Overwhelmed

[emma_lowe]

I became licensed in September and have been working for a nursing home. The facility I work at has been through so many changes. New admins, new company, new don, two new adons... ect. It's as if nobody will stay! It is really chaotic, stressful, short-staffed and we are being overworked. I loved it when I first started, but I now dread going to work. I have only been an LVN for six months and I still don't feel very confident. I have been looking at open positions in my area online, but I am not sure I want to apply. My husband is in school right now, and I am our only means financially for the next year. I am nervous that if I change jobs now, that either the job wont work out for some reason, or that it will be worse than the situation I am currently in. My husband says I should change jobs if I am so unhappy, but i am really scared. Better the devil you know, right? I need advise from other nurses. Would it be foolish for me to leave my job that I have just because I am unhappy there, when I have so much riding on it? Or is it the opposite? It has been a very difficult decision and I would really appreciate any advise.

[BlueDawnRN, BSN]

It's never foolish to leave something when you're unhappy.

You can take your time and look, and not leave your current position unless you're confident the next one will be better. You probably took this job because it was a job. Now that you have a job, you can take the next one only if you have a good gut feeling. Just don't take any job just to get out of the one you're in now. Take the one that feels right. You'll know.

Remember there's no harm in applying, and no obligation to accept a job offer. You'll never know if you don't look. And be confident! You're a professional nurse with lots to offer.