Quit RN Job and concerned

pinkiepieRN · Feb 12, 2015

Were you feeling unsafe on the job? Was the culture the primary reason why you left? Do you have a plan for getting a new job? What caused you to lose your confidense? Was your clinical knowledge questioned?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm just trying to get a better picture of what happened and what's your current situation.

caliotter3 · Feb 12, 2015

How many job opportunities are in your area? Are you going to be able to pick up a job with little effort or will you have to relocate to even get back in the ball game? The longer you are unemployed, the more you will feel "let down", and the less you will appeal to new employers. You are going to have to be realistic about getting back on the horse and realize that most workplaces are far from perfect. You can only afford to leave if there is another job out there (and not dozens or hundreds of other applicants vying for the same job). Good luck.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

Gossip, criticism, disorganization and a lack of positive affirmations are hallmarks of many workplaces. To keep these aspects from having an impact on you, it is important to not depend on others to affirm you or validate your existence.

Yes, I am sometimes the topic of gossip at my workplace. I have been criticized. This place is disorganized. Many of the nurses have very little experience.

However, I don't depend on these people for positive affirmations. I've developed a tough skin. Most importantly, no one is going to exert enough power over me to prompt me to quit on terms other than my own.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Feb 12, 2015

You're treading on thin ice looking for your THIRD job with only one year as a nurse under your belt. Be very, very careful the next time you decide to take or leave a job. In a rural environment, you can get a reputation and become unhireable.

Rural RN1 · Feb 12, 2015

Thank you for the comments.

I was feeling unsafe at my job. I worked with different people and everyone told me to do something or chart something in a different way. I had a nurse tell me to hang an antibiotic for the wrong patient. I did make one med error in 4 months, I gave a 1/2 tab Percocet Q 4 hr. instead of the ordered Q6 hr. I took ownership of the error but the preceptor I was with didn't tell me everything I needed to do to report the med error and I took me an extra hour to report it to the physician.

The culture was the primary reason why I left. At my first job I liked to get all my work done, as much as I could, so I could help others or spend more time with patients. I asked NA's if they needed help sometimes and they just looked at me like "Why are you talking to me?"

I am still casual at my first job and I am a totally different nurse at my other job. I am picking up hours at my job to keep gaining experience and if another point position opens up there I will take it in a heart beat. A great work environment for me is better then a short commute.

My clinical judgment was called into question. I was told I needed to work on my prioritization. I was and still am very open to learning. I seen my most critical patient first but I didn't feel like it was ever enough. My preceptor wanted me to discharge a patient before hanging an IV antibiotic for a patient who just had surgery. Was I wrong to think I should hang the antibiotic even if I told the patient I was going to discharge at a certain time?

I live about 30 minutes from three other hospitals and 60 minutes from 5 more hospitals in the metro/city area. I am well connected with other nursing friends and went on a job interview today. I let nurses psych me out and loose my confidence.