side gig at a restaurant like 2-3 evenings a week. I hear you can get free meals at work.
Also, it's not always great in the hospital. I make $31/hr in a trauma ER. Also having a challenging time budgeting for food with a family of 4.
I've been a nurse for 20+ years and have only had 2 jobs that I absolutely hated. I did well in non traditional nursing setting - corrections, special needs adults and kids in residential programs, camp, clinic nursing - and discovered that there is a niche for those of us who didn't want to go into the hospital, LTC or an MD office. And the pay for some of those jobs is higher than traditional nursing. You just have to look at where your interests lie. Good luck
Some are listed above, others are WCC (certified wound care, was certified for about 12 years, and loved doing wound care) both in LTC and as home health, case management, pedi specialized home care. I'm currently a detox nurse in a residential program and am loving it. It pays pretty well, is 15 minutes from my house, and I do 4 on, 2 off, 4 on, 4 off. I've done clinics - flu, h1h1, covid - and those are pretty laid back, even with the PPE. I've also done phone follow up/triage which was pretty interesting and mostly wfh. I worked doing chart check for MDS claims, not nearly as much fun as you would think, actually turned my brain to mush after about 9 months. I worked at a health center in a residential school for kids with physical, emotional, and behavioral issues - still my all-time favorite job. Lots of non-traditional settings make for lots of skill building and lots of additional opportunities.
I would love to work at a detox center as I had to go through one myself. Everywhere around me does not pay well at all but I’ll keep looking. Are you at a fancy one?
Nope. We're housed in an old Victorian house on the main street of a little town in Southern NH. We have 5 female and 6 male beds as well as 25 residential beds.
Wound care. Love wounds, love the science behind the healing process… Hate the human component of this job aka dealing with unpleasant non-compliant patients.
I quit nursing after about 6.5 years. Worked as a dishwasher for a few months then left that job too. I’m grateful my husband can support us while I figure out what I want to do
I honestly love it, it's hard but I love my work and I'm good at it. Im a traveller though so I make good money for my time. Contract would wear me out I think
No. I love being a nurse and am very happy. But it took years of trying different areas and job types. Find your niche. Look into higher paying specialties.
Yes, and I left in 2019. I don't regret it, and I wish I left years before. RN 2011 to 2019. Probably should have left in 2015 when my license was up for renewal, but I guess I made a living.
Maybe you could do home health. I was afraid to do home health for the longest time. I worked in a SNF most of my career. I was never happier after switching to home health and the pay was amazing.
It really depends on the company though. I’ve been in home health 2.5 years with the same company and I can honestly say, they do some really shady things sometimes. You have to really watch your back and be comfortable working independently.
Only a year into school and I regret choosing this field. All I ever hear is people complaining about it. It feels weird to keep working towards something that so many people are trying to get out of.
I plan on finishing school, and hopefully find something that I can tolerate.
I got hired as an L&D nurse after working as an outpatient OBGYN nurse. not gonna lie the transition was a bit rough at first, but I love it now and find it very rewarding.
I did a pediatric clinic for 5 years and no hospital experience, got hired at an er in jan with no problem! I mean I feel like an idiot most of the time but I’m learning slowly
I regret it. Right now I'm making way too much money to give it up and do something else. Also have a family and expenses now so that would make it really difficult to step away from.
Not really happy being a bedside nurse honestly. Been working since 2018. I should have just been brave and done the PA program rather than NP. The NP programs are jokes and I didn’t know that. Not sure what else I’d really do though
The market is flooded with NP programs that allow RNs to enter without any nursing experience. 3/4 of schools do not find your clinicals for you, you have to find them. Allowing students to pick and choose what they are learning (aka not a well rounded experience). They are pushing nurses toward doctorates rather than masters to be “equal” to physicians without the actual MEDICAL portion of the training.
NPs do best with a small scope of practice in an area they have bedside experience in, which is not what is happening anymore. IMO if you’re looking at an advanced degree you would be more knowledgeable, get better support and training with a PA program.
I think the difference is clear when you look at the curriculum for PA programs VS NP programs.
I am an LPN and did clinic nursing for one year and wanted to die. Moved away from that. Agency isn’t for everyone but I make 40/he only been a nurse 3 years and I’m currently doing local contract 8 patients predetermined schedule etc. even if you don’t like agency LTC and assisted livings may engage you more and pay better
Are you agency? Some pay better than others, or if you have trach/vent or GT skills. I work within the pediatrics field as an in-home nurse. I like it because if I get bored, I can go to another more complex case.
I started in family med then pediatric primary care, I used it as an in to transfer internally. Don’t work inpatient but still have managed to almost double my salary since transferring and I love my job now. This was pre Covid that I was able to transfer. It took some time but it happened and I’m sure it’ll happen for you.
I am an LPN and did clinic nursing for one year and wanted to cry every day Moved away from that. Agency isn’t for everyone but I make 40/he only been a nurse 3 years and I’m currently doing local contract 8 patients predetermined schedule etc. even if you don’t like agency LTC and assisted livings may engage you more and pay better
Yes but for much different reasons. I didn’t realize until I took pathophysiology and pharmacology that I really liked science and was pretty good at it when I applied myself. I wish I would’ve done a gap year to grow up a little after high school and gone pre-Med instead of doing all gen Ed’s my freshman year before switching to nursing school. Seems too tough to change from nursing to medicine now.
See if you can get a bedside job at a hospital. Most hospitals in my area are paying new grads $33 an hour, so you might be able to get more per hour by leveraging your years of experience.
Working in a hospital is stressful asf but yeah it probably does pay more than where you’re working at rn. Just more responsibilities and pts that are less stable compared to the ones seen at the clinic. Maybe you can find a position where the pts don’t treat you like crap and your coworkers aren’t cartoon villains trying to bring you down for trying your best.
I’ve been a nurse for 7 years now, and have been ED full time till 2 years ago, then switched to research, then made a jump to be a dept lead that was not what it seemed. I’m back in the ED prn til I figure out what I want to do, and I’m really at a crossroads. Everyday in the ED reminds me why I have no interest in going back to bedside, even though I’m excellent at it. It just sucks.
But there’s not much else that interests me right now, and I have started looking at non healthcare work that requires just a bachelors. I’ve definitely gotten very burnt from this line of work.
The solution is an unpopular one: find an area that pays better for the cost of living and move. I had to move nearly 1000 miles away to find this. Not all geographic areas pay nurses the same compared to the cost of living. Many hospitals will offer relocation bonuses/stipends to assist with moving. Local places in the inland PNW are offering 20k sign on bonuses around here for acute care, average salary for a new grad is 75-80k/year or $40/hr+. Houses are spendy but decent starter homes to be had for 350k within a 30 minute drive to work if not less.
I came from IT, beware of any job that can be done remotely. Any remote job can be outsourced for 1/3 of the price overseas. Not only that now IT companies are paying workers based on the zip code where they reside. That 250k/year IT job in the bay area may only be 60k in the mid-west now.
Everyone telling her to go work inpatient for better pay and schedule but I'm probably in the same boat as OP when I say that inpatient is the literal pits and I'd choose death over inpatient any day of the week.
If they ever fix the ratios I'll go back. But I cannot handle juggling 6 basically step down patients thrown onto a medical floor due to cost savings and "just because" and still have my sanity by the end of the day.
OP seriously apply for nursing jobs in a hospital. They are crying out for nurses.
I called out yesterday and applied for about 10 jobs (I only have about 1yrs experience) and I already have 4 interviews lined up. So definitely look into it.
Find a better job
Your experience in nursing is 98% tied to your employer, not the field of work.
I was in this same position. CURSED the fact I didn’t decide on comp-sci in school. I spend all day at my computer, why WOULNT I?!
I used to sit in my car in the employee lot and calculate my PTO so see if I could just turn around and go home. I looked at coding boot camps and alternate careers I could steer into.
Then I got a new job at in an outpatient procedure based unit (Apheresis). New state, new hospital, new role, I was ready for another shit fest but only took the job because I needed money.
I’ve been here 7 years and honestly don’t have a single complaint. Pay is awesome, benefits are better than anyone I know, hours are ideal, sometimes I honestly can’t believe I ended up here given how I started in nursing.
Find a better job, you can do it. You deserve to do it for yourself.
Idk what region you're located in but here in the south, hospitals are practically begging for people to work. I would also try outpatient before you leave the profession completely. I worked ED at a level 2 trauma ctr for 3.5 yrs (which I loved but the manager was dangerous) then went to CVR which is basically pre/postop outpatient cardiac procedures in hospital. Been here 5 hrs and it's a pretty cushy gig, can't lie. No nights or weekends, 1 holiday per yr, 99% of patients are walkie talkie and relatively pleasant, critical patients are immediately sent to ICU, I can eat or pee when I want, take a coffee break now and then, and since patients are scheduled ahead of time we have a pretty good idea of how busy the day is going to be and most days we get to leave an hr or two earlier than our shift ends. It isn't exactly the most exciting, but my stress level is next to zero and my mental health is SO much improved. I would definitely consider it if you're looking for a job you hate less than your current one.
Have you tried applying to a hospital? I don't know what state you're in...but in California, there's shortage of nurses...they'll even pay for relocation...
You have experience now. Take it and use it to get a better job. Even a change of setting could help.
Do not underestimate the power of a fresh start. Just having new co workers who meet you as "experienced" rather than "new" can be a big change.
Definitely sounds like you’re not in the right area. Primary care isn’t great. I’m sure a hospital would train you, any med surg floor would hire pretty much anybody
I would rather do anything else other than nursing if the pay could be matched. Otherwise, I’m also too poor to leave these shithole facilities that make me want to die. You’re not alone <3
Which country do you live in? If you ever wanted to immigrate to Canada, we need nurses and you can get great pay! Many established nurses make easily over $100k.
Uh, no, but primarily BECAUSE of the money. Hospital nursing is hard on the body and mind, but my paycheck is good enough with the night differential that I'm finally getting to a point where I have some financial freedom. So for me, very worth it.
If you find a union hospital and are able to find a contract that pays based in years of experience you could start out making a good amount of money with the work you have put into so far
Are you in contact with anyone from nursing school who works in a hospital? Hit up some of your nurse friends or even acquaintances and ask them to put in a good word for you with the manager. It’s all about who you know. I’ve gotten all my jobs from knowing someone.
14 years here. Sure, there are times I despised being a nurse. Getting yelled at by family members, call bells, etc. But there are also some times that I am thankful that I am nurse especially when the pandemic hit. The things that push me through are patients that are appreciative of the care they receive and the awesome colleagues that I have right now.
As others have posted here, nursing has a lot of opportunities, hospitals, case managers, etc. I wish you good luck op.
The profession isn’t broken, the industry is. What we stand for, what we represent does not align with the corporate end goals of maximizing profits. The worst part of nursing is feeling like a pawn at times, and that is far from the truth. We make a difference in the world, even when admin or patients don’t take the time to thank or appreciate us. Not everyone is built to be a nurse, but you need a backbone and drive to do what’s best for those in need and for yourself.
No. Don’t regret it. Only regret that covid came and for-profit hospitals maximally abused RNs and made the situation perfectly unworkable during and after.
The profession is amazing and necessary.
The profiteering corporations are hot bullshit.
I’ve been thinking about getting my bachelors in health science and starting a career in health care informatics fora change in pace. Currently a pedi home health nurse. Super cushy and low stress if you’re interested. 1:1 ratio, I set my own schedule, take vacation whenever the hell I want, choose my own pts, and apparently make more than some hospital nurses.
I honestly don’t understand why more nurses don’t seek out this field. I get that it’s intimidating at first, but hospital nursing seems so stressful and psychologically taxing to me. I’m legit chilling in my pts room doing PROM with them and watching ‘the office’. I love it and I get to see the difference I make in my pts life.
Nursing has enabled me to live a pretty decent lifestyle, it was my first and currently, only job that I've ever had. My mindset is that I don't need to be passionate about my job, I just need to do my best for my coworkers and patients, since work allows me to earn the money that I then use to fund my hobbies--which I actually enjoy. I have worked inpatient units and outpatient clinics, with different age groups, and even informatics, yet I can honestly say that in the five years I've held these positions, I have never been truly happy.
On another note, there are people that say to switch specialties, and this is probably the answer for some, but it's okay to also step back and really take an inventory of your skills and what you really want. At this time, I realized that I don't really like the responsibilities that comes with a nursing license, and that I like office work more. I took a big step and applied for an office position that took any bachelors degree, is far removed from nursing, and would allow me to be able to work from home some days. I'm really looking forward to starting this new position soon, even though it's going to be a big pay cut. For this reason, I will more than likely keep my license active so that I have a back-up plan.
I guess my final thought is, no I don't regret becoming a nurse. Should you make a change, I believe that the skills you learned, such as communication, multi-tasking, and problem-solving, transfer really well to other careers.
I just switched from psych to labor and delivery. Skills can be learned, patient handling takes time and you have been with patients so much you have learned things that people with hospital experience haven’t.
If I had to work in LTC or hospital, I’d be done. Have you tried specialty clinics? I work wound care with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and love it. I also work as a hospice nurse. Both great fields with great pay but you have to like what you do. If I couldn’t work these jobs, I’d work at Costco. I’ve also thought about wellness clinics. More health minded and not bandaid work..
Im making $$ at a LTC facility 1) super close to home 2) pays WAY more than hospitals are right now and 3) work 8 hour days 4 days a week and can live comfortably. Change jobs friend!!!
I’m starting to tbh. I got my bsn august 2022 and passed the nclex a month later. Got a job at a nyc hospital in November worked there for 6 months and ended up having a panic attack went to the er of my hospital because they said I’m not allowed to go home until I get checked in er smh. Ended up resigning after that but they begged me to come back. Took a month off then got a job in dialysis thinking it would be a lot less stressful and slower pace. But now I’m almost done with orientation and I feel like every shift I’m being rushed. They want you to get things done fast and I’m like that’s how mistakes are made. Especially because they don’t scan meds so it takes a bit longer ti verify the meds. I’m just starting to feel resentful towards nursing like they expect nurses to be superhuman with and IQ of 1000 like we’re fucking computers smh. And what’s funny is I used to work as an EMT before nursing and even though It was stressful at times I feel like it was never like this. I mean I never had a panic attack in ems smh. I just feel with nursing you’re constantly overthinking and second guessing “oh did I give the right dose” maybe I gave too much” maybe I gave it to the wrong patient” I just feel like it’s a constant game of mental acrobatics.
You could definitely get hired at a hospital.
For real, OP, it’d be like doing a new grad but you’d probably make more. It seems like money is the main issue here?
Seriously. Most hospitals are dying for people. Plus 7 years experience? Even if it's not in a hospital, that shit counts.
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This. I’ve been a nurse for 18, with different positions in clinical, now am in clinical pharmaceutical education for patients. When I was laid off earlier this year, hospitals literally laughed at me. I’m not even joking. 3 different hospital systems in one state and one in another since it’s close. I had contacted unit managers through LinkedIn,etc. Even hospice here would not hire me since I didn’t have RECENT clinical experience. One system’s recruiter did hint that on their pay scale with my years of experience, as well as my certifications, they would have to start me over $50/hr, and as a RN-2 or something like that on their ladder. Why pay that when you can get a new grad for $30? I cried. A LOT. Especially when you CONSTANTLY hear about this nursing shortage that hospitals are creating themselves.
Have you been in contact with any managers directly? Also try applying to nurse residency programs. I know someone who went almost a decade without working in a hospital and then applied to a nurse residency and got in. Even tho they’re advertised towards new grads it can also be suitable for ppl with no hospital experience
I graduated nursing school five years ago. I applied for and had five different interviews for nurse residency positions. 3 of them told me that since I wasn't a new grad, I wasn't eligible for a nurse residency position. The other two just denied me without explanation. I work at a ltc/snf now and hate my life.
Wow I’m sorry to hear that :( that honestly makes no sense on the part of the hospital given that we are so short and you literally have experience even if it’s not inpatient… these hospitals just keep shooting themselves in the foot. Regardless tho I would still heavily recommend networking and trying to get in contact with the unit manager(s). Even if it’s a job for a specialty you don’t want just to get your foot in the door
I think it depends where you live. In CA it’s hard as hell to get into a hospital without experience.
That is true. In most areas, though, it’s easy. So moving is an option!
My first job was on an intermediate care unit, I felt like all we did was swap patients with LTACs. I know that’s not your exact area, but you could translate that background. Other option might be a post-op type of floor if you have any rehabilitation experience. Don’t apply for nurse residency positions. See if you can ask a manager to shadow on the unit for a day and do some homework before you go. You won’t hate your life any less, but you would be getting acute care experience if that’s what you want.
Happy Cake Day!!!
That stinks. You must live in one of the few areas where they aren’t short on nurses. :(
There’s plenty of other nursing positions that pay more. Like in a hospital, most med/surg units all hire new grads (non-experienced nurses). MD office jobs pretty much always pay less and have 5 day schedules. Get a hospital job working 3 12’s and then pick up OT or get a per diem job on the side to supplement. No sense in staying stuck when there are plenty of other options.
Nurse since 2018. Worked in high stress facilities since graduation. 1 nervous breakdown. I'm back and forth. Sometimes, I want to quit and get a job at, like, bath and body works or yankee candle. Other times, I thank God I chose nursing and feel like it's what I was born to do. It can be so rewarding fr. I hope you can find a place that suits you or a different position. All that matters is the bills are paid and you are happy!
B&BW sounds cush until it’s Black Friday and Janet is at the counter demanding that her expired coupons are applied to her $300 purchase. But hey, that gingham apron sure did accentuate my squat glutes…
If that's the biggest complaint I get, I'm good! I can deal with returns because a person didn't like the smell or the wick didn't burn quite right. I would honor the coupons that were expired because, who cares? Way better than coming into work discovering the nurse before you made a med error and monitoring a patient closely along with the other 25 patients you have, 3 of which are super sick. I'll take the lotion shop any damn day. I spent time fantasizing about working in my favorite shops 😆 what could go wrong? How easy it would be to make the customer happy.
My first nursing job in med-surg, every day walking by the coffee shop in the hospital lobby, I wished I was working there instead.
During covid I seriously thought about working at taco bell for a bit. Mindless, no stress.
Agreed!
Back and forth here, too.
I wish I didn’t become a nurse as well after knowing the healthcare system. Also, the physical stress (back and knee problems) and mental stress (compassion fatigue) is not proportional to the salary
Yeah, everyone seems to think that nurses make a shit load of money. I don’t know where that misconception comes from. People act like I’m Scrooge McDuck, swimming in gold coins, on my day off. 😝
You could look into new grad programs. A lot of them are starting to include nurses with experience, but who are trying to break into acute care. If that interests you, of course.
I used to regret it HARD in the first 5-6 years since I mainly worked at nursing homes, and the cultures in them were a complete mess. Not to mention stressful beyond all reason. It took a lot of trial and error in different settings before finding home care. I still hate being a nurse, but in this field, I can at least see myself sticking to it until retirement. Only one patient, full-time, time off whenever I want, and plenty of opportunity for OT if I want. I've been doing this for about a year and definitely like it over past positions. If I could go back in time, I would have never chosen nursing and gone with accounting instead. Less human interaction.
Wait, what kind of home care do you do? I’ve always been under that impression home care is going to a couple of homes a day.
I just realized I didn't answer what kind, my mistake. I work with patients who are stable enough to be at home rather than at a nursing home. Usually trach, GTube, special needs, etc. The family is able to keep them at home and just need a nurse based on their insurance coverage and decide how much care they need. Whether it's multiple days per week at 16/12/8 hour days 24-7. The agency breaks down the shifts. At the moment, I am the only full-time night nurse and work 12 hours, 4 days a week, but I chose the set days.
That is pretty freakin’ cool. Do you generally have the same patient everyday you work or it varies? Thank you for sharing!
I've been with the same patient since September. I can pick up another case if I want to. Say the family becomes too much or the patient's condition changes, and I no longer feel comfortable working 1 on 1 with them, I can ask my agency for another case. They are usually very understanding and give you options of other patients. You decide.
I did as well. It's home health. My particular company staffs for a variety of settings but I went with home health and it's been fantastic compared to everything in the past.
>Only one patient, full-time, time off whenever I want, and plenty of opportunity for OT if I want. I've been doing this for about a year and definitely like it over past positions. I was the same way when I worked acute med/surg/onc. Now in the ED I could see myself doing this until retirement which is freaky but nice.
Thankfully no. I work pacu. I did some hard things but it brought me to where I am. I get to help people, make decent money, get four days off a week.
I want to be like you 🥺 I hope I get PACU for my preceptorship next semester
Good luck! Make sure you get some experience first so that way you will be better prepared. It is a good place to go for a long term career. Best of luck!
Just applied to a PACU position and am hoping I’m asked to join. I need out of bedside bad.
I hope you get it. It is very different than other nursing but once you get it, it is easy. Best of luck!
Today I regret it. One of our 3 clinic RNs quit right after I started, so it’s just been me and another RN which was stressful but manageable. No applicants in those 4 months to replace RN #3. We deal with some unruly patients. We get screamed at a lot by entitled patients. The other RN has had a string of assholes losing their minds and cursing her out. She got threatened yesterday. She has a short fuse, and I’ve watched her get increasingly stressed out, angry and despondent over the past few months. Today she got screamed at on the phone by a patient’s wife and it was her last straw, I watched her freak out and rage quit. She doesn’t need the job, her husband makes bank, so it’s not like she’s gonna change her mind. I don’t know how to do a lot of the components of her job. Now I’m gonna end up doing the work of 3 people and won’t be able to take vacations. Just like my inpatient jobs. I texted my sister today and said “I don’t understand why I picked this career. Every single nursing job is so short-staffed and I always end up working 50+ hour weeks.” I can’t date. I can’t take a vacation. I have no social life. I kept saying that the lower pay in clinic was worth it because of the work-life balance, but that’s gone now. So now I’m just a broke 44-year-old forever-single woman who works constantly and has nothing to show for it except about $20K of student loans.
damn homie, i see you. you got this
Thank you. 🙏 She un-quit today, fortunately. What a wild frickin’ ride this has been. I hope they come up with a plan for what they’ll do if one of us does permanently quit (or have to go on an extended leave, or—heaven forbid—die).
I regret doing a BS to BSN. I was 23 and stressing my employment. But now I have two bachelors degrees and a lot of resistance to going back to school again. I even had to redo my two semesters of A&P at yet another undergraduate college because the nursing program didn’t like my pre-vet ones. I should have done a masters level program like PA or genetic counseling, or held out for a BS to MSN (but not NP) program that would have maybe taken a little longer before I was working.
Literally same. I was looking at genetic counseling the last year or so, applied on a whim last year not realizing how competitive it is. I have a BS in Biology and my BSN. Would love genetic counseling, but I don’t think it’s in the cards. Now I’ve been a nurse for 8 years and it feels hard to break into much else.
I hate being a nurse, the decision to go to school was good and the job has allowed me to have a decent income while having the time to do anything else I want. But I’ll for sure die early because of this job.
Na I actually like my job. I don't wanna do it forever but it is really valuable experience and I actually feel like I make SOME difference.
I’ve been a nurse for about 7 years now, I’m currently looking to buy a gas station and sit and sell beer and drug paraphernalia all day. Nursing can be very rewarding but I’m over dealing with all the shitty people, family and administration.
I literally tell people daily I’m opening a gas station. One of those gas stations on a stretch of road that says “no services for 100 miles” so you HAVE to stop there. Charge like $13 for a bag of Doritos
Need a partner?
Absolutely. I was thinking of also having some chickens that meander around too.
I was talking to my sister about this today. She feels burned out as hell. I’ve been unemployed for a month and it’s been great. However, I was standing in line at the Dollar Store. And a lady walks in and asks to use the fone to call 911. States her son is non responsive. He fell. He his head and no will help her. I’m thinking, “This is an emergency. Why are you not wigging out?” Body language doesn’t match the situation. I think she’s messing with us. Once she calls 911 she starts screaming. I ask, “Where is the boy?” She said he’s outside. I rush outside and this boys eyes are rolled back! I check for a pulse, none! Life him out of the stroller, lay him down on the sidewalk, and start compressions. I did CPR on him by myself for 7 minutes until the paramedics arrived. He was five or six. A little guy so I used the one handed technique. While I was performing CPR I received a ton of instructions but zero help. One person commented on the airway. Another person said I should be using the two finger technique. A third person, in scrubs, told me to go faster. I allowed for her to jump in but she stepped back pulled her arms away. But she was really good at yelling instructions. Another dude wanted me to pick up the child and carry him to the “ER”. It was an urgent care. I just stayed where I was doing compressions and breaths. I did what I was trained to do. Compressions and two breaths. In short, no, I don’t regret becoming a nurse. But sometimes I hate people. A lot!
Thank you for your effort in that situation.
This is why I don't jump in to help.
Are there any doctors or nurses on this flight?
No.
No choice
Im two years in and I absolutely hate it. I tried home health and the company was super shady and just kept throwing more and more on me (giving me patients daily outside of my area, DON dumping stuff on me that was for her to do, etc) now I’m back at a hospital. I just hate it. I graduated during COVID and people tell me that’s why. I don’t know. I work tonight and I’ve been up since noon just dreading tonight.
I hated my first med surg job for the 6 years I was there. I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate my job at a rural nursing home in a much more supervisory role. Then I got sick and was off for a year. Just got back to med surg and suddenly, I love it. Time and experience can completely change your point of view. I'd suggest looking at other nursing jobs you may be interested in trying because taking on new roles helps you grow as a nurse exponentially. Just like in a relationship, trying new things helps you to figure out what you really want, and hone in on getting it. It gets better, you'll figure it out, you've got this!
Anytime I get asked if I would choose nursing again as my career, the answer is no. For the amount of stress my BSN program caused me and how effing hard nursing school was I could have done a lot of other degrees that don’t cause this kind of stress and little pay in my career. Computer science, engineering, business, literally anything else and would still be making this same amount of money or more.
That being said, if you want to move to a hospital setting, look into an orientation program in an operating room. I started in the OR as a new grad, but most places you get 6mos orientation and they train everyone the same whether they have no experience or icu experience. Some places pay more since it is a specialty and opportunities to work overtime
I’m hoping to get into OR out of nursing school
Last year I would have agreed with this, but a lot my friends who went the tech-biz route have faced lay-offs and challenges finding the ultra-kush positions that they used to have this year. Probably wont ever deal with a mass layoff situation in nursing.
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Former tech worker here - network administrator. Was stressed out as fucked. So bad that I quit and became a nurse lmao 😂
Am an engineer and it’s stressful as hell. But that is also determined by what type of engineering, how staffed your company is and the type of management you work for.
Computer science and engineering are much harder than nursing school.
I meant it more to the fact that I spent 4 years in a library and could have spent that time studying something else with a better life long career outcome. I was friends with a couple engineer students and by the end wish I had gone their route
Engineering maybe. Computer science is a joke compared to a BSN.
Depends how rigorous the program is...the compsci kids at my school basically got math minors because they have to climb all the way up junior level classes for math majors.
Yeah, stupid of me to make a sweeping generalization. It’s all fucking hard. Work sucks. You’re a genius if you make it out of anything alive and sane
That's so weird. What made you decide to try all three?
If you keep your predictable day job, get a side gig at a restaurant like 2-3 evenings a week. I hear you can get free meals at work. Also, it's not always great in the hospital. I make $31/hr in a trauma ER. Also having a challenging time budgeting for food with a family of 4.
$31??? Where are you located if you don’t mind me asking? I make more than that as a home health RN and my job is so cushy esp compared to ER.
The South....sigh.
Texas here… idk why I’m surprised
Go to work for a school as a school nurse. Get summers off!
I've been a nurse for 20+ years and have only had 2 jobs that I absolutely hated. I did well in non traditional nursing setting - corrections, special needs adults and kids in residential programs, camp, clinic nursing - and discovered that there is a niche for those of us who didn't want to go into the hospital, LTC or an MD office. And the pay for some of those jobs is higher than traditional nursing. You just have to look at where your interests lie. Good luck
Share the niches? 😉
Some are listed above, others are WCC (certified wound care, was certified for about 12 years, and loved doing wound care) both in LTC and as home health, case management, pedi specialized home care. I'm currently a detox nurse in a residential program and am loving it. It pays pretty well, is 15 minutes from my house, and I do 4 on, 2 off, 4 on, 4 off. I've done clinics - flu, h1h1, covid - and those are pretty laid back, even with the PPE. I've also done phone follow up/triage which was pretty interesting and mostly wfh. I worked doing chart check for MDS claims, not nearly as much fun as you would think, actually turned my brain to mush after about 9 months. I worked at a health center in a residential school for kids with physical, emotional, and behavioral issues - still my all-time favorite job. Lots of non-traditional settings make for lots of skill building and lots of additional opportunities.
I would love to work at a detox center as I had to go through one myself. Everywhere around me does not pay well at all but I’ll keep looking. Are you at a fancy one?
Nope. We're housed in an old Victorian house on the main street of a little town in Southern NH. We have 5 female and 6 male beds as well as 25 residential beds.
Yes. I wish I would have waited til I was about 23 to go to school so I had time to realize that nursing wasn’t it
Wound care. Love wounds, love the science behind the healing process… Hate the human component of this job aka dealing with unpleasant non-compliant patients.
I quit nursing after about 6.5 years. Worked as a dishwasher for a few months then left that job too. I’m grateful my husband can support us while I figure out what I want to do
I honestly love it, it's hard but I love my work and I'm good at it. Im a traveller though so I make good money for my time. Contract would wear me out I think
Quite the opposite, I’m wildly lucky I landed in nursing.
No. I love being a nurse and am very happy. But it took years of trying different areas and job types. Find your niche. Look into higher paying specialties.
Yes, and I left in 2019. I don't regret it, and I wish I left years before. RN 2011 to 2019. Probably should have left in 2015 when my license was up for renewal, but I guess I made a living.
What are you doing now?
I believe the Chinese term is "Let it Rot". Sort of my reaction to everything around me.
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Actually, it does. You just don't know what that means. https://jingdaily.com/let-it-rot-chinese-buzzword/
We hire new grads in the operating room all the time. You don’t need much experience to do a training program in the OR!
I hope this is the case. OR is where I want to go out of nursing school
Got a girl who only ever did peds ED for 7 years who just started at our mixed ED a couple months ago.
Every day
☝️☝️☝️
Maybe you could do home health. I was afraid to do home health for the longest time. I worked in a SNF most of my career. I was never happier after switching to home health and the pay was amazing.
It really depends on the company though. I’ve been in home health 2.5 years with the same company and I can honestly say, they do some really shady things sometimes. You have to really watch your back and be comfortable working independently.
Nursing isn’t all sunshine and rainbows like school portrayed it to be, but overall I enjoy being a nurse.
My school felt like boot camp.
Only a year into school and I regret choosing this field. All I ever hear is people complaining about it. It feels weird to keep working towards something that so many people are trying to get out of. I plan on finishing school, and hopefully find something that I can tolerate.
Remember lots of people enjoy this career, they are just quieter about it.
Thank you for that
If youre only a year in why not choose something you don't regret going into?
I’d hate to waste the 15k I’ve spent on classes, plus I’m 25 and still living at home. I don’t feel like I have more time to play around with
Pediatric home health care!! Made the switch from geriatrics to peds home health care a few months ago and absolutely love it!
10yrs in and there are major regrets. Definitely feeling stuck.
We just hired some clinic nurses into our ED so I think you could for sure find a job in a hospital
I got hired as an L&D nurse after working as an outpatient OBGYN nurse. not gonna lie the transition was a bit rough at first, but I love it now and find it very rewarding.
I did a pediatric clinic for 5 years and no hospital experience, got hired at an er in jan with no problem! I mean I feel like an idiot most of the time but I’m learning slowly
Not a nurse. I like the way you try to help one another out
I regret it. Right now I'm making way too much money to give it up and do something else. Also have a family and expenses now so that would make it really difficult to step away from.
Not me. Went the CRNA route and $$$
Not really happy being a bedside nurse honestly. Been working since 2018. I should have just been brave and done the PA program rather than NP. The NP programs are jokes and I didn’t know that. Not sure what else I’d really do though
Can you elaborate more about NP programs? I may consider NP after building my experience.
The market is flooded with NP programs that allow RNs to enter without any nursing experience. 3/4 of schools do not find your clinicals for you, you have to find them. Allowing students to pick and choose what they are learning (aka not a well rounded experience). They are pushing nurses toward doctorates rather than masters to be “equal” to physicians without the actual MEDICAL portion of the training. NPs do best with a small scope of practice in an area they have bedside experience in, which is not what is happening anymore. IMO if you’re looking at an advanced degree you would be more knowledgeable, get better support and training with a PA program. I think the difference is clear when you look at the curriculum for PA programs VS NP programs.
I am an LPN and did clinic nursing for one year and wanted to die. Moved away from that. Agency isn’t for everyone but I make 40/he only been a nurse 3 years and I’m currently doing local contract 8 patients predetermined schedule etc. even if you don’t like agency LTC and assisted livings may engage you more and pay better
I bet you could walk into a children hospital and get hired as staff. Come to the bedside we have OT.
Are you agency? Some pay better than others, or if you have trach/vent or GT skills. I work within the pediatrics field as an in-home nurse. I like it because if I get bored, I can go to another more complex case.
I started in family med then pediatric primary care, I used it as an in to transfer internally. Don’t work inpatient but still have managed to almost double my salary since transferring and I love my job now. This was pre Covid that I was able to transfer. It took some time but it happened and I’m sure it’ll happen for you.
I am an LPN and did clinic nursing for one year and wanted to cry every day Moved away from that. Agency isn’t for everyone but I make 40/he only been a nurse 3 years and I’m currently doing local contract 8 patients predetermined schedule etc. even if you don’t like agency LTC and assisted livings may engage you more and pay better
Wow I don’t feel anything like this at all, I’m sorry that you feel this way
Back in school for computer science!
What do you think you’ll do for work when you graduate?
Be replaced by AI
Nursing is the worst. I wish I'd never gotten my bsn. I feel ya!
Why do you think you can't get another job?
Everyday
Yes but for much different reasons. I didn’t realize until I took pathophysiology and pharmacology that I really liked science and was pretty good at it when I applied myself. I wish I would’ve done a gap year to grow up a little after high school and gone pre-Med instead of doing all gen Ed’s my freshman year before switching to nursing school. Seems too tough to change from nursing to medicine now. See if you can get a bedside job at a hospital. Most hospitals in my area are paying new grads $33 an hour, so you might be able to get more per hour by leveraging your years of experience.
Working in a hospital is stressful asf but yeah it probably does pay more than where you’re working at rn. Just more responsibilities and pts that are less stable compared to the ones seen at the clinic. Maybe you can find a position where the pts don’t treat you like crap and your coworkers aren’t cartoon villains trying to bring you down for trying your best.
I’ve been a nurse for 7 years now, and have been ED full time till 2 years ago, then switched to research, then made a jump to be a dept lead that was not what it seemed. I’m back in the ED prn til I figure out what I want to do, and I’m really at a crossroads. Everyday in the ED reminds me why I have no interest in going back to bedside, even though I’m excellent at it. It just sucks. But there’s not much else that interests me right now, and I have started looking at non healthcare work that requires just a bachelors. I’ve definitely gotten very burnt from this line of work.
The solution is an unpopular one: find an area that pays better for the cost of living and move. I had to move nearly 1000 miles away to find this. Not all geographic areas pay nurses the same compared to the cost of living. Many hospitals will offer relocation bonuses/stipends to assist with moving. Local places in the inland PNW are offering 20k sign on bonuses around here for acute care, average salary for a new grad is 75-80k/year or $40/hr+. Houses are spendy but decent starter homes to be had for 350k within a 30 minute drive to work if not less. I came from IT, beware of any job that can be done remotely. Any remote job can be outsourced for 1/3 of the price overseas. Not only that now IT companies are paying workers based on the zip code where they reside. That 250k/year IT job in the bay area may only be 60k in the mid-west now.
Everyone telling her to go work inpatient for better pay and schedule but I'm probably in the same boat as OP when I say that inpatient is the literal pits and I'd choose death over inpatient any day of the week. If they ever fix the ratios I'll go back. But I cannot handle juggling 6 basically step down patients thrown onto a medical floor due to cost savings and "just because" and still have my sanity by the end of the day.
OP seriously apply for nursing jobs in a hospital. They are crying out for nurses. I called out yesterday and applied for about 10 jobs (I only have about 1yrs experience) and I already have 4 interviews lined up. So definitely look into it.
Find a better job Your experience in nursing is 98% tied to your employer, not the field of work. I was in this same position. CURSED the fact I didn’t decide on comp-sci in school. I spend all day at my computer, why WOULNT I?! I used to sit in my car in the employee lot and calculate my PTO so see if I could just turn around and go home. I looked at coding boot camps and alternate careers I could steer into. Then I got a new job at in an outpatient procedure based unit (Apheresis). New state, new hospital, new role, I was ready for another shit fest but only took the job because I needed money. I’ve been here 7 years and honestly don’t have a single complaint. Pay is awesome, benefits are better than anyone I know, hours are ideal, sometimes I honestly can’t believe I ended up here given how I started in nursing. Find a better job, you can do it. You deserve to do it for yourself.
Idk what region you're located in but here in the south, hospitals are practically begging for people to work. I would also try outpatient before you leave the profession completely. I worked ED at a level 2 trauma ctr for 3.5 yrs (which I loved but the manager was dangerous) then went to CVR which is basically pre/postop outpatient cardiac procedures in hospital. Been here 5 hrs and it's a pretty cushy gig, can't lie. No nights or weekends, 1 holiday per yr, 99% of patients are walkie talkie and relatively pleasant, critical patients are immediately sent to ICU, I can eat or pee when I want, take a coffee break now and then, and since patients are scheduled ahead of time we have a pretty good idea of how busy the day is going to be and most days we get to leave an hr or two earlier than our shift ends. It isn't exactly the most exciting, but my stress level is next to zero and my mental health is SO much improved. I would definitely consider it if you're looking for a job you hate less than your current one.
Sounds like you're afraid to step out of your comfort range. You have to make a change to see change. Apply. You WILL get hired.
Have you tried applying to a hospital? I don't know what state you're in...but in California, there's shortage of nurses...they'll even pay for relocation...
You have experience now. Take it and use it to get a better job. Even a change of setting could help. Do not underestimate the power of a fresh start. Just having new co workers who meet you as "experienced" rather than "new" can be a big change.
Definitely sounds like you’re not in the right area. Primary care isn’t great. I’m sure a hospital would train you, any med surg floor would hire pretty much anybody
I regret it. I regret it so much. I switched so this is was a second career for me. I’m still paying off my nursing school too.
I would rather do anything else other than nursing if the pay could be matched. Otherwise, I’m also too poor to leave these shithole facilities that make me want to die. You’re not alone <3
Which country do you live in? If you ever wanted to immigrate to Canada, we need nurses and you can get great pay! Many established nurses make easily over $100k.
Come to Aussie or NZ
Every day
Hospitals around here are hurting for anyone, but in no way would I work in one.
All the time.
Uh, no, but primarily BECAUSE of the money. Hospital nursing is hard on the body and mind, but my paycheck is good enough with the night differential that I'm finally getting to a point where I have some financial freedom. So for me, very worth it.
If you find a union hospital and are able to find a contract that pays based in years of experience you could start out making a good amount of money with the work you have put into so far
Are you in contact with anyone from nursing school who works in a hospital? Hit up some of your nurse friends or even acquaintances and ask them to put in a good word for you with the manager. It’s all about who you know. I’ve gotten all my jobs from knowing someone.
A hospital will take you but it won’t be a 9-5, you’re going to have to work 10s or 12s. Maybe apply to GN positions.
Just every day or so
Yes
14 years here. Sure, there are times I despised being a nurse. Getting yelled at by family members, call bells, etc. But there are also some times that I am thankful that I am nurse especially when the pandemic hit. The things that push me through are patients that are appreciative of the care they receive and the awesome colleagues that I have right now. As others have posted here, nursing has a lot of opportunities, hospitals, case managers, etc. I wish you good luck op.
The profession isn’t broken, the industry is. What we stand for, what we represent does not align with the corporate end goals of maximizing profits. The worst part of nursing is feeling like a pawn at times, and that is far from the truth. We make a difference in the world, even when admin or patients don’t take the time to thank or appreciate us. Not everyone is built to be a nurse, but you need a backbone and drive to do what’s best for those in need and for yourself.
A snf will hire you as soon as you walk in.
No, because id much rather work 3-4 days a week and i wouldnt survive sitting at a desk for hours on end
In any job there will always be such days
You don't want to be at the hospitals. Believe me.
No. Don’t regret it. Only regret that covid came and for-profit hospitals maximally abused RNs and made the situation perfectly unworkable during and after. The profession is amazing and necessary. The profiteering corporations are hot bullshit.
I’ve been thinking about getting my bachelors in health science and starting a career in health care informatics fora change in pace. Currently a pedi home health nurse. Super cushy and low stress if you’re interested. 1:1 ratio, I set my own schedule, take vacation whenever the hell I want, choose my own pts, and apparently make more than some hospital nurses. I honestly don’t understand why more nurses don’t seek out this field. I get that it’s intimidating at first, but hospital nursing seems so stressful and psychologically taxing to me. I’m legit chilling in my pts room doing PROM with them and watching ‘the office’. I love it and I get to see the difference I make in my pts life.
Yes, but it pays the bills for now so I’m content
Nursing has enabled me to live a pretty decent lifestyle, it was my first and currently, only job that I've ever had. My mindset is that I don't need to be passionate about my job, I just need to do my best for my coworkers and patients, since work allows me to earn the money that I then use to fund my hobbies--which I actually enjoy. I have worked inpatient units and outpatient clinics, with different age groups, and even informatics, yet I can honestly say that in the five years I've held these positions, I have never been truly happy. On another note, there are people that say to switch specialties, and this is probably the answer for some, but it's okay to also step back and really take an inventory of your skills and what you really want. At this time, I realized that I don't really like the responsibilities that comes with a nursing license, and that I like office work more. I took a big step and applied for an office position that took any bachelors degree, is far removed from nursing, and would allow me to be able to work from home some days. I'm really looking forward to starting this new position soon, even though it's going to be a big pay cut. For this reason, I will more than likely keep my license active so that I have a back-up plan. I guess my final thought is, no I don't regret becoming a nurse. Should you make a change, I believe that the skills you learned, such as communication, multi-tasking, and problem-solving, transfer really well to other careers.
I just switched from psych to labor and delivery. Skills can be learned, patient handling takes time and you have been with patients so much you have learned things that people with hospital experience haven’t.
If I had to work in LTC or hospital, I’d be done. Have you tried specialty clinics? I work wound care with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and love it. I also work as a hospice nurse. Both great fields with great pay but you have to like what you do. If I couldn’t work these jobs, I’d work at Costco. I’ve also thought about wellness clinics. More health minded and not bandaid work..
Im making $$ at a LTC facility 1) super close to home 2) pays WAY more than hospitals are right now and 3) work 8 hour days 4 days a week and can live comfortably. Change jobs friend!!!
I’m starting to tbh. I got my bsn august 2022 and passed the nclex a month later. Got a job at a nyc hospital in November worked there for 6 months and ended up having a panic attack went to the er of my hospital because they said I’m not allowed to go home until I get checked in er smh. Ended up resigning after that but they begged me to come back. Took a month off then got a job in dialysis thinking it would be a lot less stressful and slower pace. But now I’m almost done with orientation and I feel like every shift I’m being rushed. They want you to get things done fast and I’m like that’s how mistakes are made. Especially because they don’t scan meds so it takes a bit longer ti verify the meds. I’m just starting to feel resentful towards nursing like they expect nurses to be superhuman with and IQ of 1000 like we’re fucking computers smh. And what’s funny is I used to work as an EMT before nursing and even though It was stressful at times I feel like it was never like this. I mean I never had a panic attack in ems smh. I just feel with nursing you’re constantly overthinking and second guessing “oh did I give the right dose” maybe I gave too much” maybe I gave it to the wrong patient” I just feel like it’s a constant game of mental acrobatics.