job change was a HUGE mistake... now what? Nurse Manager advice?

[nursebreelee]

Im new to allnurses! I have a major dilemma.

I think I know the answer to my dilemma - but it feels aweful.

I worked on a med-surge unit as a CNA for a little over a year, and then after graduation in May 08 - they hired me for a RN position. I was hired for the night shift - and it allmost killed me. So - an opportunity to work for an OBGYN office presented itself to me (a friend works there) and they hired me right away. I've always been interested in women's health - I gave 2 weeks notice to the med/surg job (they wanted 4 weeks - but my new job needed me to start right away) - and so I started the OBGYN job right away.

That was about 2 weeks ago. I didn't like my new job at all at first and so i tried to give it a little bit of a chance... but sadly, im sure i dont like it. Im not using any of the skills i learned at the hospital, i miss the direct person-person care... i really do miss it! I miss the money, the benefits, the people (a little) and the patients for sure.

The thing is - Im not sure how to get my old job back now...

Can any nurse managers out there tell me how they would feel about taking me back?

When i left my medsurg job - i felt like it was really quick, hasty, it was also the holiday and so i never even spoke with my managers until my last day - handing in my badge. ( i had informed them via email - because they were both on vacation!) i feel like a jerk the way i left and so im not sure how they will respond.

any advice?

thanks all!

[nursebreelee]

Thanks again Britney, your words are uplifting - i appreciate it.

and Thanks SteveRN and IMBeautiful for responding/commenting as well.

I made the call - I gave it a shot...

now - I'm just going to carry on and live with my choices. BIG, HUGE, GIGANTIC, MASSIVE, GARGANTUAN lesson learned. Im sure it's not going to be the last one I make in my life.

Thanks again all,

BLC

:smackingf SMACK!!

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

I give you credit for owning up to your mistakes, what was the feedback from the call?

I hope your NM gives you a break, if she does you need to stay there a while.

[nursebreelee]

Hey Alex - thanks for that... no callback yet - this is day 2 of the work week for her (unless she had MLK day off). my stomach is still knotted up, but now all i can do is wait. I agree - if I get the call - Ill need to stay forever and a day!!

BLC

[jam2007]

Just my 2 cents as you didn't mention the interviewing process at your new job..but what I've learned (after landing not so hot jobs) is to bring a list of questions with me to my interview. You mentioned the reasons the job isn't a great fit..so when you have another job interview, ask them how much patient contact is involved and how your skills will be used (obviously you can be more specific).

Sort of off topic, but I thought it might be helpful.

Good luck!

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

I think it depends on your manager and how short staffed they are, she may not rehire if they aren't desperate and even if they are, she may not based on principle. She may if she can get past 1) the short notice- that may have burned your bridge and 2) not taking the time to tell her face to face or at least a handwritten letter. I'm not sure how managers feel about the use of email for resignations. The other thing I may be concerned about if I were you is how that short notice would effect your'e rehire status and that may be a problem if you need to use them as a reference. In any event, I wish you luck. Just a thought, I would probably go in and talk to her in person, face to face, and if she doesn't want to rehire you, maybe you can ask her the other questions so you know where you stand if you need to seek employment elsewhere.

[RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN]

Hey Alex - thanks for that... no callback yet - this is day 2 of the work week for her (unless she had MLK day off). my stomach is still knotted up, but now all i can do is wait. I agree - if I get the call - Ill need to stay forever and a day!!

BLC

If you don't get a return call by Friday, try calling her back again,

or better yet, go up there in person.

That will show that you're really wanting your job back. Be

persistent. That's how I got the job I wanted.

[queenjean]

Even though you state it wasn't short notice, it was to them if they wanted 4 weeks (even if the official requirement is only two).

However, you are correct in saying that they invested a lot of time training you, and they may want to recoup that by hiring you back, particularly if you did a good job. If you had several pt and coworker complaints, probably not.

I would contact her again. If you call once and don't follow up, she's going to take you for a flake who can't decide what she wants. If you are persistent and articulate your change of heart well, she may decide that you are worth the second chance.

If they do rehire you, you CANNOT flake out. You cannot change your mind again. You cannot leave for another year. If you do, you WILL have burned that bridge, and you not only will not get a job there on that floor or in the facility again, but you will also not get a good reference from them ever. And the frequent flip flopping will look terrible on your resume for any other potential employers.

So think long and hard about it. Good luck.

[nursebreelee]

UPDATE:

Thank you so much to all you sweet nurses who replied. This site is such a terrific sounding board for nurses. I love reading all the posts and replies!

So - i got a response - and was offered my job back - in fact to quote the email i received from my old boss "we would love to have you back".

Im relieved and kind of sad about the whole situation. bummed that the new opportunity turned out to be an imperfect fit... but I am a lucky lucky person (it probably helped that i worked my little nurse-butt off while I was there).

I informed my manager of the new (now old) job that i would be leaving and she was not thrilled (with good reason) - I told her that I felt it was important to leave earlier rather than later - as not to waste their time in training me for a job that wasn't a good fit for me... and she agreed of course, but was dismayed as well.

I've eaten the crow.

I've eaten the humble pie...

I learned a crazy and valuable lesson. and will look both ways more closely before crossing the street again.

Those of you that replied - thank you and you're right - Now Ill be going back to my old job and will need to stay for a long, long time... but it's ok - i will. and ill learn new things there everyday.

Thanks again fellow nurses, I dont think I would have maintained the small level of sanity I did through this without your support!

BLC

[Guest296136]

Sometimes being honest and humble is the best approach!!!!! Go talk to your manager and admit your mistakes and let her know it would never happen again, sometimes you have to put your tail between your legs and bit the bullet. Good LucK, it never hurts to ask, you never know until you try.

[nursebreelee]

Thanks MERCY65 - I posted an update yesterday detailing how fortune is smiling down on me at the moment. my boss offered me my job back!! in fact to quote her email "would love to have to you back".

Im quite relieved.

Thank you for your post,

BLC

[Guest296136]

I'm really happy for you. Somethings are just meant to be!!!!

[RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN]

Thanks MERCY65 - I posted an update yesterday detailing how fortune is smiling down on me at the moment. my boss offered me my job back!! in fact to quote her email "would love to have to you back".

Im quite relieved.

Thank you for your post,

BLC

OMG! I'm so glad for you. I some how knew that you had

a good chance. You just seemed so sincere and honest

in your post. Congrats Bree!