Why I’ll Probably Quit Nursing
There’s been a lot of recent discussion about nursing salaries and the nursing shortage.
I wanted to chime in because (a) I love to over-simplify things, and (b) I am on the verge of becoming one of those nurses they refer to – the kind who works 2-3 years after school and then quits.
The reasons aren’t complicated. Here’s why I’ll probably end up quitting:
- The money sucks.
- It takes its toll on you physically.
- I don’t want to work nights, weekends, or holidays.
Sure there are many peripheral issues – nurses dumping on each other, lack of autonomy, lack of time and resources to get the job done right. But other than that it’s a personally rewarding, and (at times) intellectually challenging job. It feels good to help people when they are sick. I love being the voice of calm in a storm. I love working as a team and saving lives (sometimes.)
I just don’t love it enough to get over the three points that I listed above.
It’s that simple. If I became a nurse when I was 22 I might have gotten a few more good years in, but sadly, I didn’t. So if there’s any constructive advice springing from this negative view of nursing it would be this: Get ‘em in while they’re young. The earlier you start your nursing career, the later your burnout will be.
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I’m 20, and in my first semester of nursing school. It’s tough and I don’t know if i’ll make it. I keep considering quitting and have read about nurses ready to quit. I already feel burnout. Should I even continue or should I pick a different career?
I am 45 and have been an RN for almost 2.5 years – and I am ready to get out of the health field. I am burned out already- bouncing between days- nights and a recent change to evenings. I work and have no energy for anything else. Nursing responsibilities increase every day while our staff gets downsized and we are maxed out every time we show up for work. There is never an easy day- just feel lucky if no one died on your shift and hope you charted every thing your- supposed to do- and if your lucky you do about 1/2 because your responsibilities increase daily. Let’s face it doctor’s do not even have to show- just call you to make the decisions about their patients care.We are the lifeline for every patient on the floor. And the nurses that stay are type A with attitudes- the super nurses that can’t be replaced. But they aren’t able to do their jobs either.There is not a real shortage- that is the Hospital Administrations excuse after sending 3 nurses home (staffing down) to max out the rest of the staff without considering the acuity of patients- just the number of warm bodies.I want my life back. I love the patients but I am miserable with an aching back, tired, missing my kids and husband, working long hours, under payed(I have to know everything the doctor’s do for 1/5 their pay and babysit them too.), and when I am off I am too tired to do anything. And to think I studied my butt off for this. And to make matters worse I cannot remember ever being thanked by my supervisor for a job done really well.
I’ve been an RN for 28 years. My back is a mess, legs are full of varicose veins and I continue to come home from work absolutely exhausted and aching, especially since I have aged. I spend one day per week just vegetating in my jammies, in order to recuperate. The hospitals only care about the bottom line and are willing to discard us like dirty Kleenex at the drop of a hat, ESPECIALLY if we are experienced (more expensive), despite our unflagging loyalty! We are utilized like slave labor at times. And…as we age and hope for a less physically challenging assignment….we are only offered promotion if we pay a local college in excess of $17,000 to spend 19 months writing a litany of research papers and completing group projects to justify the expense………none of which makes us any more adept at caring for our patients, except…perhaps… an opportunity to have acquired more advanced teamwork skills. The opportunities I feel that actually made me more skilled were ACLS, PALS, STABLE and other assorted training, including the experiences that comes with various assignments after 28 years of service. HOWEVER……….even in light of all this………….I still would rather do nothing else! No….I am not crazy. I just love being a nurse:The variety in this seemingly thankless career choice is endless….so many areas in which to perform my skills, or learn new ones. The learning and challenge never ends…can never say I am bored! Unlike any other profession, I come home each day knowing I made a difference in someone’s life…sometimes, a profound difference. I sleep very well because of that simple fact, regardless of whether I receive any form of recognition…..I KNOW I am a fabulous nurse! All it takes is that random smile…or even a thank-you…from a patient that keeps me going. And, I like that about me. Cannot imagine being any more fulfilled doing ANYTHING else.
i quit nursing school, i only had 8 months left to get my rn, bsn. i’m going to be a medical technologist. the money is less, only 55 grand a year. but i will like my job. i love lab work and that’s what i did before ever going to nursing school. clinicals were the worst experiences in my life.
I can’t believe that after 4 years of miserable schooling I ended up with this! I am going to hang in long enough to pay my loans and get a descent car. Then I am off into a different career, don’t know what yet but I know it will be better than this. Life is too short to spend many years in a hectic job and end up being an old bitter nurse like many of the old ones I work with. Can’t wait to run away from it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m a 2.5 yr old nurse, and all I can say is that I agree with the orignial poster. I love patients and I love the very few times that I’ve been able to take correct care of said patients. However, the pay sucks for the hours we keep and the responsbilities we carry. I want to be with my family when they are home, and I don’t want to have knee and back issues in my 30′s. I’m working until my loans are paied and then going to change careers.
Nursing gets a hold of you and you get comfortable doing it even with the harsh working conditions. You will toy with the idea of quitting nursing but you don’t feel courageous enough to quit doing what you know is hurting you. I have decided to take the plunge and I’ve never been happier! If you’re an unappreciated, burnt out nurse you out it to yourself and your patient to quit. There is always something better. http://www.nursinghabits.com/2010/11/youre-the-artist-lifes-a-canvas/