Just quit my first nursing job.

RunnerRN, BSN, RN · May 13, 2006

Ooooooh I feel ya! I just finished updating my resume. Been at the hospital for a year, and I'm so ready to go. Just tired of not eating, not peeing, doing everything to avoid being sues, and in the end.....not seeing my hubby (and when I do see him, being crabby). One of my friends left out department a few months ago, and I talked to her last night. She had to pay back a bunch of money (from loan forgiveness) but said it was all worth it. I'm either going to work in her MD office or take a school nurse position while going back to school.

This job was fun at times, but nothing is worth killing my health and my back.

And honestly, if you already quit, then I'd at least take a job in a MD office. Low pay is better than no pay.

rnpatrick · May 21, 2006

The best experience I ever had in nursing was when I was in the military. Serving my country. We all supported each other, worked together and played hard together. Civilian nursing is now all about serving Wall Street. At the end of the day civilian nurses go home to thier families and rarely socialize.

nursemary9, BSN, RN · May 21, 2006

Why don't you just try a different type of nursing.

You were med/surg--so try maybe surgery, day-surgery, home health,

long-term care, Psych, dialysis, or peds. There are a lot of options in nursing. Just b/c you hate one place, you may love another.

My goodness, you're young yet. You can try several options, even;

Do you have a nsg. mentor or someone you could talk to who is in nursing?

This might also help.

Good Luck

Mary Ann

burn out · May 21, 2006

Being so young I just wonder if this is your first job ever? (No insult intended) If you don't have much experience in the job market you may not realize that most jobs to a large degree are like nursing..demanding people, more responsibility than one person can handle, no time allowed for a break when you need it etc.

I would suggest tring a new facility or new area such as peds, or nursery or ob. If you really like nursing and want to stay in the field now would be an excellent time for you to continue your education..go finish your BSN and get your Masters now before you get tied down with kids and family. That would get you out of floor nursing or at least get you into another area of nursing.

beckabeckahi · May 21, 2006

I was surprised to learn that home health agencies have preceptor programs for new grads. Maybe you want to try that. I am on a med-surg floor, but one of my fellow classmates took a job in home care and loves it.

Good luck to you.

Luvbuble · May 21, 2006

I quit my first nursing job after seven months for reasons stated above. Always working my butt off and stressed out, seeing little of my husband (and we just got married). So I switched to day surgery...LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT...and am not stressed out. I have a blast a work and have weekends and holidays off. Try something different!!!
Kelly

Kelly,

I am just wondering what cases do you have at your day surgery.

I am just like the poster who hates her job so much that I want to quit and give back my sign on bonus and i am only 8 months to this OR job. I hate this place because of the stress and the unappreciation from all sorts of people there. I feel depress when I am at work. I will have an interview tomorrow with a small day surgery place and I hope it will be better than the big OR that I am currently at. I just pray that the surgeons will be nice.

Luvbuble · May 21, 2006

I'm a new graduate just one month into my first job on a med/surg unit and I quit today. I realized early that I hate working in the hospital. I feel really horrible because I spent so much time in school working towards it but I know that I'd be miserable if I'd stayed. I thougt I could stick it out a year to get the year experience that most nursing jobs require but it was so bad I secretly wished to get into a car accident on the way to work in the morning just so I wouldn't have to be there. I'm not sure what I want to do now. I know I like working in physician's offices but there's no money in that with no experience and being a new grad, and I've been looking over the past few weeks and haven't found much. I'm thinking about going back to school to be an x-ray tech or something along those lines. I don't want the massive responsibilty involved in hospital nursing. I just sort of feel like a failure for working so hard in school and quitting so soon. I'm only 22 years old and still live at home so I'm glad I figured this out now and not a few years down the road where I'm on my own and stuck in a career I hate, I just wish I figured it out before wasting two years in school. I think the hardest part for me is what my family thinks. My mom is very supportive of my decision, but my father isn't and he doesn't understand how I could give up so much money and I tried to explain that money will never make me happy. I want to love what I do. I just feel like I let everyone down:o Any advice? Anyone have a similar experience? I feel like I'm the only one who's ever done something like this:o

Please do not feel bad for quiting. I am just like you but I still have not quit my job. I hate my job and the people who I work with and I feel depressed just by walking into my work place. Sometimes, I think to myself,"how come other people can do and I can't" But again, some people they might be working with a great team and some people might have to stick with the job that they hate because they have a family to feed.

In my case, I do have a family to feed but my husband said, "go ahead and do whatever you want" since my depression is affecting our marriage.

My advice to you is to try to work in a doctors office or try to work at night shift. The stress level will be less over there. Don't give up quite yet. You are young and once you find the people who you like to work with, you will be able to stay in a place for a while and enjoy your job.

I feel for you and I understand how miserable you feel because I feel the same way.

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 21, 2006

Good luck to you in whatever you do.

luvmy2angels · May 21, 2006

I too am a new grad (LPN) and have worked as a CNA for 18 years in LTC. I wanted a change and figured the hospital would be an awsome place to get lots of experience and be in a new environment. I HATED IT!! Not only were the nurses there some of the rudest and most unprofessional I have ever seen but it just sucked!! I was expected to know far more that i did, I think they forgot this was my first nursing job!! It was fast paced and just too much for me to handle as a new grad. I would cry in the morning just knowing i had to go back there. I quit during my 3rd week and it was the best thing i have ever done! I felt like a huge weight had been llifted off my shoulders and i took the time to find a job in a place that i knew i be comfortable in. I am back to LTC and am soooooo excited to go back!! I know the routines, and the pace is a lot slower, your patients don't change from day to day (at least not like in the hospital). Give yourself some time to think about it before you give nursing up all together. I don't think you would have gone all the way through school if there wasn't something about it that you liked!?! There are a ton of opportunities out there for nurses, keep your eyes peeled and something will come your way that fits you!!!

epg_pei · May 21, 2006

I didn't quit my first job, but if I had to keep going to the medical floor where I did my preceptorship, I would not have lasted another month, let alone a year. Med/surg is incredibly harsh for a new grad, at least this one. I went from 1-3 patients in a primary care envoironment to 10 patients in a team environment. Just getting used to that took most of my preceptorship. I was tempted to give up and try a second preceptorship before the girls pulled me out of the funk with some encouragement. I got through that experience, and have started a term position in psych, which has been the only area I could say I have been concentrating in throughout school. At this point I am putting all my eggs in that basket. Oh yeah, I also happen to like it alot!

I wanted to, and still want to show myself and others that I can do med/surg, mostly because I feel lesser than nurses who "can cut it." But also because the common requirement most employers have is "1-2 years acute experience" for a given position. I would love to try another area of acute care where I could get a handle on things, but I'm not sure where that area is....

secretlovey · Jun 3, 2006

I have been an RN since 1992. I have continued to hate it all these years. What I hate most is COWORKERS. Women are sooo mean. If your not the gossip queen or tail kisser they hate you. And I refuse to do their work. Alot of nurses act like they don't know how to do this or that and want help at all times............when I have my own efficient way of getting my stuff done and just don't want to be bothered. I hustle around and get my work done so I can be prepared...........not to do their jobs also. Last night for instance...........a fellow RN was upset she had a DT's pt. She had asked me to help restrain the pt. I did this and helped to pull the heavy pt up in bed. Several hours later 3a-4a.....I hear someone call me name in the midst of some down time for me and I see noone. Don't just yell my name cause I am sitting! Anyway I am yelled for a couple more times by the aide to get in here now............and guess what the other RN wanted........." how did you tie that I can't get it undone". So in return for helping out..........I am punished with having to see a knot and go get her the scissors myself along with a new wrist restraint. This is a constant at my place.............just a bunch of freaks to work with. And oh my the gossip I overhear................I don't even want to hear anything about these people and I hav to overhear it all...........terrible. And another thing I hate is that the aides do nothing. They do my vitals and that is about it. But I could never be like these people.........I am a hard worker, take care of my pts, stay focused and get my job done. It seems their work ethic is not up to par. I am there to do my job and leave feeling good. They somehow always make me feel like crap. Oh well it is very hard to explain what is going on in nursing.........its best put I think...............back stabbing and harassment.

st4wb3rr33sh0rtc4k3 · Jun 7, 2006

Well I am a new grad, I must say coworkers have made it tough for me to stay. I work on an Alzheimer's Unit. I have average 30 patients. There is another nurse with the same amount. You know the redirecting, watching out for falls, and skin tears, and working as a team is necessary. Today these floor cleaning men came in and just started cleaning our floors. It was awful. Then they started moving all the stuff. The other nurse left to probably do other work on other floors because he has been a RN longer than me, and they will call him first. He was mad when he saw it.

It is hard to learn by mistakes as well. Guess my orientation period wasn't full of what nursing is all about. Covering your butt! Right now the stress level is high and I have other stress factors in my life as well. Why do I always mess up? I have so many downfalls?

If I could quit tomorrow I would. But, being unseasoned where am I to learn without ending up into trouble? Or with coworkers getting frustrated with me. If I could quit tomorrow I would.