Soooo, I quit - Page 4

I agree with the above.

I can remember when it was mandatory in many states that fresh Open Heart Patients must be 1:1 for 12-24 hours-depending where--post-op.
This is the wave of crap I am talking about in other threads re: hiring freezes and mandating BSN or hiring new RN BSN b/c of the degree without STRONG clinical experience. See b/c right there, you are telling me that the RN to pts ICU ratios are ROUTINELY AS YOU HAVE STATED. Hmmm? What does that tell you people? They need experienced RNs, but they aren't hiring them--b/c of the politics of mandating BSN COUPLED with the current hiring reductions over the last several years. They have pulled back the reigns BIG time on hiring. No one is going to tell me, in most cases, New GNs w/ BSNs are going to curve up to strongly experienced RNs, even if they have been out of practice for a while. There are things you don't forget--the insight into clinical nursing judgment and so forth that you will not lose if you are a reasonably intelligent, and strongly experienced RN. You may need a a couple of weeks to feel good--but that is NOTHING like the curve of learning for an GN for God's sake.


Sigh!


I definitely agree with the above comment from been there about letting it build up, and then BOOM!

You are going to have to do some career repair here. Go and speak with the CNO if you have to do so, but try not to let this leave a bad mark on your resume.

OP I so totally hear what you are saying. And like the others, on one hand I want to cheer, while on the other hand, I have career fear for you.

Do whatever you can to make this as right as possible. Unfortunately, you need their reference.

Hi! I am a former critical care RN and just from reading your story the situation your describing sounds highly ridiculous and soo unsafe. I know that we don't have "mandated" nurse to pt. ratio but usually in the critical care area are max is 1:2, having a ratio of 1:3 is usually IMC criteria at least where I work. If any issues arise from you resigning to your job without notice you should contact your BON. Your license and the patients safety was at risk..you did the right thing and you hung in that nightmarish situation for 1 whole year so major kudos to you. Also usually fresh hearts ( less than 12 hours post op) are monitored 1:1 in the CVRR so it's so crazy you would have a 3:1 assignment with a fresh heart period. Best of luck to you!

well Im just a pee on CNA but I was thinking about quitting my last job the way you did (I got fired at 8 months for somthing I know I didnt do) but then I thought about going PRN and then getting another job so that I could make my own hours at my PRN job when I wanted and still have the security of the full time job. AND no Im not trying to add insult to injury. Im telling you this because I think tat at the next job if you have the oppurtunity to go PRN before quitting because you never know that place might get better and you can then go back full time! if that makes sense. I wish you luck in what you decide to do I think a paramedic with a nursing degree is a good thing

I totally can understand. You stood up for what you believe in, and what they were doing is just not right. Or safe. Good for you. I do understand how you feel bad though. I have left jobs and then thought afterwards that maybe I should have stuck it out. But live with no regrets. It's over and done now. I don't think you need to leave it off your resume or say that you couldn't be rehired. Leave it there as a past position. When asked about it you can honestly say that it was unsafe. Just be honest about the situation rather than hide it. I think an employer would understand. Especially if you went right back to your paramedic job. It's not like you are unemployed. Good luck to you in your future.

Agree with been there done that. It sounds like an awful and unsafe situation and so unfair to the patients. It is unfortunate things got to that point, but under those conditions, I would have done the same thing. Even if you have no intent of ever going back, you can never really know what the future holds, so you should follow-up with HR just to see where things stand. You owe it to yourself to get your side of things on the official record. You still have options....if you had continued with those ratio's and then lost your license, you'd be in an entirely different situation. Good for you for taking charge of a dangerous situation. Becoming an RN is no walk in the park. You sound like you were a great one...think long and hard before you give it up for good.

TX911, you did what many can only dream of doing. Good for you.

how about applying for Transport RN Critical care? one of my friends was laid off and with her experience as ICU/ER nurse she got job right in this field. she still works as RN and she says she is more happy than ever... if that would work for you esp you now are going back to work as medic just try it and see... good luck wherever you end up to be...

I haven't read all the responses.

I personally have always thought it would be difficult to transition from a Paramedic (imho, the most highly-underpaid profession in America...) to an RN in an ICU, especially in the context of the particular ICU you were working in.

Trauma/ER-oriented folks are "fixers". There's a great deal of immediate gratification in that role.

Have you thought about ER? I did both, and MUCH preferred ER.

You could use a combination of your paramedic experience and ICU experience... and perhaps find your own little slice of Nirvana, in the right ER setting.

But whatever, you have options. Remember that.

I did ICU for 13 years and the only time we ever had 3 pts was when they were about to be transferred to the floor and they were stable. The heart should have been a 1:1 for at least the first few hrs and there is NO way anyone could have taken care of all of those pts.
Good luck with everything and as someone else said do not beat yourself up, but don't give up on Nursing, try a different field or an ICU somewhere else.

I moved to ED and have been doing that for 9 yrs and love it!