Abuse only 3 months in...what should I do?

[MelissaRN.]

Here is my situation:

I've been working at a Peds clinic now for a few months and things are really starting to come to light. The work environment includes me, 3 other nurses, one doc and reception at a small ambulatory peds clinic. I am a new nurse (this is my first job after graduation) and new to pediatrics. I live in an area with limited job opportunities and I was more than thrilled to finally get a job even if it did not fit my original ideas. I work hard, am respectful and willing to learn and be taught.

That being said, I will tell you what has been going on. The doctor I work with is often verbally abusive and downright inappropriate. On more than one occasion the doctor has yelled and verbally harrassed myself and the other staff in front of patients and other co-workers. He has on many occasions said inappropriate comments with sexual tones towards me. These instances occur almost on a daily basis. Furthermore, he is highly arrogant; so much so that I have seen patients and nurses treated terribly so he could prove a ridiculous point (or rather, make himself look like a fool).

Now that I have gotten to know the other nurses and build rapport, I have learned that turnover is extremely high. There have been four other practitioners who have all left within the past 2 years and at least as many nurses. The nurse who has worked the longest there has only been on for 1.5 years and is actively looking for another job now because she cant take it any longer.

My question is do I stay for the sake of my resume until 6 months or 1 year rolls around? Or do I leave and find a better work environment where myself, the people I work with and the patients are treated with respect?

I appreciate any and all advice!

Thanks.

[SweetheartRN]

9 months is a long time to continue putting up with this abuse. These are not the normal new grad issues you should have to be dealing with at all.

[elkpark]

I'm certainly no expert on employment/hiring matters, but I've always been told by others who knew more than I that it's much better, if you know that a position isn't going to work out for you (for any reason) to go ahead and leave ASAP rather than hang around -- it's much easier to explain to a future potential employer that you started a new job, figured out quickly that it wasn't a good fit and wasn't going to work out, and therefore cut both your and the employer's losses as quickly as possible and moved on than it is to explain why you left a job after six months or a year.

Of course, that only works if you do that only once in a great while -- a series of 3-month-employment jobs on your CV is a different matter ... :)

[KATRN78]

I would file a formal complaint.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

I would file a formal complaint.

To whom?

[llg, PhD, RN]

How long do you think it will take for you to find another job?

Can you afford to be unemployed for that long?

Assuming that I did not feel I was in any immediate danger of being hurt/assalted/etc. .. I would be looking for another job and resign as soon as I found one. I would wait to find a new job before resigning.

However, if I felt that I was in any kind of danger ... I would resign now and take my chances on the job market. It would depend on the specific situation.

In the past, I have held on to jobs I absolutely hated while I job hunted. It's difficult, but I protected my finances and am glad I did. However, I was not in any danger -- I was just miserable for a few months each time.

[MelissaRN.]

Thanks to all who posted!

Re: llg

I dont feel like I am in immediate danger, and I think I can hang on for a while longer until something becomes available. I have too anyway for the sake of my financial situation (its not completely imperative as I am married, but it would be difficult to live without my income at this point). Fortunately we have a locum practitioner in right now who has been WONDERFUL and really helped me see what life can be like with a reasonable practitioner! Although it has been good with the locum doc, I dread the doctors return everyday. Hopefully something will come up soon and I can high tail it out of there.

My other concern is my relative lack of experience. Is 3 months experience even desirable to other employers this day and age?

Thanks again for your help.