Did I make a mistake?

[mooneyes65]

Hello, I graduated in May 2007. I started working on a BUSY neuro/medsurg floor on the 7p-7a shift. I also commuted 1 1/2 hrs each way. I have to say I was terrified 99% of the time...the patients were so sick and I was weak in clinicals. My clinical experiences were very general patients and none really sick and unstable (done in small hospitals). So I felt inadequate. My orientation was great and for the unheard of 14 weeks. I couldnt adjust to sleeping in the day and after the drive and such...just couldnt sleep. Also, I was just scared to death that someone would code or go down the tubes and I wouldnt know what to do or even recognize it. We were also VERY short staffed all the time.I was there from end of June until mid Nov.

I am now at a hospital 1 block from my home and in the OR...days (though not a full 40 hr week due to low census and few surgeries)....I am still not happy. I am not using any nursing skills I learned and I miss direct care. The people are ok...there are alot of attitudes and cliques here but I am getting past that.

Maybe I'm not happy with nursing...maybe I am in the wrong place/time yet again. I just dont know. I really like working in outpatient surgery when I did my summer extern program. There are no openings in there yet (same director over OR and outpatient). I would feel bad about getting trained then leaving....the hospital where I worked neuro...didnt take it well that I left. The director said "I wasted their time and money". I just feel lost.

[labrador4122, RN]

Well, I can understand why you may be having a difficult time there.

I started working at the same hospital where I am now, as a PCA in the PICU. and I hated it. I hated it because of the people there. they would gossip about me behind my back, saying that I only wanted to be an RN because of the money (I said that to one person only one time, that we were talking about money I will make once I am done with school during my lunch time)..........

I was so so miserable there, and no openings for PCA's at that time.

well, I stuck it out. I went to work, did the best I could with a smile on my face.... I agreed with everyone, smiled.... and I did this because I knew that the hospital was great, at times I had floated to other units, and it was awesome at the other units.

6 gruesome months later, finally a position opened up and I took it.

I told them that i was leaving because of my full-time schedule at school (which was so not true).

That was the best thing that I did. Because I experienced what it was like to be somewhere where I did not want to be anymore. and I proved myself that I can do anything.

NOW... as an RN.... I honestly would do the same thing. If I did not like the place where I worked, I would stay there for 6-12 months... learned the best I could, get my experience... and move on.

I love working on my floor. I do not want to leave..... yet.

So, since you already like the facilty, and the same director hires for the unit where you want to be end up.

why don't you just stay there, and see when the position opens up, and since you are already there, perhaps the director will give you a heads up on the position before posting the position open?

[evans_c1]

I wouldn't worry about leaving the facility. It is about your happiness and not up to them. saying you were a waste of time and money is harsh and unprofessional. like my mom always tells me..."be nice to everyone; they could be your boss someday."

nursing is nice in that you have hundreds of options. you can go anywhere and have a job in an instant.

[jmgrn65, RN]

There are no openings in there yet (same director over OR and outpatient). I would feel bad about getting trained then leaving....the hospital where I worked neuro...didnt take it well that I left. The director said "I wasted their time and money". I just feel lost.

I would just talk to the director and let them know how you feel. At least it is in the same facility so you won't really be wasting their time. But I wonder have you given the OR enough time, because it does take a year to even feel comfortable there. Plus very good experience that a lot of nurses don't get a chance to do. Good Luck in what ever you choose to do.