New RN, leaving after 6 months unprofessional?

Wuzzie · Apr 7, 2017

Look, I am not the only one who feels that the OP is taking an enormous risk with her future for a very temporary time of pleasure. It appears you might not have a realistic understanding of how things are when it comes to new grads finding jobs these days. Nobody would argue that a supportive environment is necessary for a smooth transition but to give an unrealistic picture of abundant jobs and opportunities isn't in the best interest of the OP. She needs to know the potential consequences of her decisions especially since, as a young adult, she may not be equipped to see the big picture. Ultimately it is her decision and she will have to live with the results of her choices but those of us with more experience have a responsibility to make sure she understands what she might face in her future. I believe that is the support she needs at this time.

mcas · Apr 7, 2017

I understand that my advice is not among the popular. I also understand new grads and finding a job, if he/she is flexible and is willing to relocate there are jobs out there to be had. Advising someone to stay in a nursing position that he/she is miserable in, has known that since the beginning is not being supportive. As an experienced nurse, you know that a negative experience breeds a nurse with a negative attitude, that attitude comes through in the lack of loyalty to the organization, your interaction with colleagues and more importantly the care that you provide to your patients. The consequences of his/her action to leave is that he/she may have a fresh start somewhere else, including another unit in the same hospital. That support should be available to him/her, nursing recruitment is the starting point to inquire about that, the unit may loose, but the hospital as a whole will perhaps gain a long-term employee.

Wuzzie · Apr 7, 2017

I understand that my advice is not among the popular. I also understand new grads and finding a job, if he/she is flexible and is willing to relocate there are jobs out there to be had. Advising someone to stay in a nursing position that he/she is miserable in, has known that since the beginning is not being supportive. As an experienced nurse, you know that a negative experience breeds a nurse with a negative attitude, that attitude comes through in the lack of loyalty to the organization, your interaction with colleagues and more importantly the care that you provide to your patients. The consequences of his/her action to leave is that he/she may have a fresh start somewhere else, including another unit in the same hospital. That support should be available to him/her, nursing recruitment is the starting point to inquire about that, the unit may loose, but the hospital as a whole will perhaps gain a long-term employee.

It's not an issue of being popular it's an issue of being realistic. And if you had read my first response carefully you would have seen that I said:

"Quitting for another job would be an entirely different thing."

That is a direct quote from my post. Nobody is advocating for her to stay in a job that is not a good fit or non-supportive. I'm not sure where you got that idea. But quitting when barely out of orientation to go on a trip is not professional and WILL have consequences. Frankly, in the absence of any details other than patient load (which BTW may be the norm outside of the US) we don't really know how the OP is not being "supported" and to me it smacks of justifying behavior. She wants to go on the trip and has an inkling that it might not be a good idea and may be rationalizing it. We all did this when were kids starting out on our own. It's part of growing up. She NEEDS to know what consequences there may be as a result of her actions. We cannot, in good conscience, paint a butterfly and rainbows picture for her because there really aren't too many butterflies and rainbows in nursing these days.

chiromed0 · Apr 7, 2017

Bottom line is life is too long to live like this...meaning if you're miserable then leave. Will it be a black eye on your resume? To some if it's a pattern. You can explain one or two short stays but not a careers worth (saying that even though we have hired waayyyy too many mid-levels and physicians with bad histories). I think you can be able to play off a short stay in the beginning of your career easier than if it was 5+ years in. At any rate once you get three years under your belt you're fine anyway. Do what you like, it's your life, your career. Don't let a bad employer, etc., own YOU. Not condoning lying but the standby excuse for nurses leaving jobs (at least hospital jobs) is low census and getting called off. Most people understand you need hours and can't stay at a job that doesn't have enough patients. I say no sweat-give notice and go.

foggnm · Apr 7, 2017

Never guilt yourself in the world of nursing for pursuing better opportunities. Nursing is filled with bad jobs, keep trying new things until a good fit. And even in good facilities burnout is common because of the repetitive nature of the job. Turn over is very common in healthcare and doesn't surprise anyone when someone new leaves. Nursing is not like white collar professions where it takes months to find a good career opportunity, then you stay there for years before considering a move. I have been a traveler and probably had at least 10 jobs over 8 years and I'd say only 2-3 of them have really been 'good' jobs that I'd consider staying for years. You really have to look out for your own career interests in this field. That doesn't mean burning bridges or being unprofessional, but it does mean putting your goals and needs ahead of the facility that your working for.

RNrhythm, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2017

I live in a part of the United States where it is very hard to find an RN job with less than one year's experience. Because of this, I made a lot of sacrifices and endured a lot of unpleasantness to reach my first anniversary. A few weeks later I got a much better job. Instrumental in my job change were the many positive references I could provide from my now former colleagues and managers.

Only you know the job market where you live, but keep in mind that good references are valuable and probably need to figure into your decision process. For me, leaving at less than a year would have been a disaster but your situation sounds very different. If your travel opportunity is truly a big opportunity and you really want it, then go! You are 24 and an RN, whatever you do, you can make it work.

NotYourMamasRN · Apr 7, 2017

If it is in the employer's best interest to fire someone they will do it in a heart beat. If it is in my best interest to get a different job I will do it in a heart beat. I have never not gotten a job offer from an interview. I always do what is in my best interest.

Dafabb, LPN · Apr 7, 2017

I would highly recommend you not do that(travel) It will be very hard for you ever to get another job in the future. So if you want out of Nursing go for it. If not put that on the distant back burner and suck it up. If you are unhappy at where you are stay and look for another position in whatever you would like to do but continue you basic learning about working on the floor...I would also suggest find a job in a hospital that does not give you 10 pts. I would refuse that many as it tells me those people could care less about your LC. Always vet the pt ratio where you go. Another thing you can do it go to the floor and ask the nurses how many pts they usually have barring someone not showing up and it's a 1 time thing...A nurse no matter how good can not take care of 10 pts properly...A recipe for mistakes and tragedy!. Here in Texas we get no more than 7 at night and 5/6 on days.(MS) Other units could be less. I know that many hospitals especially up north give you 9/10 pts. I personally would have never worked in one...It was bad enough in the 80's before DRGs came into play. Most agencies want 1 yr of experience and sounds like some are 2. In travel you have much higher expectations than employed. If you ever decide to do that make sure you are stress resistant.....

nancy welch · Apr 14, 2017

In regards to what mcas stated.. Oh my goodness homecare is a wonderful job, I have done travel nursing from 2002 until 2012, but on my time off between contracts, I have done pediatric homecare, actually from 2000 until 2002 I did homecare prn along with my med surg part time job..If any nurse ever wants to have a rewarding feeling when you go home, and you hate the hospital rush, then homecare is right where ya need to be..unfortunately my back gave out I have severe spinal stenosis, so I had to take an early retirement but would jump back to my homecare kids in a heartbeat if I could..I tried working at a local hospital the last time I came off my travel contract in 2012,it didn't work out, I jumped right back to my pediatric homecare.. I needed to stay home around the area my elderly mother,she needed more care and I needed to stay close to her. I also didn't feel right about just because I was running off to maui each year to work that it would be fair to dump all of moms care on my sister who lives local and also has to work.You have that thin line of professionalism in homecare that ya must not cross..so that must always be kept.But my last patient, that family needed me, and I needed them, it was a pediatric vent patient, I could use my skills and yet have the actual time to give good nursing care.I didn't have to worry about someone else doing their job, because I was it, total care so I knew it was done..Our nurses here in WV aren't paid as well as other places, so it was only a 50 cent pay cut per hour..I was always the in between nurse in homecare,because I traveled so much.I always worked for several agencies locally, I had enough experience to just talk to the agency, go thru the background checks,gather up data on diagnosis and the equipment used if it was a different brand than I was used to, or if I needed a refresher on a certain procedure I would look it up on you tube, meet the family get report and start working after maybe an hour or 2 of training,just to be checked off by another nurse and figure out where all the supplies were..I would stick with that patient until they could find and train other nurses for that patient.Some of these families have been so wronged by previous nurses, they needed someone that could listen, not judge and build up their trust again..The nurses left the job or were no longer welcomed at the home, not because of skills, most of the time it was personality conflicts.Think about it, how would you like having some stranger in your home 24/7 they know everything about your business, your bills laying on the table, even if you and your spouse have words, clear down to what clothes are in your laundry basket...Last year on my fb was a friend request, it was from a young lady, her mother had given her my name, I was her homecare nurse way back in the year 2000, and now she is all grown up..It was really heart touching to know that her mom thought that much of me and that I had left such a good impression..What I am trying to say is I Love Homecare, and those families mostly love having older nurses, we are kind of like a Grandma figure to both the patient and the other little kids in the home..and who wouldn't like another grandma...Hahaha

Ellie G · Apr 14, 2017

I'm on the fence on this one. I would have serious questions about someone who after graduation works for only 6 months and then takes time off to travel. An employer invests time and money to train a nurse, especially a new grad. I certainly understand the desire to get out from under that horrendous 10:1 staffing ratio but I think you should stick it out for a year just to get the experience under your belt. I always consider the first year as an RN like another two semesters of school. You have so many skills to learn yet. This is the time you learn through the real world of nursing and not the fake world of clinicals. Try to make it just a few more months and then travel.

sunshinerainbows · Apr 15, 2017

If you want solid advice, give the unvarnished truth. You could start by giving more details about this vacation. What will you be doing during it? How long will it last?

Ultimately, you will have to account for any periods of time that you were unemployed. Potential employers will want to know that you did something with your time.

You will look especially bad if you do what you are suggesting and do nothing with your time other than go on vacation, since any potential employer will know what everyone else here has been saying, which is that you took a huge risk. Risky people are seen as irresponsible people and irresponsible people have a hard time finding a job.

If it's a short vacation, you won't have to account for your time because potential employers will assume you spent it looking for a new job. If it's a long vacation, you better be doing something that leads to significant personal or professional growth (and no, just traveling around, while it in some ways does lead to personal growth, does not count unless you do something productive as well, trust me on this one, absolutely no one will see it that way).

I literally have a background in this kind of "How can I turn my traveling into something marketable" and it does not work, hence me going back for a second degree in nursing. Trust me. If you insist on going, lessen the damage by doing something with your time. Study. Teach. Help. Volunteer. Do something that turns into a sweet talking point on your resume.

tyvin, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2017

Give 4 week notice and go. If you don't like your job then you're miserable. You may be only 24 but life is short and there will always be work for RNs. All you tell the next employer is the truth...it wasn't a good fit.

Live while you're young my friend. Opportunity will always be there for good people. Karma flows and life is full of adventures.

You don't have to put that job down on your resume. If a future employer were to find out about it somehow, you tell them it was such a short time you don't consider that a real job and so you don't put it on your official resume. The one thing you want to make sure is to leave the current job on good terms.

The ANA considers professional RNs to give 4 week notice. With the notice tell them you are putting in your 4 week notice to resign and appreciate the opportunity they gave you. Don't make it sound like an apology. Short and to the point...that is if you decide to leave.

I realize I may be the only one that has responded that is encouraging you to do what you want to at this point in your life. I sincerely know it won't be the end of the world as indicated by many of the other posters: they do mean well.

"IN THE END, WE ONLY REGRET THE CHANCES WE DIDN'T TAKE" (unknown)

''BE BOLD AND MIGHTY FORCES WILL COME TO YOUR AID" (Arthur Gordon)

My three favorite tunes...eat well (organic), sleep well (brain cleans itself while we sleep), live well (make exercise and activity your friend).

:saint: