Desperately needing some guidance...

theRNJedi · Mar 10, 2015

very interesting post. While reading your post I have so many comments and thoughts that come to mind. Such as..."how can you possibly know that you're not meant for something at age 22 and only have done it for 'a week or so'...or..."how are you hurting your patients and yourself by staying there?"....honestly, it sounds melodramatic. Of course you have preferences and aspirations you wish to do as a nurse, but they're not all going to be accomplished in your first nursing job. (maybe some grandiose thinking eh...?) I think you are being honest and I appreciate that in your post, but some of your thoughts are a bit premature.

I have been a Nurse Manager for years; your situation is not unique. You are experiencing the initial 'disenchantment' that often occurs with new grads as they enter the nursing workforce. There are numerous variables at play in your situation; some in which you probably aren't yet aware of. I would venture to say your circumstance warrants a more comprehensive discussion, probably best done in a face-to-face meeting with a mentor or nurse leader in your life. I'd like to give you some of my initial thoughts.

First, you made several comments that imply to me that you have the wrong perception or attitude about your situation/job. Every nursing job is an opportunity to gain experience; period. Albeit, you may not like your organization/unit/specialty/shift/coworkers/boss/etc... but the reality is you are indeed gaining experience. This is critical as a new grad. We are in a professional pinch in that healthcare needs nurses, but managers are only really hiring experienced nurses. So if you've landed a job that has hired you as a new grad, invested in you, will orient you...well drop down on your knees and thank your lucky stars for it! There are new grads everywhere drooling over any opportunity to get their foot in a door like yours to become 'an experienced nurse'. Statistically, there are way more new grads than internships or offers for new grads....so again, count your blessings and contemplate on that.

Quitting right from the outset like this would be risky. Not just for the fact that you may not find another job, but that resignation would look bad to any future hiring manager, not too mention your own regret for not sticking it out before you truly gain a reasonable amount of medical-oncology experience to make a more informed decision. You should see this job as a stepping stone, a rung in the ladder....it's not as though this job has to be your one and only nursing job for life!

It's a personal choice to resign, but my gut instinct wants to tell you to hold on to it for a bit, ride it out a while and give yourself time to assimilate; you would be taking a lot of risk on many fronts if you left right now.

Most certainly use your network for opportunities. It never hurts to contact old employers and contacts to convey your interest in a nursing job. But be sure you have something employers want...Nurse managers don't just hire people because they graduated nursing school and passed the NCLEX; that's just a foundational achievement that puts you in the nursing workforce to develop your marketability. So please understand merely having "RN" by your name does not necessarily make you a hot commodity and a shoe-in for nursing jobs. You need to see the bigger 'professional profile' of yourself...think...'experience, certifications, continuing education, clinical ladders, etc...'. Despite how you feel, your current job is giving you experience as a nurse; I suggest you look further out into your career and appreciate how this job can help you.

If community/public health is where you want to go, believe me...you'll get there...but bide your time. You may find other specialties and sub-specialties are just as wonderful. Don't be hasty, but rather be smart, methodical, and search for opportunities while you work. I personally would not be inclined to hire a new grad who left their job after 'a week or so'. As well, you are not wasting anyone's time while working in this job...that perception is fundamentally incorrect;...you are serving others, you are are filling a need, developing your skills, and expanding yourself professionally...none of which is a waste of time...even if in the back of your mind you are determined to leave this particular job...be the professional caregiver and registered nurse you sought out to be while you are employed there. Also, it may sound cliche, but seriously, look at the positive things you're experiencing in this job; such as...you have a job, you're making money, you're caring for sick people who need your compassion, and you are growing your resume to make yourself more marketable for hire at other nursing jobs. Bottom line, unless you have another job lined up and confirmed, I would recommend staying there. The benefits overwhelmingly outweigh your emotions of 'not liking your job'.

-theRNJedi

guest464345 · Mar 13, 2015

I think the RNJedi makes some good points, although I am likely more cynical about hospitals (after working in hospitals for many years, as a nurse and in other roles). The hospital will take care of itself, believe me. Your unit will survive with or without you. You don't need to worry about whether you're wasting their time - just worry first about your patients and safe nursing practice, and secondly about yourself.

I don't think there's anything morally or professionally wrong with quitting this job (some will disagree). However, you have a practical problem, as you already suspect. It's difficult to get hired elsewhere at this stage; not impossible, but unlikely. Your odds will be better even with six months of experience, and will improve incrementally each month after that - depending on the market in the area where you want to work.

You already say there are NO jobs listed at home. I don't see a way around that practical problem. For new(ish) grads like you and me, we're starting off in a job market where the hospitals are the ones who get to be selective and take their time about hiring - we don't have that luxury. Several years ago, of course, the job market was the other way around...bad luck for us! As newbies, "where I was meant to be" is not as important as "what I can get with x skills in x job market"

Also, pretty much any hospital job is going to suck for six months. It's not what anyone expects, and the learning curve and anxiety are brutal. Seriously, I know no one who slept well or ate normally during those first awful months, on any unit, in any hospital. Changing units or being at home won't help you escape that (only time/experience, and then it DOES truly get better).

Anyway, there's no way to find out if you can get another job, except applying. Work this job, do your research and networking like Jedi said, and if you get an offer - go for it. But if you quit first and search later, there's a good chance of getting stuck. OK if you have someone willing to house/feed you indefinitely, but otherwise a big problem.

I just got a job in public health after gritting my teeth through one year of hospital experience (hospital is not for me either, and that measly year of experience was split between two jobs - it still felt like an eternity). But that was with a related previous career and bilingual medical experience that's in high demand here...often people need 2 hospital years to get non-hospital jobs.

Good luck to you!

Work2Live · Mar 14, 2015

While theRNJedi has a lot of experience and that most of her advice is valuable, I think that she could have been a little more empathetic (the use of the terms "melodramatic" and "wrong" was irresponsible for a nurse manager trying to erase the notion that nurses eat their young). While you are a new nurse and "only" a 22-year-old, sjh4120, it IS possible for you to know what you want from your career. Bedside nursing is not for everyone and you do not need to feel guilty if it is not for you. The best advice that I can offer, as a nurse who has worked in a variety of settings, including inpatient (full-time and travel/seasonal), nursing research, health insurance, and, currently, epidemiology at a county health department, is to continue orienting on the medical oncology unit, BUT to start looking for a community/public health nursing opportunity. Your county or state health departments are a good place to start. If you possess an adventurous spirit (and I hope that you do!), I encourage you to explore the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (Public Health Nursing: Recruitment) as well as the Indian Health Service (Career Opportunities | Indian Health Service (IHS)). I earned a graduate degree in public health and my primary job responsibilities include employee health and communicable disease investigation. I use VERY few of the skills that I acquired at the bedside. Instead, I am acquiring and utilizing a different and new skill set. If you decided to stay for three or six months on the medical oncology unit, I highly recommend that you pursue an internship with a community/public health organization. Take one eight-hour day and volunteer at a non-profit STD/HIV clinic (there is a CDC training for HIV counseling and testing). It may lead to a full-time opportunity! If you are concerned about "losing" your clinical skills, consider staying long enough on your unit to transition to per diem (that may be 9-12 months). The trade-off working in many community/public health environments is that you typically do not have to work on weekends and it is significantly less stressful than the inpatient setting. However, you will earn less than your bedside colleagues. The world is your oyster...just be smart and strategic!

I recognize that you were trying to help the OP, theRNJedi, but your post elicited a visceral response from me. I always wonder why being a reliable and competent nurse is never enough anymore. Instead, one has the "wrong...attitude" if they do not want to earn their master's degree and participate on committees. As the economy continues to improve, more older nurses will either retire or transition to part-time/per diem positions. As more and more nurses earn the BSN and/or pursue graduate degrees, there will be even fewer bedside nurses. I agree with you, laflaca. The hospital will DEFINITELY take care of itself. They make business decisions at the expense of employees all the time. It is important to make the best personal business decisions for yourself, sjh4120!

very interesting post. While reading your post I have so many comments and thoughts that come to mind. Such as..."how can you possibly know that you're not meant for something at age 22 and only have done it for 'a week or so'...or..."how are you hurting your patients and yourself by staying there?"....honestly, it sounds melodramatic. Of course you have preferences and aspirations you wish to do as a nurse, but they're not all going to be accomplished in your first nursing job. (maybe some grandiose thinking eh...?) I think you are being honest and I appreciate that in your post, but some of your thoughts are a bit premature.
I have been a Nurse Manager for years; your situation is not unique. You are experiencing the initial 'disenchantment' that often occurs with new grads as they enter the nursing workforce. There are numerous variables at play in your situation; some in which you probably aren't yet aware of. I would venture to say your circumstance warrants a more comprehensive discussion, probably best done in a face-to-face meeting with a mentor or nurse leader in your life. I'd like to give you some of my initial thoughts.
First, you made several comments that imply to me that you have the wrong perception or attitude about your situation/job. Every nursing job is an opportunity to gain experience; period. Albeit, you may not like your organization/unit/specialty/shift/coworkers/boss/etc... but the reality is you are indeed gaining experience. This is critical as a new grad. We are in a professional pinch in that healthcare needs nurses, but managers are only really hiring experienced nurses. So if you've landed a job that has hired you as a new grad, invested in you, will orient you...well drop down on your knees and thank your lucky stars for it! There are new grads everywhere drooling over any opportunity to get their foot in a door like yours to become 'an experienced nurse'. Statistically, there are way more new grads than internships or offers for new grads....so again, count your blessings and contemplate on that.
Quitting right from the outset like this would be risky. Not just for the fact that you may not find another job, but that resignation would look bad to any future hiring manager, not too mention your own regret for not sticking it out before you truly gain a reasonable amount of medical-oncology experience to make a more informed decision. You should see this job as a stepping stone, a rung in the ladder....it's not as though this job has to be your one and only nursing job for life!
It's a personal choice to resign, but my gut instinct wants to tell you to hold on to it for a bit, ride it out a while and give yourself time to assimilate; you would be taking a lot of risk on many fronts if you left right now.
Most certainly use your network for opportunities. It never hurts to contact old employers and contacts to convey your interest in a nursing job. But be sure you have something employers want...Nurse managers don't just hire people because they graduated nursing school and passed the NCLEX; that's just a foundational achievement that puts you in the nursing workforce to develop your marketability. So please understand merely having "RN" by your name does not necessarily make you a hot commodity and a shoe-in for nursing jobs. You need to see the bigger 'professional profile' of yourself...think...'experience, certifications, continuing education, clinical ladders, etc...'. Despite how you feel, your current job is giving you experience as a nurse; I suggest you look further out into your career and appreciate how this job can help you.
If community/public health is where you want to go, believe me...you'll get there...but bide your time. You may find other specialties and sub-specialties are just as wonderful. Don't be hasty, but rather be smart, methodical, and search for opportunities while you work. I personally would not be inclined to hire a new grad who left their job after 'a week or so'. As well, you are not wasting anyone's time while working in this job...that perception is fundamentally incorrect;...you are serving others, you are are filling a need, developing your skills, and expanding yourself professionally...none of which is a waste of time...even if in the back of your mind you are determined to leave this particular job...be the professional caregiver and registered nurse you sought out to be while you are employed there. Also, it may sound cliche, but seriously, look at the positive things you're experiencing in this job; such as...you have a job, you're making money, you're caring for sick people who need your compassion, and you are growing your resume to make yourself more marketable for hire at other nursing jobs. Bottom line, unless you have another job lined up and confirmed, I would recommend staying there. The benefits overwhelmingly outweigh your emotions of 'not liking your job'.
-theRNJedi

guest464345 · Mar 14, 2015

Side note - holy cow OP! What are the odds that you would get responses from not only two public health nurses, but specifically two epidemiology nurses (me and work2live)???

Work2Live · Mar 14, 2015

I have a couple more thoughts:

1) Learning Spanish is very helpful in community/public health both domestically and abroad (as is French).

2) Emory's Rollins School of Public Health has a good resource for community/public health employment opportunities: Public Health Employment Connection - public health jobs and resumes

Either scroll through the opportunities or select "Search" to the left and type "nurse" under "Position Description."

sv714 · Feb 12, 2016

Hi there! It's kind of crazy-I also started about 2 months ago on a med/oncology floor and have decided that it's not for me...and I've also applied to receive my PHN! I just wanted to see if you had any updates and if you were able to switch positions :)