How long should one grieve after losing job?

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Last Friday, I made the very difficult decision to leave an awesome nursing position--my first nursing position--as a cardiac progressive care nurse, to both adult and peds patients, and return to my former role as an ECG Technician, as placement office at my current employer was not willing to recommend me to another floor/unit. I have been devastated ever since. Family and friends have encouraged me to look for new positions, but I don't feel that I'm ready. I'm feeling so negative and depressed that I do not feel I could make a new position work at this point. Yet, I don't want to give up on using my license and nursing degree that I worked so hard for, forever. How long should I give myself to grieve before I need to move on?

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The grieving process is unique to each individual. We can't tell you how long to grieve.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I don't understand - why won't the placement office recommend you? Perhaps that's the place to start to figure out how to go forward.

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Too many unanswered questions. Did you really want to leave this job or were you encouraged to leave?

An inexperienced nurse with fragile confidence pushed out of good job probably would grieve more than an experienced nurse feeling relief at escaping a hellish job situation.

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I know, but I probably shouldn't grieve for months, either. Yet, immediately after leaving the job, I had friends and family encouraging me to look at and pointed out other postings, even hours after my decision. I'm not really in the mood to look at other positions, because I still can't believe this one didn't work out. I keep hoping that I will wake up and none of this will be true, and that I'll actually be off orientation...but it is.

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My skills weren't up to speed in this department and they worry that there would be similar issues elsewhere.

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No, I did not want to leave this job at all. Yes, I was miserable almost every day, and if I didn't cry, I felt like it. But I also felt that, by going in, working hard and trying to learn from my mistakes I would be able to make it. I really thought that I was going to see the day that I was off orientation. Because of all of this, they told me my best option, if I wanted to stay with my employer, would be to return to my former position. Not wanting to be unemployed altogether, I decided to go along with that.

I am a very new nurse, with this being my first job, and am devastated. This was an amazing job, a wonderful opportunity, and I am upset with myself for blowing it. There was another orientee on the floor, who was also brand new, who did spectacularly. I'm angry that I didn't do the same.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

I think your best bet is to start new/fresh with a nursing job outside of the entity you are currently employed with. What type of nursing do you think is a better fit for you?

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Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

Just because this unit/specialty didn't work for you, does not mean that you won't thrive and succeed in another area. Take some time to evaluate what you enjoy, what your strengths are, what interests you, and by then you can go forward in looking for a new job. Don't give up on nursing because of this one incident.

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The grieving process is unique to each individual. We can't tell you how long to grieve.

I know that's the nursing PC answer, and it's a good one. But the other response could be "seriously, get over it."

It's a job. No more meaningful than an object like a truck. It's not a child or a pet.

Get up tomorrow, forget the past and move on with the future.

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Move on. You may have thought you wanted to work in cardiac, but that may not be the area for you. Find another job, in another area, and you might have more success. And don't go back to your previous position, because working below your scope will not work out for you.

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Just because this unit/specialty didn't work for you, does not mean that you won't thrive and succeed in another area. Take some time to evaluate what you enjoy, what your strengths are, what interests you, and by then you can go forward in looking for a new job. Don't give up on nursing because of this one incident.

^ Absolutely agree!!!! ^

I've had some friends new to the nursing profession asked to leave their first unit due to the same reasons you were, and were placed on a different unit, and thrived. Go and FIGHT for yourself and sell what you ARE good at! You can absolutely flourish on a unit that fits you! I'm sorry this doesn't exactly answer your grieving question, but don't give up! You can find a unit you love! That in and of itself may help with the grief. HUGS :)

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