would like to quit one of my jobs....but??

[NPvampire, MSN, RN, APRN]

Hi, all. Am looking for advice. I would like to leave one of my jobs, in HH, as the pay is AWFUL for the amount of hours I am actually working and the environmental conditions are something out of a third-world country half the time.

The thing is, I have been a nurse 5 years and have already left 2 jobs of my choice (hours were cut to nothing sustainable), 1 job laid off due to lack of PRN-necessary hours, and 1 job when state closed the hospital down and everyone knows it (although I'm back with the state again at different sister hospital).

In other words, I am a dreaded job-hopper, and I hate to leave another job. I had been PRN very sporificely the past year to avoid resume destruction but now the HH wants more and I am already getting burned out--and physically ill--after 3 weeks.

I can't work for $10 an hour and I'm so sick of being ill from being around animals and filth and cigarette smoke. Should I leave the job or plod on to avoid another resume blunder? I also feel guilty because they trained me, and put a lot of money into that.

Meanwhile, the state job is getting PO'd because they are not getting their hours from me that they want, and used to get before HH started complaining. The state job is important too as I believe one of my practicums for NP may be there. My NP specialty field doesn't care squat about HH.

Ugh, any advice?

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

I don't understand your dilemma. It seems to me you've answered your own question.

[caliotter3]

Looks like the hh job will lose out when you reach the point where you think you can afford to leave without dire consequences.

[NPvampire, MSN, RN, APRN]

Yeah, well, I figure I have been at HH 15 months now, and I will finish out the September month as I agreed, but after that...I think I may be giving notice. The answer seems more plain when I write it, but I just still feel guilty because the HH managers are kind and did train me extensively.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

Sometimes guilt serves a purpose. It can be that little voice inside our head that tries to warn us if we're about to make a big mistake, or it can be the voice of remorse for having made a mistake, reminding us to do better next time.

Other times, guilt is completely useless. It is something we do to ourselves because we don't feel like we deserve to do what is best for us, but instead, should sacrifice our own happiness for that of others.

The trick is figuring out whether the guilt you feel is the former or the latter.

[NPvampire, MSN, RN, APRN]

thank you stargazer. I think it is the latter, and I actually wanted to quit a year ago, when I got what my herbologist called "a bacterial infection from an animal" after going into a place with 3 years of overflowing cat boxes. Ugh, no kidding. I'm drinking Benadryl liquid like coolaid right now and my nose is still dripping.

But I'll give them September, since I'm already on the schedule.

[casi, ASN, RN]

You're happiness, health, and potential career advancement should take precedence over what your resume may look like.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

Get out now. 10/hr. Wow.

[lapoRtaN]

10/hr as an RN with experience. That's bananas.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Nowadays it is common for people to job hop. It would be fine to find another job. Good luck on the job hunt. When you do find your niche and settle down, remember you need 5 years steady employment at a place to get vested for whatever pension/retirement plan they offer. If you leave before that you forfeit that money.

Actually I think the fact that you've worked at several different places doing different types of nursing gives you an edge over another RN that just stayed in one place and never tried anything new so I wouldn't worry about job hopping!

When doing your resume you can highlight your transferable skills you've learned from your various jobs, then any certifications, ACLS, BLS, then your employment and lastly your official RN degree.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Some nurses who are stressed out and burnt out from the hospital like home health, but the pay is less and salary and as you realize there's alot of overtime unpaid doing the endless paperwork, not to mention the wear and tear on your car.

I had a friend who did it for a couple years, but finally went back to a union hospital job because the low pay, salary and wear and tear on her car was just too much to continue.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

THe state job probably has awesome benefits but so many public hospitals are going under financially and closing or privatizing, but its probably a great gig while you can get it!