Feeling guilty for quitting

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Hi Nurse Beth,

During the Summer before the second year of my ADN program, I applied and got a job as a tech on a telemetry floor. It was very difficult, and I had an absolute miserable time working on that floor, especially while juggling my nursing classes, a Chemistry class I was taking for a CRNA program I had my eye on (there was no time limit on when to take organic Chemistry and that's why I was taking it), and my weekly EMS shift.

I was also really struggling with some personal things, and essentially my mental health was in the toilet. I really could not do any of it anymore so 8 months into the job, I was looking to take my last nursing class (OB) and study for the NCLEX after, and after a month of constantly going back and forth between quitting or not quitting, I handed in my notice just before the COVID madness hit. Now, I'm feeling guilty, and I'm worried I look like a quitter and will not be considered for jobs (especially since I'm looking to advance to ICU hopefully sooner than later).

Dear Feeling Guilty,

It won't be held against you as long as you gave notice and quit in a professional manner.

You now have valuable contacts in this hospital who can help you land a job.

Part of self-care and mental wellness is finding balance and managing your stress load. Taking a Chemistry class for a potential CRNA program while in an ADN program is unnecessary stress.

It's good to have goals and it's good to be realistic. The next 1-2 years will be about learning to become a nurse. Just give yourself time and put the CRNA on the backburner for now. It will still be there when the time is right.