A New RN, Quit Job after 5 Months

Nurses New Nurse

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I am a new nurse and had my first nursing job in a medical/surgical unit. I was in orientation for only 6 weeks, and I came from another country, so it was twice as hard for me to adjust to everything. Every single night from work, I'd come home drained out and miserable. I usually stay in the floor 2-3 hours after my scheduled shift to finish documentation, which killed me more. I used to be very resolved that I was going to be a great nurse. I did great in school and my instructors believed in me. However, when I came to the US and started working, I myself lost the once vigor and confidence I had. The longer I stayed in the unit I worked at, the lower self-esteem and self-fulfillment I had. And I thought to myself, "I can't work like this." Although everyone told me that it would take a year or two before you really become comfortable with nursing, everyday I felt like hell and questioned myself for being there. After a little less than 5 months on the job, I decided to resign...because the job was eating me up slowly that I didn't want to start my career with misery.

Now that I am in search for another job, I am questioning whether I did make the right decision of leaving. I was so resolved to leave that time, however, now that I am going through interviews and waiting for calls, I feel down and ask myself, "was I a coward? OR was I brave enough to get out of the situation that was dragging me down?" I know not everyone could understand what I went through, and every time why I left the job, I feel too tired to explain already since they wouldn't really understand.

I have been looking for a specialty other than bedside nursing, specifically med/surg. A place with lesser acuity, something that would hopefully rekindle my love for nursing. However, it's been 2 weeks and I rarely ever get a call back.

I am getting depressed as each day comes and although I am trying to stay positive, I don't know if my career will ever get back on track. However, a very good friend would always reassure me, "it will just take time. take your time and have faith. You made a bold decision, right or wrong, that was your decision. Don't worry, it will get better."

I hang on to her words.. but I don't know what hope nursing profession has in store for me.

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Hi I___Scream,

I think we on this message board are more likely to understand exactly what you are saying. I too am resolved to get out of nursing after only 6 weeks of orientation and on my own for about 9 weeks now I'm thinking of going back to school for a different career all together! Stay strong and know there is something special for you and your resolve and bravery to change is commendable.

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Thank you so much. I wish I knew this site since I started nursing. I wouldve kept my sanity :) I'm going to another job interview on Monday for an oncology unit. I'm concerned that if they knew that I quit my job because of how overwhelming and stressful it was they wouldn't take me in. But I just keep the faith and know that there will be a place for me.. It's hard to move forward from one decision to another.

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If I may make a suggestion, don't offer up in the interview that you quit because it was overwhelming and too much stress. Say something more vague, such as "It wasn't a good fit". If you say it was too stressful, what the interviewer is hearing is that you can't cut it. Any way that you can try to present yourself in a more positive view is necessary in order to convince a new employer to take a chance with you.

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Specializes in L&D.

I did it too. It was, hands down, one of the best decisions I've ever made in my professional life. I am so happy on my new unit. I would go to work on my old unit with my stomach in knots, wondering how many things I would screw up or forget or do late that day. I go to work on my new unit excited about what I might do that day and looking forward to doing my best. It is a night and day difference and it was absolutely the right decision. I am sure that you will find a place in nursing that feels as much like "home" as I did. It sounds like your old unit was a horrible fit for you, and I know it takes a lot of courage to be able to do what you did. Hang in there, be positive about your old workplace in interviews but be honest about why you left, and I am sure you'll have something better in no time.

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I did it too. It was, hands down, one of the best decisions I've ever made in my professional life. I am so happy on my new unit. I would go to work on my old unit with my stomach in knots, wondering how many things I would screw up or forget or do late that day. I go to work on my new unit excited about what I might do that day and looking forward to doing my best. It is a night and day difference and it was absolutely the right decision. I am sure that you will find a place in nursing that feels as much like "home" as I did. It sounds like your old unit was a horrible fit for you, and I know it takes a lot of courage to be able to do what you did. Hang in there, be positive about your old workplace in interviews but be honest about why you left, and I am sure you'll have something better in no time.

Thank you so much Sterren thats encouraging! It's nice to know that someone DID make the right decision of leaving.. Do you work in the same facility? How did you get your job now after you resigned from the other one?

Actually I was already offered two jobs after I left.. But I declined both of them coz my gut wasn't really for them.. The first one was a psych position and the other one was another oncology/med/surg and also an ICU position (35 miles away).. I was so tempted to jump in and accept the offers, but now that I made the decision of leaving my previous job, I want to make it RIGHT this time and reaffirm my commitment to becoming a great nurse..so I want the job to be right too..

It's been two weeks.. but I'm keeping my fingers crossed and continue to believe in the Lord Almighty.

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Specializes in L&D.

I actually started applying for jobs and had a couple of offers before I quit my old job, but I still had to deal with the "why are you leaving your current position" stuff. I explained that I simply didn't have a good picture of what my old job would be or how challenging it would be for me, and that I had quickly realized it was a bad fit. Most nurses understand the "fit" thing, in my experience. Everyone on my new unit has seemed to understand when they've asked why I left my old unit and I explained it was a poor fit. You either like a unit or you don't, it either works for you or it doesn't. I made sure to let the people who interviewed me know that I didn't have any negative things to say about my old unit, that it was simply me and my own needs for my own career, and that seemed to be well understood and received. I did end up staying at the same facility but that's just because they gave me the most attractive job offer, I would have accepted an offer from a different facility but the position just wasn't as attractive.

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Great sterren! :) that's what I also told one of the employers that interviewed me, and they did understand where I was coming from. Only that I declined the offer since, as they say, "I didn't want get into fire from the fying pan." It's a loooongg drive given that the way is WITH the traffic and winter's is coming, is about 35 miles from where I live. Hopefully I'll be given a chance in one of my dream facilities to which I've applied to..

If I may ask, which state do you come from?

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After readng these posts, I no longer feel alone. I quit my job about 1 week ago. I hated it! I felt as though I was not getting the training as needed during my orientation and I felt as though I just was not a good fit. I now have no job and I'm still looking into finding somethng soon. I'm stressed out and asking God to keep me sane until I find something soon. My manager seemed to be respectful of my decision and even offered to have me transfer to another unit. Only to find out 1 week later that the other units are not accepting new applications. I am now out on the job hunt once again and stressed out. Wondering if I made the right choice or should I have just stuck it out until my year was up. But then when I think about how miserable and depressed I was going into work I know I made the right choice. I pray I find something soon.

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Specializes in IMCU.

I started out on Medical Intersive Care at our large teaching hospital. It was way over my head! I stayed there 6 weeks and then went to the manager and asked her permission to transfer to the Intemediate Care Unit where I had done clinicals and been offered a job which I turned down to work MICU. She was very supportive, called the manager on IMCU and told her I would like to transfer and I was there the next week. The manager on MICU told me that I could come back at any time if I wanted to give them another try. That really made me feel good.

IMCU hasn't been a breeze and nights like last night make me wonder if it is worth it. I came in to one transfer out, two new admits (one who pulled his dobhoff tube out and the other an elderly lady from the ER with a million orders, one of which was a catheter) all this and a tech that had a hellacious attitude last night. I then had to report out to the "report Nazi" this a.m. on one of my patients. Thank the Goddess I had a great charge nurse who put in my orders and helped me replace the Dobhoff tube. She even ordered the KUB for me. It makes a big huge difference when your charge is supportive.

Mahage

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I know LadyQT, but it's ok. let's hang in there. I know we will find our place somewhere. All we need to do is do some good introspection, know where we really should be and what are future goals are, pray that God will provide. I know that it's tough, my, I'm also going through the same thing--stressed out and asking if we made the right decision. It was a big caeer move and right or wrong,

we already did it and no way of taking it back.. maybe we can move forward from this. Let's hope for the best. maybe we can keep in touch to cheer each other up!

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I Scream,

You are right. Let us continue to lift each other up in prayer. PM and let's keep in touch.

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