Life after quitting first job as RN

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2008

Lorabel, I am so sorry you are going through this. I would put the job on an application and say the reason for leaving is that it wasn't a good fit. I have read many threads on here of people switching jobs within their first year. My friend quit her first job after 6 months (she stayed to get her sign on bonus) and came to my hospital, where she is much happier. Good for you for getting out of a toxic workplace. Keep us posted.

lorabel · Jan 7, 2008

Thank you! I accepted a sign-on bonus in agreement for 2 years of working for this corporation.....I have to pay it back plus $250. It's worth it in the long run. I couldn't see myself ever being happy there. I was losing weight, not sleeping, and stressed all of the time. I know there's a place for me in nursing...I just have to find it! I thought about saying it wasn't a good fit but i'm not sure what my director will say....I was hoping since i was so new to the profession, it wouldn't look too bad........I don't know where I want to work.....I always saw myself in the hospital environment but this job has left a bitter taste in my mouth. i'm sure not all places are like where i worked. I know someone who works as an aide on a different floor where ?i worked. she told her director how i was being treated and she was actually mad and said I was new and they were supposed to HELP me not make me feel like an incompetent nurse. The nurses on my floor ate their young for sure! some of the docs had me for snacks now and then.....I called a urologist once to let him know that one of his patients was bleeding from his member.........I thought this was important. He was angry and not nice at all...he said can he pee? I said yes, but I bladder scanned for PVR and got 200cc. He told me he didnt care if he was bleeding from his urethra...all he cared about was if he could pee..so strait cath him! I did, but I didnt think he should have been so nasty with me! I know I have alot to learn and it will take time to learn organization and even critical thinking skills...but as you say, my floor was toxic to me. I cant learn in a hostile environment filled with backstabbers.....So I continue to look for a job. I will keep you posted. thanks so much!

Scrubby · Jan 7, 2008

Lorabel sorry to hear about the problems your having. Unfortunately some places are just not supportive and encouraging to new nurses.....believe me i know! From reading your posts it seems that your very keen to stay in nursing and love your job....just not the culture you have worked in...

Just out of curiosity did your old workplace do an exit interview with you and what was the outcome?

I would agree that you just need to tell any new employer that you felt that it wasn't the right environment for you. If they press the issue maybe just mention that you felt unsupported and wished to work in a supportive environment where you can expand upon your nursing skills to gain confidence.

Anyway good luck and let us all know how things get on

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 7, 2008

I 2nd the exit interview if you get the chance. If you experienced this horrific work environment so did many others I'm sure.

List the job and make it about you and not about them. It wasn't a good fit for you. Gently list examples but only if push to do so. List your manager, chances are they won't say anything bad about you.....you weren't a good fit for the cracked department for whatever twisted reason they gave, but that doesn't mean she doesn't want you to excel somewhere else.

My 1st nursing job lasted all of 8 or 9 weeks. There was an entire list of things that just made me cringe...namely toxic co-workers. My 2nd nursing job lasted 9 months and I left due to beyond toxic manager(s) and then general hateful attitude that plauged that facility.

Before applying for the next job, really think about the unit and things you liked as well as didn't like. Research the next unit you apply for and see if it meets you expectations. I contacted everyone I had ever known to work for my current employer and drilled them down. I wanted all the ugly and bad up front.

Just think of it this way - you know what you DON'T want for an employer and you know what questions to ask at the next interview to help ensure that you don't get in that same situation again.

Good luck!!!!

bigredrn57 · Jan 7, 2008

Hi all. I've posted here before..new problem. I worked in a hostile environment....nurses were nasty and ate their young. I stuck it out for as long as I could. I quit last week. Advised by many to do so including this forum. anyway...I was put back on orientation for a short period (which I didn't finish) to help me with "organizational skills." I was singled out by some nurses who seemed to be gunning for me for whatever reason? They would run to my director with any tiny thing they could find.......so in an effort I suppose to upease them I was put back on orientation. I had my fill because I was called on the carpet for things I have seen every nurse on the floor do.........I was damned if I did and damned if I didnt when it came to things such as asking questions when I wasnt sure. I was told to ask and did, then when I asked I was told I was passing on responsibility?????? I dont have a lot of confidence as anew RN and thats why i would ask before doing something......they seem to talk out of both sides of their mouths. So...I quit! what will this mean for me when trying to find another job? Will it bite me in the butt? I have only worked as an RN for 4 months and this was my first and only job. do I HAVE to list it on my application? what will my director say about me? will I get a good review or whatever? I was told I'm excellent with patients and their family but needed better organizational skills. which by the way I was told would come with time. I was also told I wasnt expected to know everything...but was treated like I should know when i asked? I was so frustrated and upset everyday...I felt like I didnt know what was expected from me???? HELP! Is my career over when it has just begun? I never missed a days work or was late and I never griped about my shcedule......I am VERY easy going.........that almost seemed to be part of the problem! I was TOO nice! Any advice out there? I was told I could use my director as a reference.........but what will she say? I was the 6th nurse to quit the unit in a 2 month period.......how bad will it look for me? I felt like it was too much for me as a new grad. Very busy floor with high acuity of patients........I need something slower paced..... HELP!

Hi Lorabel, I too went through something similar on my first fob as an RN. It almost made me quit nursing. But if I would have quit nursing the A-holes would have won. Instead I did some soul searching and went to a smaller hospital. I stayed there for 4 years until management became intolerable. Try to get a year's Med-Surg experience under your belt. This will be invaluable. As far as the references from your previous employer go, legally they can't give much more than your hire and departure dates. A good way to check this is to have a friend call your former employer as if to check on you as a prospective employee. Good luck and be good to yourself. :up:

Trauma Columnist · Jan 7, 2008

Lorabel - I second the figure out what you liked about this unit and try to find something along those lines. Also, at the next interview, I would ask to shadow a nurse for a few hours. Or, if that isnt' possible, then I would ask to be put in touch with some new grads recently hired and talk with them.

Good luck. There are good nursing jobs out there.

Chloe'sinNYNow · Jan 7, 2008

Lorabel,

Oh my gosh, I think you walked right into the very position I vacated! Oh boy, can I relate. I'll be tracking this thread closely for some advice as well as you have so accurately described my own position right now.

What area do you live in? Are there good job prospects for new grads? That is my biggest hurdle right now.

Good Luck to both of us. PM me if you want!! I'd love to chat

Chloe

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jan 7, 2008

My 2nd nursing job lasted 9 months and I left due to beyond toxic manager(s) and then general hateful attitude that plauged that facility.

Did we work together and not realize it? This describes my current unit pretty accurately! I'm chairing a meeting tomorrow to see what can be done to improve our working conditions (read: "relationship with managment and administration"), not overly confident that anything will come of it in the end, but figure we have to start somewhere!

rnang123 · Jan 8, 2008

There are so many avenues out there...I would not feel one bit bad!!! I think you read my story...somewhat similar :angryfire....you need to do what's best for YOU!!!

lorabel · Jan 8, 2008

Thanks so much to all of you who have responded. I have gotten more support from all of you than I did on my unit!!!!!!!!!! I have not been contacted for an exit interview....I'm not sure if they will do that or not? I truly love nursing......just not where I was. I am feeling sort of guilty now.....I'm not sure why........other than I carried the insurance benefits for my family.......A friend told me I should have stuck it out for rest of the orientation then told the director i wanted to quit. I couldnt take it! I did what I had to do........she had my preceptor scheduled so she could work in my place. I didnt leave the director in the lurch..she put herself in a bad spot.....6 nurses in 2 months!!!!!!!!????????? The director got wind that i was thinking of quitting and was angry. She said if I was going to work through the preceptorship and then tell her I was quitting or wanted transferred I was wasting my time and theirs........so I quit! She told me I could use her as a reference and asked if she could keep in touch and see how I was doing..........she gave me a hug and I kissed butt only as much as necessary....I didnt want to leave on a bad note because I figured I would have to put this job on my resume.......its the only nursing experience I have! I'm almost 48......late getting into the game.........I raised my kids and went to college to become a paralegal, which I did and went right into nursing. I've been in college the last 5 years!!!! I'm thinking of applying at the local VA hospital. Its much smaller and closer to home......I'm scared to death to mail the app........I'm sure they will contact my former employer......but what will she say? I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes when I submit and hear something.....Do you think I should apply everywhere? The only things around are LTC which I didnt think i wanted. Friends that graduated with me work in LTC. They seem to like it.......but it doesnt sound like something i would like? I could also apply to the community hospital where I did my clinicals.......but I know some of the nurses there eat their young as well!!!! What is so hard about being nice??????? I just dont get it! I dont even know what my options are at this point.........:icon_roll

jjjoy, LPN · Jan 8, 2008

As you can see it's not at all uncommon for new nurses to leave their first job. Try not to feel like a failure. We all have our strengths and weaknesses and some might do okay in a unsupportive environment. That doesn't mean that you have to. You have your own strengths and weaknesses and the place you were working clearly didn't complement you. Your strengths weren't appreciated & utilized while your weaknesses weren't supported. The only way to find out what environments work for you is to go out there and give it a try. I personally need at least two different experiences in order to compare and contrast the experience and to better evaluation what exactly did and didn't work for me. There is the concern that you'll be labelled a job hopper, but really, that's only a concern if you're doing this as a pattern. A pattern means it has happened several times, not just once, or even twice! If your third job attempt is still a bad fit, then either you'll have a much clearer idea of what you DO want and you'll be more focused on your fourth attempt. Or you'll reassess the entire situation. Do you WANT the type of job you're looking for? Is the type of job you want a reality in the local job market? But you're not there. You're here. With one bad job experience. And after you've reviewed all the good and bad, all you can do is try again. There's no guarantee the next job will be better. But the odds are with you. It's frustrating that it can be so hit-or-miss, but until you know what's out there, it will be hit-or-miss. How do you learn? Through that blasted hit-or-miss style! Of course, it helps if you can talk to current employees and shadow a nurse and the like, but such background research and info can only take you so far.

Best wishes in this frustrating time!