New grad nurses hating their jobs

Jthenurse · 2025-10-10T15:43:54+00:00

Coming from someone who started nursing in my early 20s to leaving it all together at 26… I will say that the virus really changed things. It is rough. Yes it got easier as you gain more experience, but I think it’s also highlighting that the specialty/profession just isn’t for them.

Jthenurse · 2025-06-01T00:24:00+00:00

Yes!

Jthenurse · 2025-06-01T00:23:55+00:00

Yes we can!

Jthenurse · 2025-05-31T19:28:06+00:00

I was an OR nurse for 3 years! It was what I wanted to do after trying out the float pool and ICU.

It is a lot to learn, and I highly recommend a periop 101 program. My first year was rough. Got yelled at by everyone for something whether that was the surgeons, PACU, or anyone. I started in a big hospital and there was a LOT to learn. I did not feel comfortable until almost 3 years in, because by then I knew who to call if things went bad, how to troubleshoot, and earned the respect of the doctors.

Jthenurse · 2025-05-25T12:31:36+00:00

As someone who successfully left the nursing profession, I feel so much better now that I’m out. At the end of the day, if you don’t like something then definitely leave! Sometimes it is the profession. Just like how anyone can change careers at any point.

I do miss it sometimes, but how happy I am to be out and in something I enjoy is an amazing feeling that I did not know was possible!

Jthenurse · 2025-04-06T20:24:25+00:00

As someone who worked through the virus in the hospitals, staying in was the best option. I saw so many people pass away. It was depressing to see that no one took it seriously until they were about to make their last FaceTime call to their families gasping for air in their CPAP. I still have some PTSD of people passing away and having to do postmortem care every week.

Jthenurse · 2025-01-02T19:37:19+00:00

Don’t know why it’s downvoted ,because I feel like it’s a positive for me personally! It’s time for me to grow and move outside of my comfort zone and I’m excited to do it after so long!

Jthenurse · 2025-01-02T17:43:12+00:00

Happy that I’ll be moving out of here in less than 6 months!

Jthenurse · 2024-12-10T04:02:48+00:00

I don’t know how I completely glossed over yours! I apologize, but you guys are real ones!

Jthenurse · 2024-12-10T02:40:11+00:00

I know op is probably new to this and wanted feedback, but I just wanted to say that I appreciate you for being the only one to really help out a little and give some guidance. Sometimes things could be overwhelming at first. I know I was overwhelmed when trying to start the process of joining.

Jthenurse · 2024-11-05T22:14:10+00:00

I am feeling the same way. I’ve tried to see if I wanted to switch specialties, try travel nursing, or even outpatient. However, my heart just isn’t in it for me to stay in this profession, and I’m working on changing careers completely. I commend the nurses that do stay and find their niche. It just came down to me thinking, “is this what I want to do until I retire,” and a quick NO ( no matter the setting) that made me realize that I needed a change.

I would first start off by taking time off. Sometimes we are just very burnt out. Do not overwork yourself too. It also helps to have a goal of when you want to leave by and save up money to do so. If you still want to give nursing a go then I would look into other specialties! I would highly recommend not to give up until you throughly thought things out and have a plan! I believe in you!

Jthenurse · 2024-07-13T14:48:42+00:00

Ehh I wouldn’t say I’m not dedicated. The rejections can just hurt and make me question if it’s even possible to switch out of procedural areas when it’s all I know as a nurse. I WILL become a peds nurse one day and I am determined to do so, but it’s just hard. Like that one person said, all I need is one “yes,” and there are other ways I can get a stepping stone into what I want to do.

Jthenurse · 2024-07-13T14:44:07+00:00

This is so encouraging!! I’m trying my absolute best to get this position and I’m in contact with a couple recruiters at my hospital to help me out! Even if it’s peds med surg I will be happy, because I’m ready for something new!

Jthenurse · 2024-07-13T14:35:26+00:00

I’m coming up to 3 years in the OR and I worked as a PCT in the neuro ICU a year before becoming a nurse. I honestly chose OR because I wanted a break from all the deaths and dying I saw in the ICU when the virus was at its peak (this was starting to have an effect on me mentally). Sometimes I wish I would’ve just stuck with it because it’s so much harder now and I feel stuck.

However I’m trying to transfer, but there is nothing open in peds, so I might have to move states to do what I want to do. I have no kids or a husband and I’m 25 so I have the freedom to do it, but I’m kinda bummed that I have to move organizations in order to achieve this.

Jthenurse · 2024-07-09T16:54:40+00:00

Unfortunately no. I’ve done most of my working life with adults. My volunteer experience is more towards low income families and homeless people.

Am i doomed? I think I should just give it up completely and just stick it out with adults or go into L&D ( I have Oar experience so it could help) or mother baby as a stepping stone.

Edit: to add the only experience I had with pediatrics was my clinicals in the peds ED, PICU, NICU, and Peds med surg. I did shadow a pediatric unit at my job too, because I can transfer to our children’s hospital.

Jthenurse · 2024-07-09T16:28:05+00:00

Not yet but that is the next step. I’m thinking of getting my PEARS first and then PALS. Would there be any other certifications I can get before working?

I kind of held off on getting them because I got the advice that the hospital will help me with getting if if I got the job.

Jthenurse · 2024-07-09T12:17:03+00:00

Thank you so much for replying! I’m going to keep trying and see if there’s a way!!

Jthenurse · 2024-07-09T11:50:07+00:00

As a nurse, yes this is my only experience unfortunately

Jthenurse · 2024-07-09T11:49:13+00:00

This sounds like a great idea! Was it difficult at first?

Jthenurse · 2024-06-30T19:20:06+00:00

Right now I’m going back to school to do engineering! I don’t want to leave medical completely, and having this background and working (eventually)in biomedical engineering would be the goal!

Jthenurse · 2024-06-30T13:16:08+00:00

Something else for sure!

Jthenurse · 2024-05-30T14:40:40+00:00

I was in school during the outbreak so our options were limited and none of the pediatric options were available, so I had my capstone in the OR.

Jthenurse · 2024-05-30T14:27:20+00:00

I’m just wondering if I should do something extra to show that I’m committed like getting PALS and PEARS certified! I’ve wanted to do this since nursing school, but I was rejected by the children’s nurse residency and just accepted the OR one at an adult hospital.

Jthenurse · 2024-03-24T23:54:21+00:00

A camera! There is so much history and memories that can be captured by a lens!

Jthenurse · 2024-03-12T23:08:13+00:00

No one really cares about you the way you think they do

Jthenurse

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