First job but, time to leave?

[Rhythsetradio]

Hi Everyone! I have some questions/concerns. It's kinda complicated between my professional and personal life but 90% profession.

Basically I graduated in June 2015 and needed some time off. I worked mostly full-time through my FNP program so I basically was burned out and exhausted. I traveled the world and came back, passed my certification exam in November 2015 and decided to look for a job. I live in LA but I was planning to move to Tucson, AZ because my fiance had got a job there as an engineer. I looked there for about three months and it was pretty much now what I was expecting. The first place was a cardiology group basically wanted me to work M-F and then one weekend a month (so basically a 12 day straight through once a month), another was an urgent care...90K start but benefits were awful, and then the last place led me on for like three months and ended up hiring a previous ED nurse gone FNP. At that time, I decided to stay in LA as we were both planning on coming/staying here.

I got my first job in LA, good benefits/pay, and 6-8 weeks of orientation. It sounded great on paper. Basically it's an observation unit/short stay, we admit from the ED or PACU and discharge the next day. It's been six months and I'm just unhappy. I don't feel like, I'm doing more than being a typewriter. I have found that, I talk to patients for about a total of 1 hour, 1 hour is lunch, and literally the rest is on the computer so like 9-10 hours. I'm not sure if my expectations are unrealistic but, this has sucked the soul out of me. I'm a very social, talkative person so this is very difficult to not have it in my job as well. Also, as I don't ever see who I admit again, it's not very rewarding. Also we work in a team but some attendings don't know what team is and basically swamp the NP's with all the work rather than share the responsibility. This is very inconsistent however because each attending is different. Also I feel like the organization is so heavily medicine ran, NP's don't have the respect or acknowledgement that we deserve. I feel like we are just seen as, a RN with the ability to write orders. Also my schedule, I'm not a night person and I basically was hired as rotating but it turns out, is pretty much all night shift.

Anyways, my fiance looks like, he may be transferred to the his company's other branch in Dallas now in February, which by that time I would have two months shy of a year so my plan is to just stick it out till then, but argh. I guess I just feel awful leaving an employer before a year especially when my previous employments, I never left before 2 years (longest was 6 years). But I remember in school, other NPs had said don't stay if you are unhappy. I guess I miss most building relationships with patients and having some continuum. And now, that both the NP and MD have to write notes per patient per day because we aren't allowed to bill, makes me wonder if this organization really knows what to do with us.

[aprnKate]

Hey there!

If you are not happy, you should leave, are you going to Dallas w/ your fiance? there should be plenty of FNP job opportunities in that area. As far as leaving your first employment before 12 months, lots of us have done it. I started my first employment as FNP Oct 2014 and left after 10 months (loved the patients and what I did, management not too great and wanted me to do administrative stuff on my own time..not paid.. no mention of increase in salary... and my quality time with the hubby was suffering) Long story short, I got out after 10 months and took a traveling job... I was so uncertain back then... but I am happy as a clam now that I've become a traveling NP. I have taken 3 traveling assignments after my first employment. The one i'm currently on has been the longest assignment and the highest paying. I am an independent contractor after a little over a year of experience being a FNP and if you are smart with your money and talk to the right CPA that is not only good with accounting but also with tax strategy, you have the potential to build your nest egg.

My advice to you is find a job that will be a good fit with supporting supervising physicians that will help you learn and build to you professional potential. Best Wishes to you.

[CoolLikeThat]

I always go with my gut on these calls. I may try to hold out for an entire year, but if you are unhappy and just cannot do it anymore then find something that makes you happy. Plus, if you are moving to DFW you will have no problem cherry-picking exactly where you want to work. I have been away from Texas for years and still get emails and calls for jobs or asking if I know anyone interested. It is one of the best places in the country to find work as an NP.

Good luck with your decision!!

[YoutubeTheNP]

If you're moving to DFW let me know I can help you find work easily, that's where I am now.

As as far as the obs unit you're in, I am nestled in one now and I love it. Same schedule as you, but I keep myself occupied all day with the videos I make and all the editing I do.

If obs unit was my first job out of NP school though I would probably shoot myself. You don't really learn anything since everything is protocol driven.

There is nothing wrong by leaving your job and moving to a different part of the country. You don't owe them anything, unless you signed a contract. As an NP, you are harder to replace, where I work I'm required to give a 3 month notice if I ever leave, so I would check what your employer requires. Good luck!!