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

[DonovanRN]

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!

[jjjoy, LPN]

Which job? That is a VERY personal decision. In many cases, a newbie can't go wrong by starting in acute care. It allows the newbie to actually practice and make real much of what they covered in school. And it doesn't pigeon hole the newbie either since acute care experience tends to be valued across the various nursing specialties. Even if you ended up leaving in less than 3 months, the experience would be incredibly valuable to understanding your own preferences, strengths and weaknesses and perhaps give you better direction in planning your next move.

However, one must also factor in their own personality, goals, motivations, strengths and weaknesses. The valuable inpatient acute care experience won't be worth much if you end up so burned out that you give up on nursing altogether. And if you are successful & motivated in the clinic job, you may be able to build upon that perhaps through networking, specialization, and lateral moves. Also, if you 've got pressing financial obligations or feel that another stab at acute care right now could seriously risk your mental and physical health, the clinic job might be a better bet for the near future to stay on keel.

[Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN]

Donovan I say go for the clinic. I don't think you can go wrong with going with what you'll feel you'll enjoy more.

Personally I wouldn't go with what would look best on a resume, I'd go with where you feel you'll get the most satisfaction and peace of mind. What will give you that "yes, I want to go to work today?"

Frankly I don't understand the "this job may look bad on a resume " and I can't stand the attitude that LTC is a career killer. :angryfire Perhaps if other nurses would stop perpetuating that, others would see it is just as respectful a decision. As if it somehow makes one less of a nurse. My DON started in the ICU and hated it and if prevailing attitudes are the norm of what I read here are how ICU nurses are, seriously why bother? You couldn't get a more supportive, down to earth DON like I have, so I'll take people like her to work with anyday.

I thought I wanted that critical environment too, as I loved the BTU. But I've found that it's generally a specific personality type that excels in burn, ICU, or ER, someone on the thread mentioned it's a cold, clinical environment and I agree with that. I in no way want to work with those types no matter how great it would supposedly look on my resume, and no matter how much I would love to have those skills, the tradeoff is not worth it.

The clinic sound exactly what you're looking for and no matter where you feel best, it's making a difference even a small one is what counts.

[dcgrrl, ASN, RN]

Donovan---

Clinic! Clinic! Clinic! You said it yourself that you really enjoyed it there. You also stated that you and the RN manager really clicked...another major plus! Please go with what's going to make you happy. This is just the beginning of your RN career. I wouldn't be too concerned with what looks good on your resume. You can gain some solid nursing skills in the clinic too. Whatever decision you make, good luck to you!

[me_again]

Donovan, take the clinic job! BUT...

...don't discount the possibility that you could ask the oncology manager if he or she would orient you to floor nursing while you are working your clinic job. Maybe you could do it on weekends. Then offer to hire on as PRN....

It might take a while to feel comfortable on the floor, but guess what? You would have that experience and probably never have to worry again about finding a job if the clinic job turned out not to work--for whatever reason, or you were dying to add another dimension to your work life.

As I've said before, I think you are a multi-tasker!

Merry Christmas, happy holidays to you and your family, and congratulations on your job offers.

[Katie5]

The Lord always works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform.There you were some time back with no job and feeling, sad and inadequate.

Here you are with two job offers going for you and excitement in the air. Congratulations:). I pray you look deep inside yourself and find insight to pick the job most suitable for you and where you will thrive.

[nurse441]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! keep us posted! *hugs*

[FlyingEagleRN]

you are not the only one this has happened to. during nursing school we develop thoughts and dreams of what the ideal "dream job" is for ourselves. the fact of the matter is nursing school doesn't teach us the time management and prioritization. so as new grads, we feel overwhelmed with being in acute nursing environments. it doesn't mean we are not cut out for nursing. it just means we are not cut out for that particular unit at that specific moment in time. hence, not a good fit for now anyways.

i had twelve weeks of orientation on a med/surge (specializing in orthopedics) floor and never had experience on an acute floor. i worked as a cna in a long term facility prior to nursing school- in other words, no other acute experience prior to getting my dream job at one of the most prestigious hospitals in my area. it was very fast paced- with multiple discharges and admits. right when you think you are catching up with things... the unit secretary would hand you a piece of paper and say "here is your new admit" and boom, i felt as if i were drowning again.

i guess that's why in recent years, hospitals have developed nurse apprentice positions and or internships where in addition to clinical hours provided by the nursing school, a student would be able to work directly with an rn at the facility until graduation. nursing school just does not offer enough clinical hours for us to become successful in an acute environment. most of the new grads that i was sitting with in my new hire orientation worked at the hospital as a nurse apprentice and or interned at the hospital and then when they graduated, they got hired on to the units that they apprenticed/interned on because they were able to figure out workflow, and or time management and prioritization skills prior to actually working on the floor during their orientation as a new hire.

i guess i was the exception... i didn't apprentice or intern anywhere. i worked my butt off getting my dream job by putting on my public relations hat, and rubbing elbows with the main players of the units i wanted to work at. i made myself look excellent on paper, and interviewed well. when i hit the floor for orientation it was a very discouraging experience. it was information overload and very stressful. by the tenth week it was difficult to get motivated. by the 12 week a different educator was telling me to "start looking for another job". so, of course, during the last extra weeks they gave me to prove myself, i had low self esteem and just felt discouraged.

i really understood everything my preceptor was teaching me. i understood all the charting and paperwork and interventions. there were many tasks, yet very easy to understand and do, but very hard to figure out what was the best way to do it in a fast pace environment. as new grads... we think safety first, and since we might spend a whole minute drawing a syringe of morphine, and using the 5 rights of med administration, seasoned nurses do all of this in 30 seconds and have it administered via iv in less than a minute.

in my situation, i fought to the end... went down swinging. i asked my educators for help, and they said, "awe... you'll be fine... all new grads feel overwhelmed..." they gave me 2 extra weeks and at the end of the two weeks, i knew it was over.

they even gave me two more weeks for a total of 14 weeks, and then i was asked to resign- not only to protect my license, but to keep my eligibility for rehire. would i consider re-applying there? if i could ever get rid of the traumatizing effects of losing my dream job, and then there is the pride factor.... maybe i would reconsider, but it is highly unlikely right now, as this just happened in the past couple weeks.

i still get depressed, but i had to remain strong as i have a family to feed. i applied everywhere: other acute hospitals, jails, mental health, long-term care... everywhere.

and then i remembered.... god. sorry to bring the jesus factor into this. i don't know if you have a personal relationship with him, but i got saved in the middle of 8th and 9th grade. through the years, even though i have stumbled many times, and ran from him, he has never turned his back on me. there were times in nursing school where i was literally on my knees praying- and he got me through. anyhow, the point i'm trying to make is this..... for me, i have always tried to do things on my own- i'm just programmed that way- being the leader of my household. i worked my butt off through nursing school and worked my butt off getting my dream job. all of these were my desires. i seem to always forget that my desires are frequently not what god desires for me. and many times, i forget that i am not in control of all this.... the man upstairs is.

it wasn't until i could completely surrender the whole situation that i saw what god has called me to do. after applying everywhere in my area, i left everything up to him. the first call back was from a nursing home which is less than ten minutes from my home. i was hired on the spot. even though, the nursing home was never a place where i thought i would re-start my nursing career, i believe that this is where god has brought me to hone in on my skills. living my life for god and really just dedicating everything i do to him has helped me get over the pride issues and the financial issues (i was only out of a job for less than 2 weeks)- especially going into the holidays. i am not stressed out when i go to work. i can administer meds to 24 patients safely and efficiently, finish my charting, and go home to my family feeling confident that i have helped many people. the cool thing about the nursing home is that as a new grad rn i have time to look up meds and disease processes and talk to patients and families, but overall just give great patient care. also, i work with a lot of other young new grads who are doing the same exact thing as me which makes it fun. we all help each other and the vibe is really stress free.

geriatrics is a community that is highly under resourced, and this will continue to escalate in the coming years. there is a multitude of directions to go in this environment... many opportunities to pioneer.

this was my two cents. god bless.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Welcome FlyingEagleRN :icon_hug:

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

Take the clinic job!! Get OUT of the hospital, you wont regret it!!

[jjjoy, LPN]

FlyingEagleRN - congrats on the job and thanks for sharing your experience as a new grad!

It sounds to me like you are saying that wanting to work on a med-surg unit in a hospital as a new grad was a 'dream job' and perhaps going after that was hubris on your part. I wouldn't agree with that. But I would agree that many nursing programs these days leave graduates underprepared to succeed in today's entry-level hospital jobs while hospitals aren't willing to pay for bridging the widening gap.

Still, for today's new grads, where landing any job at all can be tough, I suppose any hospital job is a dream job.

[ninejams]

I would say that you had issues with the personnel and staff that you worked with and make up a similar story, that if you were a nurse recruiter, you would buy it. Don't mention anything else.

[lolo2010]

I am going through a similar situation as a new grad. Unlike quitting ICU, I had to quit Medicine floor. I was actually forced to resign becaue the management didn't feel like I was picking up small critical thinking things and bcse I wasn't being fast enough. They extended my 4 week orientation to 1 more week. They told me they would have probably kept me there if they had more personnel resources. They also said they can see me picking it up in few more months but right now they needed me ready since the unit was fast-paced and very acute.It was a very high-acuity medical floor with very demanding- rich, educated patients. I was miserable there but feel like such a loser having not made a medical unit.I feel so horrible especially after reading other posts that saying no one will hire anyone who quits before 3 months especially a medical floor. Does anyone have any advice for me on a reasonable excuse I can give for future interviews? I been applying but feel so hopeless after reading all these threads. Do u think I should still pursue nursing?.. I feel so lost