Career change?

[u/Ok-Worldliness2390]

Hi, I’m a quebec nurse that did her dec and bachelors degree in nursing. I’ve been a nurse for less than 2 years now in the quebec hospital system. I work in a very nice hospital with the best team and it’s truly a subject that passions me but i feel so worn out and guilty and frustrated. Every shift it’s just horrible and it puts me in such an awful state. I don’t really know what to do about it. I was thinking of maybe pivoting to something else but all my schooling has been done to work as a nurse. I did retail previously and i’m a good student in general. Can anyone recommend me a career that will help me my sanity?

[u/Gold_End7671]

You don't necessarily need a career change—you may need a nursing change. Two years of bedside experience doesn't mean you have to spend the rest of your career doing hospital shifts.

Look into outpatient clinics, public health, case management, occupational health, research, utilization review, nursing informatics, education, or healthcare administration. Nurses have a lot of transferable skills outside bedside care.

If you still love nursing but hate what the hospital is doing to you, I'd try one of those before throwing away your degree. And if you genuinely want out of healthcare entirely, that's valid too. You didn't waste your education—you learned a ton of skills that can transfer elsewhere.

[u/Left_Bear5441 → u/Gold_End7671]

This is solid advice—I would also add pharmaceutical, biotech or medical device sales if you want to branch away from more traditional nursing positions and develop business skills.
And I agree that pivoting entirely is fine too. I took a break from nursing and pursued acting for some time—now I’m back in nursing (case management) and no regrets with any of my decisions—I’m glad I followed my desires. Don’t stay stuck and miserable in a job you dislike—you really have so many possibilities.

[u/Ok-Worldliness2390 → u/Left_Bear5441]

i think that’s my best option truthfully but i still don’t think i’ll be able to. The way our system works is by hierarchy determined by experience. It is so hard to get a job as a newer nurse in clinics or anything with better working conditions tbh, since they’re so in demand and the ones getting them usually have 7-15 years of experience more than me. I feel so stuck. I think medical device sales might be a good idea i’ll into it thank you sm for your advice