Not able to continue orientation, feel terrible.

[Jo Dirt]

I started general orientation for my new job on the telemetry floor today. It seems like a really good place to work, but I have a major issue: my 2.5 month old refuses to have anything to do with a bottle. Today went "okay" but he wouldn't eat. I was gone for 12 hrs. and so he went that long without drinking, my husband managed to get a few spoonfuls of applesauce in him but he can't just eat that all day. I am supposed to work mostly at night only the first few months I will be training five days a week all day. I feel like it would not be good for the baby's well-being to continue but I am scared to approach the NM over this.

Has anyone ever had a similar situation where they had to quit? I would like to think I would be able to try again when the baby is older but if I was to back out now would the NM be angry and would I be a no rehire at this hospital system? I know this would be a good opportunity to learn skills but I don't feel like it would be right to do it at the baby's expense. He just needs me too much right now.

[Jo Dirt]

First, I would just like to make a statement. I realize I'm guilty of "too much information" but it's so darn easy once I start typing for it too just keep coming out....kind of like diarrhea of the fingers at the keyboard, though it is hard for me to seek advice and explain messages I'm trying to convey without being personal.

Anyway, this thread IS nursing related (why do the threads I start always end up getting closed??? Like that song by Waylon Jennings: there's one in every crowd for crying out loud why is it always turning out to be me?)

I'm like Rose going on and on with all the boring details of life in St. Olaf...and leslie, I didn't beat up anyone, it was just a what if question!

On to the topic at hand:

I just wanted to brag on the NM at the hospital where I just started.

I showed up this morning for orientation (15 minutes late) and she was waiting for me outside the door. She told me to tell her what was going on because my husband called and talked to her about baby issues. I explained that he wasn't adapting and I felt defeated could I try again later. She patted my hand and said I was right to come and talk to her instead of just walking out because if I had done that I would be a no rehire. She told me to go home and take it easy and the stress was what was causing my milk to decrease and when the baby was older I am welcome to come back. She just asked one favor of me before I came back and that was to go through an RN refresher course to ease the culture shock next time. She said she cared about me and I feel like she meant it, makes me kind of misty eyed to think about it.

I know other moms leave babies to risk their lives overseas and that makes issues moms of mom's here seem trivial. I just hope the military moms have good support systems (better than the one I have). I know it doesn't sound like it on here (but you know, it's hard to really know a person's situation when you just read bits and pieces on a computer screen) but I'm not a pampered whiney princess. I work and pay bills and do without to try to take care of my family. Not that everyone doesn't do that I just blab about it more.

I guess I need a life.

But anyway, it wasn't as bad as I thought. If I need a hospital I think I will go to that one. And I look forward to going back when things are better. I'm very lucky.