How long do you stay on a unit before realizing it's not for you?

[cepr4, MSN]

Hi, 

IV'e been a nurse for almost 2 years now. I started off on an adult PCU floor for a few months then switched to adult Bone Marrow Transplant. I was there for a year and I loved it there but decided I wanted to move to pediatric hematology/oncology. I did my practicum in pediatrics and worked as a tech on a pediatric med surg floor. Anyways, I've been at this new job for a month now and I've realized it might not be for me. I think I like the pediatric aspect of the job, but I'm not loving the unit. I'm finding it hard to fit in and just absolutely  dread coming into work. I've asked to switch to dayshift because I think I'm experiencing a lot of burn out, but that won't be for months. My first day  off orientation they floated me to the ED and then I wasn't needed there, so I floated to another unit of the hospital. I really want to love it since pediatrics has been my goal since nursing school, but I'm just not. How long would you stick it out before leaving?

[toomuchbaloney]

1 month is probably not enough time to decide unless it's just a toxic work environment.  I didn't get that impression from your comment.  

[NYLaborRN]

I have been on toxic units before and it is tough. I personally stayed about a year before moving on, but not sure if I should've stayed that long. Working night shift also didn't help. It just makes everything harder when you work nights, in my opinion, because of the way night shift affects our brain health. Since you asked, I would say maybe give it 6 months and see how things go. You might not have found your people yet on the unit, and that can take time. Besides feeling like you can't fit in, is there anything else about the unit that makes it toxic? How's the leadership? How about the physicians? Are people talking to you or treating you unfairly or mean?