6 months along

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Jun 30, 2005

I just quit my job. I'm only a nurse for 6 months. Our staff has been cut. I had 8 pts. 2 to get blood, 3 had hourly fingersticks because of blood sugars above 300. Two admits (this place has no computer charting. Lots and lots of handwritten charting, esp with admits).
All these pts were fall risks with no bed alarms. We are also short on techs and our unit clerks are overworked so we pitch in there too.
This isn't safe.
Esp for a new nurse!
Yesterday I worked 14 hours (I am on 8 hr shifts) and it was more of the same.
I had a mini nervous breakdown.
I'm not going back.
Is all nursing like this?????
Now I'm scared I won't get another job.
I'm a hard worker. I've never called in. Never been late. I get along well with all the staff and like them. They aren't the problem.
I'm just wondering if this is how it is everywhere.

Hi. That is totally horrible that was your first nursing job. No one should have to work under those conditions. After you take a much needed break from being so stressed, I know you will find a job that is right for you and one that will allow you to feel safe for both you and your patients. Not all places are like the one you were at. Good luck!

NurseforPreggers · Jun 30, 2005

Sounds like you were in a potentially dangerous situation and on the fast track to burn out. I think you did the right thing. Take a break, relax, and start again somewhere else. Be sure to investigate staffing when you interview again. Good luck to you. :)

GrnHonu99, RN · Jun 30, 2005

Yikes! Sounds stressful! Good luck in your future jobs..hopefully there are lots out there that wont require you to work in such conditions.

NursePamela · Jun 30, 2005

Pat yourself on the back for being smart enough to quit that job. No, not all places are like that. The bad news is there are too many of those type places out there. Think about what kind of nursing you want to be doing and focus on changing jobs, hospitals, cities, whatever it takes. Good luck!

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 30, 2005

I don't blame you at all for quitting that job: no one in their right mind would (or should) want to work under such conditions. As the other posters have said, you need to take a break and then start looking for a better environment in which to work.

HOWEVER !!!! How you handle this situation TODAY is very important: so, you need to take a deep breath and think this through. If you simply leave without giving notice, you may be making it very difficult for yourself to get a better job. Can you at least "call in sick" for your next few shifts to give yourself time to rest and think? Perhaps if you just took a few days off, you would have the strength to stick it out long enough to give proper notice. 2 weeks is the usual standard, but some institutions have different policies.

I know that sounds difficult, but you have managed to work there for 6 months. If you can take a break for a couple of days, you might be able to handle it for a few more shifts. And a few more shifts may be all you need to be able to leave that job with your professional reputation intact.

How you behave as you leave a job is often even more important than how well you did the job. People remember those last interactions with you, and you may regret it later if you don't handle this situation well now.

Good luck ... and keep us posted.

llg

NursePamela · Jun 30, 2005

By the way, don't burn any bridges. Speak with the nurse manager tell them how you are feeling and give them your notice if you still want to after talking with them.

grinnurse, RN · Jun 30, 2005

I don't blame you at all for quitting that job: no one in their right mind would (or should) want to work under such conditions. As the other posters have said, you need to take a break and then start looking for a better environment in which to work.
HOWEVER !!!! How you handle this situation TODAY is very important: so, you need to take a deep breath and think this through. If you simply leave without giving notice, you may be making it very difficult for yourself to get a better job. Can you at least "call in sick" for your next few shifts to give yourself time to rest and think? Perhaps if you just took a few days off, you would have the strength to stick it out long enough to give proper notice. 2 weeks is the usual standard, but some institutions have different policies.
I know that sounds difficult, but you have managed to work there for 6 months. If you can take a break for a couple of days, you might be able to handle it for a few more shifts. And a few more shifts may be all you need to be able to leave that job with your professional reputation intact.
How you behave as you leave a job is often even more important than how well you did the job. People remember those last interactions with you, and you may regret it later if you don't handle this situation well now.
Good luck ... and keep us posted.
llg

Ditto..............try to not burn any bridges...........you never know what could happen in the future. Good luck.

nurscee · Jul 1, 2005

Ditto..............try to not burn any bridges...........you never know what could happen in the future. Good luck.

Today I have cooled off...a little...and feel foolish for burning my bridge.

I will still definetely find another job, but I was wrong for just not returning.

The thing is, things are so unsafe there...

only recently got this bad because of low staffing.

If I go back my I feel my license hangs in the balance. I've already seen some BAD things happen in the last couple of days.

A lot can happen in two weeks.

And I don't know, I may have already totally blown it as far as a job referrence from there anyway. :uhoh3:

live4today, RN · Jul 1, 2005

I admire any nurse for not returning to a job that puts patients lives at risk as well as your nursing license. Bravo to you for not returning. You WILL find another job. Don't worry your head about that. When you are asked reasons for why you left your last job, be honest and say it was unsafe for the patients, and it's essential for you to protect your nursing license. If you don't protect your nursing license no one else will. You are assertive enough to know when it is time to get out of a dangerous situation, and you did what you had to do at that time with the information before you. That is all you have to go on...nothing more, so don't sweat it anymore. At least you did NOT abandon your assigned patients. Not returning to a dangerous work environment is a smart decision. Let it go. Rest up. :)

Research your next job very carefully. Shadow the unit you may want to hire onto before accepting a position. Have a list of questions to ask the nurse you shadow with as well as the nurse manager. Set up several shadowing experiences at various hospitals. Select which one you feel may be "safe enough" to work in. Many of them ARE bad and understaffed, so take your time. Eight patients is too many patients to have anyway. Five should be the max no matter the shift. Patients do not sleep at night like people think. :uhoh3:

nurscee · Jul 1, 2005

I admire any nurse for not returning to a job that puts patients lives at risk as well as your nursing license. Bravo to you for not returning. You WILL find another job. Don't worry your head about that. When you are asked reasons for why you left your last job, be honest and say it was unsafe for the patients, and it's essential for you to protect your nursing license. If you don't protect your nursing license no one else will. You are assertive enough to know when it is time to get out of a dangerous situation, and you did what you had to do at that time with the information before you. That is all you have to go on...nothing more, so don't sweat it anymore. At least you did NOT abandon your assigned patients. Not returning to a dangerous work environment is a smart decision. Let it go. Rest up. :)
Research your next job very carefully. Shadow the unit you may want to hire onto before accepting a position. Have a list of questions to ask the nurse you shadow with as well as the nurse manager. Set up several shadowing experiences at various hospitals. Select which one you feel may be "safe enough" to work in. Many of them ARE bad and understaffed, so take your time. Eight patients is too many patients to have anyway. Five should be the max no matter the shift. Patients do not sleep at night like people think.

What good advice! Thank you!!!!!:)

Can I tell you a little about one of the bad things that happened and caused me to quit for good?

There was a thud. We ran to a room and a lady was flat on her back, unconscious with a LARGE pool of blood under her head.

There was no hard collar on the floor for her neck. One nurse held her head so she could breathe while the other ran downstairs to central supply to get a hard collar. (would you believe this is an ortho floor???)

Oh, there is more, but I'm afraid to put all the details here.

In my humble opinion a simple bed alarm (we had none on this floor) could very well have prevented this from happening. :angryfire

"They" kept telling us things would get better. "They" should have cared enough to hire more staff and get the proper equiptment before moving us to a larger floor with more beds.

So, I quit. I should have done it properly and professionally, :stone shame on me, but thank you for encouraging me to tell the truth.

God Bless!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2005

Good luck to you.