Nursing job is making me sick ?

Nurses General Nursing

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I’m trying to give a year at my current job. I’ve been there for 5 months and I notice on Sunday I feel mentally and physically sick. I feel drained.

my issue is I made a terrible mistake. Once I graduated in Jan 18.

I took two prn positions one LTC and one substance abuse.

I ended up accepting a FT at the substance abuse, worked there for 11 months and 15 days. Left because the older nurse eating her young and sexual inappropriateness from patients and higher ups would ignore. When I was leaving to go to my car., twice old patients would be waiting for me.

So I accepted another job ( the one now)

because it sounded good and more pay, my own office, no holiday, on call or weekends.

But then one of the other nurses quit and it all changed.

I work at two locations one an hour away. The job has a lot of nepotism there, the Dr ( the owner) will not respond with me with issues but to the other nurse, we are basically assisting PAs all day, in charge of 9 offices, interpreting labs, scheduling and PAs asking me for advice ( medically-Like orders.

I’m experiencing a lot of anxiety. My thing is a little voice inside told me not to take the job because I knew I wanted to get out of substance abuse But was trying to avoid LTC full time and everyone was telling me home care for a new nurse wasn’t good.

I've been thinking about what I want and I think it’s either home care or hospice.

i feel guilty because I feel like I’m letting some down.

i want to give a notice but it’s been said this company doesn’t accept notices they’ll let you go on the spot.

I don’t feel like a nurse at this job and working 5 days won’t allow me to go back for my RN.

I’d rather work 3 12’s in homecare for flexibility.

I just feel afraid but at the same time I’m not happy.

Any advice?

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It definitely sounds like it makes sense for you to start applying for home care jobs (or perhaps private duty). I wouldn't quit your current job until you have something else lined up, but from what you said that definitely sounds like a better option than sticking it out in your current role.

I'm a bit confused about the 'notice' comment. I definitely wouldn't give your notice until you have a new job in place. If they don't tend to allow you to give notice, be prepared to go without a pay check for a couple of weeks while you wait for your new job to start. Your employer should have some kind of policy about the amount of notice they usually require. I'm surprised that they wouldn't honor your notice; most places want to keep you around for a couple of extra weeks so they won't suddenly be short-staffed (unless your getting fired, in which case you're let go right away).

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Hey! To clear up the notice issue with this company, every person that I have seen leave are told to leave right away. In the handbook they ask for at least two weeks notice but then also states, however employment may be terminated immediately even if two week notice is give . So I’m thinking long and hard. It brings so much anxiety. I remember my second day I didn’t even want to show up for orientation, I just want to explore another specialty but feel extremely guilty.

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20 minutes ago, mzsuccess said:

I just want to explore another specialty but feel extremely guilty.

I know it's easier said than done, but don't feel guilty. You need to do what's best for you. Simply the fact that they terminate people on the spot without honoring notice tells me that the company values their own best interest over the interest of their staff. Businesses are always going to put their own needs first. This sounds like a pretty rough environment; start applying to other jobs and don't look back. If you had an amazing relationship with your employer I'd understand you feeling guilty, but girl, you don't owe them anything.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Go with your gut.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
On 7/14/2019 at 6:59 PM, mzsuccess said:

Hey! To clear up the notice issue with this company, every person that I have seen leave are told to leave right away. In the handbook they ask for at least two weeks notice but then also states, however employment may be terminated immediately even if two week notice is give . So I’m thinking long and hard. It brings so much anxiety. I remember my second day I didn’t even want to show up for orientation, I just want to explore another specialty but feel extremely guilty.

When you are offered a new job, tell your new employer about this situation. Tell them you may need to work your notice, or you may be let go on the spot. They may be willing to work with you and be prepared to wait two weeks or start you right away.

While you are shopping for a new gig, curtail all unnecessary spending just in case you have to go two weeks without a paycheque. Good luck.

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Specializes in ICU, trauma, neuro.

Could you go down to prn at your facility until you found a new job? Also, have you considered other options such as dialysis nursing, working at an outpatient MD office, school nurse, mental health nursing or even going back to school for your NP?

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11 minutes ago, myoglobin said:

Could you go down to prn at your facility until you found a new job? Also, have you considered other options such as dialysis nursing, working at an outpatient MD office, school nurse, mental health nursing or even going back to school for your NP?

From the initial post I got the sense that the OP is an LPN, and therefore might be a bit more limited in practice settings than an RN.

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Yes very limited but this is a MD office door outpatient and I’m just done with the whole substance abuse specialty as a whole. I have an interview with private duty for 3 12 hour shifts a week.

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4 hours ago, myoglobin said:

Could you go down to prn at your facility until you found a new job? Also, have you considered other options such as dialysis nursing, working at an outpatient MD office, school nurse, mental health nursing or even going back to school for your NP?

I’m currently an LPN hoping to go back for my RN. But this a Dr’s private own office.

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5 hours ago, TriciaJ said:

When you are offered a new job, tell your new employer about this situation. Tell them you may need to work your notice, or you may be let go on the spot. They may be willing to work with you and be prepared to wait two weeks or start you right away.

While you are shopping for a new gig, curtail all unnecessary spending just in case you have to go two weeks without a paycheque. Good luck.

Thanks for this. I am going to save and I’ve been picking up extra on weekends at my LTC job. Yesterday, after an employee clocked out, they texted her to check her email and told her that her services were no longer needed when she put in her notice so gives you something to think about.

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Your current employer sounds lousy.

Do what you need to do for YOU.

There is no need for guilt.

You owe them nothing but good work while you are there and notice of your decision to leave when you actually want to give notice. Make that notice at least 2 weeks, as is common.

If they let you go on the spot, well, there doesn't seem to be much you can do about it. They sound vindictive. Sounds like they have high turnover.

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