HELP PLEASE! New grad nurse about to quit new Nurse job before orientation is over.
]Thank you for taking the time to read this as I could really use some sound advice. I am a recent Nursing school graduate. I graduated in May 2014. with my BSN I have been a medical assistant for 5 years working for a variety of clinics and doctors' off ices.
I landed a new grad job on a Med surg in a hospital. One that I did not even apply for. This particular hospital is one that I was trying to get in for the past year as a patient care tech while in nursing school to no avail. I researched through the website and found that they are a level 2 trauma center in my area ( My ultimate goal is to be a trauma nurse) and seemed to have a good new grad program. I applied to a tech job a few months before graduating nursing school. (I really wanted the experience of being a tech in the hospital first.
I received a call and landed an interview one month prior to graduation. Interview went well but HR said being that I was graduating so soon it would make no sense to be a tech. I was offered in interview on the spot to a different unit for an RN position. That also went well and I was offered a new grad nurse job that day on the spot. I was excited and grateful especially because I have heard horror stories of new grads waiting several months to land a job, but in the back of my head a little hesitant because it was Med-surg. I am a smart girl. I've been in health care a while now. Although I am a new nurse by goal was to apply to all ER's that accepted New grads into a internship or residency program. feel that because I was basically handed this job )which I was very grateful for I didn't have the opportunity to apply myself to the areas I know I could succeed in.
When I started I was excited and ready after the week of "hospital orientation" new grads were supposed to meet their preceptors. The 5 other new grads who started with me met there's immediately. Mine was on vacation for about 4 days. So I had to shadow other nurses which was fine. A grew of them were very nice and helpful. I met my preceptor and instantly I could tell she did not want to precept, she was not interested in really teaching. She always seemed flustered and in a bad mood every morning. I would see the other new grads interacting more with their mentors and mine would do her own thing and give me patients to take for the day and tell me to get her If I had questions. This is not how I learn.
Some mornings she would complain about the patient assignment and that she had to "orient someone" right in front of me. This made me feel very awkward. she went on vacation for another week in the middle. This went on for a while. The day I mustered up some courage to talk to the charge nurse I found out that the charge nurse actually noticed what was going on. She apologies that I had to deal with that nurse and she switched me to night shift with a different preceptor.
New preceptor is nice I feel I have seen a lot and learned a lot. However am not enjoying my job. I feel like all I am doing is medicating patients. Med surg nursing I do not feel is for me. There are other things safety wise that I am not happy about on my unit. The policies are not always followed. NO one actually "witnesses" for a waste they just type in their code. It is busy 6:1 ratio my orientation is almost over about 2 weeks to go. I am busy but not actually spending time with my pts or doing anything critical to help them either. I feel like Im only running around to give meds on time that's it. With the lack of training and being almost on my own I feel that there is a big safety risk.
I want to be the best nurse I can be and make a bigger difference for my patients. I honestly can't imagine working here for an entire year. I want to quit but am I required to list this job on a resume or talk about it during an interview? I know I signed a contract saying I will have to "repay" the hospital for the training. which I will. I've only been working as a nurse for 2 months. I want to protect my pts and my license. The policies and procedures are all over the place. This place is not for me. I would never quit without having a another job secured but I would like some real advise here.
After I accepted the job I found out how short orientation was and I was not thrilled but I had a job and was in no place to turn it down. Question is how do I go about quitting should I talk to charge nurse first? Am I legally required to list this on an application? I know that this will probably burn a bridge with this hospital. But honestly I want to find a facility that has a better orientation experience and in an area where I feel most comfortable. Ironically that is the ER. Med-surg is not for me I am dredging going back to work.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
HELP PLEASE! New grad nurse about to quit new Nurse job before orientation is over.
]Thank you for taking the time to read this as I could really use some sound advice. I am a recent Nursing school graduate. I graduated in May 2014. with my BSN I have been a medical assistant for 5 years working for a variety of clinics and doctors' off ices.
I landed a new grad job on a Med surg in a hospital. One that I did not even apply for. This particular hospital is one that I was trying to get in for the past year as a patient care tech while in nursing school to no avail. I researched through the website and found that they are a level 2 trauma center in my area ( My ultimate goal is to be a trauma nurse) and seemed to have a good new grad program. I applied to a tech job a few months before graduating nursing school. (I really wanted the experience of being a tech in the hospital first.
I received a call and landed an interview one month prior to graduation. Interview went well but HR said being that I was graduating so soon it would make no sense to be a tech. I was offered in interview on the spot to a different unit for an RN position. That also went well and I was offered a new grad nurse job that day on the spot. I was excited and grateful especially because I have heard horror stories of new grads waiting several months to land a job, but in the back of my head a little hesitant because it was Med-surg. I am a smart girl. I've been in health care a while now. Although I am a new nurse by goal was to apply to all ER's that accepted New grads into a internship or residency program. feel that because I was basically handed this job )which I was very grateful for I didn't have the opportunity to apply myself to the areas I know I could succeed in.
When I started I was excited and ready after the week of "hospital orientation" new grads were supposed to meet their preceptors. The 5 other new grads who started with me met there's immediately. Mine was on vacation for about 4 days. So I had to shadow other nurses which was fine. A grew of them were very nice and helpful. I met my preceptor and instantly I could tell she did not want to precept, she was not interested in really teaching. She always seemed flustered and in a bad mood every morning. I would see the other new grads interacting more with their mentors and mine would do her own thing and give me patients to take for the day and tell me to get her If I had questions. This is not how I learn.
Some mornings she would complain about the patient assignment and that she had to "orient someone" right in front of me. This made me feel very awkward. she went on vacation for another week in the middle. This went on for a while. The day I mustered up some courage to talk to the charge nurse I found out that the charge nurse actually noticed what was going on. She apologies that I had to deal with that nurse and she switched me to night shift with a different preceptor.
New preceptor is nice I feel I have seen a lot and learned a lot. However am not enjoying my job. I feel like all I am doing is medicating patients. Med surg nursing I do not feel is for me. There are other things safety wise that I am not happy about on my unit. The policies are not always followed. NO one actually "witnesses" for a waste they just type in their code. It is busy 6:1 ratio my orientation is almost over about 2 weeks to go. I am busy but not actually spending time with my pts or doing anything critical to help them either. I feel like Im only running around to give meds on time that's it. With the lack of training and being almost on my own I feel that there is a big safety risk.
I want to be the best nurse I can be and make a bigger difference for my patients. I honestly can't imagine working here for an entire year. I want to quit but am I required to list this job on a resume or talk about it during an interview? I know I signed a contract saying I will have to "repay" the hospital for the training. which I will. I've only been working as a nurse for 2 months. I want to protect my pts and my license. The policies and procedures are all over the place. This place is not for me. I would never quit without having a another job secured but I would like some real advise here.
After I accepted the job I found out how short orientation was and I was not thrilled but I had a job and was in no place to turn it down. Question is how do I go about quitting should I talk to charge nurse first? Am I legally required to list this on an application? I know that this will probably burn a bridge with this hospital. But honestly I want to find a facility that has a better orientation experience and in an area where I feel most comfortable. Ironically that is the ER. Med-surg is not for me I am dredging going back to work.
You accepted the job and you signed the contract. You aren't even off of orientation yet, and you're convinced that you would be happier elsewhere. You're sure you'd be more comfortable in the ER, even though you've never worked in ER. Oh, and by the way, you're concerned about protecting your patients and your license because "the policies aren't always followed."
Guess what. The policies aren't always followed anywhere. There are sloppy nurses and lazy nurses and poor preceptors everywhere. There is no job anywhere that you will like all of your colleagues, be comfortable all of the time and be competent from the first. You are a new grad. You need to learn the basics first -- assessments and time management and drug interactions and how to talk to families, patients, physicians, colleagues and other departments. Quitting after two months and getting another job just means it's going to take you longer to become competent in the long run. And that's assuming you don't find an excuse to quit the next job before your orientation is over.
The first year of nursing is rough, and I don't think there are very many of us who didn't dread going back to work everyday, who didn't cry in the bathroom or in our cars and who didn't want to quit.
But it seems that the only advice you want is how to quit. You talk to your manager first. Having burned a bridge with this hospital, you find yourself a non-nursing job to pay the bills where you search for this proverbial place with greener grass. It may be a long time before you find another job.
Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
Just don't quit! You can do it! It takes time to start to feel comfortable and you need the practice to become comfortable. Time management and priority setting skills need to be in tip top shape for the ED. You will get those in med/surg and then you can apply that to a new experience in the ED. Med/surg will give you great exposure to a variety of situations. Stick it out for at least a year. It sounds like they are trying to work with you, appreciate the effort by sticking it out and developing your skills.
Really? Whatever gave you the notion that you would always enjoy your job? There's a reason they have to pay people to do these things..... I mean, personally, I do like my job. But I had one before this that I hated. However, I had to gain experience somewhere and I carry the health/dental insurance for my family so I couldn't just quit. I stuck it out past six months and then found something much better. It's called paying your dues, and used to be something everyone expected to be part of their career. Bottom line, you signed a contract and you got handed a job easily in a horrible economy and job market. Quitting makes you look unreliable and flaky. Don't do it. Be grateful, learn what you can, fulfill your obligations, pay your dues, and then move on.
Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.
I agree with everyone that said "STAY PUT". First you did sign a contract and unless there is a very good reason to breach it you would be compromising your integrity. You would also burn the bridge with this institution and is sounds like they have what you say now you desire in the future,which is to work in trauma and/or in the ED. Most new grads DO NOT magically slide into their so called "dream job" just out of school...Your feet are barely wet..you are minimally competent to provide nursing care at this point and you lack the experience and insight to know what is a good career move at this point! They have treated you well,listened to your concerns and have provided you with a new preceptor and a decent orientation,they took a chance on YOU and you want to pay them back with "I am not happy"! Can you see why this would be a bad move to exit right?
I think you need to change your expectation that you will always be happy at work and STOP focusing in on what they can offer you rather focus in on what you can bring to the table and what you can offer them! You are lucky in this economy to have such a great opportunity and you should not waste it. Dive in and embrace your new role!
I am perplexed that you do not appreciate the function of the nurse in terms of medication administration. Yes this is a HUGE part of nursing...you will be expected to administer all types of medications via all routes and what makes you as an RN different from someone that hands over a pill or hangs and IV abx is that you are expected to know what the Rx is for,is the dose appropriate,what are the sided effects and potential adverse reactions, are there any special precautions needed with administration or monitoring parameters and on and on. NO..you are not just a pill pusher and if you think that than you have a very distorted and narrow view on what a nurse actually does! This will change if you stay and keep working at it!
You will see breech in policies and procedures and you can decide that you will not practice that way. Once you have developed a solid reputation and you learn how to effect change in your role than you can try to change things for the better.Right now you need to just keep on learning and focus in on doing a good job and if you do that you will to busy to worry about much else.
I was in a very similar situation almost a year ago-except my coworkers were pretty openly hostile to me. Level one trauma center, 45 bed M/S unit, 6:1 ratio, really rough management situation. I dreaded going to work. I stayed, grew some extra thick skin and now as my year commitment comes to an end I am so proud that I stayed. When I first got there pretty much no one would speak to me, now I've been approached by my educator to precept (not saying I agree with this) and I'm frequently the one other nurses go to for difficult sticks. I truly didn't think I was going to be able to make it through but it means so much that I proved to myself that I could make it. I still don't love it, I've got a move to the unit in the works but I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity I was afforded on my M/S floor.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I am curious if the OP is even reading these.
Probably not, since I am sure she expected to be all validated about what a horrible place she's in and she should certainly leave to protect her license. The value of AN is that you get the advice you NEED, and not what you WANT to hear.
I believe she is. Whether she is or not though, I am enjoying the feedback. I am a new grad and I am reading all the comments so if/when I start to feel the same, I will keep in mind what was said. Thank you to you all. That's the great thing about AN, one post doesn't just help out one person...it helps many :)
Ditto #NurseB's comment above. As a new nurse I am humbled by the outpouring of advice from many clearly wise and seasoned nurses. This site is a treasure. I have copied most of the replies to this thread, to be read and re-read in times of doubt and confusion.
Thank you, too, to the OP who had the guts to share her story and her disillusionment. I hope she reads these posts, gains some perspective, and avoids a major career misstep.
Sadly, some of us (myself included) have had to '"persist in our folly" until we "become wise."'* Human nature being what it is.
Yes all the experienced RNs leaving advice have been wonderful! Especially to encourage new nurses to stand up for what is right and to make sure to follow all laws and policies to ensure keeping her RN license!
hey! i'm new here. i looked up "how long new job" in the key-words and it led me straight to this. this is EXACTLY to a T what i'm going through. since it's been 2 years, what did you wind up doing? i'm suffering at my new job. i'm on my 2nd month and i've gone through 5 preceptors! i have 5 more weeks of orientation. i need advice!
Ruby Vee, BSN
17 Articles; 14,051 Posts
You accepted the job and you signed the contract. You aren't even off of orientation yet, and you're convinced that you would be happier elsewhere. You're sure you'd be more comfortable in the ER, even though you've never worked in ER. Oh, and by the way, you're concerned about protecting your patients and your license because "the policies aren't always followed."
Guess what. The policies aren't always followed anywhere. There are sloppy nurses and lazy nurses and poor preceptors everywhere. There is no job anywhere that you will like all of your colleagues, be comfortable all of the time and be competent from the first. You are a new grad. You need to learn the basics first -- assessments and time management and drug interactions and how to talk to families, patients, physicians, colleagues and other departments. Quitting after two months and getting another job just means it's going to take you longer to become competent in the long run. And that's assuming you don't find an excuse to quit the next job before your orientation is over.
The first year of nursing is rough, and I don't think there are very many of us who didn't dread going back to work everyday, who didn't cry in the bathroom or in our cars and who didn't want to quit.
But it seems that the only advice you want is how to quit. You talk to your manager first. Having burned a bridge with this hospital, you find yourself a non-nursing job to pay the bills where you search for this proverbial place with greener grass. It may be a long time before you find another job.