Why I quit ICU nursing - story time

[annetteq]

I have been an NP for 4 years. It is not all it is cracked up to be. Medicine has become more like the hotel industry where patients expect to have demands met. NPs are being tasked with heavier and heavier patients as fewer MD/DO enter fields like family medicine and pediatrics. The stress is overwhelming at times. Please make sure to job shadow before you commit to NP. My own anxiety makes this job hard. I check labs at all hours. I worry constantly about whether or not I made the right call. NP is ICU level thinking, and you have all the responsibility.

[Sixdays_aweek]

My therapist said the anxious, meticulous nurse is EXCELLENT for their patients, but it will destroy the nurse! I'm leaving to do same day surgery too. 😁

[biatae]

Hey Alexus, thanks for making this video. I have felt the same way leaving the ED. Level 1 Trauma as a new grad. Thought I was supposed to be a career badass ER nurse, and became quickly disillusioned within a few months of working in that environment. My coworkers were amazing and what ultimately lead me to stay for as long as I did, but the day I quit felt like a weight was lifted off of me. I still struggle with guilt at times and feeling like I have to go back to the ED in order to prove myself somehow, but I know that it wasn’t good for me, both mentally and physically. I love my job now doing outpatient infusions in the clinic and home setting, but if I ever went back to a hospital setting I’d look toward the OR. No one is weak for doing what is best for their life and for their family.

[theworldoftaj]

Thank you for this. I’ve felt bad about leaving and worried about losing all of those skills and knowledge over time. But its not worth the toll it takes mentally, physically and emotionally. This video made me see that I was not alone in the way I felt. Congratulations on your new start!

[Czech]

I'm a hemodialysis RN for 8 years and I quit last year. Too much micromanagement, too much drama. It burnt me out. I'm now working in a outpatient Urgent Care Clinic.

[MNP]

You should feel proud for sticking it out the two years. The beauty of nursing is that we have so many employment options! Just having that 2 years on your resume will open so many doors for you. We need our pandemic ICU nurses to chronicle their stories for future generations. I hope you have a chance to discuss your feelings with a therapist. You don't want to carry this with you for the next 30 years. NP isn't easy either. Make sure you shadow a NP to find out if that's what you really want.

[Sherbearofficial]

When you said we clock out but we don’t mentally clock out…..yes. I started in Neuro MedSurg before transitioning to Med-Neuro ICU in 2020 during Covid. 15 months later I had to leave. The suffering we saw eventually took its toll on me. I didn’t realize how badly I was affected until I left and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Therapy and medication gets me through at the moment. Nursing is so rewarding but we definitely sacrifice a piece of ourselves and sometimes there’s nothing left to give. I hope your new job is so much better for you. I’m currently not working as an RN since July. Not sure if I’ll ever go back. But, right now I’m prioritizing my mental health. Hugs to you ❤

[winluben]

I’m a Respiratory Therapist and I retired before CoVid not because of it. It hadn’t happened yet. But my colleagues went through absolute HELL. I’m glad that I got out before that happened but I was ICU/CCU and Trauma, as well as Cardiac Recovery post open heart surgeries for 45 years. Four years post retiring I still hear the constant alarms going off sometimes when I’ve been sleeping. It seems I’m still in a hyper vigilant state of mind. It’s sad because experienced people like us shouldn’t have to feel broken into our ‘golden years.’ Take care of yourself.

[kelechie]

This. I related to your story. I need to choose myself and not spend years of my life not liking what I’m doing. I’m a med Surg nurse with one year of experience.

[vidashful]

I’m a nurse from the UK went into ER straight after nursing school stayed 10 month now in family planning and I really feel like I’m happy again in work. If it doesn’t feel right find something that does 👍🏿

[NyteDayUtube]

Ur amazing! I feel like I have a sister talking to me right now. I’m glad I’m not alone

[FeminineVibez]

I’m currently an ICU/CCU nurse. I can totally relate. I’m PRN right now because I was starting to feel burned out.

[Mandy-cnsq]

I refuse to
Work in the medical hotel industry

[lesleyd]

I worked in a cardiovascular icu, sick, micu, general cardiology, med-surg, jail nursing and after 12 years I have had enough period. Big hospitals or small hospitals I saw nothing but corporate greed. Too many people in the offices and no one working the floors. COVID shed light on the seriousness of how nurses were being treated and the organization as a whole is a train wreck. Nurses that are barely 1-2 years working have quit.

If you have anxiety about your job, can’t relax when you go to bed or dread going to work after vacation then it’s time to make a change. I totally get what your saying and wish you good luck on your endeavors.

[marylougomez]

I have been a nurse since 1980 & I struggle with anxiety & depression related to the job. I have always worked med surg. If I could go back in time I would have liked to have been a school nurse working with middle & high school students because that would be so rewarding. There's is so much these kids need to learn. There is nothing fulfilling about the area where I work because most of my patients don't care; they are there because of their non compliance & bad habits they can't seem to break like unhealthy diets, smoking, alcohol & drugs. The only thing I cherish about my years in nursing is all the wonderful coworkers I have met through the years & meeting my husband. I was miserable from the first day of clinical but I was a scholarship recipient & I told the ladies who chose me that I wouldn't let them down. There are some perks to being a nurse though; having medical knowledge that you can use to help your loved ones; having many different areas in nursing to choose from; never having to worry about finding a job & the schedules. I cope with my job by doing yoga. Yoga has saved me. I am happy you made the choice to leave the icu. It is very hard working in such a stressful job & being a mother to a small child. I loved your video. Best of luck to you.

[ZERO_TO_IT_HERO]

One of the biggest reasons I see my students quit nursing is absolute and complete burn out. Nurses have a tough job, "great nurses" have an even tougher job due to being overworked. #zerotoheroprogram #seeyouinclass

[guttenaug]

Nurses blaming themselves saying they have burn out or compassion fatigue. These are just healthy ways of reacting to a messed up health care system. I’ve watched a drug addict who openly sexually harassed nurses get better health care treatment without insurance than retired military vets who served this country. It’s heart breaking. Working in a hospital these days happily you have to be delusional and in denial. It’s not a fair system and nurses are just the first ones to feel it because we ran the dam place

[nasayjones]

Congratulations on choosing yourself and your happiness ! And congratulations on NP school! Please please document your schooling journey especially with being a new momma I’m in the exact same boat ❤ best of luck

[TheKandyShoppe]

I tried so hate to get into the ICU with no luck. 9 years LPN experience, 6 years MA experience, 2.5 years as a resident aide/med tech. Tried several regency programs and still didn’t get in. It was a very disheartening experience however, I haven’t lost hope!

Btw, love long videos, keep em coming!

[vlogswithvy]

I think it's important for me to understand that to feel accomplished with an endless amount of to-dos on my to-do list is not the way to live life if it is not managed realistically. Being highly distressed is not the way to go although I know that it is a part of life I am 23 years old and in a BSN program right now and I feel determined yet so hard on myself and I just want to feel at constant and be happy. I am committed though and this video was insightful.