when did you know whether you would like your job?

Published

I am wondering when did you know whether you liked a certain job or not?

Did you know right away or did it take a while.

I usually know right away.

I started a job a few weeks ago and I hate it. I tried giving it a chance but it doesn't seem to be getting better.

As to what defines toxic - "You'll know it when you see it" trust me...

Life is too short to spend your life miserable. However, if you have a job, be thankful. If you need to stay for a short time, do it. And then move on.

Most things are tolerable (only tolerable) for a short time. If it gets to the point where you are crying nightly (or daily depending on shift) at home, and your spouse can't take you anymore...you might be in a toxic environment! Get OUT!

Other than that, good luck, keep your eyes open and your ears perked.

And just keep dancing!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

I know within the first day if I am going to like it or not or if it is tolerable.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
As long as you follow the hospital's/facilities' policy for giving proper notice you are eligible for rehire.

Share time is when you go and spend time on the unit you are considering taking a postition in. 4 to 8 hours shadowing a nurse there. You get to ask questions, tour the unit, meet the staff, talk with the charge nurse, clinical leaders, and manager.

Usually, the gut feeling I get with first contact at a facility is how it goes. I took a PRN postition this summer at a surgery center 35 miles from home becasue agency was no longer stable and it was the only offer. The salary was bad, not competitive, and the Administrator said, "I'm not calling my regional director again today. I already did that, the offer is more than our median salary". I should have known NOT to say yes. NON-nursing friends told me some money was better than cancellations. I've worked 5 shifts, never really oriented. Got called when not scheduled and expected to show up because the manager can not write on a calendar correctly.

Next time go with your gut. I know you posted about 2 offers, I am sorry it didn't work. OR is always my first love. At my current job everyone was pleasant and nice from day one. I saw first hand this week they REALLY DO NOT tolerate patients being abused by patients. Physicians are held to the same code of conduct as nurses and all other employees.

I hope you can find an organization in your area as positive as I have. What area are you located in? I have worked in 5 states in the OR among other areas since 1978 so Let me know if I can point you to a good facility.

Happy Holidays....STOP thinking about this and enjoy the holidays for a few days.

I never actually got that other job. I thought I had it in the bag. But NO.

I still have resumes out there for case management.

I really loved my old OR. So I know good ones exist but it was a small rural hospital.

Anyway, no I didn't do share time. Maybe I am sensitive.

In the last week, a surgeon told me to "get out of my way", another got testy when I didnt take off his head light off properly and he literally dropped it in my hand.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
As long as you follow the hospital's/facilities' policy for giving proper notice you are eligible for rehire.

Share time is when you go and spend time on the unit you are considering taking a postition in. 4 to 8 hours shadowing a nurse there. You get to ask questions, tour the unit, meet the staff, talk with the charge nurse, clinical leaders, and manager.

Usually, the gut feeling I get with first contact at a facility is how it goes. I took a PRN postition this summer at a surgery center 35 miles from home becasue agency was no longer stable and it was the only offer. The salary was bad, not competitive, and the Administrator said, "I'm not calling my regional director again today. I already did that, the offer is more than our median salary". I should have known NOT to say yes. NON-nursing friends told me some money was better than cancellations. I've worked 5 shifts, never really oriented. Got called when not scheduled and expected to show up because the manager can not write on a calendar correctly.

Next time go with your gut. I know you posted about 2 offers, I am sorry it didn't work. OR is always my first love. At my current job everyone was pleasant and nice from day one. I saw first hand this week they REALLY DO NOT tolerate patients being abused by patients. Physicians are held to the same code of conduct as nurses and all other employees.

I hope you can find an organization in your area as positive as I have. What area are you located in? I have worked in 5 states in the OR among other areas since 1978 so Let me know if I can point you to a good facility.

Happy Holidays....STOP thinking about this and enjoy the holidays for a few days.

I wanted to add a few things. I was annoyed by the manager for rescheduling my interview (after I gave my shift away at my other facility). Then she insisted on talking to my current boss. Whcih I didn't want because I wanted to stay per diem there and in case I was never offered the job.

There are many nurses who have been in nursing for 40 years there, they are so unhappy. There are 2 nurses who fight constantly and I am in the OR with them. Yikes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
As to what defines toxic - "You'll know it when you see it" trust me...

Life is too short to spend your life miserable. However, if you have a job, be thankful. If you need to stay for a short time, do it. And then move on.

Most things are tolerable (only tolerable) for a short time. If it gets to the point where you are crying nightly (or daily depending on shift) at home, and your spouse can't take you anymore...you might be in a toxic environment! Get OUT!

Other than that, good luck, keep your eyes open and your ears perked.

And just keep dancing!

I am cranky but never cry. I dread my next shift always. I am off for some days over the holidays and I still think about that place and how much I hate it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I know within the first day if I am going to like it or not or if it is tolerable.

Me too. I knew I didnt like this place but I kept telling myself to give it a chance.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.

As for me.....I knew right away.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

A toxic enviroment is like love- if you're not sure, it's not. It's difficult to explain, but if you feel the life start to be sucked out of you as soon as you walk on the floor- it's toxic.

It didn't take long for me to realize that I finally found my greener pasture. One day while driving to work, it dawned on me that I wasn't dreading it. I wasn't 'just content', either. In fact, I was looking forward to my shift and smiling. I don't mind to be called in on my day off- there's always a good reason if it happens. I'm allowed to be sick- how amazing. My manager has better clinical skills then I do and can work circles around me. People help. People care. We don't need management to give us motivational speeches about the wonders of team work- we are a team because... well, we like what we do and we like each other. There's no constant battle, no passive-agressive mind games, no condesending pep-talks. Incident reports are actually quality control, not a punishment.

It just amazes me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.
As to what defines toxic - "You'll know it when you see it" trust me...

Life is too short to spend your life miserable. However, if you have a job, be thankful. If you need to stay for a short time, do it. And then move on.

Most things are tolerable (only tolerable) for a short time. If it gets to the point where you are crying nightly (or daily depending on shift) at home, and your spouse can't take you anymore...you might be in a toxic environment! Get OUT!

Other than that, good luck, keep your eyes open and your ears perked.

And just keep dancing!

:up:Yes, that is what I meant! Also, catty co-workers... :smiley_ab

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion