I want out of this mess

Butterflybee · Sep 25, 2008

Well..clearly you were afraid and panicked, you probably will never do that again right. So now what.... maybe now is a time to reflect on scenarios and practice what you will say and what you will do differently. No one handles everything perfectly everytime. I understand that you felt overwhelmed, we all react differently to stress. So dont be too down on yourself, instead learn from this experience. Im sure other posters have given you good advice so I wont rehash what you should have done. One thing I will say is talk to people (get a supervisor even the DON alone to talk) what is the worse they can do......, try to push back the fear and speak up (try hard). Ok you panicked, at this point perhaps you should make an appointment to speak with the Director of Nursing there and speak to her about how you felt and why you did what you did.....etc so that it isnt that that bad...Speak to her not about getting your job back but I think this will help you to feel better, she may even give you valuable advice you can use in the future. Look ahead now at how you will handle this same situation if it should come up again. Take good care of yourself, breathe and go back out there (not that particular place) and find something better. Oh and here's a (((hug)))

Bluehair · Sep 25, 2008

It's good you wrote the letter and are going to explain to your manager. Most jobs have a probation period, where if you decide to leave without explanation, no problem, but you do need to notify them. They can't even begin to work on filling your shift if they don't know you aren't coming, assuming they might even try to fill your shift.

Also, in many places I have worked, if a nurse didn't show up to work and didn't answer their phone, they called the police to do a safety check and make sure the nurse was okay.

Just don't put this place down on your resume at all. Best wishes for a better job next time!

OldMareLPN · Sep 25, 2008

Regardless of any issues about you not showing up, cheers for you being concerned.

LTC or ALF is a very, very hard position for a first time grad. I know, I did it. It is major mental/physical shock to find out that real nursing is nothing like nursing school. That unfortunately is reality.

Also prepare yourself for finding major documentation problems/errors/falsifications in this setting.

You are correct in thinking about protection of your credentials. It may seem at times you can go in and just put a bulls eye on your forhead working LTC/ALF....and then YOU get blamed for problems resulting from CNA's not showing up, inappropriate patients being admitted, and other management mistakes.

I strongly suggest you buy and read like a bible Mosby's "SUREFIRE Documentation; How, what and when Nurses Need to Document"

Thats why many, including myself, will not work ALF/LTC.

Stick to your priorities and moral compass. Do it like they taught in school!

You have a whole career to cut corners.

futurecnm · Sep 25, 2008

Thanks all. I had no idea that nursing is like this, after you get out of school...

Nursing is not like this.

Before all of this not going to work or calling in, you should have definately gone in and voiced your concerns to your manager. You should document all the unsafe issues you are dealing with and let her know in writing what you want as a plan for your orientation. Everyone deserves an adequate orientation and you should demand that from them and if they then refuse, you have grounds for quitting.

You seem to have quit before even voicing your concerns to your manager. In a professional way, you can document all your concerns and come up with a plan. They may agree or not, but at least you are handling it like an adult. I would suggest to always call if you are not going into work, regardless of the situation. You do not want to burn bridges.

RN1989 · Sep 25, 2008

Nursing is not like this.
Before all of this not going to work or calling in, you should have definately gone in and voiced your concerns to your manager. You should document all the unsafe issues you are dealing with and let her know in writing what you want as a plan for your orientation. Everyone deserves an adequate orientation and you should demand that from them and if they then refuse, you have grounds for quitting.

Obviously nursing IS like this, or there would not be many posts on allnurses telling tales of this very nature. Perhaps you have not experienced it - but it is becoming the norm and no longer the exception.

I have yet to see any employer give an employee the orientation they demanded, as you are telling this novice to do.

It is unlikely that a new nurse would be able to know what a "proper" orientation is, since she has no experience. If she were to come up with her own idea of orientation, with no idea whether it would be feasible or not, she likely would never get a job if she walked in demanding it.

New employees are terminated quickly for making demands unless they have an iron clad contract.

While I am a person who is willing to document the unsafe/unsuitable conditions - I have also lost jobs/been unable to get jobs because of this. A new nurse needs to get experience and likely cannot risk termination or never being hired by being so forthright at this time. There are times it is better to walk away and live to fight another day, than bring to light all the ugliness that is healthcare - that the employers don't want to see anyway.

**Elektra6, ASN, BSN, RN** · Sep 25, 2008

Nanae:

I'm embarassed to say but I did the EXACT same thing at my first job at a LTC out of school 3 years ago. I was scared, overwhelmed and being oriented by agency nurses. I didn't finish my orientation, pulled a no-call, no-show for the first time in my life. They called me and I talked to them but I wouldn't go back.

IN RETROSPECT, the facility was not bad nor was the job overwhelming. It was the way I was being oriented as a new grad that made the difference. When you said a nurse warned you about taking the PM shift, I'm sure that made things worse.

On the bright side, a few weeks later I applied to a different facility that gave me a MONTH'S orientation and I was a successful charge nurse there for over a year. And no, I didn't tell them about the 2 days orientation at the other place.

Hang in there, you will find your place. :nurse:

eldragon · Sep 25, 2008

I am also a new nurse and have been at my first job, at a LTC facility, for 7 months now.

Every day for the first 4 months, I wanted to quit. It was hell, pure and simple. I regretted taking the job. I lost 15 lbs because I was too busy to take a lunch break. It was awful.

After 4 months, I wrote a letter to the DON, explaining to her that the job she had placed me in was ridiculous, and outlined my daily duties, which I felt were almost impossible to do safety and ultimately were jeopardizing patient safety and my license.

She agreed and relieved me of some of my duties. Then she was fired (after 12 years - let out by security) and a week later I was moved to another unit, to "keep me from quitting".

The second unit is better, but still busy. I like it but I am not using my skills.

After 7 months as a new nurse, my confidence is good in some areas but I still freeze like a statue when a life/deaf situation arises. I question everything, and do not wait until an emergency to get an understanding of how equipment works, etc. Because of my pro-activeness, I am building confidence as a nurse.

Now, as far as your no-call-no-show actions, let me tell you what I have seen at the facility I work for. The two nurses, also new nurses, hired to replace me at my old unit - were no-call-no-shows after a few weeks each. I have witnessed other nurses quit without notice also.

And the new DON recently demanded that a new hire start immediately, or else she wouldn't get the job. The new-hire told her she wanted to give a 2-week notice and the DON said 'people quit without notice everyday."

You are a new nurse and there is no way you can work the floor alone. No way you'll know what to do after 2 days, 10 days or 30 days. What if someone codes? Falls? Has a seizure? You have to know the protocol and paperwork - calling M.D's, etc., to even send a patient out.

You weren't given the necessary tools to work assisted, never mind alone. The facility and bad management put you in a horrible, stressful position and you reacted with the fight or flight mechanism.

Two days on the job, and you decided it wasn't for you. Big deal. Orientation goes both ways. Probation works both ways.

Just think long and hard before taking another job and when you do; make sure you plan on staying there and starting out again as a professional.

Scrubby · Sep 25, 2008

I too have problems sometimes with confronting the management with issues like you have described. Mainly because when I do the attitude from those higher up seems to be 'oh you can't handle it, you must be incompetent'.

It can be pretty scary speaking up and saying no I'm not doing it, but at the end of the day it's your registration on the line and as a nurse you have to advocate for your patients. If you feel it's unsafe being put in a situation where patients may be at risk then YOU are responsible as an RN to speak up and do something about it. If something does go wrong then you will be held accountable for not addressing any issues you may have had, even if it's clear they were wrong putting you in charge.

Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 26, 2008

I can't help thinking about the nurse who got stuck pulling a double shift when you didn't show up. Quitting is fine but you should warn people in advance to they can provide staffing for the area you were supposed to cover.

neicito · Sep 26, 2008

First you need to understand that no calling your employer is wrong and does not show much professionalism. second if you are a new employee and live on a at will employment state you can leave any time before your probational period. Don't worry, this is a bump on the road but not the end. I wish you luck my friend becouse the Nursing carrer is full of bigger challenges that the one you'r facing right now.

passionfruit · Sep 26, 2008

If you really want to be out of the facility regardless of what they are willing to do for you, I agree with the post about discussing this in person with your boss. Not calling or showing up is the easiest way to burn your bridges (even if you don't intend to ever work there again). Meet your boss and tell him/her the real reason you want to leave. If you don't mind staying if they extend your orientation, you should tell that to your boss too. It's totally ok and professional to ask for a longer orientation if you don't feel ready. Good luck!!

bburgess · Sep 26, 2008

I personally am very sorry that happened to you. As a nurse with 20 yrs. of experience and lots of preceptor and management experience I know how scared you must have felt as a new nurse in that situation. I always have empathy for the anxiety and fear the new nurses have and I do my best to make them feel as comfortale and confident as I can. We need all the help we can get and I would hate for you to give up on your career at this early stage. All facilities are definitely not like the one you described. Find another position and don't forget to speak up for yourself when you feel overwhelmed. This is your career and don't let anyone or anything destroy what you've worked so hard to achieve. There are lots of nurses who care even in the tough conditions we have to work under sometimes.