what should i do?

cb_rn · Apr 30, 2010

Some practical advice: Don't start "jumping" ship when things are really rough at first unless you have good reason. It looks bad on a resume to change jobs and most places don't want to spend the money orienting someone that isn't going to stay put for a bit. I think, as most other posters have said, most of us are miserable at first. If conditions where you are aren't unsafe, I'd stick it out and work on building up your nursing competence.

Hang in there, I absolutely hated my job at first and now that I've had to leave it (husband is military), I have never found another job that can compare and I miss it like crazy.

Pegasus65 · Apr 30, 2010

Wonderful post Reigen. Sure wish I could have had the benefit of a nurse like you to learn from. Then perhaps I wouldn't be thinking I made a mistake in even choosing this profession.

Have a great day!

mustlovepoodles, RN · Apr 30, 2010

Did you know that beginning teachers feel the same way? There is so much to know and do. They feel very overwhelmed too, and like nursing, there is a lot riding on them to be good at the job right out of the gate.

You know, there is a period of adjustment attendant with any change. I think that's where you are. You graduated and left the relative safety of nursing school--change. You're in your first job and you don't know the ropes yet because you're new--change. And if you leave this job to go to another nursing specialty or even leave the field that's going to be another change. The grass may not necessarily greener over there.

I agree, it may not be nursing that you don't like. It may simply be that you feel overwhelmed with the emotions attached to being new and having to learn a whole hospital system. Try to give yourself more time--and give yourself a break, for heaven's sakes! You're NEW! It takes a new grade AT LEAST a year to feel like they're sorta okay and even longer to feel actually competent. Be sure you are taking care of yourself when you're off duty. If you find yourself ruminating about what you didn't do, how you coulda done it, STOP! you can't change it. Most of the things you do are not going to be life & death. You're going to make mistakes and you know what? Experienced nurses make mistakes too. When you're off duty you need to be exercising, eating well, going out with friends, visiting family, working creatively on a hobby, ANYTHING but nursing. It's the only way to keep your sanity.

Best of luck to you. Talk to your nurse educator and your manager. There may be strategies they could share with you or even a move to a less strenuous unit or even a move to another shift. But don't quit after you just spent a huge chunk of money and energy doing what you thought you'd love. You haven't even worked long enough to know *what* you want yet. Give yourself the gift of time. :nurse:

shuubie · May 3, 2010

I think I'm more of a clinic setting person ... I want to speak with my manager but I have a problem with speaking in person =( Is it okay to email and let NM know feelings?

mcpnurse · May 3, 2010

if you really do have a problem speaking up for yourself, I guess you can email your manager. I've known several ppl who has done it

shuubie · May 4, 2010

I spoke with my manager and asked if I could switch to night shift, she said no.. there are no spots open and nobody is switching. I asked if I could transfer to another unit. She said no. I spoke with the DON and she is unable to help me. I feel so alone... I'm not getting the support that I want from them and I feel miserable. I want a supportive learning environment b/c this is my first job. I'm sorry everyone, but I want to resign =( can you please advise me how to resign while on orientation?

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · May 4, 2010

I really feel for you. I was devastated when I first started working as a nurse. All of the effort you put into nursing school, and then you hate your job and are constantly stressed out. I do feel for you. I wanted to quit, too, but I couldn't after all of the effort I put in. I am glad I didn't quit. It gets better, honest. The first 3 months are brutal, IMO. Then the next 3 months suck. After 6 months, I stopped puking and having diarrhea. By a year, it was almost tolerable. I an an LPN since 2001 and an RN since 2003 now, and I still get overwhelmed and stressed out sometimes, but it is nothing like when I first started out. It is mostly tolerable and just a days work now. PLEASE hang in there for at least 6 months. I would hate to see you work so hard to get through nursing school and give it up before giving it a fair chance. It WILL get better. Get your experience on the floor for a year, and if you still don't like it, find something else. You won't be sorry you suffered through it.

mustlovepoodles, RN · May 5, 2010

I spoke with my manager and asked if I could switch to night shift, she said no.. there are no spots open and nobody is switching. I asked if I could transfer to another unit. She said no. I spoke with the DON and she is unable to help me. I feel so alone... I'm not getting the support that I want from them and I feel miserable. I want a supportive learning environment b/c this is my first job. I'm sorry everyone, but I want to resign =( can you please advise me how to resign while on orientation?

Well, if you really can't cut it resign. Write your manager a formal letter thanking her for all her assistance. Tell her you learned a lot, but you feel that this job is not a good fit for you. You're in orientation, a time when both the employee AND employer can terminate the relationship if things are not going well. There should be no penalty, other than the fact that you will probably never get another job with this hospital system. Give 2 weeks--its the professional thing to do. Don't give them any reason to give you a bad reference. Then start looking for your "clinic" jobs. Good luck with that.