I want to quit

grizun · Dec 28, 2016

So quit. ER is definitely not for everybody. I float so I occasionally pick up shifts on the floors too. Makes for a change and allows me to get to know patients better. I'm a talker and enjoy the interaction with people.

skylark, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2016

Before you quit, consider whether its ER nursing in general, or just this particular ER that is the problem.

I have worked in 5 different ERs, some I love, and one I loathe.

Figure out whether its personalities, lack of team support, the commute, or something else that might be better in a different hospital.

Maybe try to get some agency shifts in another ER to try it out?

I often do that before applying for a job. How they treat an agency nurse is a very good indicator of what it will be like to be a newbie there.

SquishyRN, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2016

You're a new nurse in a new specialty, it's going to be hard no matter what. I've been in the ED two years and only now am I really starting to feel comfortable going to work (or at least not anxious). This is with 4 years of prior nursing experience before going into ED.

R8T3D_RN · Dec 29, 2016

This is a good idea it's just I'm still fairly new to the ED and don't know a lot.

rearviewmirror, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2016

I am not a veteran but I had share of ERs, and ER is a tough place. You deliberately leave other tasks that are pending to do the most important ones, I mean shoot if you are caring for level 1 or truly sick 2s, forget the other patients, that's why your teamworkers are very important. I honestly think my best gig would have been procedural deptartment (OR, GI lab, etc) if I moved to another department since I enjoyed knocking out patients with mod sedation or propoful the most since they won't complain until they wake up at ICU :) But who knows what's better for ya, in any new environment, you gotta give 1 year, but if it sucks that bad, say good bye. My friend works at float pool for floors and makes usually 80-90k/yr and 6 figs if overtime. You can make money somewhere else, ER was like a pride thing for me, but it sucked enough to move me to insurance.

Sadiem · Dec 29, 2016

I agree with all the above. No point in suffering there. But I do have a few questions. Have you expressed your discomfort to the manager? How was it during your orientation? Do you have a buddy? I wouldn't leave without finding out whether anyone can help make it better. What made you decide to work in ED? If you are a person who craves the personal touch and getting to talk with people, the ED is probably not a good choice for you. I learned that about myself early on. I can't stand not getting to know the person at least a little bit. The fast-paced environments made me anxious. I ended up spending most of my career in LTC in some type of supervisory position-DON, ADON, Educator, charge nurse, etc. That was an interesting outcome because during the nursing home rotation in school, I swore I never wanted to even visit a nursing home again. I ended up liking that better than acute care settings. There are some specific factors that are common to all EDs, if you like those things, look for one without the negatives in the environment where you are now.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Dec 30, 2016

Just get a new job 1st.

caliotter3 · Dec 30, 2016

Have you explored the possibility of a transfer to another department in your facility?

ED_Murse · Dec 30, 2016

ER is a tough speciality, for the reasons that you mention and more. I wouldn't be too hasty in making a decision to leave after only 4 months.

You mention that you're only a year qualified and don't have acute care experience prior to ER. It takes an experienced nurse six months to feel comfortable, for someone with your level of experience I'd be looking at staying for at least a year before making any decisions as to whether you like it.

At at least a year. One day you'll realise that you're not struggling any more and new hires are coming to you for advice.

Hang in there if you really want to work in the ER, it will get easier.

allnurses Guide · Dec 30, 2016

It's a big decision.

I worked ER in a small town hospital and loved it. I quit working to go back to do an RN to BSN program and then started working in a bigger city ER which was like you describe. One of the things I missed was being able to spend more time with the patients.

One case that haunts me to this day is an elderly man who came in with his wife who had dementia. He'd been caring for her for years by himself and I didn't have time to get him hooked up with social services as I had more critical patients. He was exhausted, she was a handful.

I did quit by the way.

(Oh and don't get me started on the EMR stuff that took me away from the patients as well). :mad:

R8T3D_RN · Dec 30, 2016

I agree with all the above. No point in suffering there. But I do have a few questions. Have you expressed your discomfort to the manager? How was it during your orientation? Do you have a buddy? I wouldn't leave without finding out whether anyone can help make it better. What made you decide to work in ED? If you are a person who craves the personal touch and getting to talk with people, the ED is probably not a good choice for you. I learned that about myself early on. I can't stand not getting to know the person at least a little bit. The fast-paced environments made me anxious. I ended up spending most of my career in LTC in some type of supervisory position-DON, ADON, Educator, charge nurse, etc. That was an interesting outcome because during the nursing home rotation in school, I swore I never wanted to even visit a nursing home again. I ended up liking that better than acute care settings. There are some specific factors that are common to all EDs, if you like those things, look for one without the negatives in the environment where you are now.

I wanted to work in the ED because I was craving the knowledge and critical care skills. I always admired those nurses that knew so much and I felt I could get that experience and knowledge in the ED. During orientation it was the same. Constantly busy, my preceptor was amazing she pointed out what I need work on like my prioritization and my delegating skills. That's also a problem with this er the techs are so busy it's hard to find one, and not all of them but many of the techs are lazy. I do have the nurse educator where I can turn to if I've had an especially stressing day. I do get anxious especially when I first get on shift and it is busy and I feel disorganized. But I do like that the time goes fast and there is always something to do.

This er has a high turnover rate of employees and I can see why. The staff is supportive and encouraging, they always tell me I can do it.

I had an icu pt the other night (AAOx3) and she was on hold for a bed, I got to talk and joke around with her, got to know her on more a personal level which I enjoyed, and when I went up to icu I gave report to the nurse which of course was grilling me for somethings that I missed, but I realized that I can still learn all the technical things, but as I was looking at this icu nurse interacting with the pt I felt there was no compassion or care which I feel I have that many people don't/can't learn.

It's just that since I am new everyone always tells me to get at least a year of hospital/acute care experience.

While in school I always wanted to work in the nicu, I loved working in the surgery center and I felt the same about nursing homes as you.