I feel like a fool

[handyrn]

I am quitting my LTC job today. I have another offer on the table, but even if I didn't, I would still be quitting. I have worked there only a few months, and very part time and I was never orientated/oriented. I was never shown a P&P book either. The place I work is SO unsafe, many deficiencies, and low rating (1 out of 5). I am not a floor nurse, but recently was asked to be a floor nurse to fill in some shifts, no orientation. So I did it. It was a nightmare! I have 20+ years of experience and have worked for temp agencies so it should not have been so hard, but it was! Anyway, after working one very bad shift on the floor and letting the DON know it didn't go well, I was asked if I could work the floor on a day I was scheduled to be there anyway. I was told that if I didn't do it, the other nurse would have to take the whole load herself! I'm sure they knew that if I was there and she was the only nurse, I would end up helping anyway. So I decided to go ahead and take the shift. Afterwards, my husband said no more! I came home crying after working the floor because I was so stressed and upset by what I saw. (And I was lied to, being told what my shift would be, only to get there and find out I had to be there a few hours more. Not because of being behind, but because they scheduled me that way after I expressly discussed with them what hours I would/could work.)

Anyway, now I find out that on my days to work they are short a nurse. There is no one else to fill in. Since the shifts that they are short a nurse falls on my rotation, I am pretty sure they are figuring I will have to do the floor duties. There has been no talk of orientation. (Obviously, there is no nurse available to orientate me since they are just throwing me out there while in a bind.) I am SO not comfortable giving the meds as I can't find a lot of them, there is a lot of borrowing going on, the narc counts are rarely done and when they are, they are off. I just don't want to touch that med cart with a ten foot pole!

So I have decided to quit effective immediately before being put in the situation of having to do floor nurse duties again without training. And I am so nervous about doing so. It just gives me the shakes and has me in an anxiety attack. However, the thought of going in on my next shift not only does that but also makes me sick to my stomach to the point of vomitting. So the lesser of two evils is to quit.

I am also afraid of lawsuits and protecting my license (there are multiple abuse complaints against this facility), and I worry about staying there and being "connected" to the facility and how that will look to future employers.

So I guess the purpose for this thread is so SOMEONE will say that it is ok that I am quitting even without a 2 week notice. Of course, after this thread, if anyone there looks at it, there are probably enough identifiers that they would know who I am and fire me anyway. And if they did, they wouldn't give me notice would they? So why should I feel guilty?

[3dayRN]

I would definitely quit. You should have been oriented. How can you be supervisor of someone when you cannot even do the job you're supervising.

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

Run! Don't walk but RUN!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

To answer what my role was: Weekend supervisor. At initial hire/interview it was discussed that I WAS NOT to function as a floor nurse. Sure, passing some meds if the nurse was behind was fine and I have no problem with that, but being expected to do a nurse shift with no orientation is not acceptable to me. (I was never oriented as the supervisor either. NEVER! I have been on my own since day one. I should have just RUN on my first day after seeing this. My only real function was to be there so that their RN hours were legal.)

If they had that bad of a reputation I probably wouldn't have gone there to begin with but sometime we gotta do what we gotta do..... Even if your "only function" was to make the "RN hours legal".......did you realize all those other nurses and staff are functioning under your license while you are in the house???? That your license made it legal and you are responsible????

Sure give them notice........here's your notice.........

I noticed you don't keep promises and I noticed it's not safe.........I quit!

Good luck!!!!

[Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN]

You are doing the right thing - it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Really - it just doesn't.

First rule of "rescue" - your safety first.

You lasted longer than I would have - but, now you know what you know .... and now it is time to go.

One of the most important part of professional practice IMHO is to recognize and be able to act on whatever limits you have -- limits are not weaknesses, failings, deficiencies or bad in any way. Just the opposite - limits give you a standard that you accept for yourself and your patients.

Years from now - you will look back on this as an exercise in advocacy and will be proud that you stood up for yourself.

What is wrong with us??? We will fight the devil to do what we need to for a patient, but when we do what we need to for ourselves we look at it as being foolish or weak or incompetent. I am delighted that you are standing for yourself and your practice.

Just go. And if asked about a sudden departure - succinctly explain that safe practices demanded that you made your notice effectively at once. Most reputable hiring managers will respect that you made a tough decision.

Kudos.

:angel:

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Give. A. Notice.

I disagree: this situation sounds like OP's license is in danger every shift he/she works. I think this is a situation where no notice us the lesser of two evils.

[leslie :-D]

not only would i get the hell out of there, i'd leave them a detailed, explicit resignation letter on your way out the door.

(of course you'd keep copy for yourself)

if they wanted to try and hang you or incriminate you, your resign ltr would describe how/where/what was wrong, working in such an environment.

best of everything.

leslie

[sourapril]

Why wouldn't it be OK for you to quit a job that makes you miserable. I quit my job at a nursing home after working for them for 2 weeks. I talked to the DON, educator, and charge nurse, cried and they let me go the next day. :) It was a good decision even though I didn't have anything lined up. Just think about what's your priority. For me it's my physical and mental health.

[nurse2it]

Contact the DON and tell her you won't be back. If the thought of going to work is making you sick, what more proof do you need that it's not the place you should be?

[funkywoman]

I am quitting my LTC job today. I have another offer on the table, but even if I didn't, I would still be quitting. I have worked there only a few months, and very part time and I was never orientated/oriented. I was never shown a P&P book either. The place I work is SO unsafe, many deficiencies, and low rating (1 out of 5). I am not a floor nurse, but recently was asked to be a floor nurse to fill in some shifts, no orientation. So I did it. It was a nightmare! I have 20+ years of experience and have worked for temp agencies so it should not have been so hard, but it was! Anyway, after working one very bad shift on the floor and letting the DON know it didn't go well, I was asked if I could work the floor on a day I was scheduled to be there anyway. I was told that if I didn't do it, the other nurse would have to take the whole load herself! I'm sure they knew that if I was there and she was the only nurse, I would end up helping anyway. So I decided to go ahead and take the shift. Afterwards, my husband said no more! I came home crying after working the floor because I was so stressed and upset by what I saw. (And I was lied to, being told what my shift would be, only to get there and find out I had to be there a few hours more. Not because of being behind, but because they scheduled me that way after I expressly discussed with them what hours I would/could work.)

Anyway, now I find out that on my days to work they are short a nurse. There is no one else to fill in. Since the shifts that they are short a nurse falls on my rotation, I am pretty sure they are figuring I will have to do the floor duties. There has been no talk of orientation. (Obviously, there is no nurse available to orientate me since they are just throwing me out there while in a bind.) I am SO not comfortable giving the meds as I can't find a lot of them, there is a lot of borrowing going on, the narc counts are rarely done and when they are, they are off. I just don't want to touch that med cart with a ten foot pole!

So I have decided to quit effective immediately before being put in the situation of having to do floor nurse duties again without training. And I am so nervous about doing so. It just gives me the shakes and has me in an anxiety attack. However, the thought of going in on my next shift not only does that but also makes me sick to my stomach to the point of vomitting. So the lesser of two evils is to quit.

I am also afraid of lawsuits and protecting my license (there are multiple abuse complaints against this facility), and I worry about staying there and being "connected" to the facility and how that will look to future employers.

So I guess the purpose for this thread is so SOMEONE will say that it is ok that I am quitting even without a 2 week notice. Of course, after this thread, if anyone there looks at it, there are probably enough identifiers that they would know who I am and fire me anyway. And if they did, they wouldn't give me notice would they? So why should I feel guilty?

Good luck hun, I hope it works out for you. I only had to quit one job without notice and that is when patient safety was in severe jeopardy due to the actions of a coworker. You already have something lined up. This job is stressing you out. Definitely sounds like an unsafe environment. Walk away and don't look back.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

they will try to ake you feel guilty by telling you that other nurses and patients will suffer because they are shorthanded. you should know that occasional emergencies do happen, but when short-staffing goes on for weeks and months and years, it is not a nurse problem, it's a management problem, not yours. court cases have made that determination; you cannot be disciplined for patient abandonment if you do not start the shift. you can be in deep sneakers if you are doing a job for which you have no orientation and no back-up and you do something wrong. you think they'll have your back then? betcha they hope that's exactly what happens to you sometime reallll soon.don't let it happen.

this sounds hokey but it will really help you: think of all the bs lines they will use on you when you tell them you are leaving immediately. tell your sweetie to say them to you, and you practice saying right back to every one, "i judge this to be an unsafe work environment. i have made my decision, thank you. i will not be returning." no "i'm sorry," no "if", "and," or "but."

you think someone here will tell you otherwise? not i. let us know what happens!

[Lissa,RN]

Oh my god! I would almost bet money you are my weekend supervisor. I have been at my facility almost two years and showing up on a daily basis is the most difficult challenge I have ever had to face. Don't walk. Run!!!

[No Stars In My Eyes]

Pleeeease tell us you are out of there and didn't go back. (praying for you, your nerves, your guts and your extreme relief.) Remember: NO guilt!!!!