I want to quit

[Mag, BSN]

I’m a new grad and I’ve been at my job for 4 months (it took me a long time to find a job). I work a general med/surg floor and I already want to quit. I knew I never liked med/surg during school and tried to avoid finding a job in that, but I needed money so I took the job. I love my bosses and co-workers, but these patients have burnt me out already. I don’t think I’m suited for a hospital actually, does anyone know of non-hospital jobs for nurses? I like the idea of school nursing, but what others would people suggest?

[JKL33]

I know this is not the advice you are asking about....

I think you are jumping way ahead. There are very few places where nurses can go where they will be serving a population with no issues.

If, in four months, you have decided that patients are the main problem, I would kindly say that might indicate that you could benefit from working on "inner" stuff and honing interpersonal skills. Please don't take that as a slam, it's just that there is a lot to be learned as far as interacting with patients and having good relationships with them (I had to learn it, too). This is important because these skills are needed no matter which population you serve as a nurse or which setting you work in.

The better your mindset and the more honed your interpersonal skills are, the happier you will be in the long run. If you just leave and go to school nursing (for example), you might cry real tears and rip your hair out (?), as kids, tweens, teens and their parents are no easy crowd. It also isn't always rosy working in a non-healthcare setting with a bunch of people who think they're healthcare experts because of what they read on FB or the interwebs.

If you love your bosses and coworkers you already have a major advantage. I would stay put for now and learn the things that take some real work.

Can you tell us more about your difficulties with patients?

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

2 hours ago, JKL33 said:

I know this is not the advice you are asking about....

I think you are jumping way ahead. There are very few places where nurses can go where they will be serving a population with no issues.

If, in four months, you have decided that patients are the main problem, I would kindly say that might indicate that you could benefit from working on "inner" stuff and honing interpersonal skills. Please don't take that as a slam, it's just that there is a lot to be learned as far as interacting with patients and having good relationships with them (I had to learn it, too). This is important because these skills are needed no matter which population you serve as a nurse or which setting you work in.

The better your mindset and the more honed your interpersonal skills are, the happier you will be in the long run. If you just leave and go to school nursing (for example), you might cry real tears and rip your hair out (?), as kids, tweens, teens and their parents are no easy crowd. It also isn't always rosy working in a non-healthcare setting with a bunch of people who think they're healthcare experts because of what they read on FB or the interwebs.

If you love your bosses and coworkers you already have a major advantage. I would stay put for now and learn the things that take some real work.

Can you tell us more about your difficulties with patients?

EXCELLENT advice.