Help! I hate my first nursing job!

Biffbradford · May 10, 2013

As long as you're there, take away from it what you can that may help you down the road (education, experiences, certifications). Then move on. Maybe set a goal like: "I'll hang on until I can ....." or "After I do .... , then I'm gone."

megank5183 · May 10, 2013

If you are really that unhappy, then look for a new job. Please realize,though, that there are rarely 'dream' jobs in nursing. From my experience, every job has the issues you stated above. It is a tough profession and you will have to put your time in to become respected amongst your co-workers. I cannot stand new nurses who start working and incessantly complain about aides, schedules, etc. (I'm not implying that you do that). Just realize that the grass is not always greener and if you are making decent money, maybe it would be worth staying a little longer. Almost every nurse I know hated their first year on the job....GL!

floridaRN38 · May 10, 2013

Try to stick it out for a year. Then move on. First year sucks. If u can get a new preceptor!

amoLucia · May 10, 2013

to megank5183 - your comments re "rare dream jobs" and nsg being a "tough profession" are honestly true.

to OP - you'll have to make up your own mind re your current job or a new one. But just know. every job has its own problems. Why do you think they call it a job - you have to work at it!!! Like marriage and parenthood, they ain't easy!

You feel you made a wrong first decision - there's no guarantee that your second will be any better.

Good luck.

Nurse_ · May 10, 2013

Experience is how you take it.

If you don't want to quit the job then:

List down all the things that makes you miserable in your job. Cross out the things you think you can remedy yourself with a more efficient time management.

Next, list down things you think you should do and is available in your job that will make your resume more marketable. Seek and do those experiences and get those experiences under your belt.

Spend less time in the nursing station. I know its silly but time spent in the nursing station, hearing gossips and seeing the lack of support of the team can actually aggravate you even more. Instead, go talk to your patient or assist them with ADLs.

If you do want to quit:

Find and land a job first.

Make sure you leave on a good note.

Ask about the policy regarding leaving notices.

SoCalGalRN · May 10, 2013

I hate my job too. I'm 9 months in and I still hate it. I don't like med onc nursing. The patients are generally unappreciative or abusive. Night shift is killing my soul. The pay is only mediocre. It's really far from where I live. I've recently learned that I'm pregnant and I'm a little disappointed that this means I'll be stuck here until at least another 7 months instead of trying to leave once I complete my first year.

BuckRN · May 16, 2013

I really disliked my first nursing job as well, but I was able to turn it into a good thing for me. I hated the way I was passed from preceptor to preceptor during my orientation, but because I am a self motivated person, I did alright. However, when the next round of new grads was going to be coming to our unit (about 9 months after I started), I talked with the manager about how I thought consistent precepting would be a better thing for this round of new grads. Well, guess what happened? I was asked to be one of the preceptors. A lot of times, when you are on a difficult unit, you can turn that around to your advantage and SHINE.

Something I was told by an awesome nurse while I was a student was to always assume you are primary care and then be super appreciative when an aide helps you. It helps build a rapport with the aids and then they are much more willing to help you. A lot of times aids didn't start out being unwilling to work, but have gradually gotten that way because of how they were abused by nurses. Granted, there are aids who won't work no matter how hard you try to show them respect build a rapport with them.