I can't take it anymore!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello, I'm a new nurse. Graduated from MU in July 2009 and have been working on a standard neuroscience floor since August. I think I'm going to quit this morning without notice. I know it's a crappy thing to do, but many times I have six heavy patients and I can't keep up. Last time I got to work I found out I had two code status level 3's (aka really acute people), my guys NG tube was pulled out and he needed restraints, and I was getting an ER. This was all before getting out of report. Its been like this many nights. I work nights and can't sleep during the day. My bosses hand out diciplinary warnings like it's candy and don't even follow their own diciplinary process. When I approached them about it they told me they made mistakes, but the warning will stay in my file! I tried to call HR about it and left two messages with no response. I'm only part time and they know I've been looking for another job. It's gotten to the point where I physically, mentally, and emotionally can't take it. There are many times at work where I feel like I'm goint to cry and puke. I'm going to get an ulcer at 24! I'm probably going to take my chances and just do it. I guess I mostly needed to vent. Luckily I can survive a couple months jobless and I have a place to go if for some reason I can't find anything by then.

Specializes in Cardiac, ER.
I am just wondering but I thought if you leave without notice, you can actually be reported to the BON for abandonment... Is that true?

No,.that isn't true,....you can only abandon pts that you've accepted responsibility for,..ie been given report on.

However,..I do agree with the the others,...give notice,...you never know what will come up 5 yrs from now. I bet once you give you're notice those last shifts will be a bit easier because you know the end is near. Best of luck to you,...sending you some cyber positive energy to get you through!

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Specializes in ER/Geriatrics.

what did you end up doing>?

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Healthcare is a really tight-knit field. Managers talk between hospitals all the time, and you never know when you're going to cross paths with someone down the road. Burning bridges is NEVER a good thing.

In my area, giving notice as an RN has always been 4 weeks. Is it still the standard 2 weeks in other areas?

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Hi there. I read your post. I agree with the other folks that you should give a formal written notice, stick it out for two weeks, then make like a tree and get the hell out of there. Honestly, where ever you are sounds absolutely terrifying. In my old hospital, charge nurses would pitch in and help their nurses acclimate patients to the floor as admits occurred throughout the night. Our general medical nurses would maybe have a heavy load like yours once or twice a month but not every single night! It sounds like management issues at your hospital, doesn't it folks? Lack of team work, penny pinching (I'm guessing), and a very unsafe, unhealthy environment for your patients. Please get out of there as soon as possible. And know this: don't beat up on yourself so bad. You'll get it, girl. There are FAR better places to work out there. I live in New Mexico right now and the Albuquerque-area hospitals (i.e., UNM, Presbyterian, Lovelace, etc.) are wonderful in how they treat their staff and patients, orient new hires, manage patient loads, etc. You probably took the first job you could get out of school and got a raw deal.

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

I just went through a similar situation. I went to my boss, and gave my two week notice. She agreed to give me a letter of recommendation, and make me eligible for rehire. I got online and started sending out my resume on the Sat night prior to the Monday that I turned in my resignation letter. I went back and worked my three shifts. I got a call while at work to set up a phone interview which I did on my next couple of days off, and then worked my last three shifts. I had a face to face the day after my official last shift, and was hired. Now this weekend I am officially employed at two different hospitals as my resignation doesn't go into effect until day after tomorrow, and I was hired at the other hospital as of yesterday. I will start my shifts at the new hospital week after next, but will be ok as my old hospital owes me a week check, and my PTO time. In the end I won't lose even a weeks worth of pay. And my new job pays more so I am getting a raise.

There are jobs out there. If you are unhappy get out and find something you like. If you stay you will destroy your confidence, and end up hating nursing. That being said you have to give a two week notice, and end it well. Thank them for everything, tell them how awsome they were, and that it just wasn't a good fit.

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

You can always go into your NM and tell her you were concidering quitting without notice, but you were concerned about how it would effect you future employment potential and you DIDN'T WANT TO TREAT YOUR EMPLOYEER UNFAIRLY, despite the fact you feel they have been unfair with you. Knowing you are so unhappy in the position, the NM can let you off the hook for the 2-week notice if there is any way to do it. It has to be thier choice, not yours to offer a shorter notice. I agree, this isn't the position for you, but getting yourself "black listed" for nursing isn't going to make it any easier to find the ideal position. No notice and you may find the only jobs you can get are ones like this one that no one with any employment potential would consider.

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Specializes in Neurology- briefly, Oncology/Hematology.

Everyone,

I'm so sorry I didn't see how many responses I got until today! I wish I received an email notification when I got replies or private messages! I'm truely greatful for all the support and just learned my lesson, I NEED TO GO ON HERE MORE!

Here is where I am in life: I did quit without notice. I know it was against most of your advice, but I was at my breaking point. I really liked what coolpeach said about a job like that destroying your confidence and causing you to hate nursing. That was exactly how I was feeling. I considered Tewdles suggestion of antidepressants, but if a job is making me choose meds as a mood regulator for the first time in my life I'd rather walk out. I had to reach a point where I'd rather move back in with my Dad than stay at that job...and I did. Luckily I didn't have to move in with my Dad. I got a little help from my family and after 2 months of job hunting got hired in late August and started my new job 09/13/2010.

I work as a Practice Specialty RN for a rural outpt oncology clinic. It's a brand new practice and it's located in the town I where I grew up (aka about a 10 min drive from my house!). Right now it's me, the physician I work for, and the MA/receptionist. The Dr is the coolest, most laid back, guy I've ever met and we get along perfect. The MA is the sweetest lady ever! We all already feel like family. The MA checks the pts in and takes vitals, then the physican and I visit the pts together. I coordinate all aspects of oncology pt care including labs, appts, meds, etc. I order the labs, meds, and tests (MRI, CT, PET, etc). The Dr. encourages me to get my NP in the future and says I can work part time while going to school and then he will "rehire" me as an NP Oncology RN! I love my job MORE everyday instead of hating it more. I will have been there 5 months on 2/13/2010, which is really exciting, because 5 months was the marker where I knew I hated my old hospital job. I really couldn't be happier.

So even though it wasn't smart, I knew what I had to do to keep me healthy mentally and physically. I get over 8hrs of sleep every night now! And since the physician lives an hour away from the clinic we even get snow days sometimes! :) Thank you everyone so much for all the support and advise! This site really is wonderful!

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^^^^^^What a great story. Congratulations and good luck on your future as a NP.:)

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

I am happy things worked out for you!

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Specializes in CVICU, Obs/Gyn, Derm, NICU.
give 2 weeks notice...go to your doc and ask for a brief LOA secondary to your symptoms of anxiety and stress...consider a limited usage of antidepressants or similar to regain your sense of control...ask for a sleep aid to improve your sleep pattern...

you will never survive in a night shift environment if you cannot sleep during the day...even with good and supportive management. your relative lack of sleep at this point is making a difficult situation even worse and is increasing your stress and anxiety.

Good luck.

Agree with Tewdles

Also ....you need to do everything possible to improve your sleep

Quiet/dark/cool room is important.

Pls don't leave without notice. Never burn bridges. You may never want to work at your present facility again. However it is possible a further employer will want to know how you handled an unfavourable situation. Good managers know who the poor facilities are and will be interested to know how you handled an adverse situation. Leaving without notice speaks volumes about how an employee handles stress

Oh didn't see the OP's update ....

Sounds a wonderful job. Best wishes

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

I'm so glad you quit and are happy.

Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Home Health.

I'm so glad you got a job like the one you have now, which sounds so restful compared to your last one!

Seriously, a fairy tale ending, which is what you want when you start out with curses and wicked step-managers.

I hope the good times keep coming!

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