How do I know it is right to quit nursing forever?

[nikkibum]

I am a new graduate nurse who graduated last year in June. I took a new grad nurse initiative position in a city 5 hours away from home. The position was on a busy orthopaedics unit. I was young, single and thought the decision to move would be good as it will help me become more independent and grow a little bit.

I was wrong. I cried a lot. It was not the loneliness, it was the job. The loneliness just made it worse because I had no one close to support me. The co-workers were nice but they were very gossipy and that made me insecure because I would often wonder what they would be saying about me. I made many mistakes, and one day I made a med error and thought that I was unsafe. Well I am unsafe, med errors are a big deal. I followed the procedures that comes with making a med error and thankfully no harm was done on the patient. I felt horrible. So after days of freaking out, getting depressed and crying for the benefit of everyone I decided to quit and move back home.

My parents did not want to me quit nursing as I had invested a lot of time and effort in it. I tried nursing again this time in a LTC facility. It is slower paced, but I was responsible for 30 residents. I made two major errors that required counselling (but they only counselled me instead of discplining me because the facility does not have a union rep), the most recent error was not informing the POA that the resident refused blood work on two separate occassions. I had documented that the resident refused but I never informed them. The POA made a very big deal about it. I feel horrible. I have periods when I get depressed. I would sleep for hours on my days off ignoring my personal hygeine I would eat less because I just did not feel hungry.

I did well in nursing school (both theory and clinical) I just do not understand why this transiton period is not going so well. Why am I not excelling. I know no one is perfect, but I feel that in my gut nursing is not for me. My personality the way I think is not meant for nursing. I feel like I did well in nursing school because it was school, I just knew how to study.

On the other hand, it may seem like I am runnning away. But in this profession is it not better to listen to warning signs before I really make a lethal mistake? Did I not give nursing a second shot and still I am having issues? Should I quit nursing now and try a different profession?

I have one profession in mind and every time I think about it or think about quitting nursing I just feel a little bit better.

[andpentons]

I am a new graduate nurse who graduated last year in June. I took a new grad nurse initiative position in a city 5 hours away from home. The position was on a busy orthopaedics unit. I was young, single and thought the decision to move would be good as it will help me become more independent and grow a little bit.

I was wrong. I cried a lot. It was not the loneliness, it was the job. The loneliness just made it worse because I had no one close to support me. The co-workers were nice but they were very gossipy and that made me insecure because I would often wonder what they would be saying about me. I made many mistakes, and one day I made a med error and thought that I was unsafe. Well I am unsafe, med errors are a big deal. I followed the procedures that comes with making a med error and thankfully no harm was done on the patient. I felt horrible. So after days of freaking out, getting depressed and crying for the benefit of everyone I decided to quit and move back home.

My parents did not want to me quit nursing as I had invested a lot of time and effort in it. I tried nursing again this time in a LTC facility. It is slower paced, but I was responsible for 30 residents. I made two major errors that required counselling (but they only counselled me instead of discplining me because the facility does not have a union rep), the most recent error was not informing the POA that the resident refused blood work on two separate occassions. I had documented that the resident refused but I never informed them. The POA made a very big deal about it. I feel horrible. I have periods when I get depressed. I would sleep for hours on my days off ignoring my personal hygeine I would eat less because I just did not feel hungry.

I did well in nursing school (both theory and clinical) I just do not understand why this transiton period is not going so well. Why am I not excelling. I know no one is perfect, but I feel that in my gut nursing is not for me. My personality the way I think is not meant for nursing. I feel like I did well in nursing school because it was school, I just knew how to study.

On the other hand, it may seem like I am runnning away. But in this profession is it not better to listen to warning signs before I really make a lethal mistake? Did I not give nursing a second shot and still I am having issues? Should I quit nursing now and try a different profession?

I have one profession in mind and every time I think about it or think about quitting nursing I just feel a little bit better.

So did you decide to stick it out? I have went through 3 jobs and am considering going back for a Masters in Occupational Therapy.

[newnewnurse]

Ms. Nikkiburn, i sympathize with you, but know that you are not the only one out there who is feeling like that, and that believe it or not, you are a good nurse because you care. You will become the nurse that you want to be and I will include you in my prayers; here's to all of us who are in this together and this big learning curve we have to overcome to become better than those who are mocking us.

[newnewnurse]

"""everyone has a hard time as a new grad; i have a few gossipy-bullying nurses where i work now and where i worked in the past. in one case (my former job) the gossipy-bullies caused a transfer to be rescinded. in my current position the gossipy-bullies are preventing me from furthering my training in my department even though i have not made any major errors. some of the popular experienced nurses do not like me so they block any training (they don't want to precept me so that is how they block the training). despite this, i have not allowed any of them to decide if i will become an effective or skilled or talented nurse. it is not up to them, it is up to me.

i know it is hard to work in such an environment, where most do not like you, but if you stand up for yourself then you won't have as many people talking trash about you.... at least not within ear shot! also don't forget, the gossips/bullies are very very miserable and angry people!!! they live very miserable lives at home and bring their misery to work! do not allow them to effect your home existence. get them out of your mind and your heart when you go home. when i leave work, work is left at the doors. i love it!

by the way, go with your gutt instinct when you make your choices! … i live by my instincts and they never fail me. my gutt instincts tell me that if i stick nursing out, i will someday be the kind of nurse i wish to be! thus, i refuse to quit no matter how bad a shift i have or how mean my co-workers are to me. i do not know why you choose nursing in the first place but whatever it was, hang on to that thought and keep pushing through the garbage! if that does not work, find a mentor!

new grads need nurses who are experienced that he/she can look up too in times like these… i have a few i adore and they have been my rock. my workplaces as a nurse have sucked, but there is no way in god’s name i will quit! if i change professions it will be to advance myself further in patient care. everyday i show up to work, i make sure my attitude is good and i am positive about me and my abilities because ultimately, my performance is not based upon the gossip of others, it is based upon my own actions. yes, i know i wrote that the gossip of others have blocked opportunities, and this is true. on the other hand, the gossip of others does not prevent me from seeking out opportunities elsewhere without quitting my current job or profession. gl!"""

----for the one who posted the above, i just want to tell you: thank you!!

i almost teared up when i read your response to nikkiburn because i really, really needed this too, and i empathize with nikkiburn so much.. i had posted before about an experience i had within these past two months of new nursing, and i had some harder experiences since then. The morning shift people had not been any easier when it comes to their mocking me and had become more obvious about it. But it really helps me when I read posts like yours because it's something good to start the day with and gives me added courage to fight back and fight to learn more both from my mistakes and from others' mistakes.