I keep Postponing My First Day Of Work

Nurses General Nursing

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I was supposed to start my first day at work 11 days ago but I was not feeling well the night before. I drove to work that morning, parked and sat in my car still feeling sick. I decided there was no way I could work feeling like this, so I drove home and called my employer that I could not work. They were understanding and wanted me to start when I'm ready. I ended up going to the ER that night and was discharged the following morning. I called my work again and told them I won't be able to start for awhile because I need some time to recover. The hiring manager said "It's fine" and "to take my time". 1 week later he calls me and leaves a voicemail asking if I can work in 3 days and when I called back, he was not in the office and will be off for the weekend.

Today is Monday (3 days after he called me) and I called them that I need one more week to recover and I can start 1 week from today. The hiring manager said "OK, just call me when you are ready" and "thank you for telling us".

I don't know if I'm over thinking and worrying over nothing but I feel like I keep postponing work when they want me to start working as soon as possible. I'm worried I'm making their work harder than it should be and they are probably thinking I'm the type of person that makes excuses and last minute changes. It's like I'm giving a bad first impression and I haven't even started working yet. I just wanted to make this post so that I can vent and express myself and wanted to know what others think about my situation. Did I make a bad first impression? Do you think my employer will see me differently from now on? I hope they will call me back to let me know if I can start next week. I also have a feeling that the hiring manager has so much going on that he forgets what I say. I hope he doesn't call me to start this week when I already told him I can start next week. Then it'll seem like I'm postponing again LOL.

1 Votes

Yeah, you need to start work next Monday and then be reliable. If you can manage that I don't think you'll have a problem although it's hard to say what your co-workers feel about you continuing to delay. I'm sure they are short staffed like everyone else. You might want to consider showing up with donuts or something.  

You also might want to consider dealing with your anxiety or it might continue to throw roadblocks on your road to success. 

9 Votes
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Mine was a similar situation to yours when I started at the state hospital back in '92, Sushi.

I was diagnosed with bronchitis, given a shot of some Kenalog, a 'script for antibiotics, some other meds, and a note from my PMD to not work for a week.

I was in my 30's back then, and it seemed that I was always suffering from some respiratory ailment like sinusitis, a cold or the flu, so I had a rough start there. I spoke to the administrator and asked if it would affect my employment, and he was not nearly as nice as the people with which you deal.

My employment went relatively well, and in the first six months there, I was voted "Employee of the Week" twice.

I guess my body was going through some sort of stage at that age, because I haven't had as much as a cold in years, knock on wood.

It'll all come out in the wash, Sushi. Good luck to you.

 

3 Votes

They may be assuming it is Covid related and giving you plenty of time.

I wish I could think of something to say to get you motivated. What is your biggest fear?

You worked hard for that BSN. Don't let it go to waste.

3 Votes
On 9/26/2022 at 3:24 PM, Been there,done that said:

They may be assuming it is Covid related and giving you plenty of time.

I wish I could think of something to say to get you motivated. What is your biggest fear?

You worked hard for that BSN. Don't let it go to waste.

I was hospitalized because of an illness I've had for years and got worse but has gotten better since my doctor found out what was wrong and taking a new medication. I just messaged my doctor a few minutes ago to give me a doctors note to give my employer for proof I was sick. I think I'm ready to start work next week for sure.

I think it's normal for everyone to feel a bit anxious starting a new job in an unknown environment and new people. It's just that I haven't worked at a facility in 8 years since I was an LVN. I felt bad postponing work more than once even though I had a good reason too. Once I start work, I'm going to do my best and push forward.

3 Votes
15 minutes ago, BSNxSushi said:

I think it's normal for everyone to feel a bit anxious starting a new job in an unknown environment and new people.

Didn't say it was abnormal but also didn't have the extra details of what your illness involved until your second post. "Feeling ill" is often a manifestation of anxiety and without the extra information you provided it was a reasonable conclusion. 

4 Votes
Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

I wouldn’t worry too much about it. It may or may not matter to this manager and you really don’t know right now. As others have stated I would start as soon as possible, do the best you can, and hopefully you won’t need to call in for awhile. Don’t worry about making the others work harder, it is not (and never will be) your job to staff the unit. If the manager calls you before you stated you can return (gently) remind him of the previously agreed upon start date. Also, without knowing your illness I would just advise to try to keep a steady pace so not to overwhelm yourself as starting a new job is indeed stressful. Good luck to you!!

1 Votes
Specializes in Community health.
On 9/26/2022 at 4:02 PM, Wuzzie said:

Didn't say it was abnormal but also didn't have the extra details of what your illness involved until your second post. "Feeling ill" is often a manifestation of anxiety and without the extra information you provided it was a reasonable conclusion. 

I was assuming it was anxiety related too. OP, you’ve now given more info about a medical condition, so maybe it has nothing to do with anxiety. 

For me— as a highly anxious person— my first day of work anywhere *always* involves me sitting in my car outside of work, feeling extremely unwell!  I convince myself I’m nauseous, I’m going to faint, I’m going to throw up, I’m going to, um, have a bathroom emergency … I have just learned I have to power through, and trust myself that I’ll get it together once I start working.

I think I’m not alone in having that experience, which is why many of us assumed you were calling out from work due to anxiety. 

3 Votes
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