New grad wants to QUIT first job, PLEASE HELP.

[WowzersRN]

I'm a new grad who was lucky enough to get hired for an ICU position. I was super excited because critical care was what I wanted to focus on after school except that I wanted to work with kids. I was fine to work with adults in the meantime because I get experience and probably change to peds later on.

I've been at my current hospital for 3 months and I won't say that I hate it but I'm not very happy. Orientation used to be 6 months which they shortened to 3 months, you feel pressured to get off orientation sooner than later and I hate that everyone keeps saying "when I started I never got 3 months blah blah blah.....". It's not a supportive environment. There's no organization. Oftentimes we start our shift and 20 minutes into it we have our assignments changed. What's worse is it already takes 15-20 minutes to get our assignments in the first place. You're not starting your work until about an hour into your shift, which sucks!!! The culture of the unit is not very nice in my opinion. The physicians sometimes say the most insensitive comments on the floor. It's an open floor concept everyone including other patients and family members can hear the comments. It's difficult to hear some of the comments that I hear. We're in this profession to care about people. I'm not sure what's going on maybe everyone is jaded. The unit is severely understaffed and many times the nurses end up with 3 patients.

What I want to know is how bad would it be to quit? I wouldn't quit before I get a new job but what could I say during the interview that would be acceptable. Can I say that I'm worried about the nursing patient ratio? I wouldn't bad mouth the unit/hospital because that's a no no but what is acceptable? Additionally, I really want to work with kids. Should I just stick it out and get my 1 year of experience? Any suggestions/comments/advice I would greatly appreciate it.

[Chadmasters, BSN]

I am not a nurse yet, in fact, I am in law enforcement (though I am anxiously waiting my acceptance letter to a nursing program). However, it is common for police officers to want to quit during the first year. It feels over whelming with all the new material you have to absorb, being treated like crap because your'e a newbie, and just not feeling good enough (sound familiar). It takes a year just to feel operational and three years to feel like in almost every situation you know what should be done. My advice is to stick with it and get your experience and if you still don't like it then move on but don't run from it just because it is tough because if you'll develop a quitter mindset. You can do this. Gain the experience and build your resume. I can't imagine that having the fact that you worked in an ICU for less than a year is going to look good to future employers.

[WowzersRN]

I don't want to quit because it's tough. I can definitely stick it out. I just don't like the unit itself. I don't like the attitudes of staff towards the patients and what I sometimes believe are unsafe practices. I know that everyone hates their first year. More than likely I won't quit maybe I just need to vent and hear what other people think. Thanks Chadmasters.

[sammiesmom]

How is the acuity of your patients? How sick are they? It doesn't seem like you are complaining about the acuity of patients just the people?! Probably everyone is stressed out! Stick it out for 6 months and find something else. For the meantime, try to grow some thick skin and maybe get as much education as you can so you are prepared for snarky docs. Some docs actually depend on the nurses to know everything. I can spill out and memorize their labs on some on some of my good days. Some days I just don't know and I will tell them that and look for it. Nobody is perfect. You will get better and they will treat you better once they know you better... I hope..

[ORNurseCOS]

Wozers,

I would stick it out as long as you can, ideally for 1 year.

What you might want to do is be the change you want to see

and look at this as an opportunity rather than a hinderance.

Believe me I know this is more easily said then done, but it can be done.

[muhammadmq]

Don't quit, but do look for another job actively in your free time and find one you like.

I work in a hospital that has high turnover, lots of new grads come here, get experience and bounce because they don't like this place but it's the only one that would hire them. They all left after finding new jobs, though and I would recommend the same.

[WillResuscForCookies]

Please hang in there and give it more time. I felt the same way when I was an ICU new grad, and several years in multiple hospitals and specialties since have given me the following perspective. While that first job couldn't stand up to the lofty expectations I had built up in nursing school, looking back it was in fact one of the better places I've worked.

Much of what you're describing in the way of pressure to rush orientation, unsupportive comments, insensitive physicians, and short staffing is "normal." That is to say that while some workplaces may be better, and many are worse, you'd be hard pressed to find one with none of those elements.

My hope is that you don't let the reality of the job cause you to become disillusioned with the profession. You're going to experience things like this in any workplace, so try to focus on what this has to offer you. Don't let yourself flirt with burnout, as I did, doing these first couple of years. I missed out on some valuable stuff by focusing too much on the perceived injustices of my workplace. What you're doing matters to your patients and their families. You should feel good about that. You also have the distinction of starting in a specialty area, which is tough, but offers huge learning opportunity.

Hope this doesn't come off as preachy or condescending, but I've been there, and I'm telling you... it gets better. Try to tough it out for a year or two at least, then carefully choose someplace else if you're still unhappy.

[PewpSmith]

Can I just say that I, too, hate when other nurses make the "I got less than 2 weeks orientation so don't complain about your orientation" remarks. Especially in critical care areas or for any new nurse on any type of unit. I'm fairly certain those same nurses were probably struggling due to their too-fast orientation. It sucks that they didn't get an adequate orientation but that doesn't mean everyone else should be short changed on theirs. Honestly it makes 0 sense because when you're an orientee you're usually extra staff and an extra set of hands, especially at the end of orientation AND an adequate orientation ensures that when the newbie is off of orientation they're able to function as a full member of the team and don't require anyone else to pick up their slack while they're drowning. *end rant*

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Stick it out and get your one year experience. The only thing you have control over is your own response to working in a short-staffed, stressful environment. Recognize that you won't be immune to burnout, but if you take care of yourself and strive for a work life balance, you can be resilient.

[William2]

Quit. Find a new icu as it sounds like yours sucks. As you say is "unsupportive". Chances are you won't be happy

Changing patients right after getting an assignment? Understandable if its because a fellow coworker is pregnant and can't go into a certain room otherwise no bueno.

If you love your job you will never work a day in your life.

[SeattleRS24]

I remember having a similar feeling when I first started on my unit. I was so unsure about the culture and it was very discouraging. However, I can happily say that I found my "peeps" and this made all the difference. Trust me, you will find your peeps and if you stick it out, you might grow to love some of the traits of those same individuals you once disliked. Best of luck regardless of what you decide!

[wanderlust99]

I would stick it out and really focus on your patients. It sounds cheesy, but really work on giving the best patient care you can and you will feel better about your job. ICU is good in that sometimes it's possible to stay in your patient's room by yourself for a long time, escaping the outside drama. Learning to block out difficult coworkers or physicians is a skill in itself:)