Quitting tomorrow, in panic

Nurses New Nurse

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I am going to quit my job tomorrow and leave nursing.

I don't feel comfortable going into detail here, but I feel like my employer was not treating me well, and what I was told when I was hired is not what I am actually getting. I also had what I think was a panic attack for the first time in my life today, and I am scared to continue onwards.

I am going to pursue further education, and I am going to search for another job. Financially, I am okay, but I don't have another job lined up.

I am so scared for my future. My job was wrecking my mental health, and I was going to try to persevere for at least a couple more months but I am so burnt out and exhausted that I can't. I spoke with my boss, and she can't change things. I also was nervous about appearing weak in front of her so I didn't disclose the extent of the issues I was facing (maybe I should have)?

What will come next? Did I ruin my life? Will my background checks say that I was placed on a "do not rehire" list at my hospital and people will think I was fired?

I am done with nursing, so i don't really care if I don't get another nursing job. But what about for other jobs down the road? Will I become a "high risk employee" and be branded as lazy?

Listen carefully, I hold an answer to your troubles. Here it is...."Stop caring".....Your making a very bold and smart move, a move many nurses are to afraid to make out of fear of ruining their careers. But like you said, your tired of nursing and want out. You have nothing to lose at this point. I know how you feel...You want that 8-4 job, with weekends and holidays off, you want to sit in an office and answer the phone, you don't want to deal with patients and their poop, you're tired of running around, standing on your feet for 12 hours, your back and legs hurt, you go home battered and bruised, your starting to become crazy and have mental issues, maybe hallucinating, i know. You want to sleep normally and have a normal life. Nursing is eating you alive. Escape now, while you can, before your stuck.

This is pretty much how I feel, but my job had some other issues that I don't want to talk about on here that made me decide it is time for me to leave. I am signing up for classes and am applying to other jobs.

I am going to take classes and think about another career path, but I also won't rush to abandon nursing. If I can find something where I can lead a normal life in nursing, I will take it.

I spoke with my boss, and I was surprised, as she was not angry, and she wished me the best in my life. I am so relieved!

I learned a lot from this job. I was so caught up in the process of worrying about not getting a job, I didn't take the time to think about whether or not the job I took was actually right for me. I learned that it is better to wait and persevere for something that is a good fit for you rather than rush to take something because it is the sensible thing to do.

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You know for most people they cant quit. If they quit, how will they pay their bills? Will they get another job, it could be a month, could be a year? People like me, yes im stuck in this whole called nursing. I need the money. It's 1 of few bachelors degrees where you can start over 50k a year. Some places will start you in the 60-70k range even. Not money degrees offer this luxury. Sometimes, you have to do it for the money. I suck in accounting, engineering, and computer science. Im very good in psych or sociology but what will that do for me? zippo... I am not dedicated and cant afford med school or PT school. So have to do nursing for now and hope i can get away from the hospital scene at some point. Me personally, id never quit a job unless i had a backup or was rich.

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You know for most people they cant quit. If they quit, how will they pay their bills? Will they get another job, it could be a month, could be a year? People like me, yes im stuck in this whole called nursing. I need the money. It's 1 of few bachelors degrees where you can start over 50k a year. Some places will start you in the 60-70k range even. Not money degrees offer this luxury. Sometimes, you have to do it for the money. I suck in accounting, engineering, and computer science. Im very good in psych or sociology but what will that do for me? zippo... I am not dedicated and cant afford med school or PT school. So have to do nursing for now and hope i can get away from the hospital scene at some point. Me personally, id never quit a job unless i had a backup or was rich.

I am not rich but I am financially able to quit thanks to my family. My family saw me go down a spiral of sorts and agree that it is better for me to take a risk and take some time to find another job or go back to school.

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Specializes in Nursing Student Retention.

Whatever your decision, and only you can make it, please consider getting some help recovering from the stress. It sounds as if you have been through an emotional wringer, something intense enough to leave scars. If that is so, simply changing careers or jobs won't null the effects of this experience. It need not involve medication or a long time, perhaps just someone unrelated to you in any way, to listen to all the details in a safe place where you can disclose the full scope of what happened, without anxiety or worries about judgment. Plan to take care of your mind as well as your career/ employment. Not doing so can result in a obviously inappropriately intense response the next time one is subjected to major stress, the level that can happen in any job. Take it from someone who saw a close friend hit full meltdown without warning. Prevention is always easier than belated cures.

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Whatever your decision, and only you can make it, please consider getting some help recovering from the stress. It sounds as if you have been through an emotional wringer, something intense enough to leave scars. If that is so, simply changing careers or jobs won't null the effects of this experience. It need not involve medication or a long time, perhaps just someone unrelated to you in any way, to listen to all the details in a safe place where you can disclose the full scope of what happened, without anxiety or worries about judgment. Plan to take care of your mind as well as your career/ employment. Not doing so can result in a obviously inappropriately intense response the next time one is subjected to major stress, the level that can happen in any job. Take it from someone who saw a close friend hit full meltdown without warning. Prevention is always easier than belated cures.

Yeah, I plan to get therapy.

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Angelica-

It's too bad that your first nursing job has gone this way. I'm not sure of specifics but wish you the best. Even being fired from your first job, will not ruin your future. A "do not rehire" status doesn't show up on a background check, just your work history is on there. You can always explain at future interviews that it wasn't a good fit (don't go into too much detail). Many people have quit or gotten fired from their first RN jobs and still had a successful career. It just may take longer for someone to give you a second chance, but it's not impossible. If a job is causing you that much distress, then it is better to leave. However, there are a lot of options in nursing and you may just need to find the right one for you. Of course, if nursing really isn't for you, then leaving all together may be the right decision. This is only something that you can decide.

My first nursing job didn't go well and now my second job is much better. Don't loose hope, try to stay positive and do what's best for you. I think the therapy idea is good, there's never shame in that.

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Angelica-

It's too bad that your first nursing job has gone this way. I'm not sure of specifics but wish you the best. Even being fired from your first job, will not ruin your future. A "do not rehire" status doesn't show up on a background check, just your work history is on there. You can always explain at future interviews that it wasn't a good fit (don't go into too much detail). Many people have quit or gotten fired from their first RN jobs and still had a successful career. It just may take longer for someone to give you a second chance, but it's not impossible. If a job is causing you that much distress, then it is better to leave. However, there are a lot of options in nursing and you may just need to find the right one for you. Of course, if nursing really isn't for you, then leaving all together may be the right decision. This is only something that you can decide.

My first nursing job didn't go well and now my second job is much better. Don't loose hope, try to stay positive and do what's best for you. I think the therapy idea is good, there's never shame in that.

My thank you!!!!!!

I was thinking about leaving nursing because I feel like I destroyed my chances at having any other nursing

job because I left so quickly.

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It doesn't matter how quickly you have left a job. It matters why you left and what you learned from it, if it was a situation that could be perceived negatively.

I have been fired and I have left a position after three months, and I have no problems getting a job. Here is what I have learned:

The biggest things that an employer wants to know are 1) that you aren't going to leave them quickly and 2) that you aren't going to have the same situation in the new position. If you can reassure them on those two points, you should be fine.

Or, you can always use the old standby, "The position wasn't a good fit and I left to find a better opportunity where I could be more of an asset." Then tell your interviewers what you learned from the situation and slant it to where what you learned will cause you to be a good fit to their unit.

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Specializes in Nursing Student Retention.

I'm glad to hear that you will get some help. Remember, the good things, i.e.the critical thinking skills you learned, will always be yours, no matter what your career choice.

I do hope you will stay in nursing. It is no longer an absolute requirement that your first job in nursing is in an acute care setting; many nursing articles have been published about alternative pathways. So take heart, you need not give up nursing and healthcare. As part of your plan, please investigate these other options. You are clearly courageous enough to make a difficult personal decision, so I'm sure that with a little more time and less pressure you will find the setting that is absolutely right for you.

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What about taking a Month or a few weeks off? Is a leave of absence out of the question? Quitting is not necessarily the only option available or the most prudent thing to do. Are you very active outside of work?

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What about taking a Month or a few weeks off? Is a leave of absence out of the question? Quitting is not necessarily the only option available or the most prudent thing to do. Are you very active outside of work?

i asked. I could not take a leave of absence or take a few months off; it was out of the question since I did not acquire enough experience.

work took up my entire life for the past few months, but I am eager to volunteer. I volunteered extensively through school.

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I'm glad to hear that you will get some help. Remember, the good things, i.e.the critical thinking skills you learned, will always be yours, no matter what your career choice.

I do hope you will stay in nursing. It is no longer an absolute requirement that your first job in nursing is in an acute care setting; many nursing articles have been published about alternative pathways. So take heart, you need not give up nursing and healthcare. As part of your plan, please investigate these other options. You are clearly courageous enough to make a difficult personal decision, so I'm sure that with a little more time and less pressure you will find the setting that is absolutely right for you.

Thank you for your words of encouragement! I have learned that I need to work somewhere outside the hospital setting with daytime hours. I knew this from the beginning but I gave into pressure from peers/ professors/ Internet saying that is impossible in this market or wrong for new nurses, but I should have listened to my gut instead of others.

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