Needing Advice...

brillohead, ADN, RN · Apr 9, 2014

What about switching to a different unit in your existing hospital?

Every floor has its own vibe, its own politics, its own sense of community. Maybe it's not the facility that is burning you out, but rather that particular unit?

allnurses Guide · Apr 9, 2014

Yes it's that hard. Yes it gets easier. Yes you should stick it out. No, you probably would not be a candidate for that GI job with your current experience level (usually requires 2years of critical care). What are you doing to increase your quality of life and decrease your stress levels when you aren't at work?

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Apr 9, 2014

a lot of nurses leave their first employer because they think the job would be better elsewhere, only to find that nursing in general is hard. But you will not know till you try. I would talk to HR or my supervisor and explain I have a better offer elsewhere. The "better" does not have to be money.

CABG patch kid, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2014

I would look into options at your current facility; just FYI a job that requires you to take call usually requires you to live within 30 minutes drive to respond to the call quickly. But yes, the first year of nursing is very tough and med-surg in general is tough. I didn't start feeling like an expert at my job until 5 years in and now I'm looking to change it up again, go figure!

RN3339 · Apr 10, 2014

I agree with the previous posters. Your first year is the hardest, sometimes a little longer. Personally, I would try to stay where you are at least for a full year in your RN position. This would put you in a better position to be qualified for other offers either in the same facility or others. Perhaps med-surg is not where you want to spend your nursing career long term, and there are plenty of options available to you, but you are gaining diverse and extensive experience that you will be glad you have if you move into a specialty. If you have some PTO accrued maybe you could take an extra day off per week for a couple weeks to allow yourself some time to get a little break from the stress. Good luck to you!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2014

The first year is brutal and it will be brutal just abut anywhere. ((HUGS)) We have ALL been there.

SleeepyRN · Apr 10, 2014

My vote is to put your resume out there. If you had only worked 9 months but NOT have been a CNA there, I would try to tough out 3 months. But you have worked for this hospital for quite a while. That looks good on your part. It shows stability, and the hospital keeping you on once you got your RN shows potential employers that you are an asset whom your work wanted to keep. During an interview you could just tell them you worked there a long time, and while you liked working there, you were ready for a change and professional growth.

SleeepyRN · Apr 10, 2014

If you could tough it out 3 more months, I would. But if your mental health is suffering too much, it is just my opinion to put your sanity first.

TU RN, DNP, CRNA · Apr 10, 2014

Same problem here, but I've resolved to stay the 3 months. I might even stay until I reach 1 year from my orientation finish date just to be fair. TBH if I can do it, you can do it! I really think it has a lot to do with your stress management on your off days. I find that having an event planned at the end of the week, even if it's as simple as a package in the mail whose ETA I'm tracking on my phone, it helps to take my mind off of work on my off days.

My hypothetical situation that you might also consider: say you were to start applying for jobs now, with 3 months to go to your 1 year mark. Most applications ask for your previous employers contact information, presumably so they can check up on your work ethic and abilities. Your current employer (the one who knows you as a RN) is clearly the best (only) representative of your abilities as a RN, so wouldn't you want a prospective employer to have access to that testimony? My query in applying is that this future employer will contact my current employer, thereby indicating to my current employer that I'm seeking alternative employment, and that this would lead to different treatment or some kind of punitive action at my current place of work. How would this appear professionally? What is the most professional way to approach this situation? Giving my current manager notice?

CABG patch kid, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2014

To answer the above question about your current employer being contacted by future employers: It depends on your manager. I have been honest with mine when I wanted a change and put a positive spin on it. I let mine know at my one year Eval that I was very interested in critical care and that I wanted to transfer to ICU. She picked up the phone and called the ICU manager on the spot and got me an interview haha! Now I'm looking to leave bedside nursing, at least for a few years but still let my manager know that I'm looking into my options because my current job is too physically demanding and she was extremely supportive. It helps to have good relationships with your managers; more than anything they will be sad to see you go but they should not retaliate by making you suffer while you're still there! That certainly wouldn't make me want to stay!!

But I will also say it's your choice and when you fill out applications there will be a place that says "May we contact your current employer" and you can say no if you choose.