I want out of this mess

[nanae_snow]

I just found this website through google, so I just joined up.

I have a problem. The thing is, I am a new grad, and I've only been orienting for three days on the alzheimer's locked unit LTC. They want me to take over the PM shift next week already. I feel very very overwhelmed. I have lots of things I don't know, and I have zero confidence right now. Plus, 46 residents is just to much on my plate, and if I stay and accept the assignment I will be putting myself and the residents in grave danger. I will be alone on the PM shift with just a couple of CNAs. I can't even understand the paperworks and how to handle certain situations, and with no prior nursing experience, it puts me in a very difficult situation. When the DON was interviewing me, she said they would never give me the med cart and just say goodluck, but that's what happened on my third day. The nurse who was orienting me on the first two days was nice, but when I was given the schedule for the next two weeks, and I found out that I was working PMs, she pulled me aside and told me that I should think twice about accepting the assignment because PM shift is really tough. Yesterday I was supposed to go on orientation again, but I didnt call and didnt show up anymore. I just dont wanna go back there. I am scared, I cannot do what is expected of me and I refuse to accept the assignment because I may lose my license, or worse, have someone get killed.

But I am concerned now because I didnt call and I didnt show up yesterday, I don't plan on going back today, and it says on the handbook that we're supposed to give 30-dy notice, but I really want out now. Since I am still orienting, it's not working out, it's ok to quit right and just tell the manager that I'd rather the facility give the rest of my orientation time to someone who would be more willing to stay there?

sorry for the long post.

[BradleyRN]

I can't help thinking about the nurse who got stuck pulling a double shift when you didn't show up.

Everybody seems to be saying the same thing, though the OP made it clear that the day she didnt show up for was ORIENTATION. It is not quite the same thing since there is already a nurse on the unit. If anything, it reduces the burden on the regularly scheduled nurse who would have had to train her.

Three days of orientation for a new nurse is not even in the ballpark of enough. If a facility had done that to me, i would have told them to take a hike too! If you dont like a place and it's practices by your third day, then you shouldnt have to give 30 days notice. That would have put this new nurse on her own, unprepared, scared, and justifiably so.

It is not appropriate to no call no show, but even more inappropriate to accept any assignment you feel to be unsafe. Add it all together and i say you did the right thing more than the wrong. :)

[Simba&NalasMom, LPN]

If you dont like a place and it's practices by your third day, then you shouldnt have to give 30 days notice.

Not only that...I would never work in a nursing home that required 30 days notice, as I cannot think of a single one that would offer a contract giving me the same convenience! I think 2 weeks should be the norm for non-management nurses.

OP, new grads walking out of orientation in LTC is quite common; like others have said, it's definitely not the way to go, but it is certainly understandable. I wouldn't worry about finding work elsewhere.

I had the same hard time as a new grad: 30+ patients, all their meds, treatments, documentation, and moderately high acuity. I gave it a month and when I gave my notice the ADON bullied me into staying for another month because when I was hired the DON had asked for a 6 month commitment, although it was not a contract. Basically, I did not know any different. I got the same old song and dance: "Nursing homes are all the same, the grass is not greener, etc." They were full of it and the only reason they gave me that line is they were desperate to keep warm bodies in the building.

Keep your chin up; you will get through this.

[RNperdiem, RN]

OK, so you are not happy.

You do currently have a job that pays the bills.

Rather than quit in too much a hurry and find yourself in a desperate situation of it taking longer to find another job than you thought with the bills coming in, look around.

Find a job that looks better, but be prepared to wait for a good job.

[Candy,MSN,RN]

Jolie is correct. No call/no show is unprofessional and immature. Mature adults address the situation at hand. It also makes administration/management aware of the situation (they may not have a clue of what is taking place). Your concerns would set off a red flag. A new graduate should never have less than six weeks of orientation. Just think: three to four twelve hour days or five eight hour days for two weeks is only six to eight days of orientation for twelve hour shifts and ten days of orientation for eight hour shifts. :eek:Employees that flip burgers are given more time to learn than that. Many facilities are opting for six month orientation process with a preceptor.

[futurecnm]

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.

I have to politely disagree, and maybe it is where I live but I am a novice RN and I am getting a great orientation and almost everyone I know from school is also. I also know what a "proper" orientation is, I will feel somewhat comfortable taking pt on my own after my orientation. And my management has informed all of us that if we feel we need more, then ask for more. Nurses need to feel comfortable asking for things when they are hired. We are professionals. I do not see the "ugliness" in my healthcare environment. Yes, many problems with healcare in general (insurance etc) but where I work is a positive nursing environment. They are out there.

[Simba&NalasMom, LPN]

Jolie is correct. No call/no show is unprofessional and immature. Mature adults address the situation at hand. It also makes administration/management aware of the situation (they may not have a clue of what is taking place). Your concerns would set off a red flag. A new graduate should never have less than six weeks of orientation. Just think: three to four twelve hour days or five eight hour days for two weeks is only six to eight days of orientation for twelve hour shifts and ten days of orientation for eight hour shifts. :eek:Employees that flip burgers are given more time to learn than that. Many facilities are opting for six month orientation process with a preceptor.

Respectfully: are you talking about nursing homes? I know hospitals, especially in specialty areas, often do a six-month preceptorship. However, I have yet to see a nursing home that offers anything near that. In most NHs I've seen, one month, even for a new grad, would be generous. I was lucky to get two weeks and be offered more time when I did not feel comfortable.

[nanae_snow]

just to update, I walked in there yesterday and gave them the letter, and manager asked me, "why so soon?" I thought I was going to faint. But they told me if I change my mind I can always come back. Manager didnt mention anything about me being no-call/no-show. I thought I was going to get a talk of some sort so I was nervous, but there was none. So I came out there feeling weird but relieved.

so does that mean I got out of the facility in OK terms? or can they still bite my butt for getting out of there so soon?

[Jolie, BSN]

It sounds like you've made your peace.

Now move on, professionally.

Best of luck to you.

[Simba&NalasMom, LPN]

just to update, I walked in there yesterday and gave them the letter, and manager asked me, "why so soon?" I thought I was going to faint. But they told me if I change my mind I can always come back. Manager didnt mention anything about me being no-call/no-show. I thought I was going to get a talk of some sort so I was nervous, but there was none. So I came out there feeling weird but relieved.

so does that mean I got out of the facility in OK terms? or can they still bite my butt for getting out of there so soon?

I'm glad they were so understanding. Technically, they can tell future employers that you left without notice, but in my experience, most facilities will not do that if it is during the probationary period; that's what probation is for, for both you and the facility to determine if it's a good fit.

Sounds like you left on OK terms. Start fresh, and remember to interview potential employers the same way they interview you! Take this learning experience with you as you move on. :)

[Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'm so glad it went well. Believe it or not you may go to another facility that's even worse and look back on this one as a better option.

Not saying, probably, but maybe. It's better to not burn your bridges in any case. You never know. You might wind up working with some of this people at another place and they'll remember you. I was once hired by someone who was a coworker at another place I worked. I even though I was miserable there, I left on a positive note and was nice to everyone up to the very end. It was a good thing. She remembered me as being positive and professional and hired me on the spot.

[Pat_Pat RN]

no call, no show is always grounds for immediate termination and termination from a job is always worse than resigning...

this is real life, not nursing school.

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.

first you need to understand that no calling your employer is wrong and does not show much professionalism... the nursing carrer is full of bigger challenges that the one you'r facing right now.

jolie is correct. no call/no show is unprofessional and immature. mature adults address the situation at hand.

baby nurse eating at its best. shame on you!

this person said they were wrong, and was asking for assistance. didn't need all the "unprofessional", "immature", "not nursing school" talk.

and as bradley posted, she was on orientation, no one had to "cover" the shift.

some of the rest of you had great advice! caring, compassionate concern (which is funny, i thought all nurses were supposed to have this...??).

as to the op, good luck to you. nursing isn't always like this, nurses aren't always like this. and don't take the negative things to heart. it sounds like things have all worked out ok for you.

pat

[RNperdiem, RN]

I don't agree with you there Pat. I didn't see any nurse eating.

I saw nurses telling it like it is. This is the real world of work.

If you post your nursing issues on a forum, be prepared for the whole spectrum of responses.

Some nurses give lots of hugs- oh you poor thing, some will tell you to buck up.

Some nurses will give you understanding, others will give you advice.