Miserable at work...Help I'm drowning...

[namiller1213]

I feel like I am losing my mind, some advice would be awesome!

In August, I moved 800 miles away, for my first full-time nursing job. It was not my ideal job, but it took me over a year to find it. It was also a great opportunity to gain some great nursing skills, however, I have plateaued in my learning.

I work at the VA hospital on an interim care unit (still really haven't figured out what that means). I hate my job. I work from 2330-0830 5 days a week. I feel like I live at work. I was hired for day shift, but was immediately placed on midnights. My immune system is not liking working midnights. I have never been so sick in my life. I also feel like I am a babysitter most nights and losing my nursing skills.

My managers are horrible as well. My schedule is always posted late. It's like pulling teeth out of them to get days off, because they don't want to cover my shift. They yell at staff in the hallway in front of patients over NOTHING. They have nothing nice to say about staff, we cannot do anything right. Morale is at an all-time low. Everyone is looking for a way out. I think I might be next.

I only have 1 year experience as an RN, and not sure what opportunities are available to me. My family thinks I need to just stick it out. I don't know if I can. They also think it would be stupid to leave a government job, but I am to the point where the benefits aren't worth it anymore.

Any advice on how to enjoy my current job more, or is it time to move on?

[Mom of Diskids]

I see 2 options: 1) attempt to internally transfer to another unit or 2) look elsewhere for employment! Don't waste another second being miserable. You'll never know what else is out there if you don't test the waters:)

[EmmaZ06]

Don't quit, it is easier to get a job when you already have one, but I would start looking around for something else. Update your resume, and send it to some hospitals with open dayshift, or at least day night rotation positions. It seems like part of your misery is directly related to nightshifts, and part of your misery is the hospital itself. I have been where you are, I was a traveler for 5 years and can say from experience that not all hospitals are created equal. I have gone from wanting to quit nursing altogether to actually looking forward to going to work by simply changing hospitals.

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

transfer internally! that doesn't sound like a good floor.

[twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN]

I would agree with evolvingrn, its really tough to get into the VA (I know I work with them). Not all floors are like this. Look in other departments. I'd bet there are good units at your facility with good managers.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

attempt a transfer. If that is not successful, look for another job while still employed. But I do not advocate staying in this situation.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Government jobs are great but you have to decide if slogging through 20-30 years for a retirement pension is really worth it. For some people, it is. For others, it isn't. Only you can decide that.

Unless things are truly catastrophic, do not quit without the next job lined up. Yes, you have a year's experience...and while it definitely helps in this job market, it still doesn't guarantee the next job will quickly land at your feet.

Start applying for a transfer and/or looking for positions at other facilities--you can do this while you are still working.

Best of luck.

[Mulan]

Can you transfer to another VA facility somewhere?

[Good Morning, Gil]

Sorry to hear this! Do not quit your job without having anything first obviously. But, if you're miserable, then apply for something else. You have a year of experience, so start applying for whatever interests you. (Be sure it's somewhere you will stay for more than a year so you're not job hopping; maybe job shadow if possible).

No harm in applying. Applying doesn't mean you'll take a job. And, you can list your current job, but just say "do not call" on there (most places understand that you don't want them to be calling your current employer until the new job is secured). Good luck! I think most of us have been there to some degree, and it's no fun dreading going into work. That's when a change is needed. I hear you on night shift. It's a rough shift, and most of us can relate as most of us have done nights at one point or another.

[namiller1213]

Thank you everyone! I am going start looking at my options. It was what I really needed to hear!

[Hoozdo, ADN]

Can you file a union grievance about not getting your schedule on time? After you see how your grievance goes and how well the union support is you can move on to bigger management issues. One of the greatest assets of working for the VA is that they are unionized.