How many new nurses are seriously thinking about quiting?

colleennurse, ASN, RN · Mar 29, 2007

I agree with VivaRN, starting out as a new grad is really rought just about anywhere you start. I am currently working on a Trauma/Emergency General Surgery Floor (Highly stressful), am on my 7th week or orientation and am due to start on my own next week. I have been told by my manager to ask tons of questions when I don't know how to do something (which is a frequent occurence), but then when I do ask questions I come out to the nurses station later on in the shift to hear the nurses laughing about what I needed help with. Sometimes I feel so alone on the floor and feel too scared to ask a question because I will get gossiped about and laughed about. It makes me sad that these experienced nurses seem to be "out to get" the new grads when they should, as VivaRN said, be more interested in retention and encouraging more nurses into the profession rather than scaring them away.

I just wanted to respomd to you in regards to asking questions. I am 9 months in my nursing career, and I still ask many questions when I am unsure of something. PLEASE do not let other nurses make you feel bad for asking questions. So what if they laugh, it is the patients safety that matters. I once apoligized to a nurse I was working with because I felt that I had bugged her all night, she said to me that she would be more concerned if I was not asking questions. You will learn who you can go to and who will be willing to show/teach you things. When I feel that I am asking a dumb question, I just tell myself that if I dont ask I may end up doing something wrong and harm my patient. It is normal to not know how to do things! Good luck!!

lakerette01 · Apr 3, 2007

I do, almost everyday.. I am not sure if I want to quit nursing over all, just the hospital I am at. I work in Peds, came from Psych and boy do I miss my psych patients.. The main reason I can't quit is b/c I got relocation money and I have to say for 2 years, if I don't want to pay any of the $$ back..

I think though, once I hit my year, if I am not comfortable and am still missing my psych patients, I am going to quit.. I will only have to pay back half the $$..

MimismomRN · Apr 12, 2007

I am a new LVN and have worked med/surg for one year (yesterday!) and have thought about quiting almost every day. I am a nervous wreck every night before I go in. We have at least 12 patients and it is overwhelming. I am finishing my prereqs for LVN to RN bridge and some days I question why am I putting myself through this at 49 years old. But I feel this is where I need to be to care for others. I love my patients and it is not their fault our hospital has such a bad ratio. It is scary though. I have gone to one day a week with school and wondered how I did three days straight. I still don't feel comfortable doing IVs and felt my training lacked (11 shifts is all we got). Please tell me there are other jobs where they treat you better than this. I live in a small town unfortunately we have two hospitals. That's it. I do not think I want to work in a hospital once I get my RN (if I get my RN). Just so stressed right now. God bless us all~~

WDWpixieRN, RN · Apr 13, 2007

but then when I do ask questions I come out to the nurses station later on in the shift to hear the nurses laughing about what I needed help with. Sometimes I feel so alone on the floor and feel too scared to ask a question because I will get gossiped about and laughed about.

I am still in school, but this is infuriating to read....I never cease to be amazed at how a profession that can affect the life or death of other human beings can be so cruel and callous to its own.

Did these nurses all graduate from school knowing everything?!? Apparently they must like working short-staffed and being assigned an overload of pts because I know that I will never work in a situation like this. I don't care if I have to go serve burgers at McDonald's to pay the utilities.

Apparently the antics of some nursing schools/students carry over in to the work place.

kerbery · Apr 15, 2007

I'm truly enjoying nursing so far (3 months). I can see how it wouldn't be for everybody, especially people who have an office type job background. My background is food service- waitressing and catering, so I am used to long hours without breaks and putting up with people's demands. I actually get to sit down on the job doing charting now than I ever did in my other jobs. I have great support on my floor and an amazing preceptor so I think that has been very helpful.

blueiwahine · Apr 22, 2007

I made 8 months as a new nurse...strained my back and decided I had, had enough...working shortstaffed and the high acuity of the patients was just too much for me. I've been off for the last 2 months and have just decided to go back to work...I'm going to try a different hospital and specialty...before I worked Oncology/Med-Surg. I figure if that doesn't work...will just try something else...Figure I will find my niche one day. lol

oldiebutgoodie, RN · Apr 22, 2007

I made 8 months as a new nurse...strained my back and decided I had, had enough...working shortstaffed and the high acuity of the patients was just too much for me. I've been off for the last 2 months and have just decided to go back to work...I'm going to try a different hospital and specialty...before I worked Oncology/Med-Surg. I figure if that doesn't work...will just try something else...Figure I will find my niche one day. lol

I have done hospital nursing now almost 2 years, and every time I think it is working out, the hospital changes schedule, hours, or staffing. Gave my notice today, and I am going to work PRN for a teaching hospital in the area. 8 hour shifts, the docs put in their own orders, more money. And if this doesn't work out, I'll try something else, too!

Oldiebutgoodie

Scoobiedoo · Apr 23, 2007

I guess I was lucky in that I worked in our ICCU as a Cardiac Monitor Tech and Nurses Aide for a year before I started RN school. However, I am no an LPN and will graduate our RN program this May 2007.

Having said THAT - I am finding the nurse to patient ratio of having 5 or 6 patients just insane! I can't figure out HOW the other nurses who have been there 1 yr + can find time to hang out an BS all the time. I'm always behind in my charting, call bells, meds, etc. It is SOO stressful. I can't for the life of me figure out HOW they can get their things done and find time to hang out and chat.

Our nurses union here in NY State is trying to get a Bill passes limiting the ratio to more-manageable levels. Don't know if that will ever get passed - but I'll tell you, it NEEDS to be passed.

Also, at my college - we did have 4 and 5 Pt's in our clinical so we could see what it was REALLY going to be like our there in the REAL world. And boy it IS!

Its a great income and challenging career - but its sure VERY stressful.

sabrn2006 · Apr 29, 2007

I started last June. I won't be leaving nursing altogether, but I am unhappy on my current med-surg unit. It is extremely stressful. I get behind frequently. My immediate supervisor is notoriously hard to deal with and very critical. I am trying to get on the cardiac floor. If that fails I will apply to other facilities. I think that mentoring and support would be a great asset, which I don't have currently.

sleika · Apr 29, 2007

I'm truly enjoying nursing so far (3 months). I can see how it wouldn't be for everybody, especially people who have an office type job background. My background is food service- waitressing and catering, so I am used to long hours without breaks and putting up with people's demands. I actually get to sit down on the job doing charting now than I ever did in my other jobs. I have great support on my floor and an amazing preceptor so I think that has been very helpful.

Thank you sooo much for posting this. This gives me hope. I am new to this website and am hoping to apply into the nursing program for fall 2008, this year. I am a waitress right now, have been for a long time. I work harder than any other FOH person (besides bussers) and feel confident this will be applicable to nursing. I am very used to being spoken down and disrespected over food and drinks! At least in nursing the pressure will be about something with more meaning.

purple_ylem · Apr 29, 2007

i'm having second thoughts too...most of my classmates are now working in hospitals (and by the way, they're not getting paid, they have to render volunteer work first for a certain period; that's how it is in my part of the world). and me...well, i decided not to work as a nurse for a whole year. i applied for another job--a more manageable one so i can study my nclex and CG first and ah--have some time off :rolleyes: i'm sure after a year i'm gonna miss nursing :nurse:

blueberrybon · Apr 29, 2007

Well this makes me feel better! I'm not as much of a minority as I thought!

I've been on the job for 3 months now, and I've wondered about my abilities constantly. I've cried more than I care to admit, and I've felt defeated many times by days end.

The sad thing is that I work in a pediatric doctors office! It's supposed to be one of the easiest LPN jobs there are. Well it hasn't been for me. There are so many little things to remember that I am still overwhelmed. Plus, some people make me feel inferior because of my lack of protocol knowledge. It's soooo exhausting to be keyed up all the time. My hours are 8 - 5 M - F, and 99% of the time we don't get breaks at all. I'm serious, from the time I get into work, to the time I get off 9 hours later, I am so busy I hardly have time to go potty!

But I have not thought of quitting. I couldn't do that. I will cry, I will feel sorry for myself, I will pray for things to get better, I might drink more than I used to, but I will not quit.

Blue