Advice about leaving my first position

[RNstars]

I am a fairly new nurse; I graduated MAy 2013, was license in July (due to a move after graduation I had to wait longer for a testing date in my new home state), and began working in middle of August. Long story short, I moved (to be with my boyfriend) after graduating to a larger city with a very nursing market saturated with new grads.

By August I was already at 4 months unemployed (and uncomfortable borrowing from family or my boyfriend). So I took the first half way decent job offered me, at a state psychiatric hospital. I worked for 5 years as a mental health worker prior to nursing so I was experienced in psych, but I had actually gone into nursing to move away from this specialty and into the more medical/surgical side of care (or skilled nursing facilities).

Eight months later I am already burning out at this job. It is a state run facility; the are behind in utilizing the best EBP for this population and its frustrating for me, as my old organization (where I was a mental health worker) was ahead of the game. I also am tiring of finding myself or watching my co-workers be put into unsafe situations; or on the flip side watching patients be put in situations (such as restraints) simply because there was not sufficient staff or training to avoid it or deescalate a situation. I love psych and behavioral health, but not like this. While I have gained experience and knowledge in critical thinking and some other nursing skills, I feel like my values and philosophies are not matching up with this organization.

I realize the grass is always greener on the other side, but I am wondering if it isn't time for me to look for something else before I am not only burnt out on this organization but also burnt out on nursing. I really wanted to try to stick this job out for a year so I wouldn't be seen as job hopping and could get some experience. I loved nursing while I was in school and it felt like such the right thing for me- especially when I was working clinicals that were set in med/surg or skilled nursing settings.

Is 8 months too soon for me to leave? And if I do leave, is it OK on applications for me to ask prospective employers to not contact my current employer?

Sorry this was long, and thanks in advance for any advice or input. I really loved this site through nursing school.

[Philly RN 12]

You have one license and should never feel the need to practice in an unsafe environment. Always remember nursing is a business your employer will always care more about the budget than they care about you. Start looking for jobs now. When references are requested, go to your charge RN or nurse educator. Getting the approval of the nurse manager before you jump ship would be of great benefit to you. I recommend submitting a resignation letter using ethos and pathos to garner support. Explain your desire to diversify your experience and go from there.

Good luck with the job search. Less than a year will put you in the new nurse category so waiting to one year may improve chances of finding a job.