3/6 months... quitting the job...

PG2018 · Mar 23, 2014

Sounds like my med-surg experience. Somehow I lasted a year, but I too hated life and internalized all my stressors. I had actually stopped doing the room service types of stuff and didn't care if I was fired because of it. Fortunately, I wasn't. My BP climbed to 160s/110s at work as did my heart rate. Interestingly enough at home my resting HR is 56-58 with 110s/upper 60s. I despised it as well.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Mar 23, 2014

Yep, that pretty much sounds like med-surg units all over the place.

What is the job market like where you are? Will you be able to find another job with only 3 months at your first one?

sadiemae1123 · Mar 23, 2014

If you need to leave for your health then you definitely should. You might look into any mental health services that they might offer for employees, though. It sounds like you have had a difficult time dealing with a very stressful environment and making use of any counseling to vent about that in a therapeutic way as well as work on some ways to deal with the stress of being a nurse could help with your feelings of burnout. It could be beneficial for you both mentally and physically. And if it's part of your benefits then there's no reason not to take advantage of it.

It might be helpful in your job search if you can explain that you left after 3 months due to the stressful environment, but have since taken measures to better enable you to deal with those types of situations.

chare · Mar 23, 2014

...very ghetto clientele...

...ghetto pts...

Could you clarify exactly what it is you're trying to say?

kalevra, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2014

Could you clarify exactly what it is you’re trying to say?

Hood Rats, Gangbangers, Multi-Generational Wellfare Recipients, IVDA ER Abusers, Non-Compliant Homless Addicts, etc..

I think we all know what the OP means. Lets be real, many of us had worked in that kind of facility.

Hey look, I have been there. Putting on a smile while these pts and family are being absolutely rude to me. This is one of the few careers where we literally have to swallow our pride and take it. I hate that feeling. I solved that problem by transferring. Now I absolutely love my job!

I feel for the OP. That is what my MS floor was like, and I hope you find a niche that is more suitable for your health and sanity. You do not have to explain to us your reasons for wanting to leave. Just know that I feel for you. Stay strong and get out of their ASAP, Save Yourself!!! Transfer Transfer Transer!

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Mar 23, 2014

We all don't have to like patients, we just need to care for them.

However, referring to others as "ghetto" sounds ignorant, which I am sure was not your intent. You will encounter in any form of nursing in many units different types of people. There are some nurses who prefer the just this side of the middle patients. Still more that would take all of your patients and trade for the 2 out of 6 LOL's that are on the bell every 5 minutes, one right after the other.

Not one part of nursing is a cake walk. But that you internalize the stress to the point of HTN gone wild--yes, you need to do something about that, and now.

nichefinder · Mar 23, 2014

@kalevra: thanks for the support, and I guess I wrongly used the term ghetto patients as that could interject some misunderstanding... but please refer to what kalevra has termed the "ghetto clientele"...

I do not have any job lined up, but so far have about 9 months RN experience. I know I might be pretty new, but I can feel my body and mind breaking down. Again, no offense to anyone by the term ghetto clientele. But again, Kalevra termed it perfectly for your referal. The hospital is located at... where guns go off and police choppers can be heard not too uncommonly...

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 23, 2014

Could you clarify exactly what it is you’re trying to say?

I think it's pretty clear what she's trying to say. And it stinks.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 23, 2014

@kalevra: thanks for the support, and I guess I wrongly used the term ghetto patients as that could interject some misunderstanding... but please refer to what kalevra has termed the "ghetto clientele"...
I do not have any job lined up, but so far have about 9 months RN experience. I know I might be pretty new, but I can feel my body and mind breaking down. Again, no offense to anyone by the term ghetto clientele. But again, Kalevra termed it perfectly for your referal. The hospital is located at... where guns go off and police choppers can be heard not too uncommonly...

You've had this job for three months and you have nine months of nursing experience. This is not a good resume to have. If you haven't already given your notice, I'd advise trying to stick it out. Med/Surg is very difficult, but job hopping isn't likely to make your eventual transition into an experienced nurse any easier (now delayed for another 12 months), either.

amoLucia · Mar 24, 2014

Have you seen a practitioner for some BP medication? People DO come off meds so if your situation were to improve, your BP might come down and your med could be stopped. But elevated BP should be medically addressed, esp with your history.

I would be careful about saying anything about a prior 'stressful environment' when job searching. A recruiter KNOWS how stressful or un-stressful their own facility is. You could be considered a potential 'unhappy camper' and then be passed over (of course they might just be looking for warm bodies with licenses).

nichefinder · Mar 24, 2014

@ruby: thanks for the advice. i actually applied to couple spots but i'm not a kid, so quitting before a secured job is a bad idea,so i'm trooping on for 3 more months unless i find a job of course. but if you have no idea what i meant about the "ghetto clientele", considering the fact that you probably have a decade or two of experience, i am purely surprised to note that you seem to not have any kind of agreement or empathy (not that I need it :)) about working with "difficult" population. Like kalevra said, let's face it, we have all been there and worked with those types if you ever had to work in med surg. Or maybe you worked only in cushy environment with easy, outpatient only patients in rich neighborhood? That I don't know. But if you haven't worked in the so called "ghetto are hospitals", I think it might be too early for you to decide for me whether my opinion stink or not.

and amolucia, i would never mention about how stressful the current job is as anything negative about work during interview would cause bad looks.