Why I Left Nursing

Why I left nursing for Hypnotherapy. 

My nursing career, summed up in one word, was frustrating. I am a nurturer and healer by nature. I was a young mother, I took being a mom very seriously and loved every minute of it. Then I went on to care for premature infant twins as a live-in nanny, day care centers and eventually apprenticed with homebirth midwives. From there is when I went into nursing. All of those jobs and experiences I absolutely loved. In 2007 I graduated NMU Northern Michigan University, and passed the state boards for licensed practical/vocational nurse. (LPN/LVN) 

I noticed right away the lack of time and resources for genuine care, to be able to really do all we had learned in a way that was safe and effective for all involved. A lot of my training in my first job in a hospital was unlearning what I had learned in school.  Parts of the job were fulfilling and felt productive, mostly not. Mostly it was, well, frustrating. Almost always understaffed, working long hours with very few real breaks. Every nurse will tell you they sometimes don’t eat at all in a shift, or even use the restroom. It’s a common joke in nursing. Yet we wear it like a badge of honor, we have had every kind of body fluid on us, we have seen (and smelled) things most would faint or vomit from. 

I saw a lot of what I wasn’t supposed to see, or maybe ever talk about. There is a lot of corruption, there is a lot of mismanagement and uncaring people at the top. 

Most nurses I know are very caring people, work very hard and genuinely care for their patients. I’ve also worked with a few that are totally burned out. Which is where I was getting to the point of. I had other serious issues going on in my life at the time I realized I was starting to burn out myself. 

I had decided to go to a holistic health school before I started getting to this point of burnout. I have always been more natural in my self care and care of my children, ( I even had given birth at home with my second baby) I felt uneasy about all the medications and treatments in the western modern medical model. I wasn’t sure that I was really doing the best for the patients, even by following the Dr.’s orders and doing everything according to the rules and regulations. I was hoping to get into more of a natural, holistic modality of nursing, or at least patient care. That was 2010 and I was introduced to Hypnotherapy during those classes. I was amazed at the deep healing and life changes I saw happening. Hypnotherapy was just about always a positive experience for all involved. I always kept that in the back of my mind. I knew, or at least hoped, one day. Other than what was required for the classes, working with the public, I also practiced some with friends and family and a few others over the years. I did some group sessions for a recovery center and even used hypnotherapy with my patients some on overnight shifts. Just helping them to relax, or have less anxiety. 

Mostly I left nursing because near the end I couldn’t handle the death of babies, or little ones having to live in such sick bodies. I came across times I felt my license was in jeopardy by being asked (or ordered) to do things in ways I knew was not legal or more importantly safe for all involved. I felt my life was in danger a few times. (as most nurses have) Nursing 12-16 hour shifts with 20-40 patients at a time ruined my hands, I have a type of degenerative arthritis that gets worse with use. I had one Dr. tell me I should get out of nursing to save my hands – that was about 2014. 

I was at the edge of burnout, if not already there. I was definitely at the very least disgruntled with nursing, when Hypnotherapy came back into my life. I had everything showing me I needed to go in this direction; dreams, synchronicities – breakthroughs in hypnotherapy sessions and meditations.

It’s a huge relief not to be in that tough spot, it’s an honor and privilege to know I’m helping people to heal in deeper ways that will stick with them and truly change their lives for the better. 

I feel like I am making a difference now, I know this is my true calling and purpose. I never felt that strongly about my nursing career. I do need to say that I have a deep respect for all those in the medical field that have found a way to make it work for them, that truly are making a difference, there are many, I know a few of them. I have dear friends that are amazing nurses. I salute you, but it’s not for me. 

To show my respect, to give back and help prevent burnout in others, I have a standing offer for all medical and healthcare staff for one free phone hypnotherapy session per month – contact me if you’re interested. 
If you are feeling burned out in your career or unsure if the path you are on is right for you hypnotherapy can help you go deep within to find the answers.

Thank you so much for being here. Any questions at all or suggestions for future articles, feel free to reach out anytime. Pamle@HypnoBreakthrough.com or you can use the contact form on the home page