I quit

[ADN_Is_Complete]

Hey all,

I've been an RN for 18 months and I will be resigning from my floor in two weeks. I realize this isn't a wise idea. I'm just so burnt out and I know that's not the place for me. I have an offer for a nursing home, but I feel I may get overwhelmed by the number of pts. I'm really not sure what kind of nurse I want to be. I've considered the ICU. How did you guys find your niche? I love taking care of the pts but hate the unnecessary drama. Drowning in work constantly with no real help. We've been short a good bit and when this happens some of us have to take an extra pt. Our ratios are 4-6 pts. It's mostly 6 now without considering the acuity of the pts.

Also, I think nights are making me feel drained all the time. But I don't necessarily want to have a 9-5, no weekends or holidays. I don't like having to take call 1-2 times per month. I also don't like the scheduling at my job now. Ex. one work week. M, T, F, Sa, Sun. It feels like by the time I recover it's time to go back to work. Part of me feels like I need a 2-3 week break and the other part is worried I won't find a position I like. I'm just so confused.

[MJB2010]

Ask if you can go PRN on your unit. Keep your foot in the door but work way less.

[Rosalie Blythe, BSN, RN]

18 hours ago, ADN_Is_Complete said:

I've tried Family Med and Urgent Care but I think the nurses with more experience get those positions.

Not necessarily. I was hired into the endoscopy clinic as a relatively new nurse. All I have is ACLS. Some doctors are wiling to change new nurses in the price of lower salary (in my case) . But I knew I wouldnt want to keep this job permanently and want to get into something else so I accepted the position with less than average salary.

[LPN Retired, LPN]

You may be stepping out of the frying pan into the fire.

Nursing homes are hard .,

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

22 hours ago, K+MgSO4 said:

Australia. You need a BSN.

Also after 10 years of continuous employment (less than 13 weeks between jobs) in the public system you get 4 months long service leave. This is leave paid at your current remuneration on top of your annual leave allowance.

I'm jealous, but in a good way! at 20+ years, that would be so nice to have

[beachbabe86]

I wish I had QUIT at your age. I did not like being a nurse in the least. Blessings to you for another career.

[DFWPMHNP]

Have you considered travel nursing or just working for an agency for your area?

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

If you don't work as a nurse what else would you like to do/can do? I ask because some people can handle the work (nothing wrong with you if you can't) and some can't. If you have another option, consider it. What can it hurt. All nursing jobs will carry a certain level of stress as you have people lives in your hands. With that can come all sorts of other things. If you aren't up to it, face it now and move on if you can. Will it get easy?, no (the work is not easy), but you may rise to a level of being able to handle it better. I work on a psych floor that seems to be changing into a medical floor. There is a pt with tubing in her room and all sorts of unsafe equipment to handle GI care that she needs. This person came to the unit due to an overdose and wanting to kill herself. She should be on a medical floor. Things are changing and not for the better. Less of everything, support from management, unsafe ratios, etc. I stay to do what I signed up to do and to make a living. I like caring for the patients. The other stuff, not so much. Not sure of where I will be in the future but this is where I am now. I know to make the most of it.

[rn1965, ADN]

On 3/13/2020 at 12:24 PM, Mergirlc said:

Where do you live & is it easy to become a nurse there from the USA? ?

Asking for a friend...a LOT of friends!

[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

Hey the world is going to need an epic crap ton of ICU nurses in about... right now. Tell them you want to transfer. Apply.

My hospital system is reaching out to literally everyone to see if they want to come aboard.

COVID-19

It's go-time colleagues.

There is no nursing shortage like a pandemic nursing shortage.

[Coffeenurse1]

What about pre op or pacu? I put in my notice 2 weeks ago have 2 weeks left. Your situation sounds like mine but I also needed more “regular” work hours due to my six year old. I will be going to a clinic after my 2 weeks is up, back to m-f work life with the rest of the world. I had an interview with pre op/pacu and it seemed way more chill than floor nursing! The only reason I didn't take it was because of the hours with my daughter . Maybe that is something you could consider? Goos luck with whatever you do!

[ADN_Is_Complete, ADN]

On 3/13/2020 at 6:56 PM, MJB2010 said:

Ask if you can go PRN on your unit. Keep your foot in the door but work way less.

I'm reluctant to have that talk with my director. She really seemed not to care when I resigned. I don't know. Maybe I need to humble myself LOL.

On 3/14/2020 at 7:51 PM, beachbabe86 said:

I wish I had QUIT at your age. I did not like being a nurse in the least. Blessings to you for another career.

For the most part, I enjoy taking care of patients. I just don't like the bull, politics, and staffing issues. I want to try a few more areas before I give up entirely.

[ADN_Is_Complete, ADN]

On 3/15/2020 at 3:37 PM, Coffeenurse1 said:

What about pre op or pacu? I put in my notice 2 weeks ago have 2 weeks left. Your situation sounds like mine but I also needed more “regular” work hours due to my six year old. I will be going to a clinic after my 2 weeks is up, back to m-f work life with the rest of the world. I had an interview with pre op/pacu and it seemed way more chill than floor nursing! The only reason I didn't take it was because of the hours with my daughter . Maybe that is something you could consider? Goos luck with whatever you do!

I'm willing to try it. It feels like I've been applying for Dr. Offices and other non-bedside positions but I keep getting passed over for more qualified candidates. It's so frustrating.

On 3/15/2020 at 1:03 PM, SummitRN said:

Hey the world is going to need an epic crap ton of ICU nurses in about... right now. Tell them you want to transfer. Apply.

My hospital system is reaching out to literally everyone to see if they want to come aboard.

COVID-19

It's go-time colleagues.

There is no nursing shortage like a pandemic nursing shortage.

I've applied to CVICU and CCU so we'll see where that goes.