Leave during orientation.

hikernurse · Aug 30, 2007

I'd talk to your nurse manager. There's no point in them spending more money to orient you if you aren't interested in staying. It will look bad, I imagine, but if you're truly not happy, then you're not doing anyone (especially yourself) any favors.

Where I work you are expected to remain 6 months on your job after orientation for most floors and a year in higher acuity; L&D would fall under that at my hospital because of the extensive orientation given.

Do you not like the people you work with or L&D in general? I think it can be hard to know if a job is for you until you actually try it, sometimes.

maesam1 · Aug 30, 2007

WHen I first read the posting by "One" I thought I had written it. I started L&D 7 weeks ago and after the 3rd week I was really miserable. I waited b/c I was scared but then I spoke to my manager this week, she was very supportive and appreciated my honesty. She said that L&D was probably not a good fit for me, not to mention the unit is like a madhouse. You have to do what you feel and think is right. I feel such a relief and weight off my shoulders b/c I knew I did not want to be there. I might transfer to another floor or just look elsewhere, either way don't stay where you are so unhappy, I know it takes a year to feel comfortable so do something you have alot of interest in.

sweetieann · Aug 30, 2007

hey there! I'm so glad I read this post, because I just went through almost the exact same thing myself. I was working on a pediatric oncology floor (started the first week of june) and by 2 days ago (less than 2 months of actually working on the floor) I knew that this was just NOT for me. I started looking for jobs, and found one at a psychiatric hospital for eating disorder pts. I always wanted to work with this population, but when I originally started my job search, there were no openings. I called my nurse manager and explained that I wasn't happy on the floor that I was orienting on, and told her that I think I wanted to switch. She was very very understanding and allowed me to transfer. I think some facilities require your NM's ok before you can transfer (if it hasn't been 6 months, which is many hospital's policies...of course, if you find a job at another hospital that totally isn't affiliated with the one you're at now, you could just leave.) I worried about it "looking bad" but I think many employers understand that nursing is not your typical 9-5 job and that you have to move around to see what you like, and as a new grad, this is the time to do it! You have to do what you love, or else you''ll burn out on nursing all together. Take good care!

Zookeeper3 · Aug 30, 2007

My interpertation of orientation is that it is a trial period for both parties and at any time either can part ways (although we don't fire people in orientation). You can safely leave the facility without reprimand or negative statements (talk to NM first).

If you wish to stay in the facility it would seem to make sense for your NM to allow the transfer rather than keep an unhappy employee. Some will require you to stay the full 6 months. Keep that in check though, 6 months out of years and years of a career is nothing. You would still be learning and gaining skills and you would have better odds at a GOOD reference instead of no reference. Only 4 more months may be worth it, at least consider it. Good luck

NursingAgainstdaOdds · Aug 30, 2007

I say give it more time. Two months into my job as a GN on a med-surg/tele floor I was hatin' life and the only thing that got me through the day was looking forward to specializing after I hit the one year mark. I even decided to go back to school in pursuit of eventual med school, which I am doing now.

Lo' and behold, however, in the last few weeks there's been quite a turnaround in my feelings on my job. [it is also worthy to note, the last few weeks I've been pulling 50+ hours. So this turnaround is in spite of being fatigued and stressed-out!] Things that were the reason I hated it before (like feeling like I work in a psych ward or nursing home, or some strange combination of the two, on most nights) are now sources of great joy and satisfaction. My view of my job was really clouded by my inexperience. My experience grows every day, and while it can be quite frustrating at times, I really like my job. Whereas before all I could think about was either "get to that one year mark" or "It's just until med school", now I think with regret the things I will miss when I do move on. I helped an elderly woman die with dignity last night. I've provided exactly what a suffering cancer patient needs in the depths of despair created by intense pain and discomfort - many times. I can see the good side of a completely demented, aggressive, cursing elderly man - and I discovered how to make him smile.

So yeah, I say give it more time. :nurse:

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2007

Hey there, one. Most of us have been there. I had a career with one job for ten years before I became a nurse. Since I got my BSN, there are years I've had so many tax forms to file, I couldn't believe it! Nursing is different.

To your original question, I once left a job amidst orientation because it was obvious that the job, the organization and I were not a good fit. I got another job immediately. It has never hampered my career. Best wishes to you. Only you can know if time will help or if the specialty is a non-starter for you.