This is my first submission to allnurses and I regret starting out on such a negative note. I joined this website to prove to myself that I'm not alone, that there are other nurses who share my feelings, so I simply need to put my thoughts out there. What I am about to say is something that I say to my husband on a weekly basis, if not more. Love his heart, he does his best to convince me that what I'm feeling is valid but he can't understand. He isn't a woman but more importantly, he isn't a nurse.
I graduated roughly one year ago with my BSN. At the time I was a nurse intern (basically a CNA) in a very large ICU. I really enjoyed that job, and loved taking care of critically ill patients. At the same time I was working in the ICU, I was doing my nursing school senior practicum in the intensive treatment unit at an inpatient psych hospital because I had always been fascinated with psych. My preceptor was amazing, the manager was great, and the staff morale was exceptional. I applied to and received job offers from both units upon graduating nursing school. I solicited advice from every nurse I came across at both facilities, and after much consideration I decided on the ICU position. Six months in, I detested it.
It wasn't the job I hated, it was the staff and the manager. The infamous nurse predators that "eat their young" had reared their ugly heads and I felt defeated, stupid, and hopeless after every shift. I felt like I was in high school all over again with the gossip, cliques, and passive aggressiveness. There were countless times that I walked into the break room only to find my MANAGER along with several members of the "in crowd" sitting around the table giggling to themselves. Which of course stopped the second I intruded. On top of all of that, I was put on nights, which contributed too a spell of deep depression and poor health. I left that position and didn't work for two months.
Luckily my husband is a saint and knows that his wife is a delicate flower (haha) so we lived off of his income for those two months. Finally, I was done feeling sorry for myself and applied to the psych hospital I had done my practicum at. Thank goodness, I was welcomed back with open arms.
Now I am six months in to that position and am already considering leaving. We have a different manger(that has never worked psych, mind you) and the staff morale that once felt like family has never been lower. I feel completely taken advantage of by my manager in regards to scheduling and working over time. I never see my husband because she refuses to give me some flexibility to align my schedule with his. I have begged over and over to again to go part-time or even PRN. I just feel so exhausted and OVER nursing as a whole. I'm over it, and I can't tell if I have a bad habit of playing the victim or if both job situations have just been unfortunate circumstances. I need your advice, as outsiders to my life, and as fellow nurses. Do I suck it up or leave yet another job after only six months? Honestly I feel like calling it quits altogether sometimes. I daydream of working in a bakery or doing photograohy or tasting wine for a living. Is nursing really all that bad or is there just an adjustment period?
I have worked in my current career (non-nursing) for over a decade and the same issues occur too (I could have just as easily made the same complains you did and I am not a nurse!). What do I suggest you do? Don't take it personal and develop a tough skin. It is only been 6 months and my guess it will take a least a year for you to stop feeling so "new." Now if sufficient time as past and you still feel you want out then by all means leave BUT do not leave one job before you get another! Frequent job hopping is suspect, especially to potential employers. Plus my mom always told me never leave a job until you get another :). Good luck!
I'd say stick it out until the 18 month mark. *how many cliches can I add to this post?* "suck it up" "grow thicker skin." If you still hate it after 18 months, find another nursing position or pursue something else. At least then you'll have some time under your belt. That is, unless you want to go do some crap mindless job for less pay that doesn't require a degree. Don't forget that any job as a nurse or not, you could find yourself in an even worse position "from the frying pan into the fryer." "The grass is always greener," no matter what field you'd be looking into.
I mean, just from a job interview perspective what do you say to your potential employer?You can always go with "those other jobs weren't a good fit" but they'll be seeing a pattern of an employee that they'll have to train for 3 months, then will quit soon after.
"Life is short," but we all gotta eat. Glad your husband is supportive: "happy wife, happy life" but I wonder how long he'd want to do all the heavy lifting so you can take time off from every job that wasn't all skittles and beer?
I'd say stick it out until the 18 month mark. *how many cliches can I add to this post?* "suck it up" "grow thicker skin." If you still hate it after 18 months, find another nursing position or pursue something else. At least then you'll have some time under your belt. That is, unless you want to go do some crap mindless job for less pay that doesn't require a degree. Don't forget that any job as a nurse or not, you could find yourself in an even worse position "from the frying pan into the fryer." "The grass is always greener," no matter what field you'd be looking into.
I mean, just from a job interview perspective what do you say to your potential employer?You can always go with "those other jobs weren't a good fit" but they'll be seeing a pattern of an employee that they'll have to train for 3 months, then will quit soon after.
"Life is short," but we all gotta eat. Glad your husband is supportive: "happy wife, happy life" but I wonder how long he'd want to do all the heavy lifting so you can take time off from every job that wasn't all skittles and beer?
"Just sayin'"
That was a one time thing. I don't plan on quitting work for another two month stent.
I'm surprised by how insensitive some people are being about this issue. I am in a similar position where I'm unhappy with my current work environment however I've decided to stick it out for a year and get more experience. People say ignore the cliques but that is easier said than done. Personally I feel that you should hang in there until you can find another position. Who cares if it makes you look like a job hopper! Life is too short to live in misery and if you're unhappy then do something about it.
Well, after reading these responses, I guess many nurses here have validated your feeling of being attacked
The reality is that nursing is hard. There is cattiness everywhere. It does not matter what unit or place you go to, the nursing profession is especially filled with mean people.
My suggestion is to not let it bother you. Go to work, say hello to people and then just do your job. Leave, go home, enjoy your life. Do not give people the satisfaction of being affected by their immature behaviour.
Also, you have a BSN? Enroll yourself STAT in an APRN program. I would suggest psychiatric NP. It's great work and nice pay.
And when you're the boss, remember how you felt and treat people under you with kindness and respect.
Well, after reading these responses, I guess many nurses here have validated your feeling of being attacked
The reality is that nursing is hard. There is cattiness everywhere. It does not matter what unit or place you go to, the nursing profession is especially filled with mean people.
My suggestion is to not let it bother you. Go to work, say hello to people and then just do your job. Leave, go home, enjoy your life. Do not give people the satisfaction of being affected by their immature behaviour.
Also, you have a BSN? Enroll yourself STAT in an APRN program. I would suggest psychiatric NP. It's great work and nice pay.
And when you're the boss, remember how you felt and treat people under you with kindness and respect.
Good luck!
Thanks for the response. You are right, all of the responses in this feed have given me so much to think about. I am currently applying to several NP programs in my area. Hope it works out.
Well, there's definitely an adjustment period. However... it is hard to 'adjust' to your current situation with the working environment not being what it once used to be when you were there prior. Definitely a let down. Unfortunately, this is seen everywhere. A great unit can stay great, or turn bad, quickly depending on its staff and NM. What helps, of course, is having a job you love, and just ignore everything else (meaning not getting caught up in cliques/gossip/etc.). I know that is easier said than done at times to ignore the 'junk', but nothing stays the same... toxic people will come and go. As for days you work aligning better to your hubby's schedule, can other nurse's switch some days with you? On my unit, we do this ALL the time because our NM likes to get 'creative' with making our work schedules
Best of luck and I really hope you stick it out for your resume's sake.
It's rare finding a job in which every team member loves each other. Just gotta do you and stay low-key. I know it's hard when your coworkers are less than pleasant but solely focusing on this issue is probably what's causing you grief.
I cried a lot when starting in the ED but I stuck it out and 6mo in is when I BEGAN to feel comfortable, though I still learned something every shift and still made mistakes/realized I could've handled situations better. But challenges were my motivation.
So again, keep to yourself (but don't be standoffish and overly antisocial) and you'll get there eventually. Job hopping won't look good on your resume.
You won't feel fully comfortable in any unit/workplace until you've been there for a while, settled in and "made a place" for yourself.
All I can say is try to stick it out for a year then look somewhere else.... I know it's hard but if you really think you want out maybe try something outside of bedside? I did ER for a long time tried OR for 6 months and I hated it, went back to urgent care for a year then went to oncology chemo infusion for a year and now I'm going into informatics... Lots of places to go in nursing once you get some bedside hands on experience
you are exactly the type of person who should be a nurse.....it's a lack luster life, but you have the care. welcome sister. i'm just an lp on. 26 years.
but more importantly, he isn't a nurse. 
thecareerchanger, BSN
205 Posts
I have worked in my current career (non-nursing) for over a decade and the same issues occur too (I could have just as easily made the same complains you did and I am not a nurse!). What do I suggest you do? Don't take it personal and develop a tough skin. It is only been 6 months and my guess it will take a least a year for you to stop feeling so "new." Now if sufficient time as past and you still feel you want out then by all means leave BUT do not leave one job before you get another! Frequent job hopping is suspect, especially to potential employers. Plus my mom always told me never leave a job until you get another :). Good luck!