Have to leave my job because of lack of team atmosphere :(

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2006

Well, kiddo, I saw your other post. It's not easy working in LTC. It's even harder being new at it. I earned my bones in management in LTC because of some of the crappy CNAs that we had to deal with. This is stuff that we weren't taught in school. Neither were we taught about how to deal with idiot co-workers who don't pass their meds, do a half-baked job and are the poster nurses for malpractice.

All you can do is what you know is the right way to do your job as a nurse. You can't make others practice nursing the right way. Sometimes you can catch their errors and nicely say, "I'll go ahead and give Mr. X those meds, OK?", do it and document it and let it go. You can't do much when you're new. You can't do much until you get into a position of authority. The best you can do right now is to keep to yourself and do the job you were hired for. Don't read the rules to others. Believe me, they know them. They're just smart about dodging them.

Working in LTC you are going to see a lot of bad nursing practice. You just have to resolve not to slip up and fall into the same rut. LTC needs dedicated, honest, hard-working nurses. You can learn a lot at a place like this, believe it or not. My first job was in LTC and I saw and had to take plenty of crap. The worst, I guess was a 3-11 nurse who sat on her butt making personal phone calls from the moment she came on duty at 3pm until about 6pm. This went on every single night she worked. How she knew so many people to talk to I'll never know. Around 6 or 7pm she did her 5pm and 9pm med passes all in one. Everyone got sleepers and pain medication whether they had orders for them or not. She never did any treatments. Then, she was back on the phone for the rest of her shift. She would always find things to complain to the DON about on me (I worked the 7-3 shift). Me! Who was working my rear end off every minute of my work day and getting all the treatments done that she never got to! I worked nights for a couple weeks following gall bladder surgery and couldn't believe the messes she left me to deal with! She had worked there for 7 years. I complained about her and was told she had been there so long there was no way they could get rid of her. 30 years later I know differently. But back then I was a new grad, ignorant and happy to have the job. You have no idea how I wish I could go back to be her DON for just a week, knowing what I know now.

What I'm suggesting is that you hang in there, for a while, at least. As long as you don't get picked on by other charge nurses, there is a great deal for you to learn. As for the CNAs, at some point, you are going to have to learn to stand up to them and give them back the attitude that they are giving you--information for another post.

prmenrs, RN · Nov 10, 2006

I would echo Daytonite's words (well-chosen, as usual:bowingpur ).

You just started this job---and, it's your first nursing job. You very much need to STAY there and do the very best you can on your own assignment.

No place is going to be perfect. Some places are so far from perfect, they can't even spell it. IMO, it's critical for you to stay in this 1st job @ least 6-9 months, a year would be better. Perhaps you can try a different shift or unit. But, STAY!

foxxcat · Nov 11, 2006

I agree with the other on this thread, you will find this no matter where you go(grass is not greener on the other side)

always make sure you do your job to the best of your ability, cover your *** and be a great nurse.

Most likely years down the road you will look back and be glad you ran into people like you work with now, for someday you will be able to. somethhing about others like them

Best of Luck

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2006

You see, the turn over is high there for some reason and I guess this is the reason and a person does not have to be genious to figure it out.

The vast majority of nursing homes and other extended care facilities are plagued with high turnover rates for a myriad of reasons. I know the feeling of being a new nurse and having to work in an unsupportive environment.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Nov 11, 2006

I agree with the other posters, try to stay at least for 6 months. What explanation would you give when searching for a new job, ESPECIALLY as a new nurse that you didn't remain at your previous place of employment for a short period of time?

I am at the same job I worked at as a PCA, where they paid my way to go to school to become an LPN. I was paid a salary while on educational leave for 2 years to become a nurse. They even sent me back to the same exact area. I see many things that I don't like, but I was quite realistic (not saying that you are not) about how nurses are...I didn't romanticize how being a nurse would be, so the behaviours were not a surprize to me. But, I can't leave right now for several reasons: one is that I have to honor my contract by staying at this job for at least two years since they sponsored my education, and two, because I have no prior nursing experince to offer another job. I just try and stay out of the mess, learn what I can, and consider this a win-win situation later on, because after I complete this contract, I will have two years of experience, and can move on if things do not change for the better. I am not completely miserable here, I am trying to adjust to thinking and reacting as a nurse, moreso than anything else. I see the nurses that don't really work, the ones that like to keep gossip and crap going, know it alls, and I also see ones that really work hard. I try to learn from all of them.

What may be happening to you is that you are disenchanted with the real world of nursing versus what they taught you in school, which is a dreamland. You are witnessing laziness, spiteful, inconsiderate behaviour and it is frightening for a new grad. But, this is the deal everywhere, in different variations. For myself, I have taken a few side assignments at an agency as a flu nurse, that also has home care. I just plan to see other things while I can practice safely...and at this time, being a flu nurse showed me that nursing does not always have to be like this, and I am getting other experiences while having fun and meeting other people, making connections to discover other opportunities. Good luck.