New job is not a good fit; advice appreciated

[Callia]

first of all, I apologize for just barging on to the forums and asking for advice right away, but I can't really talk to anyone in real life for career advice.

I've just accepted a job in home health and started training. I absolutely hate it and want to go back to doing agency nursing. To be honest, I knew home health wasn't going to be right for me, but I allowed my family (my parents are both RNs) to convince me to go into it. Surprise surprise, all of my objections that I had before I applied are true. Tons of wear and tear on my car (the mileage allowance isn't going to cover the cost of having to replace everything more frequently or even the added gas expenses), I'm extremely frustrated with patients and their picky scheduling requirements, I'm not comfortable being alone with patients in their houses, and I have been spending a ton of my own time at home working - trying to coordinate schedules with all these people who only want to be seen between 11-2, and the documentation is endless. And when I do the actual math - figuring in the extra gas expenses and the time I spend driving all over the place and coordinating and documenting, the $ per hour is actually less than what I make doing agency in a facility.

This agency does the 90 day trial period thing, where either party can decide it's not a good fit within the first 90 days of employment, and I'm there. But I'm terrified of burning bridges if I quit (who knows, maybe I could find myself in a situation years from now where home health is something that I need or want to do, and the nursing world is small and you never know where you might run into someone from a past job). Any advice you can give me on how to get out of this professionally and gracefully would be so much appreciated.

[Ella26, BSN, RN]

Hello,

Sorry for your current predicament. If you are in your 90 day trial still, I would put in my 2 week notice and leave. No sense in staying if you hate the job. This would be fair to you and the patients. And as long as you professionally sever ties with this agency, don't worry about burning bridges. But, you should definitely have another job before leaving.

Only we truly know ourselves. And you should have trusted your gut that you knew you wouldn't like it. Lesson learned.

I know that I don't like bedside nursing, hated it during clinicals. Family and friends are always trying to get me to leave clinic nursing for "better pay". I hate working nights, weekends, and holidays. And the bedside terrifies me! Anxiety provoking. I already have hypertension and severe anxiety. Why would I do that to myself?! I know myself too well and know it's not for me. The more money, equals more stress and anxiety for me. That higher pay is for a reason. Cause it's can be draining. For me, you can't put a price on my sanity. To be fair to myself and patients, I stay where I know I like it, and if it's less pay and less stress, hey that's perfect for ME! I'm not motivated by the money anyway, I want to actually enjoy my job and not cry before, during, or after my shift and be stressed out. That's what bedside nursing would do to me.

Sorry I don't mean to rag on hospital nursing, that's just my personal feelings about bedside care.

Anyhow, that's just my 2 cents.

In the future, don't let anyone convince you to go against your convictions.

Good luck.

[Callia]

Only we truly know ourselves. And you should have trusted your gut that you knew you wouldn't like it. Lesson learned.

This is very true; literally every time I've trusted my instinct and acted accordingly, I've had success. Every time I've ignored my instinct and gone with what other people were telling me to do, the exact opposite has happened. You would think I should have learned by now? Good for you for realizing what works for you and sticking with it despite the pressure from others. It's easy for other people to tell you what you "should" do, because they aren't the ones who have to actually do it!

[Ella26, BSN, RN]

Exactly! I hope you find something that you like and prosper!

[TriciaJ, RN]

Leaving a job without burning bridges is usually a piece of cake. Tell them you now realize you need more experience before taking on that level of autonomy. Also, you worry that your current car is not reliable enough to not let patients down. Tell them you will reconsider home health in the future when you have more experience and financially able to afford a better car.

These statements might not be strictly be true. However you will come across as someone who is proactive and who takes responsibility for doing a good job. That should allow you to leave on good terms and keep future bridges intact.

Good luck.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

You aren't burning bridges when you give ample notice.

I don't recommend lying to anyone about coming back when you have more experience.

Its perfectly respectable to admit that home health is not for you.

[caliotter3]

Don't try to predict the future, just find the new job and give proper notice.

[Callia]

Leaving a job without burning bridges is usually a piece of cake. Tell them you now realize you need more experience before taking on that level of autonomy.

Thank you; this does sound like a good way to present it - and honestly, that is part of the problem. In addition to the documenting for hours at home and running my car into the ground, I also didn't realize how much I don't know clinically speaking until I started going out with my preceptor for HH training.

I'm not sure why my AN profile here says 1 year of experience; I've actually been doing SNF and agency for 3 years - but still, I think I was overconfident in my abilities. I don't feel like I am ready to be in a position where I am the only person working with patients as opposed to working in a building with other staff.