New RN ready to switch floors at 6 months of working

[geauxlsutigers]

Hi,

I am a new RN working in oncology, I have been at my present job for 6 months. I am very unhappy working on the unit I'm currently at due to the nature of the field - I see many patients go downhill fast, I feel like I am not doing anything to help them and that no matter what I do the cancer will eventually kill them. During nursing school I worked as a tech in other oncology unit and liked my job and the thought of being a good nurse for people during a difficult time in their lives seemed like it would be rewarding so I had my mind set on working in this field. I love my patients, but I don't feel I belong in this field anymore. I cannot figure out if it is just the unit or a combination of factors...I had a really horrible orientation experience - my preceptor had limited time to spend training me and I had multiple people trying to train me so there was no consistency, and my current supervisor usually just gives me attitude or snaps at me when I ask questions. The people I work with do not work as a team, so that also does not make things easier. I feel like I have had no support since I've started working on this unit. I have told my manager about my negative experience with my supervisor and how I feel and she said she would take action about it, but I have not seen any changes and you cannot change this person's personality.

I had a very idealistic idea of what nursing was all about upon graduation, but my experience so far is disheartening and disappointing to me. I don't want this to ruin my view of the field of nursing, although it has been making me question whether or not going back to school to be a nurse was worth it at all. The staff nurses for the most part have been friendly and helpful, and I've asked them many questions, I just don't feel connected to them or the field I am working in like I thought I would be by now.

I know that there is this standard advice that "things get better after the first year" but I don't think I can stick out working in this type of environment for another 6 months under these conditions. I want to switch units but I'm not sure how it would look to other nurse managers if I would try to apply for other positions after just 6 months of experience. I do have a positive evaluation under my belt, however. This is what I thought I wanted to do with my nursing career, now I have no idea what floor I would want to switch to.

I want to know if as a nurse manager, given my situation, it would look bad to others hiring, if I applied to switch units this early on. This job has caused me to become very depressed and I feel burned out already and I did take action and talk to human resources about it and made an appointment with a counselor. HR told me that I would need to provide them, my manager and house supervisor with reason for switching and that they all would have to agree on my switching units, which leaves me feeling powerless as a new nurse. I don't have a particular unit I want to work on, I just know I hate working on the one I'm on right now.

I daydream about starting over on a completely new, different unit and how I could be happy somewhere else. I cry when I think about going back to work, on my way to work, and sometimes at work because of the sad situations my patients are in. I have not been myself since I have started working as a nurse.

I just need some feedback about what you all think would be best to do in my situation. Thanks.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

You see these patients when they are at their worst- but try to remember that most of them are getting the time to take care of any unfinished business in their lives. I did home care hospice for a guy that died at 28. I was with him at his last doctor's appointment when he was told there was nothing more that could be done (he lived less then a month afterwards) On the way home he told me that he would not trade the past two years of his life since his diagnosis - it forced him to spend more time with his family in those years then he had since high school-They got to know each other as adults and he was thankful for that time. In the last weeks of his life he gave away his belongings, wrote letters to his loved ones and even got birthday cards for them for after he was gone.

[Simply Complicated]

Have you broached the subject of transferring with your manager? I have known others to transfer early on, it really just depends on your facility. IT won't hurt to try, if you can't get hired, then it was worth a shot.

If you were to give the reason as saying that you don't think oncology is for you, that you prefer to work somewhere that you see the patients getting better more often and going home... you are not placing blame, or saying it is for negative reasons or problems at work.

If it is affecting your health, then you really need to atleast give it a shot to try and find something else.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

You see these patients when they are at their worst- but try to remember that most of them are getting the time to take care of any unfinished business in their lives. I did home care hospice for a guy that died at 28. I was with him at his last doctor's appointment when he was told there was nothing more that could be done (he lived less then a month afterwards) On the way home he told me that he would not trade the past two years of his life since his diagnosis - it forced him to spend more time with his family in those years then he had since high school-They got to know each other as adults and he was thankful for that time. In the last weeks of his life he gave away his belongings, wrote letters to his loved ones and even got birthday cards for them for after he was gone.

I think that the OP is way past being persuaded to stay in her current position.

I think that you need to do what you need to do. And given the unit that you are seeking to leave, most nurse managers will totally understand. Not every nurse is cut out for oncology and there is nothing wrong with that. I think you are on the right track with your plan. You sound like a very caring nurse and I would hate for you to get burned out early on in your career because you are not in the right place for you.

[neatnurse30]

I was a new grad in ICU ( intensive care). I hated it, I was not getting things fast enough according to my preceptor. I knew that I had to move on. When my fellowship was almost finished, I had a talk with the manager and the preceptor. We all agreed that this unit was not working for me. I transferred to med surg and after 4 years, I'm still on the same unit. It was a good move! But I switched units within the same hospital, that was 4 years ago, when every unit was begging for nurses. I think you need to move on. THere is no point of you being miserable.

[Sarah010101]

Although i cannot even begin to try and understand how you are feeling since i have not graduated yet... I think you need to give yourself some credit for trying to make it work and following through. So many people start something and decide they do not like it and quit. I think that you really have reflected on your experience and in a way that will make you a stronger person in the end.

Nurses need to be passionate about their work, and while i can see that you are a very caring person, perhaps not being completely happy with your position could affect the way you work as well and patient care. Patients like to see that you enjoy your job :) And i think you owe it to yourself to move on and find the area that is right for you.

Good luck! :)

[shoegalRN, RN]

I agree with the previous poster. I, too, also started off in ICU, and one week before my orientation was up, I met with the director and asked to be transferred. I have been in ER ever since and I love it!

Sometimes, a unit is just not a good fit, no matter how you try to look at it. I would start putting in applications with other units within your hospital.

You have the good evaluation under your belt, so use that to transfer. If asked why you left the unit, explain maybe that speciality wasnt a good idea to go right into after nursing school. Explain you want to build up your skills and confidence and maybe in a couple of years, go back once you have grown as a nurse. That worked for me.

[TipitiwichitRN]

Aww... hugs to you. I know how you feel when the floor staff is just not a good fit... try not to cry on your way to work- put on some good music and sing along. Maybe it will get your mind off things for a minute.

I cry easily, too... at least in the situations you describe. I understand :)

You will make it! Good luck...

[coolpeach]

I went to ER when I first graduated, and was very unhappy. They kept switching my preceptors, my hours, and making thngs very difficult. I had finally had enough, and applied at another major hospital system in my area while still employed at the first hospital (Its easier to get a job when you have one). I got my new job first application, first interview, and it even paid more. I gave my two weeks notice, and will start in a week. If your unhappy do something about it. We worked too hard to be miserable.

[craftyrose]

Move on. Sometimes it is the best thing to do. You deserve to find a unit that will make you happy. Go talk to the human resource department. The hospital would rather move you to another unit then loose all the $$$ the cost of the orientation. When you find a good fit you will enjoy going to work. Good Luck

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

You don't give your age, or at least I did not spot it anywhere in your article. I must assume you are still very young, and there is a whole world of opportunities out there waiting for you. Nursing the terminally ill can be extremely rewarding or it can be extremely depressing, but the difference lies in the nurse's ability to cope with the emotional demands of such care units. I think you should get out of there and get some experience in other areas of nursing before deciding on a long-term work assignment. I am in my 50s and would not be comfortable working with the terminally ill on a permanent basis BECAUSE it is so emotionally draining.

[Zookeeper3]

After six months, you've given your area a good try. You also cite excellent reasons for job dissatisfaction, poor teamwork, lack of supervisor support, difficult patient population.

NEVER burn a bridge, look at your hospital job openings and apply. Because you are employed you can be choosier. If you have options, don't stay where you are unhappy, nursing is too versitile.