Lost the love for nursing.

[Lily715]

That's it really. I feel like I went into this profession to help people and make a difference (as everyone does) but it's exhausting. I don't feel like I can provide the care that I want to with all the challenges that face us now, short staffing, no beds etc. I've started to feel like even if you try your hardest it's never really good enough.

Most days I feel like I don't want to do this job anymore but I don't know what else I would do. I know that's not a reason to stay.

I feel so sad that I worked so hard for my degree and this is the reality of what the job actually is.

Ah friend I'm sorry you're feeling like this. They really have done us a stiff one. The NMC, the government, the unions... all failed us.

Do you think you could find another nursing job that would be better for you and involve more of the stuff you like? Ward nursing is too hectic and trying to turn us into mini doctors these days, there's little hands on nursing involved compared to what it used to be.

I know the feeling. I recently left after 15 years. Sickness, poor planning, staff shortages, endless admin - I just didn't feel I was helping patients anymore. It had become so far from why I became a nurse. I had my first complaint ever. I was mega stressed all the time, couldn't sleep and generally felt out of control.

Management were hugely unsupportive and constantly talked about time management and resilience training. I feel so sad but so much better being out!

I felt this way only a few years after I qualified. I left to retrain in a completely different field but found that I really missed being a nurse. My problem was I just really disliked the area that I was in but I loved the patient contact. I did return but to a community setting in which many of the previous issues were not present and I have a great amount of autonomy. Nothing is ever perfect and there will always be issues with resources and various other problems but perhaps if you change the clinical setting that you are working in you might feel differently.

I feel the same. I'm a practice nurse, there arent enough appointments but our admin manager is insisting we clean and restore gp rooms. We have to do training in our time, all the maintenance jobs land on the less qualified nurses, even though the other nurses have more time. I hate my job, I'm due on mat leave soon and I'm not returning. Admin manager has no respect for us, the attitude of senior nurses is us and them. Well good luck finding a fully trained treatment room nurse.

Sorry for the late reply! @jollyohh what do you do for work instead now?