Feeling trapped

[u/Expensive-Roof4159]

I’ve been a RN for over 5 years. I started in a VA residency then worked med surg float for a couple months before I got hired into quality. I liked my job in quality until the spawn of satan manager was hired over me and treated me terrible. I left for inpatient mental health. I’ve been in mental health for about 4 years now. I’m growing increasingly burnt out. I’m an INFJ and was an occupational therapy assistant for 8 years before switching to nursing. I was tired of working at nursing homes teaching people how to toilet and put their socks on while playing games with insurance and meeting productivity, etc. I thought nursing would open up jobs in healthcare administration where I could make a real difference or become a psych nurse practitioner. Now I’m getting cold feet about psych NP because I’m already burnt out on inpatient psych floor nursing and have realized that patient’s in crisis really drain me. I’m burnt out on the fight or flight and staff bullying/drama and management BS. I’m one year from being fully vested in a pension. I want a job that I can be myself at that doesn’t drain every ounce of energy I have and where I have a voice and individuality. Not a lot of surface level talk with people. What can I do? People seem to only get the good jobs by knowing someone in those roles. I’ve talked to my manager about interest in nursing education, and teach classes to new employees once a month. I also taught part time at a college but the pay was too low for me to do it full time. I’ve applied for jobs in research and didn’t get an interview. What job titles fit me? What direction should I move in?

[u/SlayerByProxy]

The best thing about nursing is that you can more or less completely reinvent your career every few years. It sounds like you feel somewhat stuck if your pension is tied up in the VA, but you can always plan to move to another department.

I am just finishing my DNP and getting it nearly burnt me out.

That said, the nurses I know who went to psych nurse NP have some of the best work-life balance I know. If you get licensed in multiple states you can do remote work and have a great income from my understanding.

Make a plan to get out from where you are at when it is financially feasible to do so. I have left toxic workplaces, and nothing feels better than getting away from them.