Is it wise to leave my first nursing job after 2 months experience?

[Charlie1992]

Hi guys, I need some advice. I graduated from uni Nov 2016, and received my nursing pin mid December. I studied in mainland U.k, however I love travelling and trying new things so when I saw the opportunity for a newly qualified job on a small island near by, I took it. My last student placement was 3 months on a very busy medical assessment unit, and I loved it there. I was offered a job there but I refused as I wanted to move and try something new. I have been working on the island for 2.5 months now, on an MAU unit. However, the support and everything I was offered at the interview is non existent. The staff/patient ratios are awful. Back at home, we had 1 staff nurse to 4-6 patients. Here we have 1 staff nurse to 11 patients. every day I go to work, I feel like I'm having an anxiety attack. I feel so stressed and depressed. Some days I want to leave the profession all together. The staff on the ward don't understand my concerns as they are used to

the workload. However I feel like I am putting my pin and my patients in danger. Also, I am very homesick another newly qualified nurse who started with me, has left and got a job back at home. I am wondering whether I shojld just give my notice in and take a few months break. Or shall I try and work atleast 6 months before leaving?

[Phil-on-a-bike]

Always tough to be left unsupported, regardless of the circumstances.

On a purely practical level - it's entirely doable to give notice and move elsewhere.

The demand for qualified staff is high and you will find another place.

There is no need, in the present job market, for qualified staff to put up with a situation they're not happy with.

I suggest you 'look before you leap', though, and look at job opportunities back home, online.

1: It does no harm to look

2: It's best to get an idea of what the job situation back home is like before making any decision

3: It may make people sit up and take notice if it's known you're looking for alternative employment.

While it does no harm to look, you should certainly inform your line manager that you intend to apply for other posts, before actually doing so.

It's professionally courteous, and again - it might make them sit up and take notice, and maybe even address some support issues.

After all - it's only fair to give them the chance to put things right. Maybe they'll come up with a level of support that makes you feel happier about staying.

If you let them know you're thinking about moving on - and they don't improve your support to a level you're happy with, my personal feeling would be to go. Life's too short to put up with a workplace situation where you're personally unhappy and professionally unsupported.

(Disclaimer: I'm the sort of person who thinks nothing of packing up and working a year abroad if I'm feeling a bit bored, so I have less problem than most people with the idea of moving on!)

IF you want to 'take a few months break', I would strongly advise that you at least register with a nurse bank or agency back home. Then you have a source of income to ensure your welcome break doesn't turn into a problem break!

(Also - registering for your local hospital's Nurse Bank enables you to apply for their internal vacancies, as well as their externally-advertised vacancies.)

Hope that helps!