So here’s my experience as an RN for 3 years and (kinda retired) past RUclipsr lol. Nursing in social media is so glamorized and unrealistic to how it truly is in real life. I grew up around many nurses so I had heard how hard it was before going into it but nothing can prepare you for it until you actually work in nursing. Many upcoming nursing students and new grads are not prepared for the harsh reality that is nursing that they are thrown into as a new grad at the bedside. Nursing IS stressful and can be very physically and mentally draining… HOWEVER there are SO many options - outpatient clinics, specialty areas in the hospital, case management, dialysis, etc. so you can pivot and find something you hopefully like and can tolerate. I worked 2 years in an outpatient clinic and 1 yr acute med surg/telemetry. I already knew from nursing school clinicals that bedside was NOT for me especially long term and that is OKAY. I recently left my med surg tele job with no definitive plan in place to try and find another position better suited for me. I’m hoping I like this job better - I start the new position next month. Any job in nursing is experience that will help you in the future. I would try to stick it out at your bedside nursing job for 1-2 full years to learn because it DEFINITELY takes at least a full year as an RN to start feeling comfortable and adjust to the position. If at that point you are still crying before/after your shifts and still feel this way about it then move on and find something that fits for you. Good luck! I subscribed! ❤️
why are you describing my ACTUAL life right now. new grad, l&d, about to get off orientation, feeling fed up already but also dont know what else to do and want to push through. hahahaha ugh! youre not alone girl
I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been having a rough time 😞 I hope things get better for you. Just remember, be patient with yourself. Skill takes TIME and absolutely NO ONE is expecting you to know everything. Especiallyyyyy after just 3 months of orientation. You seem like THE SWEETEST L&D nurse 💕 Aside from being on your own now, are you maybe finding that the critical thinking aspect of nursing is what’s scaring you the most? Keep being amazing and hang in there 😊
Thank you! I definitely needed to hear that :) I think the critical thinking aspect is for sure part of it. I'm still working on those skills and it can feel so scary when you don't know what you don't know. I can definitely feel myself growing and learning every day - even if its through mistakes - so that is really exciting.
Omg girrrl I literally went through the EXACT same thing! When i first started as a nurse I also was in a brand new relationship, so I had no trouble finding joy and excitement outside of work lol but after that relationship ended and I was all alone, I struuuggled hard trying to find my passion and purpose outside of work. Lol I actually just hit my two year mark and I feel like I finally started figuring it out! Anyhow, I love your videos! After 2 years in med/surg, Out of nowhere I suddenly developed an interest in L&D (never even thought twice about it in nursing school) Lol so I love to hear what you have to say about it! I’ve been bingeing your videos all morning LOL
It’s so hard to find that balance!! I’m so glad you feel like you’re hitting your stride :) L&D is so amazing and fulfilling I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested!
i’m still in school (for chiropractic) but i loved this vlog! i often have 12 hour days too and it can be so hard to fill your down time with productive yet joyful things. and having opposing schedules than a lot of the other young adults in your life can also be so tough! i love the list idea 🥰
As someone in marketing thinking about ABSN…would you do it again? Or would you try to get hospital experience beforehand? I’m afraid to make a leap and regret it
Great question! I feel like that's hard for me to answer just because I don't know what my life would look like now if I stayed in marketing. I don't think any hospital experience will truly prepare you for being a nurse but being a PCT can definitely give you an idea of what the day to day is like because you see nurses and what they're doing. At the end of the day, I definitely do not regret becoming a nurse because there are SO many opportunities in the healthcare/nursing space that might fit me better. I'm considering bedside as my first step of many. I hope this helps - I know this is a big decision and it can be hard to see what your life will look like if you make that change.
Hello! I am in this position now and would like to know if you (commenter) did the ABSN? And if you, Margaret, have a different answer to this question a year later? 👀
Hi Margaret! I relate to you a lot. I am your age - I worked in advertising and am working as a CNA right now while I finish my prereqs. I considered an ABSN but I have two young children so I’m going the associates route (with a waitlist :/ … ) first. Even working as a CNA I relate to a lot of this. I know I still want to be a nurse but the reality of the field is hard to deal with sometimes. It sucks working holidays and missing time away from family. What would you consider doing in nursing besides L&D, if this is not long term for you?
I completely relate! I am constantly thinking about things I would like to do next - some things on my list are: OBGYN Nurse Practitioner Fertility nurse Work for an online women's health company Nurse at an outpatient clinic Start a business of some kind When you start to look there are so many possibilities. I am just giving myself some time right now to actually sort out what I like and don't like and trying to find something that mostly checks the "like" boxes.
I also used to work in advertising and am thinking of making the switch to nursing. I know this comment was from quite a while ago, but how is your career journey going?
@@ManifestingMariah Hi!! I just saw your comment. I completed an ABSN program and just passed my nclex. I took a job at a tele unit at a great hospital so things are going well! ( I was the original commenter, different account lol)
Your voice is so calming! 😁 I hope you don't mind me asking but why did you leave advertising? I've been a nurse for two years now and am planning to go back to school to change careers and advertising piqued my interest. I wish you all the best and your pup is sooo adorable!
Thank you! I loved advertising for a lot of reasons. Marketing can be such a fun job and there are so many industries and opportunities there. Ultimately I left because I wasn't feeling very fulfilled. I felt like I wanted to do more to positively impact the world. That being said, I can see myself doing something that combines my marketing and nursing skills in the future.
So here’s my experience as an RN for 3 years and (kinda retired) past RUclipsr lol. Nursing in social media is so glamorized and unrealistic to how it truly is in real life. I grew up around many nurses so I had heard how hard it was before going into it but nothing can prepare you for it until you actually work in nursing.
Many upcoming nursing students and new grads are not prepared for the harsh reality that is nursing that they are thrown into as a new grad at the bedside. Nursing IS stressful and can be very physically and mentally draining… HOWEVER there are SO many options - outpatient clinics, specialty areas in the hospital, case management, dialysis, etc. so you can pivot and find something you hopefully like and can tolerate.
I worked 2 years in an outpatient clinic and 1 yr acute med surg/telemetry. I already knew from nursing school clinicals that bedside was NOT for me especially long term and that is OKAY. I recently left my med surg tele job with no definitive plan in place to try and find another position better suited for me. I’m hoping I like this job better - I start the new position next month. Any job in nursing is experience that will help you in the future.
I would try to stick it out at your bedside nursing job for 1-2 full years to learn because it DEFINITELY takes at least a full year as an RN to start feeling comfortable and adjust to the position. If at that point you are still crying before/after your shifts and still feel this way about it then move on and find something that fits for you. Good luck! I subscribed! ❤️
Thank you for sharing your honest feelings about what you're experiencing. I hope things get better for you as you adjust to being a new grad nurse.🌼
Thank you!!
why are you describing my ACTUAL life right now. new grad, l&d, about to get off orientation, feeling fed up already but also dont know what else to do and want to push through. hahahaha ugh! youre not alone girl
It's so nice to hear that other people feel this way! Hang in there it does get better & if it's not forever that's okay!
I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been having a rough time 😞 I hope things get better for you. Just remember, be patient with yourself. Skill takes TIME and absolutely NO ONE is expecting you to know everything. Especiallyyyyy after just 3 months of orientation. You seem like THE SWEETEST L&D nurse 💕
Aside from being on your own now, are you maybe finding that the critical thinking aspect of nursing is what’s scaring you the most?
Keep being amazing and hang in there 😊
Thank you! I definitely needed to hear that :)
I think the critical thinking aspect is for sure part of it. I'm still working on those skills and it can feel so scary when you don't know what you don't know. I can definitely feel myself growing and learning every day - even if its through mistakes - so that is really exciting.
Really appreciate the transparency! Even considering the challenging nature of the job-- you still make it inspiring to become a nurse! TY!
Omg girrrl I literally went through the EXACT same thing! When i first started as a nurse I also was in a brand new relationship, so I had no trouble finding joy and excitement outside of work lol but after that relationship ended and I was all alone, I struuuggled hard trying to find my passion and purpose outside of work. Lol I actually just hit my two year mark and I feel like I finally started figuring it out!
Anyhow, I love your videos! After 2 years in med/surg, Out of nowhere I suddenly developed an interest in L&D (never even thought twice about it in nursing school) Lol so I love to hear what you have to say about it! I’ve been bingeing your videos all morning LOL
It’s so hard to find that balance!! I’m so glad you feel like you’re hitting your stride :) L&D is so amazing and fulfilling I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested!
i’m still in school (for chiropractic) but i loved this vlog! i often have 12 hour days too and it can be so hard to fill your down time with productive yet joyful things. and having opposing schedules than a lot of the other young adults in your life can also be so tough! i love the list idea 🥰
I relate to that so much! I would love to hear what's on your list :)
Love your honesty.
As someone in marketing thinking about ABSN…would you do it again? Or would you try to get hospital experience beforehand? I’m afraid to make a leap and regret it
Great question! I feel like that's hard for me to answer just because I don't know what my life would look like now if I stayed in marketing. I don't think any hospital experience will truly prepare you for being a nurse but being a PCT can definitely give you an idea of what the day to day is like because you see nurses and what they're doing. At the end of the day, I definitely do not regret becoming a nurse because there are SO many opportunities in the healthcare/nursing space that might fit me better. I'm considering bedside as my first step of many. I hope this helps - I know this is a big decision and it can be hard to see what your life will look like if you make that change.
@@margaretarmen Thank you so much for that reply! I’m glad you’re showing both sides and being honest about your thoughts throughout
Hello! I am in this position now and would like to know if you (commenter) did the ABSN? And if you, Margaret, have a different answer to this question a year later? 👀
Hi Margaret! I relate to you a lot. I am your age - I worked in advertising and am working as a CNA right now while I finish my prereqs. I considered an ABSN but I have two young children so I’m going the associates route (with a waitlist :/ … ) first. Even working as a CNA I relate to a lot of this. I know I still want to be a nurse but the reality of the field is hard to deal with sometimes. It sucks working holidays and missing time away from family. What would you consider doing in nursing besides L&D, if this is not long term for you?
I completely relate! I am constantly thinking about things I would like to do next - some things on my list are:
OBGYN Nurse Practitioner
Fertility nurse
Work for an online women's health company
Nurse at an outpatient clinic
Start a business of some kind
When you start to look there are so many possibilities. I am just giving myself some time right now to actually sort out what I like and don't like and trying to find something that mostly checks the "like" boxes.
I also used to work in advertising and am thinking of making the switch to nursing. I know this comment was from quite a while ago, but how is your career journey going?
@@ManifestingMariah Hi!! I just saw your comment. I completed an ABSN program and just passed my nclex. I took a job at a tele unit at a great hospital so things are going well! ( I was the original commenter, different account lol)
Your voice is so calming! 😁 I hope you don't mind me asking but why did you leave advertising? I've been a nurse for two years now and am planning to go back to school to change careers and advertising piqued my interest. I wish you all the best and your pup is sooo adorable!
Thank you! I loved advertising for a lot of reasons. Marketing can be such a fun job and there are so many industries and opportunities there. Ultimately I left because I wasn't feeling very fulfilled. I felt like I wanted to do more to positively impact the world. That being said, I can see myself doing something that combines my marketing and nursing skills in the future.