Left a Clinic position for a Hospital job. And it didn't work out

Nurses Career Support

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So I took the leap 2 months ago and left my clinic position for the hospital.  A little background about myself I have been a nurse for 15 years.  I worked as a Float nurse, Med/Surge, Tele, ICU, and Outpatient PACU, and Clinic nurse..  It has been 5 years since I have done bedside, so I had a lot of trouble remembering things.  I only had 1 month of training in the Ambulatory Surgical Center and 1 month of training in PACU.   So yesterday I was told I am not progressing and I have 1 week.   I said I didn't want to waste their time.   And my manager told me HR said for me to resign.  Today I did that and asked HR if I could be transferred to another unit.   My thoughts are why are preceptor nice to your face, but not behind your back.   Also, why did they not tell me how I can improve?  And why are older nurses who have been nurses for 35 years always so snippy and crotchety? Can u be transferred to another unit?  One more question: do you think I should have stayed in the clinic?   I mean I was happier.

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Specializes in Primary Care.

This is very similar to my story this year. Nurse for 8 years in clinic for 3.5 and left for position in hospital. I was completely blown away about what I didn't remember! Onboarding was negligible due to Covid. I was in over my head. I left that unit and asked if I could transfer to another unit, but I was ignored. Now I am unemployed and my morale is in the bucket.

With focus on new grads and international nurses I keep wondering why there isn't a 'review program' for nurses like us. Or a longer Onboarding process. I was happier in the clinic too. 

If you were happy and confident in the clinic maybe you should return.

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Thank you for your reply.   I think I realized that I don't like bedside nursing.  I was able to get my full time position back at the clinic.   My husband even understands that my mental health is better than money.  Hope all goes well for you.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

Sorry you had a bad experience. You were inadequately supported and that is very common in nursing. 

Also, the people in charge where you work are  extremely stupid and incompetent. No one should ever give an employee one week or else without very specific instructions on what needs to change. And one week or else is not something you do with someone who needs more training. It’s something you do with someone who isn’t showing up on time and doing other stuff that has nothing to do with a need for learning. 

So my point is, that you weren’t the only person who didn’t know how to do the job assigned to them. You were the person who had the humility to ask for help. 

It’s so unfortunate that so many workplaces are stuck in this kind of toxic culture, but it’s also a blessing that you got out.

 

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Maybe being a nurse for 35 years is enough to make anybody snippy? I am sorry thought to hear that they were not more supportive.

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16 hours ago, FolksBtrippin said:

Sorry you had a bad experience. You were inadequately supported and that is very common in nursing. 

Also, the people in charge where you work are  extremely stupid and incompetent. No one should ever give an employee one week or else without very specific instructions on what needs to change. And one week or else is not something you do with someone who needs more training. It’s something you do with someone who isn’t showing up on time and doing other stuff that has nothing to do with a need for learning. 

So my point is, that you weren’t the only person who didn’t know how to do the job assigned to them. You were the person who had the humility to ask for help. 

It’s so unfortunate that so many workplaces are stuck in this kind of toxic culture, but it’s also a blessing that you got out.

 

Thank you for your kind words.   I am coming to grips that the hospital culture has gotten worse.   It was great that I had a Neuro Residency Program for 6 months before I was in Neuro ICU by myself.   Back then older nurses were actually nice and not bullies.   I wish there were more residency programs for experienced nurses to get back to bedside.   Not for me,  but for any other experienced nurse who wants to go back to the hospital.

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16 hours ago, CrunchRN said:

Maybe being a nurse for 35 years is enough to make anybody snippy? I am sorry thought to hear that they were not more supportive.

Yes, I was thinking about that too.   This nurse doesn't really have any family and lives alone.   Her job is her life and she is looked at like royalty by management.  And thank you for your positive vibes.

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