New Grad/New Nurse/Feel Stuck- Need Advice

[nursebabyxoxo]

Hey guys,

So I just recently passed my boards and I was one of the lucky ones to have a job lined up straight out of school in NJ. However, there are many things that have been bothering me. First off, I have worked at this hospital for about a year as an Extern and a PCA. At the end of nursing school I wanted to go to a different hospital because I wanted it to be closer to my house, I didn't like the type of floor I was on and the nurse/patient ratio is HORRIBLE (1 nurse to 8 patients). When I was in the CT hospitals in CT the nurse patient ratio was 1 nurse to 3-4 patients!!!! One day during the end of my last semester of school my manager called me and asked me to stay on the floor because she was going to hold the position for me. She then told me that she had a lot of confidence in me and that she has been expecting me to stay there and didn't want me to be like another girl who randomly left the floor (yes she told me not to be like another extern that left the floor and also told me not to disappoint her by leaving). Without thinking and being the people pleaser that I am, I agreed to stay there.

I am supposed to start my job in 2 weeks as a Registered Nurse during the day shift on the Geriatric Med/Surg unit. In general, I have always wanted the night shift and there were two night positions opened on my floor. When I told my manager about this she told me I have to work on days because I will get better experience. When i tried convincing her that I want nights she denied and said that I have to stay on days. I wanted the night shift because 1. my boyfriend who lives 2 states away also works the night shift and our schedule would be compatible and 2. my floor is VERY VERY hectic with 8 patients and I need to take my time (i have ADD and the last thing I want to do is god forbid lose my license after 4 years of working so hard for it so I do need things to be less hectic). The reason why I began on this floor as an extern is because I eventually want to be a geriatric np one day but didnt realize that I was not going to like it at all. Every single nurse that was hired on my floor left mid orientation because they could not handle the stress and the load of the patients, the type of patients and their families. This hospital is a charity hospital in an inner city so the patients and their families are very uneducated (they yell at them, punch/kick -- anything, you name it).

The reason why I am writing this is because I am having doubts. I have been dreading working on this floor the past months and I feel stuck because I am starting in August and my manager pretty much forced me to stay on the floor. The upside is that I really do love the staff in that hospital and on my unit. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to have a job immediately since in NJ it is very hard to find a job right off the bat but I already am not happy and I do not know what to do. I start orientation in 2 weeks. Should I stick it out and see how it goes? Or should I look to start at other places?

I also have a feeling my relationship with my boyfriend will take a turn because he lives 3 hours away from me and works night shifts while I will be working days.

What should I do?

[Jenniferocious]

Here's my advice... (and it came straight from both of my parents and I am 41 years old...) In 50 years.. even in 20 years.. Is the hospital going to be in dire straights because you left? Probably not. Most likely they wouldn't even remember who you are. But in 20 years... how will you feel about sticking out a job that made you miserable and was unsafe? Could the position determine your feelings towards nursing if you start out on the wrong foot? Just think of it that way. You have to look out for yourself.. I hope that helps a little. Take care and good luck!!

[JaxJax5423]

If you haven't even started and you dread it....move around!

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

Eight patients on a medical-surgical/geriatric floor is a bit much, especially for a new grad. Look around and see what else you can find. You can work there while you look for something else. You don't owe them anything, unless they paid for your tuition or something. You might learn more on a day shift, but if you need nights, then you need nights.

[mrsboots87]

I agree that you do not need to stay to please a manager unless they paid your tuition under contract. The other girl left for a reason. You can too. Don't stay somewhere you hate because it could ultimately lead to early burnout or hate of your profession. Go somewhere you can be happy. Since you have a job at a hospital it will be easier to get your resume looked at. Just don't use that manager as a reference as they may try to tarnish your name to keep you in house. It is the hospitals job to deal with recruitment and staffing. Not yours. Don't tie yourself to a job you hate. Just work this job while you actively search for another.

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

Two things and I am going to be really blunt about it.

1) No one can force you into a job. You don't want it, YOU DONT WANT IT! I would latch on to the I need nights. Tell your manager I'm so sorry, I can't stay unless I work nights. She might give you nights if she wants you to stay so badly or say see ya(it sounds like this would more likely be the outcome). Problem solved!

This one is just IMO and completely digging into your personal life:

2) if your relationship isn't going to last because your boyfriend works nights and you work days, it isn't going to last for way more reasons than just that. It's going to not last because both of you or one of you were unwilling to work past a little bump. And relationships shouldn't be like that.

[abobbett]

I don't think that you should take the position at all. It seems like your future manger is not good at listening nor compromise which can definitely make things more difficult in the future if you decide to work there. Think about if you were to come to her saying you made an error, how would she react? Would she be supportive like you need as a new grad and help with remediating the situation or berate you and say you need to do a better job even though you are overwhelmed on days? Is that the reason why there is a high turn over rate?

I also feel that she is throwing you under the bus so to say because you explicitly told her that you wanted to work on night shift because it would make you more comfortable and she seemed to dismiss that in a second. There is good logic behind new grads starting off on night shift so it can be easier to get their footing. I think the right decision would be to decline her offer and face the job market head on. You never know what you are getting yourself into and it seems like there are already problems right off the bat which should be screaming *Red Flag*.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Slavery was abolished ~ 150 years ago...she can't force you to work there. Life is short. Go find your bliss.

[Everline]

A nursing job you are dreading before you start, with an 8:1 ratio on a geriatric M/S floor that you don't even like, on a shift you don't want does not bode well. As a new grad myself, I will tell you that the first months can be extremely difficult, even under the best circumstances. I can't imagine starting off in that situation with those feelings. I highly suggest you look for something else more suitable to your life, learning and future career, especially since you haven't even started the job yet. The manager isn't the one who will be working that shift and living your life. Soon enough, when you are in the thick of it all, you might not be so happy about appeasing her. Do what's best for YOU.