Leaving first nursing job after 5 months?

[PsychedNurse13]

Hello!

I graduated with my BSN in December and started my first job as a pediatric psych nurse in February. Right now I (and many of my co-workers) feel unsafe at work. The staffing is horrid. Average is 14:1 nurse, 2-3 aides, and 1-2 1:1 patients. Aggressive patients continue to be accepted when we don’t have the staff. One night one nurse had 26 patients to herself. I asked questions concerning all this in the interview and was blatantly lied to. Management states they listen to our concerns, but nothing is done. I’ve been attacked far too many times to count.

I am interviewing for an adult psych position at another hospital. A past co-worker actually works there now and says the patient load is capped when they staff are not available. I know that most say stay until you have 1 year at a job, but I have panic attacks daily from this job. I previously worked with aggressive youth as a direct support professional, but we always had staff to keep everyone safe. My therapist has encouraged me to quit. Should I go with this position if offered?

[TX.RN.Shannon]

Yep...once you have a definite, satisfactory job offer in writing, turn your notice in and run!

If the job sucks that bad and you're that much negatively affected, don't wait around. Things at the job aren't gonna get better and neither is your health.

Hopefully this potential position will be a great one and you can work on improving your job history there.

Good luck!

[L-ICURN, BSN, RN]

Run. If you get the other job, take it.

[dhbrn]

Get out of there STAT. Sounds like you’d be safer working as a unicycle performer on a freeway during the middle of a rush hour lightning storm.

Any future employer who would view you negatively for removing yourself from an environment where you’ve been repeatedly assaulted isn’t any employer you’d wanna work for.

Love and luck to you, I’m so sorry you have been put in this position.

[Swellz]

That whole "stay at your job for one year" thing is not for when you are concerned about your safety. I hope you get the adult psych position you applied for, but maybe apply for a few other positions, just in case? Best of luck.