I want to quit first RN job after a few weeks.

[newgradrn2016]

Hello,

I've been working at a sub-acute facility for about three weeks now and quite frankly, am having anxiety about the job. I have a high patient load of about eighteen to twenty patients. Many of them are complex patients with GTubes, trachs, and blood sugars. I didn't realize how different of an environment it is in a nursing home. I feel like I spend all my time passing meds and then I have to stay 2-3 hours after to document. I only had one week orientation and don't feel adequately trained to take on this much at a time. I'm really considering leaving and finding another place to work, but I would like to get some insight on other options or hear what other people's stories are. Employment at this place is "employment at will" so I believe that means I don't have to give notice?

[RNrunner1]

Most new grad residency programs make you sign a contract that you will work for them for anywhere from 1-3 years after the program. If you break the contract and quit you have to pay back the money they supposedly invest in training you. I have seen the amount to be anywhere from $5,000 up to $15,000. If you get let go, as long as it wasn't for a patient safety or other serious violation they most likely won't end up making you repay it. It's a horrible system, but it just shows how hard it is to keep bedside nurses!

[Sacyyl]

Been there, have felt that. You almost always give a new job or position at least six months , to fully evaluate it...IMHO. Sometimes it is not you, but your Preceptor .....change Preceptors if that might be an issue.

[K9lover, ASN, RN]

Indeed, on the acuity 'o meter those SNF patients are what Med/Surg acuity used to be, Med/Surg are what Tele acuity used to be and on it goes but you have insane patient ratios. It does not sound as if you have been there long or had much orientation so you may feel more comfortable given more time. How do long-term staff cope? Use long term staff as a barometer; if they are able to do the work in timely manner that may bode well.

I started out in acute care and found the whole thing such a God-awful stress marathon never-mind the 3 weeks; I wanted to flee within 3 minutes and, in fact, had a waitress apron in my car from previous work...driving home I longingly gazed at restaurants thinking *maybe today is the day I pop into a restaurant, throw myself into a sobbing heap on the floor and tell them "but I know how to do THIS job!"I kept that waitress apron in my car for years...

I stuck it out and things did improve. That being said I would suggest giving 2 weeks notice should you decide to leave. Just quitting will came to haunt you and really, someone has to cover those patients so someone will be stuck until SNF finds a replacement...it's an 'at will' work states, not the same as eschewing common courtesy of giving notice.

[AmandaC83]

I had a very similar experience at my first nursing job right out of school. I only worked therw for four weeks. I filled out applications while I was employed there and waited till I was hired somewhere else until I quit. I never put that place on my resume, because I think it looks bad that I worked there for such a short amount of time. Go with tour gut...if tou are not comfprtanle there, don't stay! You need to protect your license. I found that working in a hospital makes me feel much better. I recieved more training in rhe hospital and always have people to go to if I need help or don't know how tp do something.