As many others on this thread, I too am ready to leave my job. Some background: I got a job as an RN on a med-surg unit, day shift. Orientation was to include classes. The classes never came, and in fact, I was told AFTER I started that there wouldn't be any classes until "sometime in 2008." Yet at the interview I was told I'd have classes. If I knew there wouldn't be any, I never would've accepted the job.
Second, orientation was 5 weeks. At my interview I asked if I could get more time on orientation if I or my preceptor felt I needed more time. I was told that that would be evaluated and a decision would be made based on my progress. Well, I repeatedly told my preceptor and mgr that I felt I needed more time on orientation. You know what they gave me? TWO extra days. Wow. I even told my preceptor that I was looking for RN refresher courses, but unfortunately those don't start until 2008.
I was given an orientation "checklist" of things I was supposed to complete during orientation (many were not), and in many of the columns I wrote "R" for "review needed," and my preceptor has only reviewed the first page of the checklist with me.
I was on my own on Monday and Tuesday, and both days were a mess. I never went to the bathroom, and didn't take any breaks or lunch. I did manage to drink a cup of water each day. Even without taking breaks though, I still didn't finish on time and didn't get out until 4 and 4:30pm.
While still on orientation, I told my preceptor how disappointed I was that there weren't any classes, and she said, "Well if you ever need help you can always ask us." Well, I did ask for help on Monday and Tuesday, but everyone was too busy. I almost broke down crying on Tuesday but managed to avoid that, thank God.
I feel like a chicken with my head cut off when I'm on the floor. It's not just all the patient care (5:1 ratio), but dealing with all the doctors, case managers, social workers, etc constantly in my face and calls from the pharmacy and lab is overwhelming. I don't think it's safe for the pts, and certainly not worth it to me to lose my license over this job, especially since they are going to close the hospital in 2009.
My saving grace is that I'm in the process of getting all my paperwork and tests done for a per diem job at the County hospital, in an outpatient clinic. I was given a start date of December 17th, but I really don't want to wait until 2 weeks before that to turn in my resignation to the hospital. I'm sick to my stomach going in to work, I'm unable to take any breaks because I'm always behind, and I can't sleep more than 5 hours a night.
I was supposed to work today, but I called in sick. I don't have to go back in until Friday, and I'm planning to ask my preceptor (who's also in charge of scheduling), if there are any positions open on night shift, or if anyone is on leave of absence to see if I can work in their place (in the hopes that night shift won't be as busy). If nothing is available or if they're unwilling to put me on nights, I think I will turn in my letter of resignation to the nurse mgr.
