Am I being selfish?

[lemore]

I'm an LVN with about 4 months experience. I'm on my 2nd job. (1st was through a temp agency). This job is with, what the agency called, a severely depressed patient. I believe the exact words they used were "she is only a threat to herself". I will admit I was rather nervous. But after the 1^st day of work I realized I was completely wrong. I came to the conclusion that I was being paid to be a companion, not a nurse. She is completely independent; so there was not much to do. My days got longer and longer. I sit with the patient and talk to her all shift. There are times that I get her something to eat, put laundry in the washer, take the trash out, I'm acting more like a care giver than a nurse. I decided that this particular job was doing nothing for my experience and I needed to look for something else, and quickly.

I got a call from a facility that I had interviewed with 6 months ago and they said they were ready to start bringing patients in. Its a 6 bed facility. Brand new. All patients are on long term care, g-tube, vent and trach. I told them i would take it. I was going to start looking for another job anyway.

Im working my last 3 shifts with my patient and after I told her i had found another job, she seems to get really upset with me. She doesnt want to talk to me or even look at me. But we all know this assignment is temporary and i need something that will be permanent.

Is it normal to feel bad?

Did i make the right decision?

Am I being selfish because I no longer want to be with this patient?

help.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Honestly, you have to so what is best for your career; I also would've let the agency handle the pt in notifying a change in caregiving, but that's me.

Look onward and upward to your new job!

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

What she said. ^^^ I'm sorry she got upset with you, but at the end of the day those are 8 hours of YOUR day (or however long your shift is) that you can't get back. It is YOUR career, for which you worked hard. Enjoy your new job!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Im working my last 3 shifts with my patient and after I told her i had found another job, she seems to get really upset with me.

I wouldn't have told this patient you found another job. In almost a decade of nursing I have never told a patient that I had found another job.

Generally speaking, my personal life is none of the patients' business, including the fact that I plan to resign. I remain pleasant and even-tempered with my patients, but I also maintain professional boundaries.

[CaliBoy760]

No need to beat the proverbial dead horse, but, in the future, I would refrain from telling your pt's what your career goals are if, for no other reason, it makes your last few shifts uncomfortable.

[lemore]

The only reason I even told her was because I heard her on the phone talking and the nurse from the previous shift had already told her. So I did let her know I was going to be leaving. I'm not sure why the other nurse felt the need to say anything at all. But just felt I should own up to it and tell her myself as well

Thanks for the responses. Don't feel as bad anymore

[CaliBoy760]

Sounds like you need to (gently) lay down the law with your fellow nurses, informing them that it is NOT their job to inform clients of your future career goals.

[lemore]

Sounds like you need to (gently) lay down the law with your fellow nurses, informing them that it is NOT their job to inform clients of your future career goals.

That's for sure.

[duskyjewel]

You've done nothing wrong, so there's nothing to feel bad about. But your co-worker put you in a terrible spot by telling her you're quitting. Just get through it the best you can.