How soon have you quit a job?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in LTC.

I have been working on my new job on a sub-acute unit since May 24th. I really love it ! Great patients and it requires much more skills. However, I was told once I get off orientation I will be the only nurse for 15 patients for 3-11shift with 2 aides. There is a RN supervisor but she does not work the floor ( much understood). I honestly don't feel comfortable with this. These patients are sick ! Trachs, g-tubes, wound care, IVs, DM, ESRD, post-op, new admissions, discharges, medicine pass, and charting !:eek::eek::eek: I don't mind the patient load only if there was another nurse working with me. I feel much more comfortable with another set of hands and eyes just basically any resource. I talked to other agency nurses and they told me this facility never keeps a full-time 3-11shift nurse due to the work load.

I want to grow in my skill set, however I also don't want to set myself up for failure. I'm still on orientation and will be on my own next week. I'm going to send the staffing coordinator and DON a email warning them that if they assign me to a patient load that I feel is unsafe I won't accept it the assignment and will clock out and go home. I have a job interview next week for substance abuse at a teaching hospital, I just may accept if it looks appealing. I'm a LPN and between now and December I'm just trying to work here and there until receiving my RN degree.

My question is : How soon after being hired have you quit a job and what was the reason?

OR am I just over reacting?

Thanks

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

I don't think you are over reacting, it sounds like a tough patient load. I would carefully word your email to the DON or you might find yourself without a job. Perhaps it may be better to ask for a little more time on orientation. If this place has a history on inability to keep on nurses for that shift because of the load then I doubt they are going to change anything anytime soon.

I quite a nurse extern job after 2 weeks.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I quit a 3-11pm shift job at a SNF (skilled nursing facility) after a couple of weeks. The patient population and skill set was similar to what you are describing: trachs, wound vacs, feeding tubes, IVs, dialysis patients, knee replacements, hip replacements, laminectomies, fresh ileostomies, CVAs, MIs, MVAs, TBIs, constant admissions and discharges, and charting on 15 to 20 patients.

The SNFs, rehab facilities, and subacutes in my geographical area have difficulty attracting and retaining nurses for the 3-11 shift since this tends to be the busiest shift in that type of setting.

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Specializes in L&D, Antepartum, Adult Critical Care.

Not over reacting but I would hold off on sending a "warning" email. It could be viewed as a threat (which it is :-0). Orientation is not only to familiarize yourself with the required task but also to see if you are the right fit for the job and vice versa. This is the period where you will most likely know if the job and you are compatible. Sounds like you already know.

I literally walked out and never came back after completing a shift in my second week.

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

I don't think your over reacting at all...i'd be out of there as soon as i could. Does not sound safe at all.

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Specializes in MDS RNAC, LTC, Psych, LTAC.

I just did this morning I had visited the patient ( I am trying to get into home health and this was a pediatric patient ) they had me go meet the family and the family (the grandmother) said that she had to train the nurses that the company didn't which is wrong of said company ethically and on so many different levels. They wanted me to start this morning and still hadnt told me what my starting wage was. The last position I had with a company called A didnt tell me my wage either and I needed a job so I took it. I just couldnt start at another place like that. I am sick with a chronic illness and I cant do LTC like I used to but I really don't blame any of you nurses . I am listening to my gut about this job and the gut is never wrong. I have been a nurse for 8 years and I know anymore when I am about to be used up. I dont blame any of you. I better start looking for another position . I am so tired of trying to be a decent nurse in these days of nursing. Its rather enough to make a person depressed.

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

I quit a job after two weeks once. Was hired for 7a-7p, 7p-7a rotation but after two weeks of orientation was told I was switched to permanent 3-11. They wouldn't give in, so I left.

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Specializes in NICU.

Is the patient load different than what they told you it would be during your interview?

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You are not over reacting. The facility's expectation for one nurse to care for that many patients of that acuity level is not reasonable. I believe I would continue to look for another position. I would go ahead and have a friendly sit down chat with the DON. I would tell the DON thank you for the opportunity and that I have learned much while working there. I would tell her that I don't believe the position is a good fit for me. I might say something to the effect that I don't anticipate that by the end of orientation I will have the skill set or ability to single-handedly provide the proper care for that many patients. I'd give notice and get out of there.

Been there and done that. On my way home from quitting that job, I found a better job. Things work out like they should.

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Have you had an actual orientation for the shift you will be working? If not, the insist on at least a week's worth of orientation to the actual shift.

It really does sound like a 2 nurse unit, though.

Best wishes!!!

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

Had a job in a magnet unionized facility where the nurses and physicians both participated in rampent neglect of the pts. We were coding pts on a regular basis because staff ignored pulse-ox alarms and the pt was in respiratory arrest, or other insane reasons that could have been prevented. Before I left we had some pts already filing medical malpractice lawsuits, and I'm sure more will follow. I lasted 5 months, and have never regretted leaving.

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With two employers I did not have to quit at all since they never gave me any work (home health). It was a total waste of time to go in, get hired, and fill out all the employment paperwork. One of those employers had the unmitigated gall to lie to the unemployment people that I had refused work. They saw to it that I could not collect unemployment for the work they were not giving me. Peachy keen, huh?! I make certain I tell everyone I meet about this employer's tactics. :uhoh3:

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