I want to quit 4 months in

Nurses New Nurse

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Hi AN,

I am getting burned out of my job and I am only 4 months in. I work 11pm - 7:30am night shift 5 nights a week and I don't think I can take it anymore. I actually like my job and I like my coworkers, but staying up all night so often is hurting my well-being. I get 6-8 hours of sleep per day but I am still tired all the time. I never have time to cook or clean and I constantly feel nauseous and fed up. I want to quit now.

I know that quitting with 4 months of experience looks really really bad. But I can't take working nights anymore. Every day before I go to work, I want to quit because I never have time, never have energy, and am tired. I don't think I can manage a year. I know no one wants to hire someone who quit after 4 months, so I may just leave nursing entirely.

EDIT: I can't exactly job hunt now, as my schedule is too messy to allow for me to go to a job interview

5 night shifts in a row is very hard and you are not lazy or anything for not wanting to do this. It's not a natural shift and not everyone can actually physically do it. Infact it makes some people physically sick. There are always other shifts and other employers will understand. 3 shifts are hard enough.

Thank you for understanding!!!!

I wish I had 3 12's. I don't think the people commenting here realize how hard it is. Even my coworkers have a hard time, and most of them like working nights. Normal, healthy human beings get tired staying up all night, because that is how we are designed. No one ever fully adjusts to working night shift, and that doesn't make them less human. You can learn to tolerate them, but not to fully adjust.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

May I point out that although three 12s in a row are a bit easier to face, you're not always going to have those 4 days in a row off to recoup. Those pesky required weekends are the problem. You might end up with what we on our unit call twos-and-threes. It's actually at least as hard as the five 8s you're working now. The full timers on my unit are really struggling with it.

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Specializes in cardiac/education.

I have never worked nights, only days, and STILL hate it. So, you have all my sympathies girl, struggling to get some sleep and deal with all the stress of being a new nurse in the hospital. Hugs to you!

Nursing is so physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding. Add a touch of depression/anxiety on top of that and it can be utterly horrid. Add sleep deprivation and then it just may become utterly impossible. For some people. That is the beautiful thing: we are all different. Don't let anyone make you feel bad here. Only you know your situation and you have to take care of #1. If I was you I probably would have long quit but for me there are other factors at play. I have other options plus there is NOTHING more important to me than being happy and my quality of life. Once that goes away you don't have much anymore! But, like you, I am struggling to make that first year work....

BTW....I got a part time clinic job as a newer grad so it's not impossible! LOL

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I have never worked nights, only days, and STILL hate it. So, you have all my sympathies girl, struggling to get some sleep and deal with all the stress of being a new nurse in the hospital. Hugs to you!

Nursing is so physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding. Add a touch of depression/anxiety on top of that and it can be utterly horrid. Add sleep deprivation and then it just may become utterly impossible. For some people. That is the beautiful thing: we are all different. Don't let anyone make you feel bad here. Only you know your situation and you have to take care of #1. If I was you I probably would have long quit but for me there are other factors at play. I have other options plus there is NOTHING more important to me than being happy and my quality of life. Once that goes away you don't have much anymore! But, like you, I am struggling to make that first year work....

BTW....I got a part time clinic job as a newer grad so it's not impossible! LOL

THANK YOU!!!

I also am a little over the edge here because I can safely ventilate all my frustrations relatively anonymously. And I am a Type A, naturally anxious person. I don't have clinical anxiety but I am definitely on the spectrum for anxiety (just as everyone is on the spectrum for different things).

It's not like I come to work whining about my schedule and crying. I do my best, and work as hard as I am capable.

I am so close to quitting.

I am going to talk with my boss soon and see what my future schedule will end up looking like, but unless it is manageable I will probably quit and look around for a part-time clinic/ anything non-medical job close to home while I go back to school and figure out my next step.

I also am learning how intense nursing is. In school, I thought "wacky hours? Oh I don't care! I am young and single and free". But those wacky hours take a toll on my health. I can't imagine being a parent at this time. It's awful.

And there is the added frustration of patients who don't get better, patients who are abusive, and patients who I cannot help aside from minute things.

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THANK YOU!!!

I also am a little over the edge here because I can safely ventilate all my frustrations relatively anonymously. And I am a Type A, naturally anxious person. I don't have clinical anxiety but I am definitely on the spectrum for anxiety (just as everyone is on the spectrum for different things).

It's not like I come to work whining about my schedule and crying. I do my best, and work as hard as I am capable.

I am so close to quitting.

I am going to talk with my boss soon and see what my future schedule will end up looking like, but unless it is manageable I will probably quit and look around for a part-time clinic/ anything non-medical job close to home while I go back to school and figure out my next step.

I also am learning how intense nursing is. In school, I thought "wacky hours? Oh I don't care! I am young and single and free". But those wacky hours take a toll on my health. I can't imagine being a parent at this time. It's awful.

And there is the added frustration of patients who don't get better, patients who are abusive, and patients who I cannot help aside from minute things.

I hope you find what you're looking for. I too am in a similar situation and every day at work I tell myself YEP I'm quitting and then I don't get the balls to actually do it.

Bedside hospital nursing isn't for everyone. And I'm kind of tired of the "that's just the way it is suck it up" attitude because I didn't go to school for 3 years to get my second bachelors so that I can hate my job and/or place of work. I tend to think the people who tell us to suck it up are the ones who've stayed in miserable jobs for a long time. But, maybe I'm wrong. I just know I certainly didn't work my ass off getting my BSN to be this miserable in my job. No job is worth my health or mental sanity.

Good luck girl!

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I hope you find what you're looking for. I too am in a similar situation and every day at work I tell myself YEP I'm quitting and then I don't get the balls to actually do it.

Bedside hospital nursing isn't for everyone. And I'm kind of tired of the "that's just the way it is suck it up" attitude because I didn't go to school for 3 years to get my second bachelors so that I can hate my job and/or place of work. I tend to think the people who tell us to suck it up are the ones who've stayed in miserable jobs for a long time. But, maybe I'm wrong. I just know I certainly didn't work my ass off getting my BSN to be this miserable in my job. No job is worth my health or mental sanity.

Good luck girl!

Yes, every day I want to quit, but I just push through for one more day.

I also didn't suffer so much to be so miserable. My sanity and physical health are just in decline and I don't want to get sick from doing nights just because it's a "good job".

I have started actively searching for other jobs. I also am going to talk with my boss soon and see what happens.

I didn't come into nursing expecting a 9-5 day job with weekends and holidays off. I thought that I had to "suck it up" and endure all the suffering. But 15 calendar days straight then 17 more, including 7 nights in a row is just too much for me to handle. Some people can do that and are fine with it, but those people are not me.

My unit needs to step things up and offer 12 hour shifts OR a much higher differential, and recruit people who are enticed by said differential enough to work nights.

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
My sleep schedule is not like that at all :( I sleep from 9-3pm then from 7-9pm. I wish I could easily sleep 8 hours straight in the day but I can't.

Being unemployed would not be bleak for me, albeit depressing. I would be able to live with my parents and take some community college classes and try to further my education while searching for another job. I am more concerned about leaving after a few months instead of staying a full year.

You have made your mind it seems and you are in a blessed position. You've gotten excellent advice above. Do what is what you want to do in your heart and good luck.

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

I have never worked five 8hr graveyard shifts, but have three to five 12's and I was completely miserable. I did it for a few years and never ever fully adjusted. While I managed, I sacrificed so much sleep, gained weight and was always dog gone tired!

I went to days and it was a total difference in me. I moved, had to go back to nights until a day spot opened and I was miserable again. I am a single mom so I didn't have the luxury of sleeping when I wanted lol

I work two 24 hr shifts a week now and it is the best schedule ever. I feel way better than working three nightshift 12's. I work a 24 sometimes up to 30 hrs depending on my last call. I come home nap for a bit and have the rest of the day to be normal. I go to sleep with my kid at night and am off FIVE days a week. I absolutely love it.

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Being unemployed would not be bleak for me, albeit depressing. I would be able to live with my parents and take some community college classes and try to further my education while searching for another job. I am more concerned about leaving after a few months instead of staying a full year.

Not to sound mean but I think your outlook would be different if living with Mom and Dad wasn't an option. You would be trying to make your night shift job work out if you had to support yourself, at least until you found a day job. But because you can go live with them everytime you quit a job you think is miserable, you are being enabled. No job is perfect.

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Not to sound mean but I think your outlook would be different if living with Mom and Dad wasn't an option. You would be trying to make your night shift job work out if you had to support yourself, at least until you found a day job. But because you can go live with them everytime you quit a job you think is miserable, you are being enabled. No job is perfect.

Everyone's outlook changes when they have no choice but to do a job they are miserable in. You can't fault her because she has a support system and doesn't have to stay in a miserable job.

I'm in the same situation but instead of my parents it's my husband. I didn't work at all in school and we were tight on money but fine. I know we could do it again if we had to, so yes my perspective probably is different because quitting my job won't mean I can't pay my mortgage. You can't really fault someone if that is their situation.

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Not to sound mean but I think your outlook would be different if living with Mom and Dad wasn't an option. You would be trying to make your night shift job work out if you had to support yourself, at least until you found a day job. But because you can go live with them everytime you quit a job you think is miserable, you are being enabled. No job is perfect.

Look, if I didn't have a support system I would not even be posting this thread.

My parents aren't "enablers". My mental health and physical health have been in decline, and I have not had a 2

day weekend at all in the period of time since I took this job. my manager is not willing to negotiate with me and I feel sick all the time.

Supporting your child when they leave grueling work conditions isn't "enabling". All work is hard, of course. But I am getting physically sick, anxious, and depressed

I spoke with my boss and she told me that I have no other options. I can't switch to part time since I am new. No evenings for me, at least for a year, assuming more senior nurses don't take whatever evening position presents itself.

I am going to leave. Whether I leave today or in a few weeks, or in a few months, I don't know. if this makes me a bad person in your eyes, so be it!

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Specializes in Hospice Nursing.
Yes, every day I want to quit, but I just push through for one more day.

I also didn't suffer so much to be so miserable. My sanity and physical health are just in decline and I don't want to get sick from doing nights just because it's a "good job".

I have started actively searching for other jobs. I also am going to talk with my boss soon and see what happens.

I didn't come into nursing expecting a 9-5 day job with weekends and holidays off. I thought that I had to "suck it up" and endure all the suffering. But 15 calendar days straight then 17 more, including 7 nights in a row is just too much for me to handle. Some people can do that and are fine with it, but those people are not me.

My unit needs to step things up and offer 12 hour shifts OR a much higher differential, and recruit people who are enticed by said differential enough to work nights.

How is it that you work 15 days in a row? What kind of schedule is that?

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