Help! I quit my first nursing job

Carlalily · Jan 15, 2015

I don't have any advice, but I think it's notable that you lasted 4 months.

caliotter3 · Jan 15, 2015

Your manager was taking her frustrations out on you. You will need to be careful when you seek work to look for evidence that she is blacklisting you. Very hard to fight. I am sorry that you did this and I know that you regret your action. If you could get your job back, that might be the way to go. The next job may not be out there and you might need to repair this one, at least to the point where HR does not list you as "do not rehire". Good luck.

Michellelove · Jan 15, 2015

Hi Thank you for your reply, I did speak to HR and I actually had to write on a paper saying why I am resigning. Do you think it is worth to ask for my job back, I am just afraid my manager will just yell or laugh in my face. I dont know what to do

caliotter3 · Jan 15, 2015

I am sorry, Michelle, if I were you, I would BEG for my job back. I am being sincere here. All they can do is tell you "no". And if I were you, I would consider removing this thread or changing your screen name if this is your real name.

GemTwist · Jan 15, 2015

If you were truly that unhappy I would not go back. But, if you want a job in the same hospital or system then it will be tough. What kind of nursing do yuou want to do?

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2015

If I were you I'd bite the bullet and try to get your job back. Seriously, you are going to have a hard time getting another job with this short stint under your belt. You don't think another employer is able to find out that you have worked as a nurse elsewhere? Think again. I wouldn't fill out an application and not mention this one if I were you. I hope you get your job back and if so, stay there at least a year, then think of moving on. The first year is the hardest, just get through THAT somewhere before moving on. I endured over 2 years on my first job before I left. It was better that way.

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Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jan 15, 2015

I'm going to buck the trend here. I think the manager behaved childishly and unprofessionally. I would expect her to treat you even more shabbily if you begged for your job back. You'd basically be handing her the stick to beat you with. Having said that, I definitely wouldn't conceal this job from potential future employers. What did you put on your resignation documentation for HR? That may actually bite you harder than anything your former manager could say. Without more details as to what you struggled with in this job, it's hard to advise you on what to say to potential new employers. But going back and begging for your job, no way, JosÃ©!

cynmrn · Jan 15, 2015

I agree with the above poster. There is no reason for a manager to tell an employee that they will make sure they never work as a nurse again. I wonder why your manager had such a terrible reaction to your quitting? Does your unit have a high turnover rate and is it short-staffed? I would not ask for the job back, because in my opinion, what's done is done. You obviously quit for a reason, even if it was the new grad blues. You can start fresh somewhere else. Just be honest (within reason) regarding why you resigned from your position when you move on to a new job.

Michellelove · Jan 15, 2015

Thank you everyone for your input. On my resignation letter I put personal and health issues. My uncle died and I was having a lot of health issues due to a high level of stress being a new grad and with the family issue...my doctor knew as well. He even put me on a medical leave, but I just decided to quit. I am just really upset at myself for not hanging on and for feeling the way I did. Its like why couldn't I just deal with everything. The dept is very short staffed, and I think she was upset because I found out later that 4 people actually quit prior to me quitting but I didn't know that....

An update though...I received a call from one of the other facilities affiliated with this hospital that I used to work for and I have an interview coming up. I am not sure what to say. My last 3 month eval with this place wasnt very nice due to the medical leave and I am afraid I might not have a chance with this one. Please help guys....Thank you

caliotter3 · Jan 15, 2015

Get rested up and in a positive frame of mind. Practice interviewing with another while you are answering the obvious questions about your problems. Very explainable. Either they will be impressed and hire you, or they will not. Get yourself into a positive frame of mind before you approach the first job if you also decide to try that route.

elkpark · Jan 16, 2015

Be careful not to blame or criticize your former employer (the individual or the larger facility) in future interviews. Be prepared to talk about the issues in your personal life that led to your poor performance evaluation and difficulty with that position, and how you have corrected or dealt with those issues so they won't be impacting your work performance going forward. On the upside, you're not the first new graduate to struggle with adjusting to nursing practice and to have had difficulties with a first job. As long as this doesn't become a pattern over time for you, you can probably survive this and move on. However, be prepared to buckle down and stay put at your next job at least a full year (which is about how long it takes to get comfortable as a new graduate, anyway). Best wishes! :)