How do you tell when being an RN is not for your?

2 I have been an RN for 2 years. Recently diagnosed with depression. I'm trying to figure out if part of the reason I became so depressed is b/c I just don't feel competent as a nurse. Even in nursing school I felt like nursing might not be for me, but was in an accelerated BSN program and chalked it up to stress.

I don't like the stress/responsibility of being an RN. I feel anxious whenever the poop hits the fan. I imagine good RNs thrive on that adrenaline, whereas w/me it just makes me forget everything I know and need to do. I am not a very detailed person. I realize this about myself. I try and be detailed, but usually don't catch all the things in documentation. (I originally saw the psychiatrist to find out if I had Adult ADD as it's difficult for me to stay focused at work and I felt like I was making dumb mistakes, but she dx'ed me w/ Severe depression instead). I'm basically trying to find out how can you tell when you're a square peg that just doesn't fit into that round hole? And if bedside nursing isn't for me due to the stress what are some other ways to use my RN license (have BA in Psych also)? I know I don't want to go into Informatics as I don't consider myself a computer geek. Thought of home health, but have never worked med/surg so feel like I might not be confident/competent enough to do things out in the field on my own w/all cases.

Thanks for any helpful thoughts you can provide.
Well, you said you have 2 years of experience right? Then go find your niche as they always say. Maybe this area of nursing is just not really for you. Try something else. There are so many things you can do. To be honest with you, the stressful hospital setting is not for everyone. I can tell you that I know nurses who have been working in the same area for 20+ years and they still get stressed out too. Life is WAY too short to be feeling depressed. Get the help you need and get out! Trust me, don't put your health in danger. I know that I won't stay on the floor for ever. Plus, there are other areas that are not as stressful. Just my 2 cents.

There are several areas of nursing you could explore. Office management nursing jobs are not as stressful. I used to do patient care/ acute care and i was so overwhelmed i nearly gave up on nursing. Please take care of yourself first before anything. Job will always come and go but good health matters. Browse around and find where you are more comfortable with. All the best!

Reading this post was like you were reading my mind. All through nursing school I felt the same way. Unfortunately I failed out of nursing school 3rd semester. I hated every minute of nursing school and in a way I guess I wanted to fail. Between the catty students and teachers that just didn't care I gave up. If I could do it over again I wish I would have put in more effort but I was depressed and had no interest. Right now I'm trying to find my way. Should I try nursing again or something new? I've applied to a few ABSN programs hoping to get in but I don't know if I should do this again. I commend you for finishing nursing school and working all through your depression. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for. Whatever you decide to do I wish you the best.

what kind of nursing are you doing? i have only been a nurse for 8 months and i work in home health and ltc. i am not a detailed person at all and i am struggling with that mostly in home health. home health, especially on the medicare end, has so much documentation that has to be perfect. also, we are not computerized so everything is handwritten.

i am not a nurse, but i have been doing a lot of research on nursing... perhaps being a school nurse, or working for an insurance company as a case manager would be more up your alley. here is some copy from a want ad in my town from cottingham & butler: "our nurse case managers are responsible for handling case management activities through direct telephonic contact with patients & families, healthcare providers, and payors. no nights, weekends, holidays, or travel! competitive compensation and benefits offered.qualified candidates will have an rn and 3+ years of case management experience. strong preference will be given to certifications such as case manager, chronic care professional, or health coach."i hope you have some people supporting you as you deal with your depression. take care of yourself, and it does get better. keep us posted on what you decide!

I will second school nursing although having a couple more years under your belt would make it easier. I became a school nurse after working in home health, pysch, geriatrics, med/surg etc for 15 years. I still learn something new every day, so don't let that stop you! I also have done home health - didn't have alot of medical experience at the time and they do take new grads. I had a ventilator case as my first HH case and learned so much. But as others have said, take care of your health first. Its hard to concentrate when you are depressed. Been there, done that D/T a stressful work load and crappy marriage. Got some anti-depressants and a divorce and am much happier. Being that you have your BSN will open doors for you - look around on these boards and see what others are doing.

Quote from baubo516i am not a nurse, but i have been doing a lot of research on nursing... perhaps being a school nurse, or working for an insurance company as a case manager would be more up your alley. here is some copy from a want ad in my town from cottingham & butler: "our nurse case managers are responsible for handling case management activities through direct telephonic contact with patients & families, healthcare providers, and payors. no nights, weekends, holidays, or travel! competitive compensation and benefits offered.qualified candidates will have an rn and 3+ years of case management experience. strong preference will be given to certifications such as case manager, chronic care professional, or health coach."i hope you have some people supporting you as you deal with your depression. take care of yourself, and it does get better. keep us posted on what you decide!

My situation is very similar to yours...I, too, have a BA in Psych and also have my BSN. I've only been a nurse for a year but have begun to loathe floor nursing. I knew in nursing school that floor nursing would not be a good fit for me but I pursued it because I wanted hospital experience and the skills that come with it before moving on to Public Health Nursing.

Quote from Missy77Reading this post was like you were reading my mind. All through nursing school I felt the same way. Unfortunately I failed out of nursing school 3rd semester. I hated every minute of nursing school and in a way I guess I wanted to fail. Between the catty students and teachers that just didn't care I gave up. If I could do it over again I wish I would have put in more effort but I was depressed and had no interest. Right now I'm trying to find my way. Should I try nursing again or something new? I've applied to a few ABSN programs hoping to get in but I don't know if I should do this again. I commend you for finishing nursing school and working all through your depression. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for. Whatever you decide to do I wish you the best.

Quote from babblingbrookI have been an RN for 2 years. Recently diagnosed with depression. I'm trying to figure out if part of the reason I became so depressed is b/c I just don't feel competent as a nurse. Even in nursing school I felt like nursing might not be for me, but was in an accelerated BSN program and chalked it up to stress. I don't like the stress/responsibility of being an RN. I feel anxious whenever the poop hits the fan. I imagine good RNs thrive on that adrenaline, whereas w/me it just makes me forget everything I know and need to do. I am not a very detailed person. I realize this about myself. I try and be detailed, but usually don't catch all the things in documentation. (I originally saw the psychiatrist to find out if I had Adult ADD as it's difficult for me to stay focused at work and I felt like I was making dumb mistakes, but she dx'ed me w/ Severe depression instead). I'm basically trying to find out how can you tell when you're a square peg that just doesn't fit into that round hole? And if bedside nursing isn't for me due to the stress what are some other ways to use my RN license (have BA in Psych also)? I know I don't want to go into Informatics as I don't consider myself a computer geek. Thought of home health, but have never worked med/surg so feel like I might not be confident/competent enough to do things out in the field on my own w/all cases.Thanks for any helpful thoughts you can provide.

Quote from baubo516i am not a nurse, but i have been doing a lot of research on nursing... perhaps being a school nurse, or working for an insurance company as a case manager would be more up your alley. here is some copy from a want ad in my town from cottingham & butler: "our nurse case managers are responsible for handling case management activities through direct telephonic contact with patients & families, healthcare providers, and payors. no nights, weekends, holidays, or travel! competitive compensation and benefits offered.qualified candidates will have an rn and 3+ years of case management experience. strong preference will be given to certifications such as case manager, chronic care professional, or health coach."i hope you have some people supporting you as you deal with your depression. take care of yourself, and it does get better. keep us posted on what you decide!

Thanks for the responses thus far. To provide some answers/ clarification to some of the posted questions: I have 10 months NICU ( straight out of nursing school, loved teaching the parents, but the intensity of going straight into NICU wAs too much for me. My supervisor told me she'd never seen anyone as anxious as me and she couldn't think of anyplace I'd actually fit in nursing...so confidence blown I went into psych RN job. Like somethings but county management is terrible, nothing ever written down about changes, low pay, dirty work environment, work w/ pts that are often homeless and have nothing to lose by hurting nurses)i live in CA so w/ state being in the read almost afraid to go I to into public health. Wanted to try home health, but talked to an RN in my area that tried it and she mentioned getting sent to gang members homes, meth labs, etc. There's gangs/ drugs in communities surrounding mine.So trying to be thankfuli have a job, but dread going to work most days. Doing counseling and medication, but it's not helping as much as I'd hoped. I used to feel confident, highly regarded in other careers I've had , but nursing seems to mostly just kick you in the butt.