Greener pastures not so green.

[dlugopo2]

Hi there I am currently a nursing student going back to school for my BSN. I work as a mental health counselor and recently started working at a new hospital thinking that it would be better. It's more money and more prestigious name recognition type of hospital however ever since I got there, pure misery. I'm coming from a hospital that typically takes more aggressive / violent patients so it's not the patient load that's miserable it's the staff! I wasn't coming in thinking naively that everyone's going to love me and I'm going to become friends with everybody but it seems like everyone is so burnt out and angry at each other it's ridiculous. All the staff does is complain and gossip and it feels like if you make a single mistake it's being attacked against you. I've been there less than 2 months and I've already been contemplating putting my 2 weeks. My goal after I finish nursing school is to work on medical units I need a break from inpatient Psych. I'm worried that if I leave this hospital now I won't ever be able to come back to their Hospital Network which is about 10 hospitals in the area.

[Davey Do]

recently started working at a new hospital thinking that it would be better. It's more money and more prestigious name recognition type of hospital however ever since I got there, pure misery. I'm coming from a hospital that typically takes more aggressive / violent patients so it's not the patient load that's miserable it's the staff! I wasn't coming in thinking naively that everyone's going to love me and I'm going to become friends with everybody but it seems like everyone is so burnt out and angry at each other it's ridiculous. All the staff does is complain and gossip and it feels like if you make a single mistake it's being attacked against you.

I copied this part of your post, dlugopo, because it is similar to my medical wife, Belinda's situation.

We both worked at the same hospital and I encouraged her to go to a better one for various reasons. Although she is relatively happy with her move, she relays the same kind of situation that you wrote about. The nurses are, generally, gossiping crybabies and there's a charge nurse who's a bully.

I understand your concern about leaving and coming back and it's a tough choice. Maybe you could prioritize and come to grips with what's important by questioning yourself, e.g. What's important, your comfort now or in the future? Is this position so mentally and emotionally draining that you're going to be affected permanently? Are you in this situation of your own accord because there's something from which you need to learn or gain from it in some way?

Belinda's going to tough out her situation for the greater good, as there are positive aspects to her move. I'm sure you will be able to fathom a decision to which you too are comfortable.

Good luck and welcome to AN.com, dlugopo!

[NuGuyNurse2b]

Unfortunately with the way hospitals are being bought up like restaurant chains, if you don't want to ruin your chances of going to one of their other locations later, you have to maintain good standing at this one. I say tough it out until you can make your move.