new nurses considering quiting?

AnnaSL, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2008

Hello all,
I graduated nursing school in May. I passed boards and have been a practicing RN for 2 and 1/2 months.The floor I am on is very supportive and encouraging for new nurse learing(well,most people).The floor is really fast paced, a little to fast for me.i can't keep up! I dont know if im coming or going and I feel like the patients are suffering from my lack of knowledge. For as long as I can remember, I have always gotten not so good reviews about my performace. Which leaves my confidence down.Actually, I have never been that confident.I have not had a chance to build it up. So, I do not know if I should quit or stay.I dread going to work so much that the night before I dont get any sleep, Im stressed the whole time I am there, and i cry when I get home.I dont know if I should go to another floor or stick it out with this one.What to do all nurses?Thanks for your help.

ALL i can say is, DO NOT QUIT.. Nursing is a continous process of learning... Ask yourself this, IF YOU QUIT, WILL YOU GAIN SOMETHING OUT OF IT???

Constant exposure is that you need to develop a CLINICAL EYE and the SKILLS. You are NEW, and like a pencil, you need sharpening...

I know and sympathizes that you are stress right now:redbeathe, and giving you my HUGS..

You said 2months right, It's just the start... but try to remember everything your senior had done, what you need to do.. OH MY, FOCUS!!! ...

BE BACK ON TRACK, and PLEASE... dont tell me you've never been that confident, GAINING A LICENSE should have made you feel confident enough and it's time to put yourself in action...

This is just the start, there's a REASON why you are in that position right now, OVER COME it... You can do it, just focus...:typing:up:

bossynurse101 · Sep 10, 2008

i see that you're from st. louis...i work in a hospital in st. louis as well!
first off, take advantage - - - - - - - - -
(see abovr post).
sorry it was so long, but i hope it might have helped you out some.

mama d that is some awesome organization. i have to say i printed out your post and if i ever go back to floor nsg - i will use it. you rock! :yeah:

i think being organized is soooo helpful. 1styr - you mentioned not having time to prioritize, well i can say that i am alot like that. but if i can take just five minutes to look at my day before starting it (although things ususally change all day long) it was so helpful. i also made my own report form to use and got into a routine when doing assessments.

you have gotten a ton of wonderful advice, i wish i had been savvy enough to think of going to a site such as this to get some feedback when i felt like quitting. the best advice tho, dont give up no matter what! you can do this! so many of us thought the same thing and we made it. also not to sound harsh or critical but you might want to change your name to something more positive. you know, the self fulfilling prophecy thing and all . . .

best of luck to you - i will keep you in my thoughts for a happy day today and then some! :loveya:

NursingAgainstdaOdds · Sep 10, 2008

Very early into my first year, I overheard a discussion of two very experienced, role model nurses - they were commiserating about how many times they wanted to throw up their hands and quit nursing all together. It sounds like a very negative conversation, but what it really was about was how they loved nursing so much they just couldn't give up on it. I was so glad to hear that even the steadfast, cool-headed nurses I admired just felt like crap sometimes, too. It really helped to put things in perspective for me and get me through the awkward learning times. :nurse:

Don't give up, seek some more support.

sunshineyday · Sep 19, 2008

I quit! And I'm sooo happy I did. I even got a job at a BETTER hospital and this time I knew what questions to ask and what to look for!!! I am happily paying back my signing bonus.

Finally2008 · Oct 31, 2008

So, what kind of change did you make and what makes this better? I will be graduating in December and I would love to know how to make the best choice......I am getting really scared after listening to some of my friends' stories who graduated before me who are now working...

shahsa · Oct 31, 2008

I feel for you. I think ALL of us have been there in some way, shape or form. Don't quit until you have exhausted all your options, otherwise you will always have a bad taste in your mouth for nursing.

I feel for you!! I bet most new nurses feel this way to some extent. You should talk to someone before you even consider quitting.

Inspire1983 · Nov 1, 2008

I feel the same way. Every one is telling me that it will get better with time.

uscstu4lfe · Nov 1, 2008

i want to quit nursing, but i don't know of any other job that would pay me the same pay rate. if bills were not an issue, i think a job at Target or Wal-Mart would be better.

AnnaSL, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2008

Consider this, EVERYONE STARTS FROM SCRATCH... So if you QUIT, what else can you do? Will you GROW and GAIN Skills by QUITTING? some says, put you in a LESS TOXIC AREA, I mean, in our PROFESSION expect EVERYTHING are TOXIC.. its just the start and you are actually thinking of QUITTING??

DONT EVER, EVER DO THAT... Our profession needs CONSTANT exposure and if you QUIT, you'll get no where... you're gonna start over again and when you find yourself STRESS then you'll consider quitting???

Take a deep breath... Take everything in consideration, So what if I made mistakes, take that in and NEVER forget.. So the second time you'll never make the same mistake again...

We are like Pencils that needs SHARPENING.. and it wont happen if you quit..

Not confident? Hey, it's time to be one, you already have an RN at the end of your name... it's time to put that in action.. No quitters for Nurses... OKEY!!

You'll be okey in a few months I assure you... So stick around..