I graduated in May and started my first job as an RN in July on a busy surgical floor at a local hospital minutes from my home. It was a perfect set up. The nurses I worked with were awesome, the supervisors were supportive and helpful, and as mentioned before, it was minutes from my house. The problem was I was about to be off orientation and I was terrified! I am definitely not cut out to be a floor nurse. The thought of taking care of 5-8 patients all by myself scared me to death!! I felt overwhelmed and worried that I was going to miss something when I no longer had my preceptor to catch me when I fall. The type of fear I was feeling wasn't normal new grad fear. It was clearly my personality and I can't change that. Anyone who has been a floor nurse should know what I mean. You either can do it or you can't. And it's not safe to "wing it." I recognized this was not where I belong as a nurse. I was always running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. So, needless to say, I decided to leave my job. Now I am unemployed and truly worried I have wasted the past 4 years of my life going to school for a career that I am not going to be able to do. My husband and parents think I'm a failure. I'm beginning to believe it also.
I love patient care and would work a lot better in an environment where I could spend more one-on-one time with my patient, but where are jobs like that when you don't have experience? And now I'm worried it will look bad that I quit a job after 3 months, but I truly felt like something bad was going to happen if I didn't get out now. I have applied at 2 dialysis centers, ECT, and considering correctional nursing. But again, all of those positions state experience required. I applied anyway, but not feeling too confident.
If anyone has any sound advice for me, I would greatly appreciate it.
I hope for your sake that you made the right call, and only you will know if you did. If you didn't, it's not too late. While you may have missed a residency program, you may still be able to find an employer who has a nurse internship. It's a little different from a residency. My employer has an intern program where they hire app 5 new grads (or old grads who have been out of it for awhile) and take them through a program that is more like your nursing school clinicals. Well, not just like it-the intern program is supportive and nurturing whereas my clinicals were a massive weed-out sink or swim program. But you get the idea. And if after that 90 days of being paired with the educator and preceptors, you feel you need a little more time, then it is offered.
What you experienced may have actually been more positive than you realize. You should be scared! This is life and death, and not many people can literally say that about their work. If I were your preceptor, I would have probably noticed that you had a case of the "yips" but I would have been so happy to have a new grad who asked a lot of questions. The new grads who scare me are those who never have a question. After a year or two on the floor, you'll find yourself feeling like it is all starting to click. You'll still have that nervous energy, but it will be more of a voice in your head telling you that there is something about your patient that just doesn't feel or look right, and that nervous energy or adrenaline is what will sharpen your mind so that you can jump into action.
Don't be too hard on yourself. Every nurse learns in a different way, at a different pace, and there is no single area that is good for everyone. No matter where you find yourself, whether it is giving your old unit another try, or something totally new, just give yourself the chance to learn, and never stop asking questions. And if staff is not willing to nurture and support you, then keep searching.
Hello: I know you received tons of replies regarding your question. I can totally relate to your situation. Some will consider us loosers or quitters, reality is when you are taking care of patient's it is you and only you the one responsible. I also started at a very good teaching hospital and after 4 months of anxiety and fear i decided that was not for me, i was at a very demanding Oncology unit were patients were very ill. I tried nursing home and it was not for me either. I can tell you i had been working as an admission nurse for hospice for the past 5 months and i absolutely love it. I finally found my place, the hospice environment it is very nurturing and pro patient. My anxiety level is at a minimum and i am able to be myself again. Someone once told me "there is a place in nursing for everyone" i am very glad to see you found the courage to admit something wasnt for you, believe me i know a few who stick to it because of the fear of being perceived as failures. Wish you the best! You can reach me anytime for advise.
As an educator, I have conversations with all my clinical students during their rotation with me about what they're interested in, why, and try to provide them with the reality of what to expect. I've been an RN for 31 years, and a PNP for 19. I knew I wasn't cut out for floor nursing, and started in the NICU. Then worked in the PICU after that. I was open to new settings, so I volunteered to float to adult units: trauma, burn, ED...
All that being said, I think an area worth looking into might be office based nursing. there is a lot of triage, a lot of teaching, and often close contact with patients. The thing that keeps most nurses from choosing this is the pay is significantly lower than inpatient hospital nursing. However - there are no rotating shifts, your hours are typically 8-5, no holidays, and ample vacation time. As a new grad, I would choose a place that has protocols in place, so you are not having to create your own, but believe me - busy medical offices are looking for RNs!
I recommend you go right back into the hospital. Maybe a different floor that's not quite as busy. You are going to have to to get your clinical and assessment skills together. Any job is going to want you to have experience. I know for at least a year. It's going to b extra hard to find a job without it. Nobody is going to want to hire you. I have been a nurse 31 years but made sure I got a lot of clinical and my assessment skills are excellent. So go back into the hospital and get your skills together if you want to go further in Nursing. Best wishes to you.....
I am surprised that you received so many comments that you should not have left. I think you made it very clear that your feelings were more than just a lack of confidence because you are still new. I think you know it was not for you. It is great though that you did get that bit of experience on the floor. It will actually make you VERY much more valuable for all other settings you apply for. Three months may seem short, but I bet you learned A TON in those 3 months! And that's a TON more than other new nurses applying for any other job who don't have any floor experience.
I work at a SNF (nursing home) and the pay is better than working in a clinic, it's very busy and you learn quite a bit. You will have some IVs, place foley caths, wound care, and of course, learn a lot about medications. You will give occasional injections (usually B12, flu, TB testing) and quite a lot of insulin injections.
Many people think Nursing Homes are depressing but I find my job provides so much laughter because the residents are just so lovable and endearing. Of course residents pass from time to time but what helps me through that is that the person has usually been suffering and/or has lived a long life and are ready to go. Once in a while we have someone who is on Hospice and are not "old" and are clear thinking and suffering. Losing those residents is harder but fortunately much less common.
I think it is a good place to work because you still get to practice some nursing skills but there is SO much less pressure regarding "missing" something important.
Physician's Clinics may also be what you are looking for but you won't get much opportunities to practice your nursing skill aside from giving B12, flu and a lot of immunizations. You will probably assist your provider with minor surgeries in the office which is always interesting to me. It pays the least though, at least where I live out here in Montana.
Home Health might be of interest to you as well. You will use your nursing skills plus be independent but always have the Provider to call if you need.
There are DEFINITELY positions out there for you! All the jobs I mentioned do not require any post school experience. They will be glad to have you! Nurses are hard to find for all of these areas I mentioned, at least in my neck of the woods.
First of all, you and your husband need to go for counseling. There is no need to bash a family member when they are down. I am glad you realized floor nursing is not for you and got out. That is being honest with yourself. It is another thing that the nursing profession is so hung up on its own narratives that anything out of the box is unacceptable.
Find a good doctor's office and offer to volunteer. They will realize your worth and maybe hire you.
Apply at community clinics, and home health.
Let me tell you, everywhere you work they will throw you under the bus, so try and get some low key experience under your belt. Remember, the money may never be the same as in the hospital, but heck who cares?
Specializes in Trauma Med Surg, Telemetry, Education.
If you like patient care but not the huge patient load have you thought about and ICU setting or maybe a clinic job? If you are good at what you do but intimidated by the large ratios maybe look into the specialized care a bit more where the patient loads are smaller, the patients are a bit more challenging. I know people who like being OR circulators, or pre-op scrub nurses, or even PACU nurses. Those might be good fits. Try looking into those, see if you can shadow before you accept your next position to make sure you have a feel for the position. Once in, I would say give it at least a year if you can. I would just suggest if already in at a facility and you think it won't work let them know and see if they can work with you to give you something you want. After all they put time and effort into recruiting you, they should want to do everything to keep you at their organization. Best of luck, you'll find something you like I promise!
I just learned that a well known nursing agency in the area is hiring new grads and offering classroom and field training for a total of three months. This is an agency that previously required one year's experience for hiring. Good luck with whatever direction you go!
"It takes about a year to get to the point of starting to feel competent and comfortable."
So what you should do at this point is apply to an NP school so you can diagnose illness and prescribe medications.
Why get bogged down with just the bedside nursing, experience and jail thing.
I sincerely hope these comments are facetious. As NP faculty members, we expect that our students have at minimum, a year of solid bedside or specialty clinic experience.
New grads who are unsure of how to recognize and intervene at the RN level of care for a patient in heart failure or with hyperglycemia are destined for a very bumpy and unsafe road in NP school.
I sincerely hope these comments are facetious. As NP faculty members, we expect that our students have at minimum, a year of solid bedside or specialty clinic experience.
Total and complete sarcasm addressing the never ending posts about wanting to avoid bedside and go straight to NP.
Just wanted to let you know that I worked in the hospital for 7 months after graduating and didn't like it either. I was so discouraged because I felt like I had wasted so many years of working towards becoming an RN.
However, the most wonderful thing about becoming a nurse is that our field is wide open to so many different areas and opportunities! After working at the hospital, I worked at the health department and loved it for 4 years! Our health department was very willing to hire and train new graduates with a BSN (and is typically a very welcoming family-friendly place to work with great benefits). The health department also had a very wide variety of areas and services that they provide, so take a look at your state government employment website or on your local health department website. Here is ours if you would like to take a look at some of the options available: CAREER CENTER - Cobb & Douglas Public Health
Community-based nursing is not for everyone, as hospital-based nursing is not for everyone. I am now a school nurse and absolutely love it! I would not suggest doing school nursing right out of nursing school, though, as I feel that having experience and good assessment skills is vital (it is not just handing out bandaids and ADHD meds--I have had several life/death situations!). Don't give up! And don't worry about comments about "not having the personality" to be a nurse. We are all gifted in different ways and having anxiety your first year of nursing is very common. sometimes I wish I had stuck it out for at least that 1st year, as that year in the hospital does give some credence and confidence when it comes to hiring....However, I not have found the area that I LOVE without taking this path. But, all is not lost--hope you find something that you love
Clarysage, BSN, RN
9 Posts
I hope for your sake that you made the right call, and only you will know if you did. If you didn't, it's not too late. While you may have missed a residency program, you may still be able to find an employer who has a nurse internship. It's a little different from a residency. My employer has an intern program where they hire app 5 new grads (or old grads who have been out of it for awhile) and take them through a program that is more like your nursing school clinicals. Well, not just like it-the intern program is supportive and nurturing whereas my clinicals were a massive weed-out sink or swim program. But you get the idea. And if after that 90 days of being paired with the educator and preceptors, you feel you need a little more time, then it is offered.
What you experienced may have actually been more positive than you realize. You should be scared! This is life and death, and not many people can literally say that about their work. If I were your preceptor, I would have probably noticed that you had a case of the "yips" but I would have been so happy to have a new grad who asked a lot of questions. The new grads who scare me are those who never have a question. After a year or two on the floor, you'll find yourself feeling like it is all starting to click. You'll still have that nervous energy, but it will be more of a voice in your head telling you that there is something about your patient that just doesn't feel or look right, and that nervous energy or adrenaline is what will sharpen your mind so that you can jump into action.
Don't be too hard on yourself. Every nurse learns in a different way, at a different pace, and there is no single area that is good for everyone. No matter where you find yourself, whether it is giving your old unit another try, or something totally new, just give yourself the chance to learn, and never stop asking questions. And if staff is not willing to nurture and support you, then keep searching.
Best of luck to you!