new grad not happy in peds ER

Katnip, RN · Feb 26, 2004

I would recommend sticking it out 6-12 months if you possibly can, though if you're truly miserable, leave.

Is it just because you're catching colds all the time? Almost everyone who works in an ER will get sick a lot at first until you build up a stronger immunity.

If it's the work itself, then start thinking about what else you'd like to do.

Bailarina · Feb 26, 2004

Thanks for the advice...It's not just the colds/ stomach viruses etc. although that does have alot to do with my unhappiness. I'm just not sure if the ER is right for me at this point. Maybe I was just living in a fantasy world of what nursing was going to be like as a student, and now reality sucks. :crying2:

Rena RN 2003, RN · Feb 26, 2004

:chuckle reality shock is a bit unnerving, eh?

if you truly don't like ER nursing, i would start thinking about what you want to do but try to stick it out there for 6 months at least.

i started in the ER last june as a new grad. i'm also so anal that i've kept track of how many boxes of tissues i've bought since then. 18 LARGE boxes of puffs plus with aloe. :chuckle i'm just now getting to the point that i don't drag home every little virus going around.

huggietoes · Feb 27, 2004

Life is too short to worry about a one liner on a resume. At an interview you can always justify your leaving, I do not feel it looks at all irresponsible. Instead it looks gracious, facilities do not appreciate a nurse "sticking" it out with the full intent to leave in a short period of time, they would much rather you made your feelings known so that they may fill the position and begin training a new staff member. I always think to myself when a dilemma like this comes along, at the end of my life what will I remember/regret, I mean really is leaving a job that you dislike going to prevent the world from turning on its axis, NO, and the sooner you leave the sooner you can begin looking for a job opportunity that will excite, educate and satisfy you. Good Luck.

MrsWampthang, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2004

Well, to make a long story short, I graduated in Dec, started in a peds ER, and have been SICK with one virus/sickness after another, and have been absolutely miserable. I feel as though I am suffering, and I have become very disheartened with the job. I am thinking of looking elsewhere, my question is, would it look bad on my resume to have been at a job such a short time, or should I go ahead and stick it out for 6 months and then move on? Any advice appreciated

If you're unhappy in the ER, especially a Peds ER then you need to do yourself and staff a favor and go somewhere else. Did you work in some capacity in the ER before you were hired? Most ER don't hire new grads unless they already worked there in some capacity, i.e. student nurse, tech etc. My belief is that it is a good fit or its not, and if its not, life is too short to be wasting it doing something that makes you miserable. ER is a really hard unit to work in if you don't like what you're doing.

JMHO,

Pam :)

Bailarina · Feb 28, 2004

Thanks so much for the responses and advice. I did not previously work in an ER, I was a new grad with absolutely no ER experience. I have been looking into neonatal ICU where I did actually work as a tech, or possible labor and delivery. The problem I am encountering is, since I am so fresh out of school with little experience, I have to wait until the new internship programs start which is not until June.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Feb 28, 2004

Why not transfer to a floor in the same hospital until you have your feet under you? I can't imagine starting off in a peds ER.

BTW after the first year and a half of working with kids your immune system will be strong enough to plow snow off the highway in front of you, so hang in there.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2004

Good advice, here. The getting one virus after another does not just happen with peds, though. Every time I have started a new job, be it med-surg, LTC dialysis or whatever, I always get sick several times until I've been on the job for a couple of months at least.

"Reality Shock" is a well know phenomenon in nursing. I've been a nurse for over 12 years, and I'm not over it yet!

Good luck in whatever you choose.