Leaving after 4 months...

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Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry/MedSurg/Triage/QI.

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Hello! I need some advice. So I currently work as a night RN on a telemetry/designated COVID unit. I've been at my hospital for almost 2 years. I started out as a PCT (doing all shifts)  then transitioned into the RN role back in September. I have came to the realization that I just don't know if hospital nursing is for me anymore. I know they say the first year of being a nurse is always hard, but even as an aide I had this feeling it just was not for me. IDK if its the hospital I work at (it's a small hospital) but we are constantly understaffed, have extremely high acuity patients, and since beginning my nursing role, I've been constantly stressed to the point where I just dread going to work. I didn't even get to finish my RN orientation nor have I gotten the support I thought I was going to have when coming off orientation. I have been applying to Drs. Offices, clinics, and schools and I have gotten call backs.

I just need some honesty... do I look like an *** leaving after only being an RN for 4 months?

I just I never gave myself that time to focus on my own health and well-being but I just feel so bad too (because I'm just that type of person who always puts others first). 

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1 hour ago, CeeLoo_xo said:

Hello! I need some advice. So I currently work as a night RN on a telemetry/designated COVID unit. I've been at my hospital for almost 2 years. I started out as a PCT (doing all shifts)  then transitioned into the RN role back in September. I have came to the realization that I just don't know if hospital nursing is for me anymore. I know they say the first year of being a nurse is always hard, but even as an aide I had this feeling it just was not for me. IDK if its the hospital I work at (it's a small hospital) but we are constantly understaffed, have extremely high acuity patients, and since beginning my nursing role, I've been constantly stressed to the point where I just dread going to work. I didn't even get to finish my RN orientation nor have I gotten the support I thought I was going to have when coming off orientation. I have been applying to drs. Offices, clinics, and schools and I have gotten call backs. I just need some honesty... do I look like an *** leaving after only being an RN for 4 months? I just I never gave myself that time to focus on my own health and well-being but I just feel so bad too (because I'm just that type of person who always puts others first). 

I've seen this happening with a lot of new RNs at my hospital. They're getting very short orientations, then tossed into chaos head first. Unfortunately, it seems to be rough in a lot of places right now. You may end up just as stressed or worse at the next job.

I know a few of the new graduates who've left my hospital were able to find other positions that they felt offered more support. Whether or not they got what they were promised, I'm not sure.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry/MedSurg/Triage/QI.
51 minutes ago, Sour Lemon said:

I've seen this happening with a lot of new RNs at my hospital. They're getting very short orientations, then tossed into chaos head first. Unfortunately, it seems to be rough in a lot of places right now. You may end up just as stressed or worse at the next job.

I know a few of the new graduates who've left my hospital were able to find other positions that they felt offered more support. Whether or not they got what they were promised, I'm not sure.

Yeah it is definitely rough right now. I just feel like I'm meant to do something else other than hospital nursing. When I took my community health class, I fell in love with that area of nursing, kinda like thats what I wanted to do. The only reason I didn't focus on applying in that area was because I was so eager to get paid alot and get my foot in the door. But honestly money doesn't even matter to me, I just want to be able to enjoy my nursing career. 

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Home Health, Corrections, School Nurse.

IV'e been a nurse for 40 years.  Back in the day, I thought nursing was the be all and end all, and I would have urged anyone to go into nursing because it was such a great area.  And I have truly loved all the different types of nursing that I've done until....

Nursing is a different animal these days and if I was making a decision right now, knowing what I do,  I would not go into nursing.  However, you are already a nurse, and you can definitely find something else that is less stressful, and no,  you are not a bad person  for doing this.  If a clinic or school wants to hire you, go for it.  (I am currently a school nurse and love it and no stress).  

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
20 hours ago, Sour Lemon said:

I've seen this happening with a lot of new RNs at my hospital. They're getting very short orientations, then tossed into chaos head first.

I edited this meme for members like you, CeeLoo.

 

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Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry/MedSurg/Triage/QI.
1 hour ago, Davey Do said:

I edited this meme for members like you, CeeLoo.

 

943685983_captioncontest.jpg2b.jpg.415bd442ba0f94d488419f381d3d855f.jpg

Bathed in the fires of hell 3x/week ?

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
9 minutes ago, CeeLoo_xo said:

Bathed in the fires of hell 3x/week ?

Oh- it's only one bath that lasts a long time until we get acclimated to the waters or can't stand the heat and get out of the kitchen!

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