New NP feeling discouraged...

Joan Z · Oct 13, 2008

He may have been thinking it was just an adjustment issue, or you'd get used to things and stop complaining... sounds like he hears the same things a lot, and in today's economy it can take a leap of faith to leave a steady job so maybe he figured no problem. Of course he's p-o/d, he needs to find someone new (actually TWO someones). If he's smart he'll learn from the experience--doesn't sound like he wants to learn though. You did what you had to do, after you tried to make it work. Don't feel guilty!

RNBillie · Oct 13, 2008

Ok, so I gave my notice of resignation to my supervisor on Friday, and I will work the rest of my scheduled shifts for the rest of October, and then I am done (phew!). But when I gave my notice, my supervisor was so mad!! Also not helping the situation is the fact that another new NP who was hired the exact same time as me (2 months ago) also gave his notice right before I did! His complaints are very similar to mine....Anyhow, I feel bad I am leaving, but feel I am being fair by giving 3 weeks notice, and I am sorry, but if I am miserable and still feel physically ill from working 12 hour night shifts constantly, and truly HATE my job, why would I stay? My boss was saying how since we are leaving so abruptly, now the other NPs will suffer because they will have to work to cover our shifts for next month. But what am I supposed to do? I feel this position is not a safe one, we are expected to cover services we were never trained for, and the attendings on those services never call us back during emergency situations with their patients. Plus, I dont' even feel like I am a hospitalist during the night shift, because all we do is put "band-aids" on issues. We spend sooooo much time trying to correct typos, omissions that the daytime MDs forgot to do...that is not very satisfying to me! So I told my supervisor I would work the rest of the month (which I think is fair) and that I am very sorry, but I have to do what is best for me at this time. I jsut don't like it when I am as honest as I can be and as fair as I can be, and someone still tries to make me feel guilty. What am I supposed to do? I am not staying somewhere where I feel it is unsafe, and a horrible job, and the hours stink! Sorry, I had to vent...By the way, the other NP who is leaving was given the same exact guilt trip as me, that we didn't give it long enough, we are screwing over the other NPs, etc...etc...

Thanks for the update. Instead of giving you the guilt trip your supervisor should've inquired more about ways they can improve the position so that more NPs dont quit. If two of you both quit in the same amount of time that should tell him that something is immensely wrong and needs to be corrected asap....Goodluck with your job search. I hope you get that job in Cardiology you wanted

Good for you:yeah:

JDCitizen · Oct 13, 2008

Ok, so I gave my notice of resignation to my supervisor on Friday, and I will work the rest of my scheduled shifts for the rest of October, and then I am done (phew!). But when I gave my notice, my supervisor was so mad!! Also not helping the situation is the fact that another new NP who was hired the exact same time as me (2 months ago) also gave his notice right before I did! His complaints are very similar to mine....Anyhow, I feel bad I am leaving, but feel I am being fair by giving 3 weeks notice, and I am sorry, but if I am miserable and still feel physically ill from working 12 hour night shifts constantly, and truly HATE my job, why would I stay? My boss was saying how since we are leaving so abruptly, now the other NPs will suffer because they will have to work to cover our shifts for next month. But what am I supposed to do? I feel this position is not a safe one, we are expected to cover services we were never trained for, and the attendings on those services never call us back during emergency situations with their patients. Plus, I dont' even feel like I am a hospitalist during the night shift, because all we do is put "band-aids" on issues. We spend sooooo much time trying to correct typos, omissions that the daytime MDs forgot to do...that is not very satisfying to me! So I told my supervisor I would work the rest of the month (which I think is fair) and that I am very sorry, but I have to do what is best for me at this time. I jsut don't like it when I am as honest as I can be and as fair as I can be, and someone still tries to make me feel guilty. What am I supposed to do? I am not staying somewhere where I feel it is unsafe, and a horrible job, and the hours stink! Sorry, I had to vent...By the way, the other NP who is leaving was given the same exact guilt trip as me, that we didn't give it long enough, we are screwing over the other NPs, etc...etc...

The all the other nurses are going to have to work harder is a lame overly repeated excuse most any boss uses...

-Resignations would not be flying in if the boss would have paid attention.

There was a job opening when you applied there is a job opening with you leaving. That "boss" needs to look at him/herself and figure out where there is a problem and fix it not come up with attempted guilt trips.

Too easy to let a business / job burn you to a crisp and all that business / job does is go to the next person...

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Oct 20, 2008

Well, I am happy that I only have to come to work 3 more times after tonight's shift. Thank goodness for that! And I called to see if I got the Cardiology NP position a few days ago, and they said they will let me know by middle of this coming week...so I hope I get it!!! If I don't get it, I honestly do not know what I will do. I applied for a few other NP positions, but really cannot see myself doing any of them. What a bad spot to be in. I'm nervous and worried I won't get this job. I just hate not knowing for sure what will happen next...it is so scary to not have a plan B!!!

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Oct 25, 2008

Well unfortunately, I did not get the Cardiology NP position. They ended up hiring a person with 5 years of Cardiology NP experience. So then I am wondering why they bothered to interview me, a brand new NP graduate, in the first place. Now I have a phobia that I am going to go on other job interviews, and get passed over each time for someone with several years of NP experience. How can I compete with that, since I cannot change the fact that I just graduated from my NP program in June?! I have another interview for a Surgery clinic NP position this Thursday, and it sounds really great so far, but of course now I'm worried this will happen again. I guess I have to stop being pessismistic, but it's tough not knowing where I'll be working again as an NP...and when. And I must've sent my resume to about 4 other places too, so hopefully something will happen for me! I really felt like I truly did my best on that interview, and I know I have really good references, and my GPA in school was a 4.0, and I have 3 years of RN experience working in med/surg/tele and am both BLS and ACLS certified....but I don't know what else I am supposed to have, or say or do? I thought I did so well in my interview, I am having a hard time dealing with the fact that they weren't interested in me. Even though I am a new NP, I really feel like I could have done the job well. But what can I do? They chose the person with lots of NP experience.

VivaRN · Oct 25, 2008

Hang in there! I hate to be cynical but from what brief experience I have in the job market... maybe they already knew who they wanted or there was some circumstance outside of your control. If I were you I would get with my local NP or professional organization and start asking around. Who's hiring? Where's a good place to work? Maybe you'll meet a manager looking for someone just like you. If you could get a job as a new grad you can get a job again. Go to that interview and pretend like the last one never happened.

The other strategy would be to turn your new-ness into a strength, like you are flexible and ready to learn how they do things, don't have bad habits, are current with the literature and guidelines etc. if they bring it up.

Good luck!

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Oct 25, 2008

wow! most of the jobs i have seen / interviewed for require 2 MONTHS notice! is three weeks normal? i mean, i've had to give 3 weeks for my RN job... minimum. They really liked it if you gave them a month to six weeks! But then again, I have always worked small units!

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Oct 28, 2008

wow! most of the jobs i have seen / interviewed for require 2 MONTHS notice! is three weeks normal? i mean, i've had to give 3 weeks for my RN job... minimum. They really liked it if you gave them a month to six weeks! But then again, I have always worked small units!

But honestly, a main reason I am leaving my position is that I have not gotten the least bit used to working 12 hour overnight shifts, and still feel incredibly ill and nauseated and having migraines nearly every single time I work. So in my opinion, I just need to get the heck out of there ASAP. My supervisor was fine with me giving 3 weeks notice, so obviously I am too.

emtneel · Oct 28, 2008

But honestly, a main reason I am leaving my position is that I have not gotten the least bit used to working 12 hour overnight shifts, and still feel incredibly ill and nauseated and having migraines nearly every single time I work. So in my opinion, I just need to get the heck out of there ASAP. My supervisor was fine with me giving 3 weeks notice, so obviously I am too.

Everything is negotiable. I was told in hospital orientation that CEO, upper management, MDs, midlevels etc, all have to give 4 weeks notice. Others below that 2 weeks notice.

When i gave my notice i had barely been there 2 months, then my boss said she talked to somebody and ACTUALLY NPs, and only midlevels have to give 60 days notice. I was like are you kidding me? I have barely been here 60 days and i have to stay another 60 days.

But i didn't want to leave "ineligible" either, so i went to HR and told them to talk to whoever to figure out how we could work this out.

Plus the boss had asked me to look for another job on a few occasions (my 4th day!) and would i have still had to give 60 days notice then?

I had already given notice on my house and told them i would have to stay in a hotel with my dog to do the extra 30 days notice and that nothing i had in writing said 60 days, everything said 4 weeks. For which they said i should have looked up some policy online...

Anyways.. they knew i wasn't leaving for another job, ie: I'm unemployed looking right now. But i wasn't telling them why, since i had to still stay for those last days, so they worked with me and let me have the last day when i needed it.

That being said, i was also physically ill, stomach aches/nausea/HA also crying every day after work.. so i can't stay in an environment that makes me ill like that, NO money is worth it.

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Oct 29, 2008

Everything is negotiable. I was told in hospital orientation that CEO, upper management, MDs, midlevels etc, all have to give 4 weeks notice. Others below that 2 weeks notice.
When i gave my notice i had barely been there 2 months, then my boss said she talked to somebody and ACTUALLY NPs, and only midlevels have to give 60 days notice. I was like are you kidding me? I have barely been here 60 days and i have to stay another 60 days.
But i didn't want to leave "ineligible" either, so i went to HR and told them to talk to whoever to figure out how we could work this out.
Plus the boss had asked me to look for another job on a few occasions (my 4th day!) and would i have still had to give 60 days notice then?
I had already given notice on my house and told them i would have to stay in a hotel with my dog to do the extra 30 days notice and that nothing i had in writing said 60 days, everything said 4 weeks. For which they said i should have looked up some policy online...
Anyways.. they knew i wasn't leaving for another job, ie: I'm unemployed looking right now. But i wasn't telling them why, since i had to still stay for those last days, so they worked with me and let me have the last day when i needed it.
That being said, i was also physically ill, stomach aches/nausea/HA also crying every day after work.. so i can't stay in an environment that makes me ill like that, NO money is worth it.

Oh my gosh, you sound like my twin! I could have written this same exact thing! I have 2 interviews coming up, but as of tomorrow I am unemployed....but I don't care because I am always so ill on this night shift!

emtneel · Oct 29, 2008

Christvs: keep your chin up.

I've been busy moving my stuff back to Colorado for storage and going to get busy applying for a few more state licenses. I'm going to try to get a locum position in TX as a NP, and if doesn't work out, gonna take a RN job in AZ or CA and have fun!! (and make about the same amount of money...)

I feel kinda odd leaving a job without having another one lined up, but i had a peace about the whole situation as it was the right thing to do for me.

I kinda felt like that first job was the end all be all, but now i feel like i have LOTS of options and don't feel like i have to get screwed with. Sometimes though I feel so jaded by the first job that I just want to go work in a restaurant or something... too bad that won't pay the student loans..

I wish healthcare was more of a "helping" industry and not just about money, which it is...

makes it a dog eat dog world out there...

Another reason i want to get my loans paid off so i can go do mission work where there is no such thing as HMO's, insurance, and deductables... :bugeyes:

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Oct 29, 2008

Christvs: keep your chin up.
I've been busy moving my stuff back to Colorado for storage and going to get busy applying for a few more state licenses. I'm going to try to get a locum position in TX as a NP, and if doesn't work out, gonna take a RN job in AZ or CA and have fun!! (and make about the same amount of money...)
I feel kinda odd leaving a job without having another one lined up, but i had a peace about the whole situation as it was the right thing to do for me.
I kinda felt like that first job was the end all be all, but now i feel like i have LOTS of options and don't feel like i have to get screwed with. Sometimes though I feel so jaded by the first job that I just want to go work in a restaurant or something... too bad that won't pay the student loans..
I wish healthcare was more of a "helping" industry and not just about money, which it is...
makes it a dog eat dog world out there...
Another reason i want to get my loans paid off so i can go do mission work where there is no such thing as HMO's, insurance, and deductables...

Thanks. Yes, I am so happy I am leaving this job tomorrow, but like you, also feel weird not having another job lined up. Am nervous about how I'm going to pay the bills...and not to make matters more complicated, but my husband and I just separated too. So I seem to be going through so many changes right now my head is spinning. Good luck with your job search. You're right-it is not the end of the world when you leave your job. I also thought I would be a Hospitalist NP forever and am disappointed it didn't work out for me, but there are so many NP positions out there. I know we will find something we enjoy.