How to Decide When to Quit Nursing

by | Oct 10, 2016 | 37 comments

How to Decide When to Quit NursingNursing is Tough Work

Nursing is one of the most difficult professions.

Inpatient emergency, oncology, and critical care nurses have been studied and are found to be at high risk for compassion fatigue and nurse burnout (Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 2016). Interestingly, the literature review also found that high rates of compassion fatigue and burnout are often coupled with high levels of compassion satisfaction.

How can this be? A nurse can be burned out AND enjoying their job at the same time?!?

Nurses Care

Nurses go into nursing to take care of patients. Plain and simple. A nurse wants to help another human being feel better and suffer less. We teach, advocate for, and hope that -through our interactions with patients and families- we can empower the public to live healthier lives.

Now- as we know, working as a nurse is not always rainbows and roses.

A day in the life of a nurse can be far from pretty. We experience difficult personalities, pain and suffering, and even death. Sometimes there is nothing more that we can do for the patient. And the very nature of healthcare can get in the way of us feeling as though we did a good job (think constant charting, online medical records, and poor staffing).

Nasty Nurse Habits

Recently, I published an article on LinkedIn, describing six highly annoying habits of nurses. This post stimulated lots of discussion. The sixth habit referred to nurses who don’t like nursing any more.

While I described negative effects of working with a nurse who no longer likes nursing (and offered tips to avoid this yourself), I do realize that there are times when a nurse finds themselves at their wits end.

There is nothing that they can do to enjoy nursing again.

Or is there?

We Need Great Nurses!

In 2009, I experienced my own career stalling burnout. It led me to leave my role at the bedside, something that I really enjoyed. I do not want nurses to leave the nursing profession.

Think about it- if all of us left the bedside- we would have no one working with our patients! We wouldn’t have the teaching, advocating, and most importantly- caring for our patients.

While a nurse may need to leave nursing if they just cannot take it any more- there are things that can be done to help avoid nurse burnout.

[Tweet “Here Are Questions to Ask Yourself When Thinking About Quitting Nursing”]

  • How to Decide When to Quit NursingIf I leave nursing, what would I do instead? Think about your nursing career. What are the things you enjoy? Do you love to teach a patient something new? Or is it that you like comforting people when they feel down? Think about the nursing skills you enjoy. Reflect upon your personal strengths and unique traits. Maybe the issue is that you are no longer working to your talent and ability. Maybe you don’t want to leave nursing- you just need a change of scenery to do something different.
  • Why do I want to leave? When I left my job, I thought it was everyone’s fault. I thought that I was upset with my staff, unhappy with my unit, and irritated by the politics. Boy- was I wrong! After I left, I took some time to work on me. You know what I realized? It was not the workplace that had burned me out after all! It was me! My own lifestyle. My lack of coping skills. The fact that I wasn’t taking care of myself. So think about the reasons you want to leave and notice if anything comes up that you can change before deciding to quit.
  • Would leaving my nursing job make me happy? Here is a practical exercise that you can do. Make a pro and con list. For both. What are the pros of leaving nursing? What are the cons? What are the pros of staying in nursing? The cons? Which list has more comments? Would leaving the profession of nursing really make you happy or, as in the bullet point above, are there other changes that can be made so that you can stay in this profession you were called to do?
  • Is there any way to stay in nursing and enjoy my profession? How fun! Stay in nursing and enjoy it. Here you may have to make a job change, but not out of nursing altogether. Maybe there is another specialty that you want to try. Maybe it is time to go back to school and stimulate the lifelong learner in you. Maybe you need to get out of the hospital and into the community. Nursing offers such an awesome amount of variety. You never have to stay stuck in a role that is causing nurse burnout.
  • How do I know what is the ‘right’ decision for me? Only you can decide if you are going to stay, make a change, or simply go. You may talk to colleagues, trusted friends, and professional mentors. And while you take into consideration what other nurses say, you need to listen to your inner self. You only know what is best for you. Do the exercises above. Take time to reflect. Journal. Meditate. Hire a coach. Do whatever you have to do to listen to yourself. You know what is best for you.

What else? Have you ever thought about leaving nursing? What did you do when you felt this way and can you share any additional tips with our readers? Share below and thanks for reading!

Elizabeth Scala, MSN/MBA, RNAbout the Author: Keynote speaker and virtual conference host, Elizabeth Scala MSN/MBA, RN, partners with hospitals, nursing schools, and nurse associations to transform the field of nursing from the inside out. As the bestselling author of ‘Nursing from Within’, Elizabeth guides nurses and nursing students to a change in perspective, helping them make the inner shift needed to better maneuver the sometimes challenging realities of being a caregiver. Elizabeth received her dual master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University. She is also a certified coach and Reiki Master Teacher. Elizabeth lives in Maryland with her supportive husband and playful pit bull.

37 Comments

  1. Becky

    I can relate to your post. I loved nursing until I had to care for my own family. A dad with DM, heart failure and skin issues required dressings and monitoring. A mom with dementia and MS. A child with special needs. If it wasn’t for my job as an RNAC I would have probably left the profession. I have finally adjusted and am caring for my self. I only have a son in collage who is doing well after all we went through to get him there. I can’t stress it enough take care of you first, then others.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Thanks for sharing your experience, Becky. Appreciate hearing your perspectives. Great to hear you’re taking care of you… And encouraging others to do the same.

      Reply
    • Dawn

      Nursing is a crumbling abusive field. I would never recommend this field to my worst enemy. I have been an RN for 32 years and the abuse is getting worse, new grads are taught how to take a test not how to function.lower pay and benefits for more work. Never again!

      Reply
      • AJ

        Nursing is good when you care for patients and families appreciate you. It’s all the big liability issues, lawsuits, license complaints even when there is no wrong doing, getting blamed for other nurses screw ups, nursing is your lively hood, keeps your bills paid, but the stress involved to be perfect in every shape and form. Even now working in case management, one typographical error could cause denial in payment. It weighs heavily on my mind…do I stay or leave?

        Reply
        • IH

          I’m glad I am at an age that I can leave. I made a medication error, and as careful as I try to be, there are just too many distractions that go on while having to pay full attention.
          My advice to new nurses, put on the brakes and tell everyone around you to “flake off,” because when you give out a med, you can’t take it back. Also, the paperwork just keeps growing.

          Reply
        • susan hess

          I am so sorry that happened to you, IH. I wish our profession were more forgiving. The “flake off” comment was good advice. I really, really try to do everything in my power, especially keeping all my wits about me. WE ARE ALL THAT MOMENT AWAY FROM NOT HAVING ALL OR WITS ABOUT US. Again, I am sorry. I know there but by the grace of god go I. I pray every morning on my way to work…that the kids go home like they came that day.

          Reply
      • Jaeden

        You are sure right!
        No laws protecting nurses. I know for a fact that if you do your job well. Admin will put more jobs on you with no incentive. Its a shame

        Reply
      • Lucy

        Nurses are treated more like servants in a hotel than medical professionals. Patient satisfaction comes before employee satisfaction.

        Reply
  2. Teri

    I hated inpatient nursing. It was my first job out of nursing school. It made me regret my decision to go to nursing school. When I stared my current job in out patient Oncology I fell in love with nursing all over again!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Great to hear, thanks Teri!

      Reply
  3. Shirley Stahl

    I’m having a hard time saying I’m retired although I work at flu clinics during the fall, I am thinking of not renewing my license when its up for renewaL in March 2017 but yet I don’t want to give it up. I worked very hard to get it but I am 75 yrs. old living on social security (limited income) and did not plan well for retirement. I have not kept up on my CEU’s required to renew my license. I have never done EMR charting although I have had a computer triage job for 5 yrs. in the past. When you try to get classes for this, you are told to do per diem hospital work for a few weeks or months first. Otherwise I could have a job as travel nurse. Dream on, huh. The extra pay in the fall was nice, I miss that pay check. Just a wise word to nurses out there. Take care of yourself financially and don’t give it away to others who have their hand out. There is a limit in doing that. Keep your money invested. I live alone for past 30 yrs. (not lonely) and don’t want to do volunteer work. there is a certain amount of nostalgia even to this day when I walk into a hospital. Time to throw in the towel?

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Thanks for the honest share, Shirley. Appreciate you bringing your perspective and experiences to this post. And great tips to encourage all of us to save, invest, and prepare for our own retirements! Thank you very much!!

      Reply
    • Nancy Senechal

      Yes! You’re 75 yrs old…give it up already and stay home and take care of yourself

      Reply
      • Ann

        I can relate with Elizabeth’s issue. I did not take the advice of my friend who said to save and invest for retirement. I have been a nurse for 38 years. I do have a small pension and Social Security as income. I am in a position that i have to work as long as I can just to make ends meet. I live alone, never remarried after a divorce in ‘46. I just “ Can’t give it up”.
        Retirement would be nice. I need extra income, it’s as simple as that. God Bless to those that are financially set .

        Reply
  4. Lori Johnson

    Thanks for sharing this article. Did you know that only 17% of nurses in the US work at the hospital bedside? The other 83% of us are doing so many different things! I’ve just completed my 20th year and have thought about retiring ( I know, I know, so many nurses work at it for 3-4 decades, but I started in nursing at 40 and I’m lucky enough to be looking at a nice pension so retirement is a real option). Partly because the only hope I have of catching up on my work is to leave the job (haha), and partly because there was more stress than reward. But instead of retiring I took on a whole new endeavor and I’ve found the inspiration I need to keep on keepin’ on for a few more years.

    I appreciate that you offered suggestions for how to recognize whether it’s the work or our own lack of balance/self-care that is the impetus for change, and that you encourage us to make a change within nursing. Too many people stay where they are unhappy, be it a job or a relationship. I would add one more self-test to help decide if it’s time for a change. If you wake up in the morning [or evening for our NOC peeps] and you cringe at the thought of going to work- or even worse, if you call out sick just because you can’t stand to go to work- then it’s REALLY time for a change.

    Finally, these words of wisdom from a recent meme I saw: “If you don’t like where you are, move. You are not a tree.”

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      This is great to hear, Lori! Thank you for sharing your nursing career journey with us. I love the words of wisdom! Great share.

      Reply
  5. Sara

    My job is demanding but it’s the management who are running nurses away. The change needs to be at the management level not the direct care staff. Feeling bullied.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Thanks for taking time to read the post and share your thoughts. Appreciate it.

      Reply
    • Elizabeth

      I agree with a lot of the trouble in nursing is management level. When they make poor choices they are not willing to admit and fix the problems. Another difficulty is all the laws. Also, when someone complains it’s always the RN who takes the hit, whether the complaint was valid or not. I am a very well balanced 53 year old woman who has raised kids, put away for retirement, own my home, have no health issues, am very spiritually involved, have prayer and meditation in my life, I laugh a lot, have a successful marriage. It’s not within, the trouble with nursing is there are enough nurses but companies don’t want to staff outside their “grid”. They make a killing off charging for nurses, but won’t lower their willingness to put money back into nursing. If they would staff one extra nurse per shift patients would have better outcomes, more patients would come to that place and the profits would soar. But cutting corners makes patients outcomes worse which hurts business. It’s all ridiculous. I’ve been in ICU/CCU/PCU/Ortho/Tele/Rehab/Neuro/ER/Urgent Care and now in psych nursing where I got hit and no one got into trouble who caused the patient to attack (it wasn’t me). Believe me, I only have to stay until July of 2017 and I can not wait to burn my cap!

      Reply
  6. Julie Jones

    After this weekend I thought it was my time to leave – 1 code blue on a young man unsuccessful – 3 deaths in pediatric ICU – the pain was too intense – showing up wholeheartedly – helps

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Oh, Julie. I am so sorry to hear this. I was just speaking to an upcoming podcast guest in an interview yesterday about how hard nursing can be. And not hard from the job… from the painful things we see, feel, and experience… Sending positive vibes to you and your colleagues. And… you are right. Showing up wholeheartedly, allowing those emotions to be felt and processed, and being part of a supportive team can all help. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. Truly appreciate your honesty.

      Reply
    • Stephanie

      Hello,
      I’m currently working on my Ph.d, and my focus is nurses that are leaving the profession. I need to interview 2-3 people about their decision to leave. If anyone is interested, let me know. It would really help me out.

      Reply
      • Maureen

        I am willing to help you out.

        Reply
  7. Yuri

    I have worked in healthcare for the most part of the last 3 decades.
    My 1st real job was at the local hospital. I was a lifter/transporter, pretty much an orderly.
    Back in 2000 I obtained licensure as a LVN.
    I was happily married and became a daddy, 1st to a daughter then a son. ‘This was the happiest time of my life.
    During this time I was taking the required prerequisites to upgrade to RN status at the local community collage.
    University of Phoenix, I discovered, had a learning center also local to my area of residence. They offered a LVN/BSN bridge program with a class schedule which seemed very friendly for full time workers, and it was.
    At about the half way point, my significant other for the past 22 years announced to me that she no longer loved me and wanted out of our marriage.
    This was devastating. Without going into the far uglier details, let’s just say I was living in a balloon and the balloon got popped, lol.
    My grades started to suffer. My GPA was sliding down.
    With the passing of time, you do heal. However, it really is a slow process. I have experienced being terminated from 5 positions in 6 years. I am 3-4 courses from obtaining a BSN. My GPA remained near 3.0 at its lowest point.
    Honestly, I love helping and teaching and I love advocating. I’m really questioning if maybe I should move on. I feel very much conflicted and asking myself if maybe I don’t belong.
    I just sort of stumbled on to your page and like it.
    Any suggestions would really be appreciated.
    Sorry for the novel.
    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      No worries for the lengthy comment. I appreciate you coming by, reading the post, and sharing honestly with the community. Sounds like some challenging times, but as you will learn from reading more of my posts or checking out my book, “Nursing from Within”, these challenges can be gifts. We can learn and grow, once we heal of course. So keep on sharing here. Keep on coming by and reading posts. Let us know how you are doing in your nursing journey and what questions you have. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  8. Tiffany

    I found out what my problem is with nursing (It is being a nurse). I want to be a MD so I am working on that now. I have my bachelors degree in nursing. I would rather be on the other side.I plan to be a psychiatric RN. I love working with these patients. Management sucks and lets things run amok, allows staff to bully and treat each other like crap.I will be a great MD and be respectful to the nurses seeing how I know what they go through.

    Reply
    • Tiffany

      Psychiatric MD

      Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Tiffany, it is great to hear that you are clear on what you want to do! Keep taking action steps, one day at a time, towards your goals. Keep us posted on your progress!

      Reply
  9. Sharon Gerlofs

    DO NOT GO into nursing is my advice. I have 33 plus years experience and have put up with unsafe staffing, verbally and physically abusive families and patients. I had to go to the hospital union to protect myself from management when they wanted me to also do RT job on NICU because RT called in. My experience with being an R.N is management sees nurses as a warm body and not as a professional. I have worked in many areas of nursing, hospitals, insurance companies, case management, hospice, homered etc.and have found no support, low pay, and bulling. Nursing tends to attract Co-dependant people and are mostly disempowered women. I am celebrating to be leaving.

    Reply
  10. Andreea

    After getting burned out from inpatient nursing, I looked into outpatient nursing, but realized it wasn’t for me as I love to use my sthetoscope to assess and dig deeper into the patient’s medical conditions. I looked into NP but again realized it might not satisfy my curiosity for medicine as I want to know everything on a cellular level, finally made the decision to pursue an MD degree. I discovered my love for medicine through nursing, so I am thankful for that. Life is short and it’s too short not to chase your dreams. And it’s long as h*** when you don’t. (Quote)

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Glad to hear that you continued to listen to your inner wisdom to find the path that is perfect for you!! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  11. SYLVANA PAUL

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and experience with the forum. I’ve had 28 years in the field of nursing, I really don’t have an interest in nursing anymore. However, I still have a few years to retirement, no pension and is currently not working. I work as a school nurse through agency, but not being paid for the times school is out bothers me. It makes a huge difference to my bottom line.

    Reply
  12. Arbu

    Thanks for aapreciating others for choosing this very good carrier.

    Reply
  13. Teresa

    I had to be off work for a back problem which required having procedures done over 1.5 year time period because only one doctor in they area could do the procedures so the wait time was long in between procedures. And, now nobody wants to hire me because I have been an RN for 41 years and they are only hiring less expensive inexperienced nurses. I know this is the reason I’m not finding a job because a friend who is also an RN told me; she asked me to not share her name because what these hospital networks is doing is age discrimination. It’s pretty sad I’m unable to pay my bills because I had a health problem a couple of years ago. I had an interview for a nursing position in a vocational school that only pays a few dollars per hour more than minimum wage last week. I have an interview scheduled at a hospital next week; I’m afraid to get my hopes up. I never thought being an experienced RN would be a negative; it makes me wish I had never become a nurse.

    Reply
  14. Karen Lindsey, MSN, RN, PHN

    I am 64 and hit a brick wall. I fell in 2015, had 2 surgeries, and now in 2018 cannot find anyone to hire me. I am not ready to stop nursing. I have been away from the bedside for a few years. Higher administration and Quality and Risk. I would love to go back. I am READY to go back. I am a Master’s prepared RN and a Public Health Nurse. I have hit not only an age wall, but the fall and surgeries caused loss of stamina that is coming back. I emotionally NEED to work. If not, I am going to die young. I love my work. I am not ready to stay home and craft or garden. That is not me. I am panicking about never working again. It would be a tragedy.

    Reply
    • Bunny boo

      Hi Just a thought go into the NEW industry.I did I am now a Certified Cannabis nurse.I also did travel Nsg.nursing that was fun also, you can take the cert.on line and it pays very well.Enjoy something new.Blessings.

      Reply
  15. Matthew

    I have been a nurse for almost a decade and am already starting to burn out. I am male and it makes it that much harder. Everything is the nurses fault and a male nurse has to watch his back at all times. I have been under extended investigation in situations with physically violent patients where if the same thing happened to a female the management would have been more concerned with her safety. I have been physically and sexually assaulted to the point where I had to call the police and the police would not even take action against the patients, so the proper role was to contact the prosecutor and go around the police in order to get anyone charged. Violence against a healthcare worker is a felony in my state but nobody cares. The system has been corrupted to make patients think they have unlimited rights once they reach a certain age. We teach toddlers that their rights end when they infringe upon the rights of others, but a certain generation of patients never gets told that…they are above societal rules and they know it. You cannot routinely break laws and get a pass because of your medical or health conditions. That is where the term criminally insane came from. People used to still be subject to penalty for committing crimes even when they’re sick. The only gratitude I have received is from families of the dying. I truly love and care about those families. I think hospice is my next step. Wish me luck.

    Reply

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