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.
Good for you quitting. I would not want to work in those circumstances! but, maybe some *seasoned* nurses can help me here, we were thought in nursing school if you left your job without notice (the next day, not calling in and allowing them to know you will not be returning), it was the same as patient abandonment. Now, I understand that you have relinquished care to the next nurse, and have not accepted the pt. back, but.... what do ya'll think?
What should I do? Have I totally blown my chances for another job?
This doesn't excuse me, but here was the scenario.
When I first worked there it was on this bigger floor. They had just moved oncology up there. I was fresh outta school with NO experience.
With in the next few months they lost 8 nurses. This included the floor manager and several other wonderful nurses who had 20+ yrs experience.
I still remember the charge nurses having 9 pts and pts leaving AMA, etc. It was a freaking nightmare!
I still remember the look of panic on everyone's face.
So I quit but they asked me to try a more sane floor. Which I did...ortho. I loved it.
Next thing I know, they are moving us up there.
"They" promised us this would fix staffing problems, and blah, blah, blah.....
We get up there and I could swear I was stuck in a bad movie. It was the same thing.
The hospital administrators HAD to know we would need more staff and equipt. (I found out there was a floor before that had this same story from this same floor).
Why do they keep doing this, and getting away with it???
The problem is that you should have quit a long, long time ago. You waited until you couldn't take it any more and then quit abruptly. You situation illustrates the need for people who are unsatisfied (justifiably, in this case) to take a series of steps from the beginning of the problem and not to wait until the problem overwhelms them.
By waiting and quitting abruptly, you have limited your options. You might want to consider some of the following options:
1. If it truly is as unsafe as you say it is, the situation needs to be reported to the appropriate authorities. Have you reported the problems up the appropriately up the corporate ladder? What about the state licensing board? etc. The state nursing association might be able to help you identify to whom you should report this dangerous situation. Having the situation officially reported in writing to the appropriate agencies gives credence to your claim of dangerous conditions. If you don't feel it is "worth" reporting ... you will be vulnerable for someone to say, "Well, gee, she didn't feel it was worth reporting at the time. ... Maybe she is just exaggerating this story. .... Maybe she just wanted to quit and is making the story about dangerous conditions up."
Putting it in writing ... submitting it to appropriate people for their investigation ... keeping good documentation for your records ... etc. ... all bolster your future case that you felt forced to quit for safety reasons and were not just a whiney kid who didn't like her job and chose to walk out for frivolous reasons.
If all you have is your claims ... and you never bothered to document them or report the unsafe conditions (at least to the institution's directors, preferably to governmental authorities) ... it will cast doubt on the seriousness of the problems that caused you to walk out without notice.
2. At some point, you might want to talk to a lawyer knowledgable about employment law -- particularly if you decide to become a whistle-blower. A lawyer might be able to give you advice on how to protect yourself from the bad reference that this employer will give you. Since your claim is essentially that they forced you to resign to protect your license, there may be something you can do (lawsuit?) to prevent your employer from holding it against you.
3. If you are a member of a nursing organization (such as the ANA) -- this is where they can be a big help. If you could get the group to support your cause on the local level, that would put a lot of political pressure on your employer to treat you fairly.
Does anybody have any other thoughts? These are just a few off the top of my head.
Good for you! Perhaps the method wasn't the best, but you were putting yourself and your license at risk. If that is the way they treat their staff, who knows what kind of insurance the facility carries to guard against malpractice claims (I hope you carry your own insurance too).
Off the top of my head.......
I once spoke to someone who is very knowledgable about this whole reference business. Legally an employer can only tell the next employer that you worked there (or not), your attendance record, and if there were any disciplinary actions taken against you. All else is opinion and is concidered slander if offered.
YOu can always ask the next employer not to use them for a reference. It's an idea, but it could work. There is that box on most aplications that asks if they may contact a specific past employer. You also have the advantage of being freshly out of school and can use your clinical references for your next hire without raising too much fuss. And if in an interview, do not go on about how horrible it was. Siimply say that it was not the place for you and you needed a safer environment in which to practice.
All nursing is not like that. I am a new hire, second carreer nurse, and I know enough nurses to know that each environment is a completely different situation no matter what the specialty. Take heart that the right place will come. I specifically looked at the working environment as a huge criteria to accepting my first nursing position. It came. I'm there. You will be there too.
Take a break to breathe for about a week (you've earned it) and then get back at it. I had to do a lot of cold calling, but it worked.
Good for you! Perhaps the method wasn't the best, but you were putting yourself and your license at risk. If that is the way they treat their staff, who knows what kind of insurance the facility carries to guard against malpractice claims (I hope you carry your own insurance too).
Off the top of my head.......
I once spoke to someone who is very knowledgable about this whole reference business. Legally an employer can only tell the next employer that you worked there (or not), your attendance record, and if there were any disciplinary actions taken against you. All else is opinion and is concidered slander if offered.
YOu can always ask the next employer not to use them for a reference. It's an idea, but it could work. There is that box on most aplications that asks if they may contact a specific past employer. You also have the advantage of being freshly out of school and can use your clinical references for your next hire without raising too much fuss. And if in an interview, do not go on about how horrible it was. Siimply say that it was not the place for you and you needed a safer environment in which to practice.
All nursing is not like that. I am a new hire, second carreer nurse, and I know enough nurses to know that each environment is a completely different situation no matter what the specialty. Take heart that the right place will come. I specifically looked at the working environment as a huge criteria to accepting my first nursing position. It came. I'm there. You will be there too.
Take a break to breathe for about a week (you've earned it) and then get back at it. I had to do a lot of cold calling, but it worked.
Anna[
You guys are wonderful!:)
I just called my floor manager and appologized for the way I quit. I cried alot. I'm still in breakdown mode.
This isn't really like me. I'm usually a happy person.
A little vacation is certainly in order.
My next job will be at a better, more modern hospital. Probably night shift, since I'm new, but that's OK.
I'm going to take a break right now and have a good time.
Thank you guys!!! You make me feel like I can keep going.
I just called my floor manager and appologized for the way I quit. I cried alot. I'm still in breakdown mode.
This isn't really like me. I'm usually a happy person.
A little vacation is certainly in order.
My next job will be at a better, more modern hospital. Probably night shift, since I'm new, but that's OK.
I'm going to take a break right now and have a good time.
Thank you guys!!! You make me feel like I can keep going.
I think that was a good move -- especially the crying. Really .... I'm not kidding or being sarcastic. Many times, a sincere apology goes a long way towards mending fences and building better relationships. Your old floor manager knows now that your resignation was not frivolous and that you were really at the end of your rope. If she has any decency at all, she'll treat you as well as she can and not be vindictive.
texas_lvn
427 Posts
Good for you quitting. I would not want to work in those circumstances! but, maybe some *seasoned* nurses can help me here, we were thought in nursing school if you left your job without notice (the next day, not calling in and allowing them to know you will not be returning), it was the same as patient abandonment. Now, I understand that you have relinquished care to the next nurse, and have not accepted the pt. back, but.... what do ya'll think?