New grad RN and I'm considering leaving the hospital fresh off orientation for another

[FlyingFishofFury]

So....after all the blood, sweat, and tears of nursing school and the NCLEX, I felt like I had finally won the war only to realize I had drastically underestimated the enemy and that I had only won half the battle. This first year of nursing has proven to be the hardest and most grueling time of my life, more so than even nursing school. Why did no one bother to prepare me for that? A little warning would have been great. Anyway, I landed a job on Med/surg at the hospital I completed clinicals at thinking I knew what to expect. I've been there for 3 months and just now got off orientation and I still hate it.

(an actual picture of me waiting for it to get better)

I still don't feel prepared to take on patients alone without the guidance of a preceptor but they are determined to throw me to the wolves in order to solve their severe understaffing problem. I feel like i'm walking on egg shells every day and I can tell the other nurses get annoyed at me when I ask questions, make mistakes (happens frequently i'm afraid) or beg them to interpret the doctors terrible handwriting for me. (Is there some unspoken rule amongst doctors that all orders must be scripted in unsightly and half assed cursive?)

It doesn't help that I've had three preceptors all of who had different ways of doing things and then when I do something one preceptor showed me, the other one berates me for doing it that way which ultimately leaves me confused and angry. My current preceptor's stand point is it's either her way or the high way and I struggle with this as I was always taught that we all have our own set routines and that when I find mine, things will get easier. Thing is, every time I find one that works for me, my preceptor scolds me in that condescending way of hers until I'm forced to set a routine similar to hers. In other words, all of this adds up to one big giant **** storm of annoying. I hate my job, i'm stressed out every single day, and I feel like the hospital I work at is ****.

which leads me to my next point. I'm considering putting in a 2 week notice and leaving all together to go to another better hospital further down the road. I have two really good friends who work there whom I finished the hell of nursing school with, both of which have just finished orientation there and rave about how great it is. They tell me that the recruiter told them that there are two spots available on their floor for nights and I'm seriously considering applying. Thing is, I'm not sure if that's a wise decision or not. I'm a new grad and it doesn't exactly look great in an interview when I have to explain that my previous work environment sucked (I have never understood why interviews want you to be honest but lie with excuses to cover up negative honesty. It's like saying "we want you to be honest.....but we also want you to pretend that nothing negative has ever happened to you in your previous work environment because we both know that's ********."

It's also not exactly becoming when they see that I'm looking for another job only days after orientation ended. I would also feel really bad about having to turn in a 2 week notice and let my team down and everyone else counting on the hospital to finally being properly staffed. I would really love to just call in a say, "yeah...i'm not doing this **** anymore" but logic tells me that wouldn't look great to future employers so i'm considering a 2 week notice. That means suffering under the scrutiny and judgmental resentful gazes of my coworkers for two whole weeks until i'm finally free to leave.

Has anyone had similar problems? Would turning in a resignation now just out of orientation put a red stamp on my resume forever? and what are some good things to say during an interview about why I left my previous employer? How do you even begin to sugar coat that?

I'm just really confused and lost right now. I went two years through nursing school feeling like everything would all be better and worth it when I graduated and made it to the field but now I feel like i'm only even staying in this profession so all that work and money I invested into it doesn't go to waste. I feel like my only option is to switch to another more organized hospital that will hopefully change my way of thinking. should I stick the year out or should I try my luck with the hospital with better offers?

[Purple_roses]

I don't know what you should do, to be honest. I'm sorry that you're miserable. It sounds like the culture of your floor sucks, and I don't blame you for wanting to get out of there. A few things to remember:

Hospitals talk, especially hospitals that are so close to each other. Word can spread about flaky employees. And sometimes people start false rumors about former employees they were mad at. So keep that in mind. And if you do decide to pursue a job at this other hospital, do not tell a single soul at your current hospital until you get a contract in writing.

If you do interview at the other hospital, you are absolutely correct in the fact that you'll have to sugar coat some things. Managers will not hire someone they view as a problem person who can't get along with others; even though it sounds like you're really just working with difficult people, they may interpret the problem as being all you. So don't say anything bad about your preceptors and don't say anything that bashes the hospital. Obviously there were problems and you are going to have to explain the problems to a certain extent, but be very diplomatic about it.

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

I can certainly understand wanting to jump ship on that environment. I won't say it can't be done; I left my first nursing job after three months because the hospital legitimately never paid me! (My coworkers there were so happy for me, though. It wasn't a great place.)

Definitely find a way to be diplomatic at the interview: "X Hospital was not a good fit for me, and after hearing of Friend A and Friend B's wonderful experience here, I have decided I'd like to pursue such-and-such a position on such-and-such a unit." Do your research on this hospital and on the unit you're applying to; you want to have reasons other than their new grad orientation for applying. And mention those things in your cover letter!

I feel like it's important to remember that even if you find a wonderful unit with wonderful coworkers at a wonderful hospital, the first year is kind of miserable no matter what. It's scary! You're learning all this new stuff and life (and codes) are happening really fast, and it's a lot to get used to! Your body aches, you're tired, you're crabby, and you don't feel like yourself sometimes. You're right, not a lot prepares you for this experience. But, IT WILL PASS. Posters here on AN told me a million different ways, and now I'll repeat it to you: find a way to stick out a job for a year, at least. Even if it's not THE job for you forever, you will be amazed at the mastery and confidence you gain from letting yourself transition to a non-newbie. So worth it!

Chin up! This can be done! And in the meantime, try to make the most of the current job. Work to answer your own questions, use your resources, and ask for help when needed, because that's what is safe. Don't allow your coworkers' negativity to keep you from taking care of your patients. And offer to help whenever you find a moment; it's endearing, and there's a lot to learn from being an extra set of hands. You can get something out of even the most hellish of jobs. You got this!

[MHDNURSE]

Could you interview and not list the previous hospital? Like act like this is your first job. Other option is to just be honest in a respectful way and tell them that you felt as if you were put in an unsafe position because of under staffing positions so you wanted to be at a place that was staffed more appropriately. I do not think that leaving a job where you are miserable is a bad thing. Nothing worse than dragging yourself to work every day to a job you absolutely hate and are afraid of every day.

[guest52816]

You can quit. Give them a two-week notice, but be prepared for them to ask you to leave immediately.

I quit my first nursing job just as orientation was ending. I was diplomatic about the reason(s) why, and found another position within two weeks. I don't like the new position, and started looking for something else at the six-month mark. Again, I was diplomatic about the reasons why I was leaving yet another job! I had two job offers within a month.

The key is to be diplomatic. And remember, as a new graduate, hiring managers expect you to job hop as you find your spot.

I'm getting ready to start job number three (in less than a year) at the end of the month!

Don't be miserable. Find some happiness. And I completely agree with you that nursing school teaches you nothing about actually being a nurse.

Good luck!

[Everline]

I can totally relate to what you are feeling. My first hospital job was a true reality shock. I was miserable beyond anything I'd ever experienced before. Everyone told me to hang in there. It was going to get better. It wasn't good to leave my first nursing job before a year...and so on. Problem is, it just kept getting worse. I was doing well from the outside, getting everything done, patients safe, etc. But my heart was pounding hard nearly all shift and I was running around like crazy and feeling completely overwhelmed and terrified. I dreaded going in every single shift. I rarely had a "good" shift. It was pretty much a disaster for me emotionally and physically, partially because I was on nights... and it ruined my quality of life. Finally, I decided I had to leave. I got another job, thankfully, and quit the hospital at the 7 month mark. (I gave proper notice.) I moved on to clinic nursing and other nursing opportunities outside the hospital and started to actually like nursing! I do not regret leaving that first job. Not one single regret.

However, you should remember that if you go to the other hospital, you will be starting all over again. You will still have to go through the difficult first year (or so) of nursing. It will still be hospital floor nursing. EVERY nursing job (and really any job of any type) has it's good and bad points. You have to find what kind of stresses you can handle best and what kind of nursing goes well with your particular personality and strengths. It's a process that takes a while. So over all, I would advise you to do some thinking about where you are headed. What direction do you want to go with your nursing career? What are your goals? What environment do you think might suit you best? Do what will get you to your goals. Attend to "self-care" whatever you decide. Best wishes!

[TriciaJ, RN]

I'm reluctant to tell someone to jump ship right off orientation. By the same token, life is too short to be miserable if the pasture really is greener just up the road.

If your friends at the other hospital are still having contact with the nurse recruiter, is there any way they could give her a heads up about you and what you're coping with? Could you arrange an informal interview with her? You might be able to discuss with her the pros and cons about changing jobs at this time. Yes, it's a small world among hospitals and word gets out about problem employees. But word also gets out about hospitals that are rough places to work. Other hospitals sometimes have no problem snapping up staff that ran away screaming from their former job.

Please keep exploring your options. Good luck.

[SouthpawRN]

Reading theses types of threads is really eye opening for me into the world of nursing (mis)communication. Not a single suggestion to develop a written list of comments, actions, behaviors from your preceptors that make you feel __________ or how their teaching conflicts with each other etc. Then sit down with all 3 preceptors and the floor manager and discuss these issues and develop a path to resolution.

At least if you quit after that, you can be honest, explain your issues with that job and how you attempted to resolve conflicts directly and diplomatically in order to create a positive and non hostile working environment. Horizontal/lateral violence is a significant problem in the profession.

A quote I like is "those who complain the most, usually have the least to complain about" in other words, take a critical look at yourself first and look at your own perspectives and make sure you don't need to modify or reevaluate your own thinking, actions, behaviors first.

[cleback]

I would not advise anyone to burn bridges with a hospital in town, particularly if you pLan on staying in town. Orientation always sucks. It sounds like you have a pretty strong personality, which may lead to conflicts with preceptors. Find a way to stick it out 9 more months or you may really limit your career possibilities in the future.

[NuGuyNurse2b]

I left my first nursing job at a psych facility after 6 months. I left it off my resume, told the new employer I've been pounding the pavement for the past 6 months with no luck, got hired, and never looked back.

[Wuzzie]

I left my first nursing job at a psych facility after 6 months. I left it off my resume, told the new employer I've been pounding the pavement for the past 6 months with no luck, got hired, and never looked back.

And at any time your current employer finds this tidbit out you could very likely be fired for falsifying information. Which is why we don't advocate lying as a viable option.

I know, I know everybody there loves you, the patients think your great, your co-workers can't wait to work with you, you're the best nurse there and you're management's golden boy so they'd NEVER fire you if you got found out but trust me that can turn on a dime. I've seen it happen and not just once.

[NuGuyNurse2b]

And at any time your current employer finds this tidbit out you could very likely be fired for falsifying information. Which is why we don't advocate lying as a viable option.

I know, I know everybody there loves you, the patients think your great, your co-workers can't wait to work with you, you're the best nurse there and you're management's golden boy so they'd NEVER fire you if you got found out but trust me that can turn on a dime. I've seen it happen and not just once.

I'll take my chances.