I am a new nurse and had my first nursing job in a medical/surgical unit. I was in orientation for only 6 weeks, and I came from another country, so it was twice as hard for me to adjust to everything. Every single night from work, I'd come home drained out and miserable. I usually stay in the floor 2-3 hours after my scheduled shift to finish documentation, which killed me more. I used to be very resolved that I was going to be a great nurse. I did great in school and my instructors believed in me. However, when I came to the US and started working, I myself lost the once vigor and confidence I had. The longer I stayed in the unit I worked at, the lower self-esteem and self-fulfillment I had. And I thought to myself, "I can't work like this." Although everyone told me that it would take a year or two before you really become comfortable with nursing, everyday I felt like hell and questioned myself for being there. After a little less than 5 months on the job, I decided to resign...because the job was eating me up slowly that I didn't want to start my career with misery.
Now that I am in search for another job, I am questioning whether I did make the right decision of leaving. I was so resolved to leave that time, however, now that I am going through interviews and waiting for calls, I feel down and ask myself, "was I a coward? OR was I brave enough to get out of the situation that was dragging me down?" I know not everyone could understand what I went through, and every time why I left the job, I feel too tired to explain already since they wouldn't really understand.
I have been looking for a specialty other than bedside nursing, specifically med/surg. A place with lesser acuity, something that would hopefully rekindle my love for nursing. However, it's been 2 weeks and I rarely ever get a call back.
I am getting depressed as each day comes and although I am trying to stay positive, I don't know if my career will ever get back on track. However, a very good friend would always reassure me, "it will just take time. take your time and have faith. You made a bold decision, right or wrong, that was your decision. Don't worry, it will get better."
I hang on to her words.. but I don't know what hope nursing profession has in store for me.
Yea, I hope you get through when you call again. What I did was have the operator transfer me to the unit and have the unit clerk give me the information I needed. When you call, use an "assertive" tone and hopefully they will get the hint. :yelclap:
I had posted my resume on a few online nursing job sites. Today one of the recruiters called me and, although I don't have enough experience to work for them (they need a min. of 1 year) he told me that it is very, very typical for hospitals to do a hiring "chill" (not exactly a freeze) at this time of year, and that every year jobs open up again in January. So definitely take heart and keep the faith. He thinks it will be "easy" for us to find jobs after the first of the year. I'm banking on it!
reading these posts makes me so thankful that i didn't quit my job. it was really hard the first few months and i came so close to almost quitting.....i hung in there and now i love it!
I had posted my resume on a few online nursing job sites. Today one of the recruiters called me and, although I don't have enough experience to work for them (they need a min. of 1 year) he told me that it is very, very typical for hospitals to do a hiring "chill" (not exactly a freeze) at this time of year, and that every year jobs open up again in January. So definitely take heart and keep the faith. He thinks it will be "easy" for us to find jobs after the first of the year. I'm banking on it!
Wow, that's some encouragement the recruiter gave you Cfitz. I really hope that's true. I'm just trying to have the attitude that God will put me where He wants me to be.
Oh yeah, one more thing. I have Facebook now :typing. My sister-in-law provoked me to make it. I didn't realize that I knew as many people on there as I do. PM me and I'll tell you all my name so you can look me, and we can stay in touch. Happy job hunting!
I still haven't made the call to find out what's going on with my applications. I keep thinking of what I'm going to say. I also need a little courage. I'm also going to call the unit and get the NM number if HR won't give it to me. I'm also trying to decide what I'd say to the NM. Any ideas people?
For those of you that have quit your first new grad job, I TOTALLY understand. I'm on my last two weeks of my med surg orientation and called in sick tonight because I'm just too depressed to go into work. I've been off for three days but I'm still in my pajamas! I think night shifts are really taking a toll on me.
Good nws is that I have another job lined up in psych (a brand nw unit) scheduled to open up in January. I dont want to quit just yet though, cuz I dont know if for sure they will open on time, and I dont have anything in writting from them yet.
Its always easier to find a job when you allready have one. So, my advice to those that are like me and feel like they cant go on... Make sure you get another job first.
For everyone else thats trying to find a job in this tough economy... I'm sure something will come up. I know a registry company in my area (LA) that will hire brand new grads for MS. How stressful would that be, but if your desperate for a pay check I would look into it until something else materializes. GOOD LUCK!!!
Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.
I am a new med/surg nurse but the advantage that I have is that my orientation is 3 months long! I have just two more days left on orientation. I really feel for all of you because I too was so stressed out after 6 weeks of orientation. Then I called up my boss who was mad but she put me for more orientation. I think this has made all the difference. Well I am still really stressing but I do feel more hopefull. :) I know so much more than I did just 6 weeks into orientation. There is a part of me that still wants to escape and I do plan on trying to get a job in a clinic because I am an LVN and can do that LOL. But I also want to keep this job on the weekend.
Good luck to you all I hope you find a job soon and thanks to everyone who posted and to everyone who posted about just hang in there cuz that's what I'm doing. It is nice to know that everyone is so very stressed about being a new nurse and not just me. :)
Remain positive. When asked why you left, it is fine to say it wasn't the right fit. Before you take a new position, ask to shadow with a nurse on the floor. Talk to as many of the nurses and techs as you can. Get their prospective. Nursing has a lot of rewards but it is hard. If it wasn't, anyone could do it. If you got throught nursing school with the respect of your instructors, then you can become a good nurse. Studies show it takes 2 years to become comfortable and 5 years to become an expert. Learn all you can from other nurses. Ask for a mentor when you finish orientation. Good luck.
Remain positive. When asked why you left, it is fine to say it wasn't the right fit. Before you take a new position, ask to shadow with a nurse on the floor. Talk to as many of the nurses and techs as you can. Get their prospective. Nursing has a lot of rewards but it is hard. If it wasn't, anyone could do it. If you got throught nursing school with the respect of your instructors, then you can become a good nurse. Studies show it takes 2 years to become comfortable and 5 years to become an expert. Learn all you can from other nurses. Ask for a mentor when you finish orientation. Good luck.
Hey you guys! I already am 4 days into my new job... I haven't hit the floor yet coz its 1.5 weeks for the classroom orientation, but im pretty excited already! :)
I am in a similar situation. I had two months of internship, then 12 weeks after I got my license on a very fast-paced telemetry floor. My manager told me in the 12th week of orientation that it just wasn't working and that I had 36 hours to resign or be terminated. So, I resigned and am now job hunting. I had an interview today for a pediatric psych position. I was offered the opportunity to shadow for a day and then get back to the manager if I am still interested in the position. It can be hard to explain in an interview why you quit after such a short time. I am saying that it was not a good fit, not that I was asked to resign. My biggest worry was that interviewers would see me as incompetent. In the interview today, though, the interviewer suggested the shadow day so that hiring me wouldn't be a waste of my time and the facility's time in training me only to find that it "wasn't a good fit." So, there is the worry that I will be perceived as someone who doesn't make a committment. I will be thinking of you! Good luck with your interviews! I hope you find something wonderful!
My one question is, how do you respond when people like family and friends ask you how your job is going? That's one thing I'm struggling with. I'm like well....and I go through this long story about why it wasn't a good fit. In so many ways I want to say it's none of thier business! lol, but I'm to nice to do that.
I agree with you Christy it's the worst time to be looking for a job, but I'm keeping the faith lol.
It is hard when people ask about how work is going. I started out by answering "Fine" and then changing the subject. Finally I decided to just be honest. It is a relief. Most people are sympathetic, especially my friends who are nurses. The other good thing about being honest is that my whole church is praying for me to find a good job! You can't beat that! I have decided to stop blaming myself and thinking of myself as a failure. In truth, my situation came about because of an incompetent manager and a less-than-wonderful preceptor who at first helped me too much, then abandoned me. I am focussing on finding a new job and chalking the last 5 months up to "lessons learned."
It is hard to look for a job around the holidays. Recruiters and managers are out of the office for days in a row, and it prolongs an already long process. I did finally have an interview today, and I am waiting to hear back from another hospital. Here's to keeping the faith!
LadyQT
118 Posts
Yea, I hope you get through when you call again. What I did was have the operator transfer me to the unit and have the unit clerk give me the information I needed. When you call, use an "assertive" tone and hopefully they will get the hint. :yelclap: