About to quit med-surg

SaltineQueen · Mar 17, 2016

Don't burn your bridges. Give proper notice unless they tell you not to come back.

Sunflowerinsc, ADN, RN · Mar 17, 2016

Three months and just off orientation hardly gives you time to really get a feel of it. It may seems like it will never get better but it will . It sounds like you are planing to resign without notice. That's not good . Maybe you need to ask for a extended orientation, 3 months isn't much time for a busy med floor if you haven't had hospital experience .

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Mar 17, 2016

You are quitting before you get experience. You don't know WHAT you are quitting.

7:1 is a doable ratio.. if you give yourself enough time to learn the ropes.

A BSN in another hospital will not change anything.

Newbie_1 · Mar 17, 2016

Oh I know. A seasoned co-worker of 19years tells me 7:1 is drive by nursing..lol You have to remind docs to complete med rec and admitting orders, because several expect you to do it. I barely, have time review doctors notes to remind the doc of the plan for the patient., let alone provide decent patient care. Another nurse of 20 years tells me it doesn't get better, you just get through it. I don't want work the floor, I don't need time to know that . My end goal is nurse practitioner. Coming from a background of community case management and social service, I know the meaning of hard work and toughing things out. I was most concerned about burning this bridge. So I will consider proper notice.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2016

Be mindful that it typically takes new nurses about a year (plus or minus) to hit their stride and start feeling somewhat comfortable on a med/surg floor.

Med/surg may or may not be for you. However, I do not think you are giving the process enough time to ascertain whether it's for you. My advice is to stick around for a few more months to see if your feelings change and your confidence grows.

Good luck to you!

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2016

My first nursing job out of school was one of those short staffed 7:1 hospitals in which they wanted me to start as a new grad day 1 with 3 patients..not safe at all, however, be smart about it. I resigned after 3 weeks, but even with just 3 weeks I gave them a full 2 week notice. Being still on orientation they made it effective immediately but the manager liked me and she made sure I was re-hirable because I gave the proper notice and I did really like the people I was working with, just not the 7:1 ratios. Of course I got hired at another hospital first before resigning.

Your plan to quit cold turkey is not a good one especially doing it during a off day. Just give your 2 week notice, its only 6 days of work. It's worth it to keep the hospital options open. Who knows years from now they could have learned and lots could change and you might be wanting to go back as most hospitals are starting to see from research 5:1 is ideal ratio. Also make sure you have another job lined up.

Another option would be to try going to night shift, still busy but less med pass rounds. You might even go to another hospital only to find out they also got 7:1 ratios,so then what? do your research.

tyvin, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2016

That doesn't sound bad at all. What do you want; 4 patients and an aid...that's never going to happen anymore. 6 to 7 is more often than not the average for a med/surg these days Get off the "oh my poor license thing" and get back in there and get experience.

It's only going to get worse and it's the best experience you can get. These jobs don't fall off tress anymore. Time management is key!

A year from now you'll wonder what you were complaining about.

BTW; it's 4 weeks notice for a professional RN to give notice. :sneaky:

Newbie_1 · Mar 24, 2016

That doesn't sound bad at all. What do you want; 4 patients and an aid...that's never going to happen anymore. 6 to 7 is more often than not the average for a med/surg these days Get off the "oh my poor license thing" and get back in there and get experience.
It's only going to get worse and it's the best experience you can get. These jobs don't fall off tress anymore. Time management is key!
A year from now you'll wonder what you were complaining about.
BTW; it's 4 weeks notice for a professional RN to give notice.

Why are some folks on this board such *******s? lol You wouldn't be so condescending, to someone's face. Had I left out the fact that I was a new grad, would I have received the same response? Probably not considering there are some states that have mandated nurse to patient ratios, and nursing research continually shows improved patient outcomes and safety with fewer patients. So again smartass, I didn't say I needed only 4 patients. 5 is actually perfect. 7 is rough and not safe. And of course I will always guard my nursing license, they don't fall off trees either. Don't judge a situation u know nothing about. And btw; you didn't even answer the initial question. ï¿½ï¿½

Shagce1 · Mar 24, 2016

Oh my....let's see where this goes---

Cowboyardee · Mar 24, 2016

Why are some folks on this board such *******s? lol You wouldn't be so condescending, to someone's face. Had I left out the fact that I was a new grad, would I have received the same response? Probably not considering there are some states that have mandated nurse to patient ratios, and nursing research continually shows improved patient outcomes and safety with fewer patients. So again smartass, I didn't say I needed only 4 patients. 5 is actually perfect. 7 is rough and not safe. And of course I will always guard my nursing license, they don't fall off trees either. Don't judge a situation u know nothing about. And btw; you didn't even answer the initial question. ï¿½ï¿½

AFAIK California is the only state to pass a set-in-stone mandatory ratio to be followed at all times for med-surg floors. And the mandate is 6:1. Better, but not as far from your experience as you seem to think. Acute care is tough. Acute care RNs tend to be hard-asses because the job beats it into us. If that's not your thing, no problem. But adjusting your expectations might save you some trouble.

As for your earlier points:

- Give appropriate notice. Why would you even consider doing otherwise? To get out of 6 shifts? Is that worth screwing your manager over, burning bridges, making enemies, etc?

- Yeah, those three months will not help you on your resume. If your manager holds a grudge, she could sink you if called for a report. Even if she doesn't, 3 months at a non-temp job raises some flags to a potential employer, though there are plenty of other RNs in the same boat. I've heard conflicting arguments as to whether it's better to leave a problematic job off your resume/work history entirely. A credit check might or might not list your employer, and any appearance of deception on your application would probably be considered a big red flag. If you applied for credit during this job, it is more likely that your employer would be listed. I don't claim to be an expert, so I can't make a recommendation.

- Finding a position in outpatient surgery or a desk job (in a hospital, correct?) can be tricky. Depends on how far you're willing to move, how many jobs you apply to, etc. Any hospital job that's particularly cushy tends to fill up fast, hire people with experience and connections, and/or transfer internal applicants rather than hiring externally. You might get one. Depends on your local job market and some degree of luck. You might not find outpatient surgery as safe or unrushed as you hope though.

- A BSN gets you through the first barrier in some places. In other places, it doesn't matter much at all. A BSN does not get you hired. Your application, your interview, your experience, and your references/connections get you hired. So again, don't make your references and experience work against you if you can avoid it.

Newbie_1 · Mar 24, 2016

Sounds like an abusive relationship... You and acute care nursing. Lol I want the experience, so I will stick around until I have what's needed to move on. I won't adjust my standards or allow anything but knowledge to be "beat into" me. I will get through it. This post was out of frustration, and rightfully so. You may think 7 pts is okay or even an 8th for admit (my shift yesterday). You may be okay with that. To each their own. I know better, and will do better as soon as I am able. Thanks for sharing.