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My Nursing Background
I became a nurse 14 years ago and had initially been fueled by a genuine desire to take care of people, and advocate for vulnerable populations who weren’t able to advocate for themselves. I held nursing positions across a multitude of healthcare settings, such as the emergency department, medical surgical unit, primary care clinics, and skilled nursing facilities. However, as the years passed, I found myself being led away from the nursing profession to seek a career in what I would later find to be a greater passion.
The Initial Attraction to Nursing
From an early age I found myself in situations where I strongly felt this inherent need to provide comfort and support to those who were injured, or ill. I recall an instance where my babysitter had broken their leg, and at such a young age, I found myself attempting to be their caregiver – helping them to fetch things, assisting them to walk safely around their home while in crutches, and providing them comfort. It gave me joy helping others and that is at the core of what led me to pursue the nursing profession.
The Realities of Being a Nurse
As my career progressed, there were certain realities in the nursing profession that became apparent. The nature of the job took an emotional and physical toll. As a staff nurse you were constantly balancing the needs of your patients, facing staffing issues, being surrounded by a toxic work culture and placed under both physical and emotional stress from administrative demands. In my opinion, many healthcare setting do not cultivate a healthy environment where the well-being of their employees are considered equally as important as those who they care for. This was made abundantly clear during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the years, it became easy to lose sight of why I chose this profession. I began to evaluate whether I wanted to remain on this career path or move to one better suited for me. One which enabled me to be a leader in healthcare and allow me to place my effort into making changes to a severely broken health system.
Decision to Leave
After a lot of reflection and careful consideration, I decided to take an incredible leap towards leaving the nursing profession. It wasn’t an easy choice, but a necessary one for the sake of my own happiness and sense of well-being.
I found other passions that grew during the course of my nursing career. These newfound interests took me to my next career pursuits in healthcare, outside of the confines of being a nurse.
Life After Nursing
The transition to life after nursing has been a journey of self-discovery and pursuit of new passions. Today, I’ve found the same sense of joy that had initially led me to the nursing profession. Yet, I have a greater sense of fulfillment having embraced the freedom to explore other areas of interest.
Advice for Others Considering a Different Path
For those who have considered abandoning the nursing profession, or who have become burnt out over the years, my advice is to reflect on your physical and emotional well-being, evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, research careers that extend out of healthcare, and seek guidance during your decision-making process. There may be other avenues within the nursing profession that you may want to explore, or perhaps it’s only a matter of finding better balance to maintain your health.
The journey is a personal one, and you may face challenges along the way. However, your well-being is important and finding the right balance for your life is a courageous and empowering choice.