Finally resigned F/T nursing job-Relief is the word!

[BlinkyPinky]

I've been a nurse since 1994; have held many types nursing jobs both P/T and most recently, 5+ years F/T at a state agency. I finally resigned this position and I can say I am SO relieved and feel better already. And I have only ONE, very per diem, "new job" lined up. And I'm not feeling NEARLY as bad as I was for the past....6 months? maybe more--being "on the fence." Staring in to space (no book no radio nor TV; just staring) in SUCH a mental state that I felt life was almost not worth living. Physical problems gotten worse in the past 10 or so years, due to normal aging . But more than this: the Bovine Excrement the place I was with for almost 14.5 years dealt to me/us on the daily. EXTREME beauracracy and rampant cronyism, all worsening over the past 5 years or more. Malingering "coworkers" and when they are on duty, not doing their work. NOTHING 'done" about this (there are protected, Speshul Snowflaques here ) I tried: I approached the "right ppl", I went "through the chain", I tried sugar and Spice and I tried assertiveness and then I tried direct-ness to the point of almost rude. Nothing mattered; they never listened. Management is a joke and how they promote nurses to managers here is, they Peter Principle them.! A nurse "causing problems" in their area? PROMOTED NEXT SUPV POSITION. This HAS happened, at least on two recent occasions.

I couldn't take it anymore, the latest , and final, blow being unilaterally assigned as primary nurse to a home that at LEAST TWO other RN's "Refuse" to work at . Tried to "Talk to the DON (new guy, extremely ineffectual and on his third place to retire from), no answers to my calls or emails. Yet he SAW them b/c I was told that by two other supervisors. He had no intention of moving me, and I had to hear that from another supv.

I gave notice that day, to the acting DON b/c he was off for a few days (he had already told the other supvs he WOULD talk to me to tell me his intentions, to do Nothing, but never did). I gave my letter and it was as if a HUGE load was off me.

I told my husband b/c he had been anticipating I was going to quit; I was obviously close to it for months. (I tried going P/T, it didn't work out- I wish it had I would prob. have kept this place and just supplemented with other stuff). Anyway, hubby wasn't even mad , at least he didn't act like he was. Maybe he was seeing how close I was to losing it? It was weird. My B/P (diagnosed HTN) was crazy any day I worked (I am on meds per my dr), but strangely? B/P was GREAT , WITHOUT MEDS having been taken, any day I was off and had a DR or Gyn appt. I mean model B/P. That told me something.

I am "too old" to go back to a hospital and besides: been there and done that and No Thanks. I dont' even know if I want to push a cart for 30 ppl at a LTC. Which I used to consider a cake job when I was younger (eve shift)\

I want flexibility. I am going to do two , maybe even 3 , agencies. Per diem type stuff. (already have one lined up, doing assessments/interviews for a company that submits the info to insurance companies). I will do agency the rest , with my goal being to "work 4 days " out of the week.

Will we be making less $? Not for sure, but most likely. I AM nervous and think about that. But the staring in to space worry - the up in the early hours-worry where I just wanted to disappear? - GONE. I can HANDLE this worry b/c it's of the normal variety and anyone would be nervous about this, IMO. I'd probably be abnormal if I wasn't nervous .

But I was MISERABLE. And now, I see what the difference is. Between being DESPONDENT and BURNED-OUT, versus just nervous about change for the future.

Wish I had done this sooner.

Thanks for reading this...if you were able to. This site is very interesting to me!

[Sour Lemon]

Congratulations on breaking free. I love a good rut and know that it's not always easy to do.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I salute you! Good luck in your new endeavors!

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

You deserve a metal for being a nurse so long.

[Shelldepeas]

I am also in the same boat..I recently resign from my job in home care..I was very unhappy and supervisors were not supportive..I would come home and still have paper works to complete. I felt like flying, dancing, and singing that day I gave them my notice. However, I felt very selfish that I walked away from my job and knowing that have a family to support but I was very depressed and moody. At times I felt like leaving nursing altogether but I finally figured it out; I am staying away from the hospital, LTC, and home-care settings in order to be happy and healthy.