Advice for a New Grad RN After Quitting job/ Orientation after 5 & 1/2 months

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Hi Everyone,

I am looking for advice from experienced RNs and nursing recruiters. I will try to keep this as brief as possible but it's complicated.

I am an adult male in his 40's, second career, new graduate RN, having graduated in January 2009 with my Associates in nursing with a GPA of 3.65. I passed my NCLEX in February 2009 at 75 questions. I started my dream job in the ICU in March 2009 beginning my 6 months orientation. I worked VERY hard (long story) to get this job and was excited to begin my career as a critical care RN.

My new grad orientation was very complicated, having several preceptors and then switching to one preceptor after 4 months of hell. My new preceptor was great but I was having a lot of problems with time management and anxiety and feeling overwhelmed all the time. I know this is expected as a new grad but it was truly hell for me and effecting my work. I never argued and always took the criticism graciously and seriously. I was determined to learn to become a good critical care nurse, but I continued to be corrected all the time and told I was not picking up fast enough and that they were concerned if I would be able to work safely on my own after my 6 months orientation.

I was called into meet with my nursing educator and the nursing director on 2 occasions to discuss their concerns. I told them how much I wanted this and that I was trying very hard but I was aware I was struggling with time management and being overwhelmed. After this last meeting I was told to decide if I wanted to consider resigning as I may fired in the near future if I continued to struggle. Well after hearing that and knowing how miserable I had been the last 5 1/2 months, I decided to resign and protect my nursing license I worked so hard to get.

I was extremely disappointed that I found myself resigning from my dream job and I was so humiliated that I left that day and never spoke to another person I worked with again. I couldn't even transfer to another job at this hospital over feeling I would always be reminded that "I failed" and I wasn't capable to be a critical care RN.

It has been 2 months now with no job. I have applied to SEVERAL jobs and even had a couple interviews but when I was asked why I left my first job after 5 1/2 months, I explained it was "bad fit", and that I discovered that critical-care was not for me and that I wanted to experience other environments to learn and grow in. Well, that didn't go over well. I was asked to further explain why I would quit my first job after only 5 months and never completed my orientation? The nurse recruiter was a previous critical-care RN and would not stop asking me to explain why it was a "bad fit". I guess I didn't answer her questions in a way she liked and she really wanted to get me to say I wasn't able to handle it. She said that it was a RED Flag to her that I left my first job so soon in my training. Obviously I didn't get that job.

So, I decided on my next job application and phone interview with a recruiter to not mention the new grad RN job at all. I thought I would just be a new grad with no experience looking for work like so many of us out there. Well, she asked me why I was still not working after 9 months since I got my RN License. I explained I had traveled some and that I hadn't found the right opportunity yet. Well, she said... "Wood luck to you in your future and we will keep you in our "new grad pile". So that was a bust too.

So my question is this: Should I mention my 5 1/2 months of ICU training from a prestigious hospital or just leave it off my resume and hope they never find out? I was told to be honest as they could find out, but when I am honest it seems like they think less of me for resigning my first job during orientation and that it's a RED FLAG not to hire me. Well, with so many new grad nurses looking for work I can't afford a red flag these days.

I know the job market is horrible right now for new grads and it's very depressing especially for me loosing my "dream job". I guess it wasn't meant to be and I am trusting that something better is ahead for me.

I am still pretty traumatized from the entire experience and still now have sleepless nights and or nightmares about my ICU experience. I sometimes wonder if bedside nursing is for me. I would love to find a clinic job but I know right now I need to take whatever I can and get a year or two of experience.

I am also looking to complete my BSN and may go back now while I am still looking for work, though I need a job soon as I have a mortgage to pay. I may have to get another kind of job if I can't find a nursing job.

So does anyone have any Job Search and interview advice for me? Words of wisdom are also welcome. I feel bad enough on my own so you can save the negative comments for someone else thanks.

Look forward hearing from you.

Thanks!

Specializes in -.

I couldn't agree with you more utadahikaru!

My sister, don't you go there! I can relate to your post in professional experience, as well as being Jewish but not Sabbath observant. I hate to read that you think its a curse to be born Jewish! That nurse was at best ignorant in how she was speaking to you, perhaps anti-semitic, and this factors in unfortunately with work evaluation. Take care of your profession, as well as your religious obligations. This is an old post, so I hope you are now doing well, on all accounts.

I had a similar experience and understand the steep learning curve for a new grad. Having the sort of personality that tends to dwell on my own shortcomings and feelings of shame I can understand being flattened by the experience for an inordinate length of time. If this is you, a word of advice: Don't go there! Try very, very hard to accept whatever lack of knowledge and/or skill you truly had, make an action plan to correct these deficits, and do whatever you can to improve your self esteem and sense of self-worth. Affirmations, exercise, being adult and responsible in other areas of your life, spending time with people and activities you care about, renewing your love and commitment for nursing, etc.

Good Luck! Don't give up on the dream too soon, but if you think you'd really love clinic nursing, try it -- even as a part-timer or volunteer.

PS -- This just arrived in my inbox as a topic I'm following -- didn't notice the date! How about an update on your progress since your original post? Thanks!

best of luck to you!

The thing that gets me is that another nurse that I graduated with (same amount of experience as me) got hired on a few months after I did and the nursing staff thinks that she is progressing just fine. I just can't imagine exactly what would be different between us. They tell her that she asks the right amount of questions.

I had a similar situation only 2 weeks ago. I had my first day of a 5pt load with admits and discharges. I knew it could have gone better, but when I asked my preceptor what I could have done better, there was no response. The next day I was asked to resign. I ask myself the same question as you do every day since this happened.

Specializes in Mental Health, Prison Nursing, Pediatric.

Thank you for sharing.

I would leave the experience off from resume if you can. When I was a new grad, I had my first horrible orientation experience with a nurse who did not want to train me. I tried my best, asked questions, tried my best to work effient and effectively but she was just bad (gossiped, explosive temper, didnt want to help at all, ridiculed, etc). It was not a healthy experience for me as a newbie. As an experienced nurse starting a new position, I am better equiped to handle poor behaviour with the mindset of not reflecting another person's bad energy onto myself that can affect others; we cant control others, we can only control our actions towards it. You learned plenty in orientation, get extra certs and try not just apply for hospitals and try clinics or public health programs (adult day centers are a nice choice since you do basic medical care, assessment, and even admin/leadership skills). Just remember, what happened to you is not always under your control. Yes, it may have been traumatizing and you have all the guilt "what ifs" instead -but remember whats important is how you react/respond to it and how you can move forward staying positive. My bad experiences have taught me to always be kind and always "pay it forward." Also, we can be nice; however, we must have boundaries since being a nurse involves also respecting ourselves. I wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors.

Wow I wonder how things worked out. I pray that you are in a much better positions and happy leaving the ICU. I really hope that you were able to find a great position in the field of nursing that is a mu ch better fit. Many years later and here I am. In a similar position. I have never felt so terrible in my life. I haaaaate nursing so much. it is honestly absolutely the worst decision of mylife. I'm a new grad, three months in and I chose a float pool department. We go to all the floors including icu's. Orientation for 3 months but like 3 weeks on each unit and we dont even get trained on all units. I worked as a float pca and I loved it but as a nurse, I am crying even at work and it's obvious. It didnt get worse until i got to the icu's. i was comfortable on like general medsurg. What in the world was I thinking???yes I know but I could have never imagined that nursing would be this bad. My safety, license is at risk because on the floor I feel like just walking out and I think that I actually might do it if I don't leave. I have already talked to my manager and wanted to leave but that was like at 2 months and he tried to get me to stay basically. I said ok let me try but now i'm in NICU and I have gone down hill in a matter of days. I really really don't want to go back. idk what to do. if I continue to try to hold on, my safety will be even more at risk because I'm truly not myself. ?????

Things actually ended up working out well for me. I finish my MSN-PMHNP degree in May. I worked in psychiatric nursing after leaving NICU. One door closing led to other doors opening for me. I had originally planned to become psychologist long ago, before nursing school.

Why are you in Float pool as new grad? That seems like way too much, too soon. Can you go to different hospital in your area that's more supportive?

Unfortunately, nursing has changed ALOT in the decade since I became a nurse. Lots of stress on nurses due to short staffing, etc. Nurse Managers need to fill the shifts so they may keep you just to fill in

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
18 hours ago, JustGetIt said:

Wow I wonder how things worked out. I pray that you are in a much better positions and happy leaving the ICU. I really hope that you were able to find a great position in the field of nursing that is a mu ch better fit. Many years later and here I am. In a similar position. I have never felt so terrible in my life. I haaaaate nursing so much. it is honestly absolutely the worst decision of mylife. I'm a new grad, three months in and I chose a float pool department. We go to all the floors including icu's. Orientation for 3 months but like 3 weeks on each unit and we dont even get trained on all units. I worked as a float pca and I loved it but as a nurse, I am crying even at work and it's obvious. It didnt get worse until i got to the icu's. i was comfortable on like general medsurg. What in the world was I thinking???yes I know but I could have never imagined that nursing would be this bad. My safety, license is at risk because on the floor I feel like just walking out and I think that I actually might do it if I don't leave. I have already talked to my manager and wanted to leave but that was like at 2 months and he tried to get me to stay basically. I said ok let me try but now i'm in NICU and I have gone down hill in a matter of days. I really really don't want to go back. idk what to do. if I continue to try to hold on, my safety will be even more at risk because I'm truly not myself. ?????

Float pool as a new grad? No wonder you hate it.

Get OUT of that job and find a different one on a solid floor.

Specializes in -.

Agreed... float pool as a new grad? (set up to fail!).

1. Get a new job

2. Be honest on interviews but don't be negative

Its such a common situation & really needs no explaining. You just say "it was a little more than I was ready for" or something to that degree. Then have a positive thing to say about it (don't say it wasn't fair, they didn't do this or that, etc.)

My story for example... "I enjoy talking to people, thats my biggest strength. Well in the ICU, everyone was intubated so I realized maybe this wasn't the place for me." (And that is the honest truth by the way. And I still maintain that even a negative experience is a good experience).

You will get through this, you just need to find a place with some consistency and float pool aint it! Network like all hell, get on LinkedIn just to find names (contact nurse managers directly, they make the hiring decisions not HR). Keep your head up and keep at it. You have no idea whats ahead of you and things can be completely different simply with a good preceptor and the right job.

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