I am about to quit nursing completely

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Specializes in Psych, Geriatric.

I graduated last dec at the top of my class. I hit the work force with such high hopes and excitement. It seems I have screwed up my chances big time. The first job was psych hospital. I couldn't handle it. It was not my thing. The next 2 jobs was nursing homes. It wasn't the patients. It was the nurses. I tried so hard to fit in and learn. But there was so much back stabbing. I worked with nurses who came to work drunk (don didn't care they were good buddies}. I had experienced nurses let me take the blame for things I didn't do because I was trying so hard to learn but they had set me up to take the fall. It has made me bitter and I swear I will never work in a nursing home again. For nearly 2 months I have been job hunting. I don't have enough experience or its another nursing home. What am I doing wrong?

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Specializes in med-surg,Ortho, Peds, LTAC.

Have you looked into the hospitals, long term ACUTE care, dr's offices, pharmaceutical jobs, clinics, schools, factories/companies, etc? Always apply where you want, and make your application sell you, I ended up working in an RN spot on pediatrics even though it can be a hassle for them sometimes, because I really wanted it and I presented myself really well.

Rehab centers normally have more acute type patients as well, and are kind of like a step down from the hospitals, you could always try that.

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Specializes in GERIATRICS,HOSPICE,MENTAL/PHYS DISABILED.

DON'T GIVE UP YET. EVERY JOB U GO 2 WILL PRESENT W/ SOME KINDA PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN MANY SITUATIONS OF WHICH U WOULDN'T BELIEVE, BUT I LEARN FROM EACH & EVERY ONE OF THEM. NURSING ESPECIALLY IS A FIELD WHERE U WILL EXPERIENCE SOME NEGATIVES RIGHT ALONG W/ THE POSITIVES. JUST KEEP YOUR HEAD UP & PLOW ON! AS FOR NURSING HOMES, NOT EVERY ONE WILL BE A NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE. THERE R SO MANY POSSIBILITIES N NURSING! HAVE U TRIED WORKING WITH THE MENTALLY/PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED? OR WHAT ABOUT PEDIATRICS? SOME HOSPITALS WILL HIRE YOU FOR CERTAIN AREAS EVEN IF U R AN LPN-EVEN IF U DON'T HAVE MUCH EXPERIENCE. EVERYBODY HAD 2 START SOMEWHERE. GOODLUCK!!

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Specializes in Psych, Geriatric.

Thanks everyone. I don't won't to give up. But the experiences did give me a bad feeling. But I did have some posititive experiences. I am going to put this advice to good use and check out all the possibilities. Thanks.........

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Not all nursing homes are like that... Hang in there and keep your chin up! You'll find something soon!

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Have you looked into working thru a temp service?? I was working at an assisted living when a fellow classmate told me about another classmate who went to Staffmark. She finally got hired on at a Dr office. So I thought I would do the same, I got a call to work in a dr office until the end of december; but now they want to hire me to work for their Nurse practioner starting in January.:nurse::nuke: So maybe you can check into a temp service,,,you never know where it may take you. I will be 48 on Saturday...I had to start over in 2006 when I lost my job due to UPS buying out the company...so I went back to school. I now have a stable career. Good luck

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I do worry about this same type of thing. I have a friend who is in an acute facility and she has had so many issues with other nurses. Some do drugs, all of them talk about eachother, and she has gotten in some bad situations with hanging out with some out of work! Where there are women, there will be drama! It doesn't matter what field you are in. In the last office I worked in...same exact thing. I guess we need to toughen up and weed through the bad 'till we find the good! Im sad for your experiences so far, but Im confident you will find the right place for you.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I don't think you are doing anything wrong...most new nurses have to 'shop around' before they get into an ideal situation. Favoritism runs rapid throughout our profession, unfortunately. Most times, doing the right thing depends on who is on duty. I do believe that you will come across a more agreeable situation and I wish you the best.

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As a nurse you will never be without a job.

It takes sometimes several jabs before you find the right fit, and all facilities are aware of that fact, so it doesn't count against you on your resume.

Other nurses blaming you for things you didn't do, is part of what is known as "nurses who eat their young" and is quite common.

You'll do just fine!

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Specializes in Psych, Geriatric.

Everyone has made me feel so much better. I got an interview with Staffmark. Thanks for the tip on that one. I have applied at a temp agency. Nothing so far. I am keeping my hopes up. Sometimes I think some of the nurses forget that one time they were fresh out of nursing school. I am learining. I am hanging in there.

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Specializes in MedSurg.

You Go Girl!!!

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Specializes in community health, LTC, SNF, Tele-Health.

Don't let the actions of others derail your good intentions. Some nurses are just catty. Or lazy. Or any number of adjectives. I've done lots of LTC but found that there are other areas for LPN's. Tele-health, community health nursing, VNA's, pediatric homecare (which I am currently doing after all these years of geri and loving it). You sound like you have a good heart and want to help. You'll find your niche...we all do. Sometimes it just takes awhile. Good luck on your search and keep us posted on your progress.

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