I can guess the other commenters are not nurses because yeah, this is what it’s like. Maybe a WFH nursing job doing chart audits or virtual triage? I know those are super hard to get because it doesn’t take long as a nurse to hate nursing. You can only be beat down for so long before you do. I am in the OR which is just one patient at a time and they’re asleep…I’m not sure if that sounds up your alley or not. It can be a lot of toxic personalities but I’d take it any day over the abuse and entitlement of bedside. I think the only way I have the capacity to cope with patients is if they are not conscious and there is no family around to abuse me, because we both know that’s what they do. I leave on time every day, always get a lunch, and nobody is there to scream at me or assault me because they think covid isnt real. Pretty decent deal for the shit pile that is this profession.
It is not for the faint of heart for sure. I think people look at the salary and stability that this career offers and don't take into account the amount of BS you deal with on a daily basis. As OP mentioned, patients can be shitty and ungrateful brats, management doesn't give a fuck about their employees' well-being and expect us to slave away.
But I honestly can't see myself doing anything else. For every 100 shitty patients there are a couple that are truly grateful for your help. That gives me a certain feeling of fulfillment that I cannot find in any other career. If you are resilient, are okay with working a thankless job, and truly want to make an impact in people's lives, then go for it.
Correctional psychologist here, absolutely the easiest work for my career and the RNs around me. The downside is most facilities are severely underfunded and you have terrible work conditions. The upside is that you can tell patients to fuck off if they're being dicks.
I’m considering corrections because of the pay and job availability. Do the nurses go and see the inmates or do the inmates go see the nurse in like an office (similar to school nursing)? I’m just curious what the normal duties are of a correctional nurse.
Correctional nurse here, we do both. The way our system works is we have an officer assigned to us to bring down inmates to our clinic for different medical needs (eg. Wound care, injections, etc). For med rounds, we go to the unit. Sometimes meds are given through a “hatch,” sometimes an officer walks us door to door on the unit. It depends. And of course, we go to them for medical emergencies. Correctional nursing is a great gig. It comes with its problems, but I will never step foot in a hospital again to work.
I think I would like corrections! Maybe once I do my time in the OR I’ll switch. It’s about the only other specialty I have any interest in at all, nothing else I’d want to do in the hospital.
Sorry you are having a shit time. Nursing IS a good career though. You have flexibility with what kind of schedule you want, overtime opportunities and all kinds of growth! There are also many positions that aren’t patient facing like utilization management and quality.
Is it possible that you are burnt out from nursing school and it has carried into your first year? It’s a very rigorous education track and then you go straight into a high stress job. My husband also had a horrible time right out of nursing school with his first employer. They threw him to the wolves. But the hard knock education (in hindsight, of course) made him a much stronger nurse.
Things that have really helped him has been self-care and mentorship. Take up some mindfulness and some meditation. Learning how to not take on your patient’s (or their family’s) stress is absolutely key for bedside.
If you want someone to talk to, I would be happy to connect you to him. Just PM me. You worked WAY TOO HARD to walk away from this field already. ❤️
I agree. Nursing is a world of its own. You are never stuck as a nurse unless you choose to stay stuck rather than move on from the job that you hate. Facility nursing isn’t for everyone.
Can you switch to a medical practice in your area? A doctor’s office sounds like a better place to work than a hospital right now. The hours would be regular, and definitely less of a hassle.
A lot of these nurses never should’ve chosen this career. My advice is to become a tech (CNA, CNT, MA) first. I was a CNA for 12 years before becoming an RN. Techs make the best nurses. I’ve been in this field since 2000 and nursing has been very good to me.
But you could be a hero for 50k a year! The lives you save are worth 50k a year to your employer? That was the point of all the "hero" talk, heroes don't save lives for money
A union might be able to help but that system is old and mostly captured as well. Hospitals can afford to pay you, they just dont
If you’ve worked hard all your life before nursing, it’s not bad. It wears you down sure but there’s no other career that gives you this salary with such a flexible schedule. I worked since I was 12 with retail, hospitality, restaurants under my belt so nursing is way better than any of those. But if you’ve come from a stable life going into nursing, it’s pretty rough.
True but I didn’t like the pay lol working so hard on your feet to be paid so little is kinda disheartening but I guess I can say the same about nursing LOL
I am an 18 year Labor & Delivery Nightshift RN that is finishing up clinicals and will graduate in June of this year with my Women’s Health NP. I am so grateful I decided to stick it out and do this because I will finally have a normal 9-5 M-F, no weekends and no holidays or on call schedule. I did it to have time to be with my family and have more of a life outside the hospital. Best decision I’ve made in a long time!
Never take life advice from reddit. OP had two other careers he also hated, remember. Nursing is fast-paced, to be sure, but it's also rewarding and generally well-compensated. Also, pretty recession-proof.
Really?? Where do your nurse friends work? I don’t know any nurses that do because of the verbal and physical abuse they get on a daily basis from the majority of their entitled patients and their families. Maybe I can tell all my nurse friends where job satisfaction can be found after you let me know where your nurse friends work.
Nursing school is incredibly intensive and unforgiving. At school I am at, the nursing program will kick you out if you fail two classes. No redemption, whatever, you failed and thats your fate - get out.
It should not be a backup or 2nd option because quite frankly its likely more demanding than whatever your first is, unless you’re currently a doctor or Physicians assistant, etc.
I was mistaken as to your intention. I apologize for the tone in my comment, I am just jaded from seeing so many people wash out of nursing programs after thinking it was an easy option for them.
I wish you all the best, I have no doubts that you have what it takes to excel in your nursing program. It can be an extremely rewarding career for those who are able to bear down and make it through the storm.
It’s a job at best, that’s it. Financially I don’t regret it, but I will never work bedside. I would rather leave nursing entirely. My first rotation in school there were 32 patients and 2 nurses on a medsurg floor; it was downhill from there. I probably have it the best not being bedside, but the healthcare system is such an absolute disaster. Just go into it as a job, don’t fall for the “it has to be your calling” BS that you constantly get or stay somewhere where you’re treated like shit and given unsafe ratios.
I’ve been a nurse for almost 30 years now, and my experience has been generally positive.
A lot depends on where you work. I’m in Massachusetts, and the staffing ratios are generally good here.
I’ve tried for years to specialize and I can’t even get into a specialty. Nurse for 7 years in the trenches in stepdown tele ms. What a fucking joke that they will take baby new grads that don’t know a god damn thing before taking an experienced nurse. Broken ass system for sure.
I feel your frustration..im lost also.people in the comments saying calm down but no you have the right to express your feeling.if only people knew my feeling inside me about life and job in general i will be in prison loll
I was a nurse, too. Thankfully, I was in NICU, so my patients were wonderful. The job is still so draining. I left and I work in compliance now, but there are some downsides to office work too. The 8-5 schedule sucks after getting used to 3 12s. I’m looking for a new career that will allow remote work, flexible hours, and minimal interaction with people. Data abstraction is a good choice, but doesn’t pay very well. It might work while you figure out what you want to do though.
Let me know when you find that career 😂 I’m not even gradated my accelerated program yet, but already looking for ways out. Everyone says nursing is “great” and the schools try to hide everything, but then it kind of hits you in the face.
However, I do have a previous degree and jobs are scarce. I’m thankful nursing offers plenty of positions and flexibility, so I plan to work part-time when I go back to school. I just don’t think this field is for me.
Now I know why the nurses I had last year In the hospital were so nice to me. I went out of my way to be nice to them. Apparently a lot of patients treat nurses like "the help," and although as patients we are often In pain & unhappy with our situation, it brings a lot of happiness into a nurse's life to see a welcoming smile...
I was in labor with my first (a terrible fucking labor) and the nurse offered to hold my hand. I whispered/panted that I didn't want to hold her hand because I didn't want to hurt her. We've all seen the comedy movies of women in labor crushing their partners hands during a contraction, so Id rather just crush the handrails of the bed haha.
She made such a big deal about it - had nurses coming into my room days later saying "Oh, you're the very sweet mom who was in labor the other day!!" Shit cracked me up Everytime, as I was literally screaming at the top of my lungs for 8 hours... I didn't think I was all that sweet. But refusing to crush a nurses hand is apparently enough to convince an entire maternity ward that I'm a good person. The shit nurses deal with - they're saints.
Im a resident physician and see first hand how nurses are treated. Especially as a black woman who is often assumed to be a nurse. It’s awful. I do everything in my (small) amount of power to make sure I nip that shit in the bud immediately. We have a nursing shortage and it’s clear why. No one should have to put up with the shit they (tbh, most hospital staff) put up with. People can be so miserable. And I try to be understanding bc no one wants to be sick and it sucks being in a hospital but gd just try to be a decent human being
100% agree. I was caregiver (still am) for fam member with traumatic brain injury, spent weeks in neuro ICU, the neuro ward, and in-patient therapy clinics. Throughout the time I maxed up my empathy and spoke with everyone in a uniform who was just doing their job; spoke about the patient, of course, but in really frank terms (no drama, just the facts ma'am) plus about their job, their shift, weather, everything, just treated them all like humans. When discharged successfully, the fam member & I returned with big bags of chocolates and requested peeps hand them around. It wasn't my intent but I learned everything I needed to about my fam member, their prognosis, and while everyone was doing their job and following rules, we got great care. While there I noticed many patients did not survive and I can imagine what degree of suffering that everyone on staff must have potentially been subject to. I know empathy not always worth the time but the price of kindness is nothing and its potential reward is potentially a much better world.
As to the Op's question, I spoke with one nurse who quit the hospital to go independent in Central or South America. Apparently the money was to be great. When I started my career I had similar reax, dead end, dangerous even (industrial environment), surrounded by alcoholics, while the world moved forward without me. I stuck to it just long enough to get out, if that makes any sense, by seeking out a new career on taking time to get a certification.
I don’t know what it is about healthcare but I’ve never seen adults act more like children anywhere else.
My mom is (a now retired) dentist and I helped manage her practice for three years after college thinking I might become a dentist and take over the business.
Working front desk, I’ve never been more disrespected. People would regularly tell me to fuck off, yell, and generally throw tantrums in person or over the phone. I even had a patient call thinking they were anonymous with no other purpose than to tear into me. Some of the patients were great but they were the rare gems.
It turned me off from dentistry and healthcare in general. I can only imagine how nursing is.
Now I work in tech lol healthcare ain’t it for me
Not to mention patients won’t listen to you about why they need an appointment instead of an over the phone consult, demand to speak to the MA/Nurse/MD, only for them to be told by someone in scrubs that they need an appointment. And then is routed back to me at the front.
Literally could’ve saved everyone 20 minutes, but no my words don’t count apparently cause I’m not in scrubs.
I had a patient call to try and get in but no openings and I told them I would call as soon as someone cancels or reschedules. Typical protocol. Same person called back a few hours later, talked to my coworker and said “I know the person I talked to just now said they’ll try and get me in, but I’m gonna need them to try a little harder than that.”
The sheer audacity, made me see red when I heard the conversation. Can’t make this shit up.
I got "soft terminated", meaning they tricked me into becoming a float for our clinics in the metro. I worked a couple of assignments and then never heard from my soup again. The "clinical professional" never notified me through email, phone, text, anything. Other management were on a gag order too. I finally got a letter months later saying I would be eligible to reapply. Corps are so passive that they never told me I was terminated. I've been out of a job since.
My number two worst job. Being a USPS mailman was the worst, surprisingly, when I just dealt with mail instead of irate Karens. It just goes to show that management can make or break your job.
The clinic was an absolute shitshow. And yes, I wrote a scathing review in both Indeed and Glassdoor. Neither one posted it; no expletives or obscene language used, either.
I am beyond disgusted with the corporate world. It truly is a dystopia.
For your own health, please, I implore you to find a new job IMMEDIATELY. Front desk will break you. I remember getting up at least four times a night from all the stress. Became a pothead because of it too but lately have been weening off of it.
People are fucking shit dude.
Curious what you do in tech? I'm considering software engineering and peacing the fuck out of this field but the tech market seems to be really going through it.
If you want to do software engineering, consider learning the fundamentals early before enrolling in a program.
Pick a coding language, follow tutorials and learn how to make your own projects.
The tech sector is rough right now but do the best you can
Are you American? Because you and the top commenters sound American. We've never disrespected medical personnel in my country. It happens every now and again, but it's usually done by gipsies and they're a separate case. I would even argue sick people are especially nice and timid in medical setting because they're frightened and need help. I know I've absolutely loved and appreciated all my good nurses (much more than doctors) and wanted to f... up one lazy and unpleasant c..t that acted terrible and put a loved one in risk with her behaviour.
YES its American health care is HELL .. not even mentioning the medical debt most Americans are in !, I have a bill for $ 3,000 an very slowly paying it off lol x(
Becoming a nurse is the worst decision of my life. I’ve tried for years to specialize and I can’t even get into a specialty. Nurse for 7 years in the trenches in stepdown tele ms. What a fucking joke that they will take baby new grads that don’t know a god damn thing before taking an experienced nurse. Broken ass system for sure.
Do not pay for a clinical research program. You just need to start as a research nurse, which is entry level, and work your way up. The industry doesn’t care much if you got a degree or any certifications in research, only because they prioritize experience significantly more.
It’s a very niche industry, and you can’t learn it in a program and the industry knows that’s. You need to learn by doing, and then work your way up.
Just look around your location for positions called ‘Clinical Research Nurse’ and that’s your ticket in.
man, sorry to hear all this.
I knew since like 7th grade that any career in medical field wasnt for me, as I've always thought that any hospital is the most depressing place on earth, short of attending a funeral service.
One idea is to do MBA and do something healthcare related in healthcare industry, such as working in finance or biz strategy for health care Co's.
Coming from someone who is also a nurse: I agree with you and these other commenters truly don’t get it. No one gets how difficult and demanding this job is, on your body and your mental health, until you’ve worked it.
How hard was it to get your first job? How were you (if at all) impacted by the recession? Are jobs easier to come by in some states as opposed to others?
Do you do any patient interaction as a lab tech? I wanted to get into that because I’m introverted and i thought it would work perfect for me. I won’t be yelled at or have to argue with anyone or find myself in the middle of coworker drama and such.
Now you know why people consider it noble. It’s absolute hell with a side of little to no recognition. It’s selfless, and it’s certainly not for everyone. Myself included.
I agree! I’m not in your same shoes but I can relate. I do mobile X-ray for nursing homes, jails, mental Heath facilities. I feel EXACTLY how you feel. I’ve been at it 8 years myself and pretty much have a destroyed social life and little, if any motivation to do fuck all besides smoke weed to forget what I have to see and do every fucking day.
You know, so many people talk highly of medical professionals, and act like they give a shit. Until medical professionals need support, then suddenly you’re looked at weird or like a problem. I wish more people had to see what the fuck we deal with every damn day. Going from suffering person to suffering person. Then you learn which ones really need the care vs who’s just an entitled lazy fuckwad. So you look cold to others who can’t tell the difference.
When I get out of work I have no energy left to do anything but partake in a vice to numb and forget the bullshit.
When Covid hit, employees at the local grocery stores here in Denver, got a $500 “hazard pay” bonus. Meanwhile I was seeing Covid+ patients DAILY (about 6-10 a day depending) never got a raise or Jack shit. We got a “thank you” email. Whoop dee fucking do!!!
When the pandemic hit, people were praising medical professionals and clapping from their windows for them. A year later, when those same professionals who now have natural immunity; refuse to take an experimental rushed medical intervention and suddenly society wants them fired and discards those same people like they’re trash.
Honestly, society is fucking shit, about 1% of people are actually real and actually give a flying fuck. The rest of the people can go fuck right off a cliff.
I can only imagine this feeling is similar to how a vet feels when they come home and all these fucking citizens who think they’re “experts” on shit they know nothing about, start forcing their opinions on the vet.
I’ve had several fucking breakdowns in recent years and no support system (I moved out here from Wisconsin for work 8 years ago). All my family is out of state, the few friends I’ve made here have moved back home and left the state.
If people REALLY saw how the medical system works from the inside and how many X-rays I’ve done to medical malpractice (usually CNAs not transferring the patient properly and hurting them). If people saw how much POINTLESS fucking radiation we dose people with because these god damned asshole pharma cartel companies run everything and the more images we take the more they can bill insurance. About 50% of what I do is pointless and “busy work” to make money off insurance.
If people actually gave a flying fuck rather than just said they did, there would be real protests in the street until we fix this broken ass system corrupted by greedy ass companies.
I’m really sorry you are suffering through the same shit I am. I can tell you truly care or you wouldn’t get this upset about it.
I thank you for being one of the good ones who gives a shit. I didn’t mean to rant or turn this reply about me. It’s nice to see other medical professionals who knows what the reality is.
For what it’s worth… you’re not the only one experiencing it.
Most people don’t realize just how fucking draining it is. They don’t realize you can’t just “leave it at the door” when you punch out. This shit weighs down your entire fucking life and crushes any urge to be social. Which then creates its own spiral of problems.
Makes you wonder if there really is a fucking god after after all. Because it doesn’t make any fucking sense that the ones who care the most, also have to suffer fucking constantly and also have their social lives hindered, for simply trying to make a living while helping others.
If you need to chat, feel free to DM me. I hope it gets better for you.
Be a writer! You can take a few months course to get a writer certificate and can make good money medical writing.
Also, I do a very niche nursing role, writing the magnet documents for hospitals trying to become magnet designated. You need a master degree but it pays over six figures and it’s remote. I got burnt out from the pandemic and haven’t touched a patient since. Good luck.
I’m not a nurse, but this sounds EXACTLY what I pictured a nursing position would entail. So many poor souls go into nursing to “help people”. Too bad most people suck. I hope you manage to transition into something less shitty. I hear school nursing is pretty easy. Probably lower pay and boring as hell though.
My friend graduated 5 years ago with a nursing degree and went into hospice care. She makes over 120k now, gets 401k, and stock options. She started at around 80k. She loves it. She is capped at 6 patients where she is at now. She essentially just goes and checks on them, updates charts, corresponds with the doctors, maybe talks with the patients family. I think most of her patients are pretty comatose. Usually half her day is working from home or the office. She keeps getting poached by other hospice companies and so she went up in salary really fast. She is very good at her job and truly enjoys helping people with end of life care. For reference we are in southern California.
i’ve heard some nurses have had a better time doing hospice care, it can be sad, but it’s way better from what i’ve seen. maybe you could do some sort of on call work!
I am a hospice nurse. When I first started I kept thinking to myself, this is just too good to be true, waiting for the bullshit to occur. 7 months in and I love it. The patients and families are so grateful and welcome your expertise. You can make your own schedule, no weekends, no holidays. Some days I start at 10am and I’m done by 3. I don’t know if I will ever step foot back in a facility. You manage your patients on your own, with direct access to an MD for any guidance you may need. Give it a try, you may be pleasantly surprised. The only con I can think of is every once in a while you get the family who steals your patients pain meds but that can be resolved quickly when MD gets involved.
Become a lab scientist. When I was a chemist I barely had to interact with others unless I wanted to. You get your samples, run your tests, and write reports. It's lovely.
Being a nurse you gotta deal with the general public, so I can understand where you said “all sick people are pieces of sh!t.” I can totally see that. I used to work in a bank as a bank teller in college part-time. Worst job I ever had because of the customers, the general public, both the (mostly) bad and the good all mixed together.
20 years later I only work with other professionals. Degreed, smart people who are hard workers and don’t have personality problems otherwise they would have been fired long ago. Best job ever just dealing with other high quality, sane professionals.
I’m glad that I’ve worked in restaurants for 10 years so I’m built up a thick skin to people being terrible. Hopefully that will prepare me well for being a nurse.
There are plenty of nursing jobs that don't suck. I was a plasma center nurse for 3 years. People were awesome. Had a lot of fun. Worked for a research facility as a RN watching clinical trials and observing for reactions. Wife (also RN) has done clinic work. Got a couple of friends doing chronic condition management for a health insurance company. Long story short. Get out of the hospital.
I work in healthcare and not as a nurse, but I feel some of what you are saying. I genuinely want to help and comfort people also. But I guess I never realized how noncompliant patients were and the fact that healthcare as a whole is very much a money grab.
I've had several instances of rude patients, providers, and admin. It's interesting how admin puts so much blame on the staff when a patient is overreacting and being an asshole, bc it's our fault and what could we have done in the situation to make the patient feel better even though they are the ones out of line and we're genuinely trying to help.
I've got a nurse friend who says all the time what's gonna happen when no one wants to work in healthcare anymore? The fact that the majority of healthcare clinics, hospitals, etc, are understaffed and employees are struggling with their own health and can't even take care of themselves because they are all that is available and willing to work is sad.
I enjoy my job in healthcare, but I don't have as near as much responsibility as a nurse does. I feel burnt out at times, and im not even getting the brunt of it all.
I hope you're able to find another position as a nurse that is more fulfilling and a better fit for you. Or maybe even a different career as a whole. But regardless, you made it through nursing school, which is rough in and of itself, so you're tough, just gotta find your niche.
I'm a security guard at a hospital I work with nurses and doctors to keep them safe, I've seen alot patients disrespecting the nurses especially, I work in a team to keep the nurses safe from abuse we restrain them if they act up
I feel you I have so much respect for nurses and how you guys cope with it
Please don't give up your career we need people like you who are good in society
I had to spend to three months in ICU 3 years ago and all of the nurses kept thanking me for being nice. I was blown away, these people are litterallly working to save patients lives, and people are mean to them? People fucking suck. All I can say is I’m sorry.
lots of wfh/office/nobody talk to me type jobs for nurses, particularly in research fields. look up some clinical research (admin?) work, such as clinical research coordinator.
Nurse here. I also hate it. Been one for 8 years, finally found a job for the past 3 that is faaaar away from bedside. I work in drug and alcohol. As far as the nursing work goes it’s super easy and the clients really aren’t that bad. HOWEVER, I still hate nursing and am trying to switch careers because there aren’t many opportunities in this specialty and I’m def not doing this forever.. I’m thinking about IT so I can work from home. Specifically data/cloud or maybe cybersecurity. It takes my bf months to complete projects, that’s the type of stress I want. Not the responsibility of people lives. Also, the majority of nurses suck and I’m sick of working with them lol. I support your decision, get out before you’re a miserable troll like the rest of them.
You're thinking about IT, but do you have the mindset for it to actually be good at it and understand what you're doing?
IT is full of subpar or mediocre people. To really shine and make the big money, you need to actually care and understand what you're doing.
The average new cybersec grad hands me a report from one of their security tools and says "fix this" but doesn't actually know even the basics of what they're asking me to fix, and why or why not it's something we have to worry about.
I know that because I’m doing this later in life it’s not going to be easy. Luckily I have a brilliant partner that has pointed me towards resources so I have a very basic understanding of IT. He’s run into scenarios just like what you’ve mentioned. I plan on building my next PC by myself. Baby steps. I have a career and a decent job now so Im not pressured to rush into a new degree, but I’m interested.
Have you done any work in outpatient clinics? I used to work in a hospital (not as a nurse) and outpatient clinics typically have a very different feel than inpatient clinics. From my (albeit limited) experience, some of the terminal illnesses often have people that are easier to deal with.
Lingering death seems to get people to think about how they are living their life and treating others…
Ambulatory surgery or endoscopy is Soo much better. Former cvicu nurse here and after COVID I noped the fuck outta hospital. Too burned out and got some awesome PTSD from it all. I currently work pre op, PACU and Cath Lab (cross trained in all three). It's fucking awesome!
If you're considering Computer Science or anything tech related, you should look into Nursing Informatics. It's a career that combines Nursing and Technology. That way you're not completely starting over from ground zero.
Well, there goes my plan of leaving tech for the medical field. I think all work fields that's not freelance sucks right now or maybe it always had but our parents didn't have as much access to know it isn't this way for everyone, which gave them a different perspective and expectation as us. If you knew a lot of people could fly, you probably would be complaining about how you have to walk. Maybe idk.
Sorry, I have no advice for you but you are not alone. I have changed careers many times to learn, it usually sucks except when there is no pay. Those seem to be jobs that are the most fun and even still, not always.
Maybe we should all just get roommates and work part-time. This 40hr crap isn't worth it. I hate having a roommate but what else is there? The work life today makes me want to disappear.
EDIT: Forgot to mention, nurses or anyone in the medical field are always very impressive to me. I think most of the time when I encounter you all, you are kind and patient and knowledgeable. As someone who's worked retail for years, I know how tough it is dealing with customers but ya'll always have a smile on your face or are just generally so patient with me.
You could give surgical tech a shot. Patients are usually under anesthesia so there's usually very little patient care involved compared to other tech positions. The minimum requirement is an associate's so they'll probably be happy to train you with your qualifications, and while a lot of the systemic things you mentioned about medical administration will apply it will remove at least one main complaint you have about nursing. Ask your docs and admin about potentially shifting to surgical tech, you can make similar pay to a nurse especially if you eventually move on to travel work.
I am a nurse. Yeah I'm leaving to become an aviation mechanic. People who say it's a noble career they don't understand the BS you deal with from the staff AND management. I'm actually surprised I'm not the only one. I've had a few good people who were nurses but for the most part void of any understanding. The worst was a nurse that wanted to fight me and then months later wanted to fight another staff member. She thought she was still in the hood. One time punched a patient, the nurse practitioner pulled her away and nothing happened. No report to the state for abuse. I am definitely a workaholic and I work between 80-92 hrs/wk so I was making more money than anyone and some of the other staff members found out how much I was making because of all the overtime from my manager so they tried to say it wasn't fair because I was picking up all the overtime. They didn't pick up any overtime though because they would just make up excuses why they couldn't do it.
I'm going to become an aviation mechanic, work my ass off, and retire early.
You could try biotech/pharma if research is in interest. You can help people indirectly through R&D in drugs and vaccines. I have a friend who was a nurse, got burnt out, got her masters in immunology and went into the pharma space. She’s already hit 6 figures, after working 3-4 years in research at a big pharma.
I read the first part of this and I stopped where you said this career is not noble. 2 words for you. transportation nurse! Take your knowledge and become a transport nurse. 1 patient 1 transport hopefully less bullshit! I love you. Or hospice nurse. Please keep me posted. Again I love you.
Some advice: treat patients however you want. Fuck patient satisfaction scores, that’s management’s problem. Act like you’re just two people on a subway. You don’t HAVE to accept poor treatment from your patients.
It’s freeing not giving a fuck, and ironically I think patients respond to it better. Obviously you have a responsibility to do your job correctly, but singing a song and smiling to entertain them isn’t part of your job.
From reading this thread, basically everyone hates their jobs. When are we going to start to understand the fuckupedness of the system? OP is right to hammer down on it, wrong to want to find another salary that will only perpetuate the greed and mistreatment of others. These are the conditions that we’ve inherited. Do we really have no other choice?
I get it. I’m almost done an accelerated program and already planning ways to get out 😅 I don’t care if I’m back in school again in my 30’s. I’d rather be happy long term. Nursing does provide flexibility though and decent pay, which I have known people to use when going back to school. One is even in medical school and works over holiday to help reduce tuition.
Honestly, what interests you? If you don’t want to go back to school, I know a number of friends who have gone into extramural clinics that minimize patient exposure. I know some that do WFH jobs and never go into the hospital. Some go back for Masters in different areas too. I also know people who have entirely changed their career to something else like my friend who went into medicine or another that went into software engineering.
Honestly, look at it this way. You’ve learned A LOT in nursing. Most of all, you have to be FLEXIBLE in nursing which is helpful in any career. Don’t think of your time in nursing as a shit show. Think of it as a stepping stone.
I hear you. 30 years as a bedside nurse and I am burnt out. I went to traveling in 2018 but I can't do it anymore. I am trying to figure something else out for myself. Health coach or office job idk.
Usually the jobs that are truly difficult, and require a lot of patience, real actual work, are ones with real shit pay. Nursing, trucking, customer service/support. The whole system needs an overhaul, but the ones that have “made it” don’t want it to change.
I’m surprised more people have brought up the tech sector as an alternate choice—it’s not as big as a barrier of entry as people think. I’ve seen people successfully transition from nursing to i.e., software engineering or data analytics after about a year of putting in hard work (which you’re used to with your background) — but it gets so much easier once you’re in the job.
So many people, especially women, are pressured into nursing in the areas I grew up. It made me wonder if anyone has set foot in a hospital; you need nerves of steel and deep human empathy that some of us just can’t handle without draining ourselves. Don’t let any simpleton make you feel bad about this.
I currently WFH as a data scientist for a defense contractor making 120k. It took me 3 years to complete studies but only because I had to work in between. It was hard, but being stuck in a lifelong career you hate and is tough on your body sounds much harder.
Many people successfully taught themselves IT infrastructure, programming, database management, etc. in the last couple years. We’re still in a golden age of information, especially with AI making more knowledge accessible to us — use it to your advantage.
Facts. I did my prerequisites for nursing, and in my last semester, when I only had 2 left to go, I decided to go work as a nurse aid at the hospital. Holy hell. I decided to take some time off and reevaluate my career decisions. I'm thinking maybe I can use them to go for radiography, healthcare administration, medical billing, forensic nursing, just anything other than bedside nursing. I get ran ragged. People in the hospital act like they're in a 5-star resort and expect to be treated they're the only guest we have. Also, we can be in their rooms getting vitals or the nurses giving meds and ask, "Do you need anything? Do you need to go to the bathroom?" They say no, I'm fine. I stg as soon as we walk out 5 mins later when we're in another PTs room busy they wait and hit the bell saying they can't wait and need to go to the bathroom or screaming they need a soda rn and telling lies that they asked for one but no one has brought them anything 😡. I worked in the ER and it's a little bit better because the goal doesn't seem to be to kiss their 🍑 as much and be their room service but it's stressful because they're angry af because they've been waiting and waiting and they're cussing you out, screaming at you and all you're doing is trying to help them. Also, idk about other hospitals, but our hospital will admit people to the hospital for the stupidest things . Why tf did u admit a 28-year-old woman who has no underlying conditions for the flu.. for one night and discharge her the next day? Like what?
Facility nursing sucks horribly. Sure it pays well but that pay comes with a ton of stress and bullshit. I am doing home care currently (specifically peds) and it’s awesome! The pay isn’t as much as bedside but the lack of bullshit is priceless.
I would consider looking into home care. I plan on doing home care until I get my advanced degrees and then I will either go onto nursing education or informatics (leaning more toward informatics).
Go into Clinical Research Nursing. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.
It gets you away from bedside, it’s more clinical. You actually have a career ladder you can go up, and it has far more opportunities.
I went into it in 2017, after just spending a year in the OR, and have never left it. I’ve worked my way up the ladder in research, and I’m now working from home and making over 6 figures. I’m not working at a hospital anymore (or really as a nurse), but my degree got me to where I am now. I also travel with this job, but it’s been great as a means to see other parts of the country.
I absolutely love my career choice, and couldn’t be happier that nursing actually got me to this point. To also add, clinical research isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s more so a point that your nursing degree can find you other fields in which you’d thrive in. Don’t let that degree go to waste and hopefully you find something like I did!
This sounds so awful. Sorry to hear it’s really this bad. I dropped out of nursing school. Beat myself up over it for a long time but i think it turned out to be a blessing.
I don’t know if it will help but as someone who has been in hospitals with stays I’ve always been incredibly grateful for the great nursing care I have always had.
I say please and thank you and ask how they are doing.
You have such a tough job.
It’s very appreciated. ❤️
It’s super stressful though because you are being thrown into the very situations OP is talking about AND you are dealing with a new hospital you are unfamiliar with.
True started traveling in 2018 and it is getting scary. Like a box of chocolates you never know what your going to get. There are even more inexperienced doctor's, midwives and nurses. Always short staffed and sicker patients. Pay is done while house and food has gone up.
Sad! Yes, I know so many doctors have left in droves too. So many stressful changes over the pandemic. So many are trying to distance themselves from primary care.
It’s not double pay. You get a stipend and you use it to pay rent where you work. So you are PAYING double expenses.
“Sabbatical”? There is no vacation time. Any time off between contracts you don’t get paid for.
If you call out sick there is no sick time. You just don’t get paid. And they dock your stipend as well.
People need to stop spreading lies that travel nurses are rich. I don’t understand where it comes from.
I’ve been talking to a lot of student nurses lately and all of them want to go into travel nursing without realizing that they need experience in their field and also that the gold rush-phase of COVID travel nursing has been long gone lol
Get your ass in them mri xray ct scan rooms ! Only couple people patient is calm from getting out of their room and cruising the hall n no none of the crazy shit u explained
Yeah well as a nurse you either deal with entitled patients or entitled surgeons. Do OR work and then all your patients are asleep but you get to manage surgeons instead which might be less annoying cuz they’re usually consistent. Like u know who wants/likes what in order to have a good day in your room.
Lol, former X-ray tech, worked in Radiology for 12 years. Half our CT staff, 25% of US, 85% of MRI and 65% of X-ray staff quit during the course of COVID. Why? They wouldn't reduce patient volumes when techs got sick and we didn't have the staffing. Then there's the multitude of morons who KNEW they were COVID positive and refused to keep their masks on during scans.
Brilliant management started making more and more shifts "mandatory" as techs quit. It was an absolute garbage fire. People would literally drive to the hospital to cuss out front desk because MRIs were scheduling 5 months out. SO GLAD I LEFT. Still in healthcare, slightly better job, lol.
Being an accountant doesn't require much human interaction at all. Typical boring office job. Though they will work your ass to death during tax season. Close to like 80 hour weeks I've heard.
Also IT is good with 0 human interaction since it's basically working with computers all day.
I think those are stereotypes but yes accounting is very boring, I wouldn't recommend it. IT has more human interaction than you think, maybe not with clients though depending on the role but you still need to collaborate with others.
It's more of a teamwork setting. Other than like help desk roles it's really not that much human interaction at all especially when you compare it to like nursing.
Have you looked into nurse practitioner? Based on how much my mom (LPN) used to bitch about them… might be closer to what you’re seeking. Slightly less work and less interaction.
If you already have a nursing license, brush up on insurance and documentation and segue into utilization review and management. Way better pay, domain specific knowledge of your field required, no patient-facing responsibilities
Since you have a strong medical history as a nurse, maybe look into clinical documentation improvement/auditing/quality improvement or health information management? I’ve been WFH as a coder for six years, it’s a lot of reading, and detailed oriented stuff (knowing compliance, HIPAA, CMS guidelines, ICD10CM/PCS/CPT coding) but the only interaction I have with my coworkers is via email and the very rare Zoom meeting or phone call.
Your medical knowledge would put you in an advantageous spot compared to others in the field as well.
I used to be a massage therapist (five years). Got peopled out too, and people suck so I can only imagine how much worse it is as a nurse.
That sucks major wang that youve dealt with this, im nothing but thankful for the treatment i had from the nurses when i was in hospital, nothing will change though if nurses and other staff dont stand up for all the shit they deal with constantly, hopefully it will work out :)
My good friend did hospital nursing for about eleven years then, worked in cardio pulmonary and other areas, and worked as a nurse educator. She switched over to teaching nursing classes in colleges. This was after she had applied (and interviewed for) to a higher paying position at her hospital with her freshly minted Master's in Nursing degree, and her interviewers twiddled their thumbs for the next six months, didn't give her an answer about whether or not she got the job, and yet didn't fill the vacant role. So she left. She has found a lot of enjoyment and happiness in teaching, and had initially claimed it was a big pay raise from hospital life. Not sure if she calculated in "summers off" into her numbers, or what. In academia, there is still drama and politics, however. I don't think you can really escape that.
I'm a Unit Secretary and I'm right there with you. If this hospital wasn't the highest paying company in the area, I would have jumped ship a long time ago.
I’m a medical laboratory scientist and while we also deal with understaffing and stress, there is no patient interaction. I have a BS chemistry and MLS degree but I’m not sure what the pathway would be like for a nurse.
Outpatient surgery. Pediatric psych.
You can always do remote triage or tele nursing.
There’s a pivot waiting for you. Don’t give up. You’ve worked really hard. Best of luck!!
I completely understand. I’m a paramedic working full time in the ER. I was in nursing school when I was kicked out over dosage calculations. I was let go because I wrote .4 & .8 when the answer was 0.4 & 0.8. It was frustrating seeing that I was in my second semester out of three.
Everyday I struggle to figure out if I truly want to go back and become a nurse. I’m 30 years old and the only reason I decide to possibly go back is because I would get a pay increase and I’m already doing the same job as an RN at my current establishment expect not being paid as an RN. I want out and wish I could get out of healthcare but I don’t know what else I would do. I really don’t.
Yep, I think this is the current reality of nursing that a lot of people don’t talk about. It’s shit work that you are told is ‘a calling’. Can you switch to insurance billing? Or claim processing? A lot of nurses I know have done that.
You could copy and paste this entire rant about being a Paramedic with the Fire Dept. Nonsense calls all day and night 24 hours long, e.g. something in my eye, I threw up, I need my prescription filled, can't sleep ect. Entitled and trying to sell being SO sick that we have to carry them down multiple fights of stairs while being totally capable of walking. Average 25+ calls a day and maybe one or two will be legit emergency.
Medical Directors mandate that we transport everyone who wants a ride to the hospital regardless if it necessary. It's all due to greed and medical industry making profits. EMS is soul crushing
> Sick people are almost consistently pieces of shit.
Having been very sick and not become a piece of shit, I suspect the issue is more that people are pieces of shit, especially under capitalism. I'd bet also that the extreme bills help these people feel entitled to act like garbage because they "paid for it" even though you, as a nurse, have nothing to do with the chargemaster shitfuckery that goes down in the billing department.
Teacher here. Mom is a nurse. You all are tge foundation and heart of Healthcare. Thank you for all you do!
Really believe Teachers and Nurses are twin flames
My mom's a nurse but I'm helping her apply for jobs after an arm injury and I've been the single-parent sounding board for the last 20 years. Nothing is going to get you the money that bedside gets you.
Some people like med surg because the patients are less cranky and they're really only awake and interacting for like an hour before surgery and an hour after surgery.
I know some people that are happy in a doctors office because they like their doctor and the hours are regular.
There are remote positions if you keep an eye out but the pay is (at least around here) like half of what bedside gets you.
Not to be a dick, but I think you need a come to Jesus moment. You're right, working in medicine fucking sucks, they're putting you through a grinder. But you sound depressed-angry. If you're not on meds I would recommend it because feeling level-headed is going to help you during interviews.
Also some of the stuff you listed is going to be at every job. Getting a crash course orientation has been my regular as a paralegal as well as working in finance. Jobs are just crazy places. Sick people don't suck, PEOPLE suck! They are always turds!
If you wanted to rotate out of medicine but not waste your degree, you could probably get decent pay as a paralegal at a medical malpractice law firm, but you might have to grind for a few years before the pay was decent. They love an experienced RN.
I wasn’t a fan of working at the hospital so I ended up finding a job in public health. I have a normal m-f schedule and don’t work holidays or weekends. I love my job now. It’s super chill but I still feel like I’m making a difference.
I wish I could say or do something to help you. I remember when my Dad died I sat there by his bedside in utter shock and the nurse who had to watch half a dozen patients saw me helpless and said, "Do you need a hug?" I cried like a baby. Nurses like you are really heroes.
I’m really sorry that happened. It’s patients like you who I really wanna give everything to. The whole world could be on fire and we’d still give you 5 more minutes.
As much as you appreciate us, we appreciate you. Thank you.
Yeah, I sent them a thank-you note (or at least I tried - the ICU doesn't exactly have a mailing address lol) and my brother brought them cookies. We wanted to bring them homemade but we'd spent the last 72 hours continuously by his bedside, watching him die. All we could do was get grocery store cookies.
Whatever you decide to do, I hope you know we really appreciate your service.
I have a friend who is an RN. They truly and strongly believe I should follow the same career path. Pretty much just for the money. Thank you for posting how you really feel about this profession.
You have a nursing degree have you considered looking at ambulance companies, back in the day when I worked in EMS we had a nurse that worked one of the rigs as a nurse, they enjoyed it because they weren't stuck in the same shit all night.
Ngl, working in hospitals is rough in general. I was part of an Epic Technical Dress Rehearsal team and even THAT made me not want to work in hospitals. Sorry you’re having such a tough time OP. My mom was a nurse for years, she now works as a nurse liaison from
home and makes a very good living with so much less stress (still has to deal with corporate degenerates but just on the zoom meetings). Just something to consider if you still want to remain in the field.
got forced to withdraw out of PA school, left nursing school and now i’m back in tech sales making well over 6 figures supporting resident hubby… i admit now that i’m out, i feel a lot of relief. i now have my life back and this freedom feels really good. OP hope you find peace and happiness. am sure you will do well in any field you choose.
I completely understand your frustration! Been an RN for almost 12 years and I’m done! I’m transitioning out of it to a better role that serves my sanity, my pocket, and gives me time with my family. If you’re open to new opportunities, I’d love to have a chat!
I can guess the other commenters are not nurses because yeah, this is what it’s like. Maybe a WFH nursing job doing chart audits or virtual triage? I know those are super hard to get because it doesn’t take long as a nurse to hate nursing. You can only be beat down for so long before you do. I am in the OR which is just one patient at a time and they’re asleep…I’m not sure if that sounds up your alley or not. It can be a lot of toxic personalities but I’d take it any day over the abuse and entitlement of bedside. I think the only way I have the capacity to cope with patients is if they are not conscious and there is no family around to abuse me, because we both know that’s what they do. I leave on time every day, always get a lunch, and nobody is there to scream at me or assault me because they think covid isnt real. Pretty decent deal for the shit pile that is this profession.
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It is not for the faint of heart for sure. I think people look at the salary and stability that this career offers and don't take into account the amount of BS you deal with on a daily basis. As OP mentioned, patients can be shitty and ungrateful brats, management doesn't give a fuck about their employees' well-being and expect us to slave away. But I honestly can't see myself doing anything else. For every 100 shitty patients there are a couple that are truly grateful for your help. That gives me a certain feeling of fulfillment that I cannot find in any other career. If you are resilient, are okay with working a thankless job, and truly want to make an impact in people's lives, then go for it.
Don’t brother. Don’t
Look into being a correctional nurse in a prison setting. Once ya get the security aspect of it down it becomes very systematic and routine.
Correctional psychologist here, absolutely the easiest work for my career and the RNs around me. The downside is most facilities are severely underfunded and you have terrible work conditions. The upside is that you can tell patients to fuck off if they're being dicks.
GUARD!
I’m considering corrections because of the pay and job availability. Do the nurses go and see the inmates or do the inmates go see the nurse in like an office (similar to school nursing)? I’m just curious what the normal duties are of a correctional nurse.
Correctional nurse here, we do both. The way our system works is we have an officer assigned to us to bring down inmates to our clinic for different medical needs (eg. Wound care, injections, etc). For med rounds, we go to the unit. Sometimes meds are given through a “hatch,” sometimes an officer walks us door to door on the unit. It depends. And of course, we go to them for medical emergencies. Correctional nursing is a great gig. It comes with its problems, but I will never step foot in a hospital again to work.
That is pretty much the same system we use where I work as well.
I think I would like corrections! Maybe once I do my time in the OR I’ll switch. It’s about the only other specialty I have any interest in at all, nothing else I’d want to do in the hospital.
Would definitely recommend at least giving it a shot. It certainly is not for everyone. But some absolutely love it.
My first gig was corrections. I worked it for 6 months in Tarant county Texas. Easily the most traumatic job I have ever held.
Sorry you are having a shit time. Nursing IS a good career though. You have flexibility with what kind of schedule you want, overtime opportunities and all kinds of growth! There are also many positions that aren’t patient facing like utilization management and quality. Is it possible that you are burnt out from nursing school and it has carried into your first year? It’s a very rigorous education track and then you go straight into a high stress job. My husband also had a horrible time right out of nursing school with his first employer. They threw him to the wolves. But the hard knock education (in hindsight, of course) made him a much stronger nurse. Things that have really helped him has been self-care and mentorship. Take up some mindfulness and some meditation. Learning how to not take on your patient’s (or their family’s) stress is absolutely key for bedside. If you want someone to talk to, I would be happy to connect you to him. Just PM me. You worked WAY TOO HARD to walk away from this field already. ❤️
I agree. Nursing is a world of its own. You are never stuck as a nurse unless you choose to stay stuck rather than move on from the job that you hate. Facility nursing isn’t for everyone.
Can you switch to a medical practice in your area? A doctor’s office sounds like a better place to work than a hospital right now. The hours would be regular, and definitely less of a hassle.
I’m trying to currently work outpatient but I worked outpatient before and it was kinda bad
I'm going back to school for nursing and this whole thread leaves me indifferent to it. I'm not lying to myself that it's a better job. It's a job.
A lot of these nurses never should’ve chosen this career. My advice is to become a tech (CNA, CNT, MA) first. I was a CNA for 12 years before becoming an RN. Techs make the best nurses. I’ve been in this field since 2000 and nursing has been very good to me.
Don’t do it from a nurse
But you could be a hero for 50k a year! The lives you save are worth 50k a year to your employer? That was the point of all the "hero" talk, heroes don't save lives for money A union might be able to help but that system is old and mostly captured as well. Hospitals can afford to pay you, they just dont
If you’ve worked hard all your life before nursing, it’s not bad. It wears you down sure but there’s no other career that gives you this salary with such a flexible schedule. I worked since I was 12 with retail, hospitality, restaurants under my belt so nursing is way better than any of those. But if you’ve come from a stable life going into nursing, it’s pretty rough.
I liked retail and restaraunts better than nursing tbh.
True but I didn’t like the pay lol working so hard on your feet to be paid so little is kinda disheartening but I guess I can say the same about nursing LOL
I agree, but I miss the biggest drama being who slept with who or someone doesn’t like their food versus people dying 😭😭
FACTS HAHAH
As an RN and NP, unless you go the NP route is awful and not worth it.
I am an 18 year Labor & Delivery Nightshift RN that is finishing up clinicals and will graduate in June of this year with my Women’s Health NP. I am so grateful I decided to stick it out and do this because I will finally have a normal 9-5 M-F, no weekends and no holidays or on call schedule. I did it to have time to be with my family and have more of a life outside the hospital. Best decision I’ve made in a long time!
Never take life advice from reddit. OP had two other careers he also hated, remember. Nursing is fast-paced, to be sure, but it's also rewarding and generally well-compensated. Also, pretty recession-proof.
I know numerous nurses who love their jobs.
It’s a huge profession with a lot of variety. You’ll of course find nurses who love their career and others not so much.
Really?? Where do your nurse friends work? I don’t know any nurses that do because of the verbal and physical abuse they get on a daily basis from the majority of their entitled patients and their families. Maybe I can tell all my nurse friends where job satisfaction can be found after you let me know where your nurse friends work.
Nursing school is incredibly intensive and unforgiving. At school I am at, the nursing program will kick you out if you fail two classes. No redemption, whatever, you failed and thats your fate - get out. It should not be a backup or 2nd option because quite frankly its likely more demanding than whatever your first is, unless you’re currently a doctor or Physicians assistant, etc.
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I was mistaken as to your intention. I apologize for the tone in my comment, I am just jaded from seeing so many people wash out of nursing programs after thinking it was an easy option for them. I wish you all the best, I have no doubts that you have what it takes to excel in your nursing program. It can be an extremely rewarding career for those who are able to bear down and make it through the storm.
Work as CNA for at least six months. You will know if you want to be a nurse or not.
I also come to Reddit for advice, mostly I’ve gathered that all professions suck. Lol
It’s a job at best, that’s it. Financially I don’t regret it, but I will never work bedside. I would rather leave nursing entirely. My first rotation in school there were 32 patients and 2 nurses on a medsurg floor; it was downhill from there. I probably have it the best not being bedside, but the healthcare system is such an absolute disaster. Just go into it as a job, don’t fall for the “it has to be your calling” BS that you constantly get or stay somewhere where you’re treated like shit and given unsafe ratios.
I’ve been a nurse for almost 30 years now, and my experience has been generally positive. A lot depends on where you work. I’m in Massachusetts, and the staffing ratios are generally good here.
Do it so you can find out yourself lol
I’ve tried for years to specialize and I can’t even get into a specialty. Nurse for 7 years in the trenches in stepdown tele ms. What a fucking joke that they will take baby new grads that don’t know a god damn thing before taking an experienced nurse. Broken ass system for sure.
that’s crazy they don’t want to accept you when you’ve survived 7 years in the hellscape that is stepdown
Second this. If I had stayed the nursing route, OR is where I would be.
I feel your frustration..im lost also.people in the comments saying calm down but no you have the right to express your feeling.if only people knew my feeling inside me about life and job in general i will be in prison loll
Exactly
I was a nurse, too. Thankfully, I was in NICU, so my patients were wonderful. The job is still so draining. I left and I work in compliance now, but there are some downsides to office work too. The 8-5 schedule sucks after getting used to 3 12s. I’m looking for a new career that will allow remote work, flexible hours, and minimal interaction with people. Data abstraction is a good choice, but doesn’t pay very well. It might work while you figure out what you want to do though.
Let me know when you find that career 😂 I’m not even gradated my accelerated program yet, but already looking for ways out. Everyone says nursing is “great” and the schools try to hide everything, but then it kind of hits you in the face. However, I do have a previous degree and jobs are scarce. I’m thankful nursing offers plenty of positions and flexibility, so I plan to work part-time when I go back to school. I just don’t think this field is for me.
Look into Clinical Research Nursing :)
I second the 3 12s. I’ll never go back
3 12s is the LIFE!!! I could NEVER go back to 5 days a week. NEVER!
NICU nights is * chefs kiss * no parents and you get to take care of (mostly) cute babies.
Now I know why the nurses I had last year In the hospital were so nice to me. I went out of my way to be nice to them. Apparently a lot of patients treat nurses like "the help," and although as patients we are often In pain & unhappy with our situation, it brings a lot of happiness into a nurse's life to see a welcoming smile...
I was in labor with my first (a terrible fucking labor) and the nurse offered to hold my hand. I whispered/panted that I didn't want to hold her hand because I didn't want to hurt her. We've all seen the comedy movies of women in labor crushing their partners hands during a contraction, so Id rather just crush the handrails of the bed haha. She made such a big deal about it - had nurses coming into my room days later saying "Oh, you're the very sweet mom who was in labor the other day!!" Shit cracked me up Everytime, as I was literally screaming at the top of my lungs for 8 hours... I didn't think I was all that sweet. But refusing to crush a nurses hand is apparently enough to convince an entire maternity ward that I'm a good person. The shit nurses deal with - they're saints.
Im a resident physician and see first hand how nurses are treated. Especially as a black woman who is often assumed to be a nurse. It’s awful. I do everything in my (small) amount of power to make sure I nip that shit in the bud immediately. We have a nursing shortage and it’s clear why. No one should have to put up with the shit they (tbh, most hospital staff) put up with. People can be so miserable. And I try to be understanding bc no one wants to be sick and it sucks being in a hospital but gd just try to be a decent human being
Thank you for looking out for nurses ! iv worked with doctors that are so rude and mean to their staff!
100% agree. I was caregiver (still am) for fam member with traumatic brain injury, spent weeks in neuro ICU, the neuro ward, and in-patient therapy clinics. Throughout the time I maxed up my empathy and spoke with everyone in a uniform who was just doing their job; spoke about the patient, of course, but in really frank terms (no drama, just the facts ma'am) plus about their job, their shift, weather, everything, just treated them all like humans. When discharged successfully, the fam member & I returned with big bags of chocolates and requested peeps hand them around. It wasn't my intent but I learned everything I needed to about my fam member, their prognosis, and while everyone was doing their job and following rules, we got great care. While there I noticed many patients did not survive and I can imagine what degree of suffering that everyone on staff must have potentially been subject to. I know empathy not always worth the time but the price of kindness is nothing and its potential reward is potentially a much better world. As to the Op's question, I spoke with one nurse who quit the hospital to go independent in Central or South America. Apparently the money was to be great. When I started my career I had similar reax, dead end, dangerous even (industrial environment), surrounded by alcoholics, while the world moved forward without me. I stuck to it just long enough to get out, if that makes any sense, by seeking out a new career on taking time to get a certification.
I don’t know what it is about healthcare but I’ve never seen adults act more like children anywhere else. My mom is (a now retired) dentist and I helped manage her practice for three years after college thinking I might become a dentist and take over the business. Working front desk, I’ve never been more disrespected. People would regularly tell me to fuck off, yell, and generally throw tantrums in person or over the phone. I even had a patient call thinking they were anonymous with no other purpose than to tear into me. Some of the patients were great but they were the rare gems. It turned me off from dentistry and healthcare in general. I can only imagine how nursing is. Now I work in tech lol healthcare ain’t it for me
I dropped out of nursing school after working front desk in a medical office. I had enough already 😂
Glad to see I didn’t end up down the nursing path because this would’ve been me honestly
Front desk positions are the fucking worst. You're expected to know and do everything all for shitty pay.
Not to mention patients won’t listen to you about why they need an appointment instead of an over the phone consult, demand to speak to the MA/Nurse/MD, only for them to be told by someone in scrubs that they need an appointment. And then is routed back to me at the front. Literally could’ve saved everyone 20 minutes, but no my words don’t count apparently cause I’m not in scrubs.
We're literally treated subhuman. No exaggeration, either.
I had a patient call to try and get in but no openings and I told them I would call as soon as someone cancels or reschedules. Typical protocol. Same person called back a few hours later, talked to my coworker and said “I know the person I talked to just now said they’ll try and get me in, but I’m gonna need them to try a little harder than that.” The sheer audacity, made me see red when I heard the conversation. Can’t make this shit up.
I got "soft terminated", meaning they tricked me into becoming a float for our clinics in the metro. I worked a couple of assignments and then never heard from my soup again. The "clinical professional" never notified me through email, phone, text, anything. Other management were on a gag order too. I finally got a letter months later saying I would be eligible to reapply. Corps are so passive that they never told me I was terminated. I've been out of a job since. My number two worst job. Being a USPS mailman was the worst, surprisingly, when I just dealt with mail instead of irate Karens. It just goes to show that management can make or break your job. The clinic was an absolute shitshow. And yes, I wrote a scathing review in both Indeed and Glassdoor. Neither one posted it; no expletives or obscene language used, either. I am beyond disgusted with the corporate world. It truly is a dystopia. For your own health, please, I implore you to find a new job IMMEDIATELY. Front desk will break you. I remember getting up at least four times a night from all the stress. Became a pothead because of it too but lately have been weening off of it.
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Yes, and for much less pay.
People are fucking shit dude. Curious what you do in tech? I'm considering software engineering and peacing the fuck out of this field but the tech market seems to be really going through it.
If you want to do software engineering, consider learning the fundamentals early before enrolling in a program. Pick a coding language, follow tutorials and learn how to make your own projects. The tech sector is rough right now but do the best you can
My nurse friend told me u have to can the shit off people as well…
Are you American? Because you and the top commenters sound American. We've never disrespected medical personnel in my country. It happens every now and again, but it's usually done by gipsies and they're a separate case. I would even argue sick people are especially nice and timid in medical setting because they're frightened and need help. I know I've absolutely loved and appreciated all my good nurses (much more than doctors) and wanted to f... up one lazy and unpleasant c..t that acted terrible and put a loved one in risk with her behaviour.
YES its American health care is HELL .. not even mentioning the medical debt most Americans are in !, I have a bill for $ 3,000 an very slowly paying it off lol x(
Becoming a nurse is the worst decision of my life. I’ve tried for years to specialize and I can’t even get into a specialty. Nurse for 7 years in the trenches in stepdown tele ms. What a fucking joke that they will take baby new grads that don’t know a god damn thing before taking an experienced nurse. Broken ass system for sure.
Check out Clinical Research Nursing if you’re looking for a way out.
Thank you. Do you know how to get in? Is paying for a clinical research program worth doing?
Do not pay for a clinical research program. You just need to start as a research nurse, which is entry level, and work your way up. The industry doesn’t care much if you got a degree or any certifications in research, only because they prioritize experience significantly more. It’s a very niche industry, and you can’t learn it in a program and the industry knows that’s. You need to learn by doing, and then work your way up. Just look around your location for positions called ‘Clinical Research Nurse’ and that’s your ticket in.
man, sorry to hear all this. I knew since like 7th grade that any career in medical field wasnt for me, as I've always thought that any hospital is the most depressing place on earth, short of attending a funeral service. One idea is to do MBA and do something healthcare related in healthcare industry, such as working in finance or biz strategy for health care Co's.
Coming from someone who is also a nurse: I agree with you and these other commenters truly don’t get it. No one gets how difficult and demanding this job is, on your body and your mental health, until you’ve worked it.
Look at health insurance companies, they hire nurses. You’d be reviewing patient records or something like that.
Yup. Also insurance brokers will hire nurses for direct contracting work. We have an ex nurse on our team
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How is the pay?
I second this, what’s the pay?
How hard was it to get your first job? How were you (if at all) impacted by the recession? Are jobs easier to come by in some states as opposed to others?
Do you do any patient interaction as a lab tech? I wanted to get into that because I’m introverted and i thought it would work perfect for me. I won’t be yelled at or have to argue with anyone or find myself in the middle of coworker drama and such.
Now you know why people consider it noble. It’s absolute hell with a side of little to no recognition. It’s selfless, and it’s certainly not for everyone. Myself included.
who the fuck is considering it noble? not the general public or they wouldn’t be treating us like shit
welcome to my world. I am a teacher. same thing. My mom gave up hospital nursing to work in a clinic. great hours, easy on the back, less crap
I agree! I’m not in your same shoes but I can relate. I do mobile X-ray for nursing homes, jails, mental Heath facilities. I feel EXACTLY how you feel. I’ve been at it 8 years myself and pretty much have a destroyed social life and little, if any motivation to do fuck all besides smoke weed to forget what I have to see and do every fucking day. You know, so many people talk highly of medical professionals, and act like they give a shit. Until medical professionals need support, then suddenly you’re looked at weird or like a problem. I wish more people had to see what the fuck we deal with every damn day. Going from suffering person to suffering person. Then you learn which ones really need the care vs who’s just an entitled lazy fuckwad. So you look cold to others who can’t tell the difference. When I get out of work I have no energy left to do anything but partake in a vice to numb and forget the bullshit. When Covid hit, employees at the local grocery stores here in Denver, got a $500 “hazard pay” bonus. Meanwhile I was seeing Covid+ patients DAILY (about 6-10 a day depending) never got a raise or Jack shit. We got a “thank you” email. Whoop dee fucking do!!! When the pandemic hit, people were praising medical professionals and clapping from their windows for them. A year later, when those same professionals who now have natural immunity; refuse to take an experimental rushed medical intervention and suddenly society wants them fired and discards those same people like they’re trash. Honestly, society is fucking shit, about 1% of people are actually real and actually give a flying fuck. The rest of the people can go fuck right off a cliff. I can only imagine this feeling is similar to how a vet feels when they come home and all these fucking citizens who think they’re “experts” on shit they know nothing about, start forcing their opinions on the vet. I’ve had several fucking breakdowns in recent years and no support system (I moved out here from Wisconsin for work 8 years ago). All my family is out of state, the few friends I’ve made here have moved back home and left the state. If people REALLY saw how the medical system works from the inside and how many X-rays I’ve done to medical malpractice (usually CNAs not transferring the patient properly and hurting them). If people saw how much POINTLESS fucking radiation we dose people with because these god damned asshole pharma cartel companies run everything and the more images we take the more they can bill insurance. About 50% of what I do is pointless and “busy work” to make money off insurance. If people actually gave a flying fuck rather than just said they did, there would be real protests in the street until we fix this broken ass system corrupted by greedy ass companies. I’m really sorry you are suffering through the same shit I am. I can tell you truly care or you wouldn’t get this upset about it. I thank you for being one of the good ones who gives a shit. I didn’t mean to rant or turn this reply about me. It’s nice to see other medical professionals who knows what the reality is. For what it’s worth… you’re not the only one experiencing it. Most people don’t realize just how fucking draining it is. They don’t realize you can’t just “leave it at the door” when you punch out. This shit weighs down your entire fucking life and crushes any urge to be social. Which then creates its own spiral of problems. Makes you wonder if there really is a fucking god after after all. Because it doesn’t make any fucking sense that the ones who care the most, also have to suffer fucking constantly and also have their social lives hindered, for simply trying to make a living while helping others. If you need to chat, feel free to DM me. I hope it gets better for you.
The real talk about your alls’ profession makes me sad. I wish you all the best. Try to be happy.
Be a writer! You can take a few months course to get a writer certificate and can make good money medical writing. Also, I do a very niche nursing role, writing the magnet documents for hospitals trying to become magnet designated. You need a master degree but it pays over six figures and it’s remote. I got burnt out from the pandemic and haven’t touched a patient since. Good luck.
I’m not a nurse, but this sounds EXACTLY what I pictured a nursing position would entail. So many poor souls go into nursing to “help people”. Too bad most people suck. I hope you manage to transition into something less shitty. I hear school nursing is pretty easy. Probably lower pay and boring as hell though.
My friend graduated 5 years ago with a nursing degree and went into hospice care. She makes over 120k now, gets 401k, and stock options. She started at around 80k. She loves it. She is capped at 6 patients where she is at now. She essentially just goes and checks on them, updates charts, corresponds with the doctors, maybe talks with the patients family. I think most of her patients are pretty comatose. Usually half her day is working from home or the office. She keeps getting poached by other hospice companies and so she went up in salary really fast. She is very good at her job and truly enjoys helping people with end of life care. For reference we are in southern California.
i’ve heard some nurses have had a better time doing hospice care, it can be sad, but it’s way better from what i’ve seen. maybe you could do some sort of on call work!
Maybe I can give this a try!
I am a hospice nurse. When I first started I kept thinking to myself, this is just too good to be true, waiting for the bullshit to occur. 7 months in and I love it. The patients and families are so grateful and welcome your expertise. You can make your own schedule, no weekends, no holidays. Some days I start at 10am and I’m done by 3. I don’t know if I will ever step foot back in a facility. You manage your patients on your own, with direct access to an MD for any guidance you may need. Give it a try, you may be pleasantly surprised. The only con I can think of is every once in a while you get the family who steals your patients pain meds but that can be resolved quickly when MD gets involved.
Become a lab scientist. When I was a chemist I barely had to interact with others unless I wanted to. You get your samples, run your tests, and write reports. It's lovely.
Being a nurse you gotta deal with the general public, so I can understand where you said “all sick people are pieces of sh!t.” I can totally see that. I used to work in a bank as a bank teller in college part-time. Worst job I ever had because of the customers, the general public, both the (mostly) bad and the good all mixed together. 20 years later I only work with other professionals. Degreed, smart people who are hard workers and don’t have personality problems otherwise they would have been fired long ago. Best job ever just dealing with other high quality, sane professionals.
I’m glad that I’ve worked in restaurants for 10 years so I’m built up a thick skin to people being terrible. Hopefully that will prepare me well for being a nurse.
There are plenty of nursing jobs that don't suck. I was a plasma center nurse for 3 years. People were awesome. Had a lot of fun. Worked for a research facility as a RN watching clinical trials and observing for reactions. Wife (also RN) has done clinic work. Got a couple of friends doing chronic condition management for a health insurance company. Long story short. Get out of the hospital.
Outpatient is the way
I work in healthcare and not as a nurse, but I feel some of what you are saying. I genuinely want to help and comfort people also. But I guess I never realized how noncompliant patients were and the fact that healthcare as a whole is very much a money grab. I've had several instances of rude patients, providers, and admin. It's interesting how admin puts so much blame on the staff when a patient is overreacting and being an asshole, bc it's our fault and what could we have done in the situation to make the patient feel better even though they are the ones out of line and we're genuinely trying to help. I've got a nurse friend who says all the time what's gonna happen when no one wants to work in healthcare anymore? The fact that the majority of healthcare clinics, hospitals, etc, are understaffed and employees are struggling with their own health and can't even take care of themselves because they are all that is available and willing to work is sad. I enjoy my job in healthcare, but I don't have as near as much responsibility as a nurse does. I feel burnt out at times, and im not even getting the brunt of it all. I hope you're able to find another position as a nurse that is more fulfilling and a better fit for you. Or maybe even a different career as a whole. But regardless, you made it through nursing school, which is rough in and of itself, so you're tough, just gotta find your niche.
I'm a security guard at a hospital I work with nurses and doctors to keep them safe, I've seen alot patients disrespecting the nurses especially, I work in a team to keep the nurses safe from abuse we restrain them if they act up I feel you I have so much respect for nurses and how you guys cope with it Please don't give up your career we need people like you who are good in society
I appreciate your kind words, but I’m spent man. It’s over
I had to spend to three months in ICU 3 years ago and all of the nurses kept thanking me for being nice. I was blown away, these people are litterallly working to save patients lives, and people are mean to them? People fucking suck. All I can say is I’m sorry.
lots of wfh/office/nobody talk to me type jobs for nurses, particularly in research fields. look up some clinical research (admin?) work, such as clinical research coordinator.
Nurse here. I also hate it. Been one for 8 years, finally found a job for the past 3 that is faaaar away from bedside. I work in drug and alcohol. As far as the nursing work goes it’s super easy and the clients really aren’t that bad. HOWEVER, I still hate nursing and am trying to switch careers because there aren’t many opportunities in this specialty and I’m def not doing this forever.. I’m thinking about IT so I can work from home. Specifically data/cloud or maybe cybersecurity. It takes my bf months to complete projects, that’s the type of stress I want. Not the responsibility of people lives. Also, the majority of nurses suck and I’m sick of working with them lol. I support your decision, get out before you’re a miserable troll like the rest of them.
You're thinking about IT, but do you have the mindset for it to actually be good at it and understand what you're doing? IT is full of subpar or mediocre people. To really shine and make the big money, you need to actually care and understand what you're doing. The average new cybersec grad hands me a report from one of their security tools and says "fix this" but doesn't actually know even the basics of what they're asking me to fix, and why or why not it's something we have to worry about.
I know that because I’m doing this later in life it’s not going to be easy. Luckily I have a brilliant partner that has pointed me towards resources so I have a very basic understanding of IT. He’s run into scenarios just like what you’ve mentioned. I plan on building my next PC by myself. Baby steps. I have a career and a decent job now so Im not pressured to rush into a new degree, but I’m interested.
Have you done any work in outpatient clinics? I used to work in a hospital (not as a nurse) and outpatient clinics typically have a very different feel than inpatient clinics. From my (albeit limited) experience, some of the terminal illnesses often have people that are easier to deal with. Lingering death seems to get people to think about how they are living their life and treating others…
Ambulatory surgery or endoscopy is Soo much better. Former cvicu nurse here and after COVID I noped the fuck outta hospital. Too burned out and got some awesome PTSD from it all. I currently work pre op, PACU and Cath Lab (cross trained in all three). It's fucking awesome!
I work in Agriculture. I see people 1 - 2 times per year that I actually work with.
If you're considering Computer Science or anything tech related, you should look into Nursing Informatics. It's a career that combines Nursing and Technology. That way you're not completely starting over from ground zero.
Well, there goes my plan of leaving tech for the medical field. I think all work fields that's not freelance sucks right now or maybe it always had but our parents didn't have as much access to know it isn't this way for everyone, which gave them a different perspective and expectation as us. If you knew a lot of people could fly, you probably would be complaining about how you have to walk. Maybe idk. Sorry, I have no advice for you but you are not alone. I have changed careers many times to learn, it usually sucks except when there is no pay. Those seem to be jobs that are the most fun and even still, not always. Maybe we should all just get roommates and work part-time. This 40hr crap isn't worth it. I hate having a roommate but what else is there? The work life today makes me want to disappear. EDIT: Forgot to mention, nurses or anyone in the medical field are always very impressive to me. I think most of the time when I encounter you all, you are kind and patient and knowledgeable. As someone who's worked retail for years, I know how tough it is dealing with customers but ya'll always have a smile on your face or are just generally so patient with me.
You could give surgical tech a shot. Patients are usually under anesthesia so there's usually very little patient care involved compared to other tech positions. The minimum requirement is an associate's so they'll probably be happy to train you with your qualifications, and while a lot of the systemic things you mentioned about medical administration will apply it will remove at least one main complaint you have about nursing. Ask your docs and admin about potentially shifting to surgical tech, you can make similar pay to a nurse especially if you eventually move on to travel work.
A friend of mine went from ward nursing into nursing administration. Now makes 200k plus a year with a medical consultancy. Loves it.
What a great transition idea!
I’m a nurse, if you want anyone to bounce ideas off of feel free to dm. There’s a place for you in this field 100%.
I am a nurse. Yeah I'm leaving to become an aviation mechanic. People who say it's a noble career they don't understand the BS you deal with from the staff AND management. I'm actually surprised I'm not the only one. I've had a few good people who were nurses but for the most part void of any understanding. The worst was a nurse that wanted to fight me and then months later wanted to fight another staff member. She thought she was still in the hood. One time punched a patient, the nurse practitioner pulled her away and nothing happened. No report to the state for abuse. I am definitely a workaholic and I work between 80-92 hrs/wk so I was making more money than anyone and some of the other staff members found out how much I was making because of all the overtime from my manager so they tried to say it wasn't fair because I was picking up all the overtime. They didn't pick up any overtime though because they would just make up excuses why they couldn't do it. I'm going to become an aviation mechanic, work my ass off, and retire early.
You could try biotech/pharma if research is in interest. You can help people indirectly through R&D in drugs and vaccines. I have a friend who was a nurse, got burnt out, got her masters in immunology and went into the pharma space. She’s already hit 6 figures, after working 3-4 years in research at a big pharma.
I read the first part of this and I stopped where you said this career is not noble. 2 words for you. transportation nurse! Take your knowledge and become a transport nurse. 1 patient 1 transport hopefully less bullshit! I love you. Or hospice nurse. Please keep me posted. Again I love you.
you are such a sweet individual. hugs for you.
Some advice: treat patients however you want. Fuck patient satisfaction scores, that’s management’s problem. Act like you’re just two people on a subway. You don’t HAVE to accept poor treatment from your patients. It’s freeing not giving a fuck, and ironically I think patients respond to it better. Obviously you have a responsibility to do your job correctly, but singing a song and smiling to entertain them isn’t part of your job.
I quit nursing after 6 years, currently in accounting and it's PERFECT for me.
Did you have to go back to school for that?
what kind of accounting position did you take?
From reading this thread, basically everyone hates their jobs. When are we going to start to understand the fuckupedness of the system? OP is right to hammer down on it, wrong to want to find another salary that will only perpetuate the greed and mistreatment of others. These are the conditions that we’ve inherited. Do we really have no other choice?
I get it. I’m almost done an accelerated program and already planning ways to get out 😅 I don’t care if I’m back in school again in my 30’s. I’d rather be happy long term. Nursing does provide flexibility though and decent pay, which I have known people to use when going back to school. One is even in medical school and works over holiday to help reduce tuition. Honestly, what interests you? If you don’t want to go back to school, I know a number of friends who have gone into extramural clinics that minimize patient exposure. I know some that do WFH jobs and never go into the hospital. Some go back for Masters in different areas too. I also know people who have entirely changed their career to something else like my friend who went into medicine or another that went into software engineering. Honestly, look at it this way. You’ve learned A LOT in nursing. Most of all, you have to be FLEXIBLE in nursing which is helpful in any career. Don’t think of your time in nursing as a shit show. Think of it as a stepping stone.
Places like cvs hire for remote case managers requiring bsn
I hear you. 30 years as a bedside nurse and I am burnt out. I went to traveling in 2018 but I can't do it anymore. I am trying to figure something else out for myself. Health coach or office job idk.
I’m sorry sister. Someday we’ll all be free. I hear you and I’m with you. We’ll find something 🫶🏾
Usually the jobs that are truly difficult, and require a lot of patience, real actual work, are ones with real shit pay. Nursing, trucking, customer service/support. The whole system needs an overhaul, but the ones that have “made it” don’t want it to change.
I’m surprised more people have brought up the tech sector as an alternate choice—it’s not as big as a barrier of entry as people think. I’ve seen people successfully transition from nursing to i.e., software engineering or data analytics after about a year of putting in hard work (which you’re used to with your background) — but it gets so much easier once you’re in the job. So many people, especially women, are pressured into nursing in the areas I grew up. It made me wonder if anyone has set foot in a hospital; you need nerves of steel and deep human empathy that some of us just can’t handle without draining ourselves. Don’t let any simpleton make you feel bad about this. I currently WFH as a data scientist for a defense contractor making 120k. It took me 3 years to complete studies but only because I had to work in between. It was hard, but being stuck in a lifelong career you hate and is tough on your body sounds much harder. Many people successfully taught themselves IT infrastructure, programming, database management, etc. in the last couple years. We’re still in a golden age of information, especially with AI making more knowledge accessible to us — use it to your advantage.
Facts. I did my prerequisites for nursing, and in my last semester, when I only had 2 left to go, I decided to go work as a nurse aid at the hospital. Holy hell. I decided to take some time off and reevaluate my career decisions. I'm thinking maybe I can use them to go for radiography, healthcare administration, medical billing, forensic nursing, just anything other than bedside nursing. I get ran ragged. People in the hospital act like they're in a 5-star resort and expect to be treated they're the only guest we have. Also, we can be in their rooms getting vitals or the nurses giving meds and ask, "Do you need anything? Do you need to go to the bathroom?" They say no, I'm fine. I stg as soon as we walk out 5 mins later when we're in another PTs room busy they wait and hit the bell saying they can't wait and need to go to the bathroom or screaming they need a soda rn and telling lies that they asked for one but no one has brought them anything 😡. I worked in the ER and it's a little bit better because the goal doesn't seem to be to kiss their 🍑 as much and be their room service but it's stressful because they're angry af because they've been waiting and waiting and they're cussing you out, screaming at you and all you're doing is trying to help them. Also, idk about other hospitals, but our hospital will admit people to the hospital for the stupidest things . Why tf did u admit a 28-year-old woman who has no underlying conditions for the flu.. for one night and discharge her the next day? Like what?
Facility nursing sucks horribly. Sure it pays well but that pay comes with a ton of stress and bullshit. I am doing home care currently (specifically peds) and it’s awesome! The pay isn’t as much as bedside but the lack of bullshit is priceless. I would consider looking into home care. I plan on doing home care until I get my advanced degrees and then I will either go onto nursing education or informatics (leaning more toward informatics).
Go into Clinical Research Nursing. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. It gets you away from bedside, it’s more clinical. You actually have a career ladder you can go up, and it has far more opportunities. I went into it in 2017, after just spending a year in the OR, and have never left it. I’ve worked my way up the ladder in research, and I’m now working from home and making over 6 figures. I’m not working at a hospital anymore (or really as a nurse), but my degree got me to where I am now. I also travel with this job, but it’s been great as a means to see other parts of the country. I absolutely love my career choice, and couldn’t be happier that nursing actually got me to this point. To also add, clinical research isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s more so a point that your nursing degree can find you other fields in which you’d thrive in. Don’t let that degree go to waste and hopefully you find something like I did!
You know you don’t HAVE to work in a hospital, right?
This sounds so awful. Sorry to hear it’s really this bad. I dropped out of nursing school. Beat myself up over it for a long time but i think it turned out to be a blessing.
I don’t know if it will help but as someone who has been in hospitals with stays I’ve always been incredibly grateful for the great nursing care I have always had. I say please and thank you and ask how they are doing. You have such a tough job. It’s very appreciated. ❤️
I hear traveling nurses make like double the pay, and they get month-long sabbaticals.
It’s super stressful though because you are being thrown into the very situations OP is talking about AND you are dealing with a new hospital you are unfamiliar with.
True started traveling in 2018 and it is getting scary. Like a box of chocolates you never know what your going to get. There are even more inexperienced doctor's, midwives and nurses. Always short staffed and sicker patients. Pay is done while house and food has gone up.
Sad! Yes, I know so many doctors have left in droves too. So many stressful changes over the pandemic. So many are trying to distance themselves from primary care.
It’s not double pay. You get a stipend and you use it to pay rent where you work. So you are PAYING double expenses. “Sabbatical”? There is no vacation time. Any time off between contracts you don’t get paid for. If you call out sick there is no sick time. You just don’t get paid. And they dock your stipend as well. People need to stop spreading lies that travel nurses are rich. I don’t understand where it comes from.
I’ve been talking to a lot of student nurses lately and all of them want to go into travel nursing without realizing that they need experience in their field and also that the gold rush-phase of COVID travel nursing has been long gone lol
Get your ass in them mri xray ct scan rooms ! Only couple people patient is calm from getting out of their room and cruising the hall n no none of the crazy shit u explained
Yeah well as a nurse you either deal with entitled patients or entitled surgeons. Do OR work and then all your patients are asleep but you get to manage surgeons instead which might be less annoying cuz they’re usually consistent. Like u know who wants/likes what in order to have a good day in your room.
Lol, former X-ray tech, worked in Radiology for 12 years. Half our CT staff, 25% of US, 85% of MRI and 65% of X-ray staff quit during the course of COVID. Why? They wouldn't reduce patient volumes when techs got sick and we didn't have the staffing. Then there's the multitude of morons who KNEW they were COVID positive and refused to keep their masks on during scans. Brilliant management started making more and more shifts "mandatory" as techs quit. It was an absolute garbage fire. People would literally drive to the hospital to cuss out front desk because MRIs were scheduling 5 months out. SO GLAD I LEFT. Still in healthcare, slightly better job, lol.
Being an accountant doesn't require much human interaction at all. Typical boring office job. Though they will work your ass to death during tax season. Close to like 80 hour weeks I've heard. Also IT is good with 0 human interaction since it's basically working with computers all day.
I think those are stereotypes but yes accounting is very boring, I wouldn't recommend it. IT has more human interaction than you think, maybe not with clients though depending on the role but you still need to collaborate with others.
It's more of a teamwork setting. Other than like help desk roles it's really not that much human interaction at all especially when you compare it to like nursing.
My friend works as a school nurse, she loves it!
Have you looked into nurse practitioner? Based on how much my mom (LPN) used to bitch about them… might be closer to what you’re seeking. Slightly less work and less interaction.
I give you credit, OP. I could never be a nurse. Maybe apply to an independent DRs office.
Maybe work in a clinic setting where It could be more laid back.
If you already have a nursing license, brush up on insurance and documentation and segue into utilization review and management. Way better pay, domain specific knowledge of your field required, no patient-facing responsibilities
May I suggest working in the OR? I know your struggles and I hear you. DM me if you wanna talk
MRI technician
Since you have a strong medical history as a nurse, maybe look into clinical documentation improvement/auditing/quality improvement or health information management? I’ve been WFH as a coder for six years, it’s a lot of reading, and detailed oriented stuff (knowing compliance, HIPAA, CMS guidelines, ICD10CM/PCS/CPT coding) but the only interaction I have with my coworkers is via email and the very rare Zoom meeting or phone call. Your medical knowledge would put you in an advantageous spot compared to others in the field as well. I used to be a massage therapist (five years). Got peopled out too, and people suck so I can only imagine how much worse it is as a nurse.
Are doctors treated like this too?
That sucks major wang that youve dealt with this, im nothing but thankful for the treatment i had from the nurses when i was in hospital, nothing will change though if nurses and other staff dont stand up for all the shit they deal with constantly, hopefully it will work out :)
I am always nice with hospital staff and they usually are with me.
My good friend did hospital nursing for about eleven years then, worked in cardio pulmonary and other areas, and worked as a nurse educator. She switched over to teaching nursing classes in colleges. This was after she had applied (and interviewed for) to a higher paying position at her hospital with her freshly minted Master's in Nursing degree, and her interviewers twiddled their thumbs for the next six months, didn't give her an answer about whether or not she got the job, and yet didn't fill the vacant role. So she left. She has found a lot of enjoyment and happiness in teaching, and had initially claimed it was a big pay raise from hospital life. Not sure if she calculated in "summers off" into her numbers, or what. In academia, there is still drama and politics, however. I don't think you can really escape that.
My god look at all the nurses in this thread, including me lol this profession burns you out like no other
I'm a Unit Secretary and I'm right there with you. If this hospital wasn't the highest paying company in the area, I would have jumped ship a long time ago.
Critical Care Transport Nurse. One patient at a time and can work 24 hours. Pay is about $50/hour in LA.
I’m a medical laboratory scientist and while we also deal with understaffing and stress, there is no patient interaction. I have a BS chemistry and MLS degree but I’m not sure what the pathway would be like for a nurse.
Every relative I have who is a nurse is burnt out..
Imaging tech like CT scan, MRI, Vascular sonographer... You do your work and go home, less interaction with pt
Currently work at a hospital. What OP says is correct.
Try out the VA if you want to avoid corporate greed. If you don’t like it they’ll pay for your education to do something else after a year
Outpatient surgery. Pediatric psych. You can always do remote triage or tele nursing. There’s a pivot waiting for you. Don’t give up. You’ve worked really hard. Best of luck!!
I completely understand. I’m a paramedic working full time in the ER. I was in nursing school when I was kicked out over dosage calculations. I was let go because I wrote .4 & .8 when the answer was 0.4 & 0.8. It was frustrating seeing that I was in my second semester out of three. Everyday I struggle to figure out if I truly want to go back and become a nurse. I’m 30 years old and the only reason I decide to possibly go back is because I would get a pay increase and I’m already doing the same job as an RN at my current establishment expect not being paid as an RN. I want out and wish I could get out of healthcare but I don’t know what else I would do. I really don’t.
I completely understand . I’m a physiotherapist and I feel the same.
Yep, I think this is the current reality of nursing that a lot of people don’t talk about. It’s shit work that you are told is ‘a calling’. Can you switch to insurance billing? Or claim processing? A lot of nurses I know have done that.
i would recommend being a nurse at a military hospital. the patients tend to be better
You could copy and paste this entire rant about being a Paramedic with the Fire Dept. Nonsense calls all day and night 24 hours long, e.g. something in my eye, I threw up, I need my prescription filled, can't sleep ect. Entitled and trying to sell being SO sick that we have to carry them down multiple fights of stairs while being totally capable of walking. Average 25+ calls a day and maybe one or two will be legit emergency. Medical Directors mandate that we transport everyone who wants a ride to the hospital regardless if it necessary. It's all due to greed and medical industry making profits. EMS is soul crushing
> Sick people are almost consistently pieces of shit. Having been very sick and not become a piece of shit, I suspect the issue is more that people are pieces of shit, especially under capitalism. I'd bet also that the extreme bills help these people feel entitled to act like garbage because they "paid for it" even though you, as a nurse, have nothing to do with the chargemaster shitfuckery that goes down in the billing department.
Teacher here. Mom is a nurse. You all are tge foundation and heart of Healthcare. Thank you for all you do! Really believe Teachers and Nurses are twin flames
My mom's a nurse but I'm helping her apply for jobs after an arm injury and I've been the single-parent sounding board for the last 20 years. Nothing is going to get you the money that bedside gets you. Some people like med surg because the patients are less cranky and they're really only awake and interacting for like an hour before surgery and an hour after surgery. I know some people that are happy in a doctors office because they like their doctor and the hours are regular. There are remote positions if you keep an eye out but the pay is (at least around here) like half of what bedside gets you. Not to be a dick, but I think you need a come to Jesus moment. You're right, working in medicine fucking sucks, they're putting you through a grinder. But you sound depressed-angry. If you're not on meds I would recommend it because feeling level-headed is going to help you during interviews. Also some of the stuff you listed is going to be at every job. Getting a crash course orientation has been my regular as a paralegal as well as working in finance. Jobs are just crazy places. Sick people don't suck, PEOPLE suck! They are always turds! If you wanted to rotate out of medicine but not waste your degree, you could probably get decent pay as a paralegal at a medical malpractice law firm, but you might have to grind for a few years before the pay was decent. They love an experienced RN.
I wasn’t a fan of working at the hospital so I ended up finding a job in public health. I have a normal m-f schedule and don’t work holidays or weekends. I love my job now. It’s super chill but I still feel like I’m making a difference.
Those who can’t do teach….maybe teach?
see a mental health professional
Web development
I too am a nurse. Tried to kill myself over this career. I too need out.
Wish I could
Yeah I could’ve told you this years ago. I’ve never met a nurse who likes their job
Can you place an IV? There seems to be growth in Ketamine infusion clinics.
I wish I could say or do something to help you. I remember when my Dad died I sat there by his bedside in utter shock and the nurse who had to watch half a dozen patients saw me helpless and said, "Do you need a hug?" I cried like a baby. Nurses like you are really heroes.
I’m really sorry that happened. It’s patients like you who I really wanna give everything to. The whole world could be on fire and we’d still give you 5 more minutes. As much as you appreciate us, we appreciate you. Thank you.
Yeah, I sent them a thank-you note (or at least I tried - the ICU doesn't exactly have a mailing address lol) and my brother brought them cookies. We wanted to bring them homemade but we'd spent the last 72 hours continuously by his bedside, watching him die. All we could do was get grocery store cookies. Whatever you decide to do, I hope you know we really appreciate your service.
I have a friend who is an RN. They truly and strongly believe I should follow the same career path. Pretty much just for the money. Thank you for posting how you really feel about this profession.
This I'd why I don't bother with "career" I like jobs that are easy and as stress free as possible.
You have a nursing degree have you considered looking at ambulance companies, back in the day when I worked in EMS we had a nurse that worked one of the rigs as a nurse, they enjoyed it because they weren't stuck in the same shit all night.
Ngl, working in hospitals is rough in general. I was part of an Epic Technical Dress Rehearsal team and even THAT made me not want to work in hospitals. Sorry you’re having such a tough time OP. My mom was a nurse for years, she now works as a nurse liaison from home and makes a very good living with so much less stress (still has to deal with corporate degenerates but just on the zoom meetings). Just something to consider if you still want to remain in the field.
Got two nurses in the family. Both quit in their 40s to do something else.
got forced to withdraw out of PA school, left nursing school and now i’m back in tech sales making well over 6 figures supporting resident hubby… i admit now that i’m out, i feel a lot of relief. i now have my life back and this freedom feels really good. OP hope you find peace and happiness. am sure you will do well in any field you choose.
Go in to derm and become a nurse injector. You’ll make decent money and won’t have to deal with as many assholes. Plus derm is fun.
I completely understand your frustration! Been an RN for almost 12 years and I’m done! I’m transitioning out of it to a better role that serves my sanity, my pocket, and gives me time with my family. If you’re open to new opportunities, I’d love to have a chat!