How many new nurses are seriously thinking about quiting?

Nurses New Nurse

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And why do you want to quit?

I really would like a study done on how many nurses quit nursing within the first 5 years. It seems like 80% of the student population at community colleges are pre-nursing students. I do not get why there is still so many RN jobs available on the market. When there have been thousands of graduates every year.... Something is amiss in the career of nursing and the truth needs to be told....

Specializes in Education, Administration, Magnet.

I have found it extremely hard to care for 6 Pts at a time working nights with NO Nurses Aide to help us, getting admissions, trying to do a very involved computer charting program, do care plans, etc. I don't' even take breaks or lunches it so bad. We always are short-staffed.

We must work in the same unit. I feel exactly the same way. After my year is up (Summer 08), I will be looking for another unit to transfer to. People tell me to stay in that unit for a year, because it looks good to get that floor experience. I am back in school now for my BSN and then MSN. That will be my way out of the hospital.

I am very used to being spoken down and disrespected over food and drinks! At least in nursing the pressure will be about something with more meaning.

I don't think that this is something nurses should accept and see as a normal aspect of being a nurse. I hope people wanting to enter nursing don't see this as a expectation that they are willing to put up with. We need not only excellent clinicians but people who are professional and are able to be assertive enough to help stop these types of behaviors towards nurses. I know that sounds unattainable but it makes me nervous when people go into nursing expecting and accepting poor treatment.

Specializes in Peds.

This thread has made me feel a lot better. I've been a nurse for 4 months, I hate my job! I would love to quit but I have to support myself so I need the job. I've already been chewed out for "being depressed" or "not enjoying my job" The nurse manager, actually told me The hospital I work at, maybe it wasn't right for me. Then she said, maybe nursing was not right for me. This came as a complete shock, I have NO idea where it came from. I know nursing school did NOT prepare me for the real world. I'm looking for a way OUT QUICK!!!!!!

Amy

This thread has made me feel a lot better. I've been a nurse for 4 months, I hate my job! I would love to quit but I have to support myself so I need the job. I've already been chewed out for "being depressed" or "not enjoying my job" The nurse manager, actually told me The hospital I work at, maybe it wasn't right for me. Then she said, maybe nursing was not right for me. This came as a complete shock, I have NO idea where it came from. I know nursing school did NOT prepare me for the real world. I'm looking for a way OUT QUICK!!!!!!

Amy

Hi, Amy,

Don't sweat it. Some nurse managers like to chew people out for stupid stuff like that. At least it wasn't a med error or patient fall or something. Of COURSE you don't like your job. The first year really stinks--it's overwhelming. Your manager should have known better. Of course, I have no idea where some of these nurse managers come from. Mars, maybe.

Hang in there. You may want to look at a different floor or hospital. I quit my first job after 4 months at an ICU where I had 15 different preceptors. I had no problem finding another job. I have bounced around a little, but have now found my niche.

Take care, I'm thinking about you!

Oldiebutgoodie

Specializes in Occupational Medicine, Orthopedics.

Adding to my earlier post:

My first 8/9 mos as an LPN was in a pediatric dr's office, which was fine except for the fact that it was very busy (no time to go to lunch, or even pee for that matter) and I did mostly MA work.

I decided I needed to get a job where the work more closely related to what I actually went to school for, so I got a job at a nursing home on the sub-acute wing. I work days, and the patient load is 22:1.

I'm learning a lot, and for that I'm very thankful, but the means by which I'm learning is going to kill me. I, like so many others I've read about on these threads, have precious little time to think. It's simply a race from the time you clock in, till the time you clock out (and you MUST clock out on time).

I believe it would be easier for me if I didn't have so many factors working against me;

1) low self esteem, coupled with being a new nurse

2) low self esteem, coupled with patients demanding things

3) low self esteem, coupled with having to chart and then actually seeing with my own two eyes how stupid I sound

4) low self esteem, coupled with aids who don't respect me because of my inability to be a leader

5) low self esteem, coupled with the fact that I can't seem to get my job done on time, EVER

I could go on... but you get the picture.

I can't believe that this company is going to give me a year (seems to be the general consensus) to get my act together enough to feel good and confident.

I worry that the charge nurses are rolling their eyes at me when I go the other direction. Not that they act like it, contrarily every one is very nice where I work, but I still feel that there is the occasional "Oh brother, what DOES she know?"

So absolutely yes, I have thought of quitting just out of the sheer hating to be so down on myself all the time. I haven't figured out what I'm going to do yet, so until then I'll play it day-by-day.

I felt like quitting today (a couple of times actually) but I didn't...

Blue

I've been orienting with a preceptor since September. I go off orientation in just 3 more weeks. I'm not very excited about it. I was considering quitting because the workload is just too stressful, with too many interruptions, too many priorities, too many tasks. I come home exhausted after a 12 hour shift and can only stay asleep for 4 hours b/c I start thinking about all the things I did or didn't do during work and how I might have harmed patients by my actions or inactions. I'm going to try for six months of experience and then look for a different type of nursing job. Maybe public health will be less stressful.:idea:

I signed on to my hospital in the end of August and started on the unit a few weeks later, minus about 3 weeks of classes (nursing orientation, iv therapy, tele), I've actually been on the unit with a preceptor for 7 weeks. There are many moments when I question the safety of my license by staying here. Our average pt ratio is between 1:5 or 1:6, however if an LPN is working the floor then we have to "focus" on their pt as well, so you might have 5 or 6 patients of your own and then focus on 1 or 2 more. We pass all of our meds, do the tx's, assessments, everything! It is a med/surg, renal, tele unit, and the acuity of our patients can be very high at times and overwhelming. Numerous times we have sent patients to the ICU. It's crazy!!! I haven't cried yet, almost did one day because I had only seen one of patients one time and was very unorganized. It's getting better, and I believe I just have to stay positive and be strong and continue to ask questions and believe in what I am doing! Good luck to all of you! God Bless!

jules:balloons:

I would quit in a minute but I keep getting "let go"!!!! First job, surgery- they told me i didn't "fit in", second was DON in LTC, told me they didn't have time to train. I loved the residents and the staff but the nurse coordinator and administrators were big fat liars. I'm gonna stay but just because i worked so hard to get my license

Specializes in medsurg.

ME!

Orientation since sept.

What a joke. 3 new grads trying to figure out how to clear the pca pump in front of 2 experienced nurses. Why didn't they just help us like we asked instead of making US ALL look bad in front of the pts family? Since I was trying to help and it wasnt my pt, I finally left the room. The other 2 newbies came out of the room in tears, still unable to clear the darn pump. The exp. RNs cleared the shift totals, reported off to the night shift, laughed at us and punched out together looking at us 3 like we were clowns from mars.

Why DO NURSES EAT THEIR YOUNG?

and how do you clear the pump? If I'm going back, I'm going in armed with SOME knowledge to share.

Meanwhile, I'm looking for a new job with a decent orientation with more humane and mature nurses willing to share their experiences.

This insanity is well hidden from student nurses. If I'd have seen this coming...

Any advice?

TIA

Robbie

Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
The exp. RNs cleared the shift totals, reported off to the night shift, laughed at us and punched out together looking at us 3 like we were clowns from mars.

Why DO NURSES EAT THEIR YOUNG?

Meanwhile, I'm looking for a new job with a decent orientation with more humane and mature nurses willing to share their experiences.

This insanity is well hidden from student nurses.

I'm still a student so really know nothing, but what just KILLS me is that I'm a tech in the ER of a fairly small hospital. I have the potential to be hired here once I pass my RN. I happened to also do clinicals @ this facility one semester. There were some nice RNs, some really not so very nice.

I take pts up here in the evenings. They have maybe 15 - 20 beds on each unit. Several times when I have worked they have only two RNs on duty and no tech and no secretary. The RNs look like they want to pull their hair out and mine when I head up with a new admit.

What insanity keeps these folks from not wanting to take some time (day, night, or evening shifts) and adequately train RNs to work with them? To me, it would seem a blessed relief to have help rather than chase them away.

I'm not sure I'll stay in the ER once I graduate (several nurses have not been encouraging about a new nurse working ER, so who will watch MY back?!?!), but I sure as heck know I don't want to work on the floors at this facility.

Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

I replied earlier in this thread and it's now been 16 months. Thinking of quitting has never entered my mind. I'm loving it. Sure it's rough sometimes but I still keep my head above water and manage to get out on time. I work on a med/surg / step-down tele unit and it's commonly known in the hospital as the 'trainwreck' floor. I'm actually proud to be working there because I know how rough it can get....and that I'm handling it.

Specializes in Assisted Living Nurse Manager.
I would quit in a minute but I keep getting "let go"!!!!

lol, :lol2:. I dont know if you meant this to be funny, but it tickled my funny bone!

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