Quit first hospital job after less than 6 months

Jedrnurse, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2018

Med-surg (and other hospital floors) aren't for everyone, and there's more to nursing than hospitals. What positive experiences have you had in healthcare? What really "floats your boat"? Try to isolate what you like, then you can explore alternative paths.

But keep in mind two things:

1. many non-hospital jobs require initial hospital experience (not all, but a lot)

2. There's a reason that work is a 4 letter word. It's all well and good to pursue your passion, but the bottom line is that bills need to be paid...

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2018

I absolutely hated my six months in the ICU where I started and realized what I hate is acute care. I really like ambulatory care. Having said that - it's not easy going backward and most management positions want you to have a year of acute care. It sounds like you've already left. "Not mentally capable" could mean many things. Do you need help with prioritization? Were you particularly bad at one thing? I was terrible with heart rhythms. Still am.

Good luck.

murse27 · Dec 8, 2018

I previously worked in a SNF for a couple years and have always enjoyed working with the geriatric population. Should I focus on something like home health or some sort of higher position within a nursing home that still allows me to deal with the old folks in some way?

Ive always thought that maybe working in some sort of clinic would be just the right amount of stress and work/life balance.

Julius Seizure · Dec 9, 2018

I previously worked in a SNF for a couple years and have always enjoyed working with the geriatric population. Should I focus on something like home health or some sort of higher position within a nursing home that still allows me to deal with the old folks in some way?
Ive always thought that maybe working in some sort of clinic would be just the right amount of stress and work/life balance.

Why did you leave the SNF job?

allnurses Guide · Dec 9, 2018

I previously worked in a SNF for a couple years and have always enjoyed working with the geriatric population. Should I focus on something like home health or some sort of higher position within a nursing home that still allows me to deal with the old folks in some way?
Ive always thought that maybe working in some sort of clinic would be just the right amount of stress and work/life balance.

Why can't you just go apply for a floor nurse position at the nursing home?

Why do you need to apply for a "higher position"?

I mean, nursing home is certainly hard work, especially working on the floor. But if you

love that population...

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Dec 9, 2018

Without previous management experience you are no more qualified for a "higher position" in a nursing home than any other floor nurse. Plus if you are looking for a less stressful job that's probably not it. That being said, those positions aren't always easy to fill, so it won't hurt to put applications out there if you are interested in that type of job.

bbnurse17 · Dec 10, 2018

Hi there! Just curious, what makes you feel like hospital nursing is not for you? Have your managers/coworkers expressed any doubts or is it more something that you have placed on yourself? Sometimes we can be so hard on ourselves, when really we are doing just fine! I'd suggest you take a step back, maybe look at the more concrete feedback you've gotten (successes and areas for improvement)and above all be gentle with yourself :)

with that being said, if you're not happy where you are there's options! Research is one area that I'm familiar with that is a bit calmer pace, and still let's you use your critical thinking. And many positions aren't strict about how much prior experience you need.

sources: 1.5 years of med/surg experience and questioning my self in the same way many times haha! And 1 year in research nursing. Best of Luck!!!

JBMmom, MSN, NP · Dec 10, 2018

I've worked in long-term care, med-surg and ICU. All are very different skill sets and populations and I could see any not appealing to some people for many different reasons. I think you're lucky that you have found out what you don't like, so now you can concentrate on finding a career that does make you happy. If you have your RN (I assume you do since hospital LPN positions are scarce these days), you can likely return to that environment and transition into a supervisory position, especially if you already have SNF experience. Hope you find something that makes you happy.

anewsns · Dec 10, 2018

I previously worked in a SNF for a couple years and have always enjoyed working with the geriatric population. Should I focus on something like home health or some sort of higher position within a nursing home that still allows me to deal with the old folks in some way?
Ive always thought that maybe working in some sort of clinic would be just the right amount of stress and work/life balance.

What about hospice ?

murseman24, MSN, CRNA · Dec 10, 2018

Good for you, the hospital works you too hard and pays too little. From what I've seen you can get more pay for doing much less outside of the hospital. Or work pre/post-op, or some of the interventional units and your job is much less stressful and at a slower pace. So now you know what you don't want to do. Time to find something else you enjoy. Psych nursing is also very different and much less stressful/busy

K9lover, ASN, RN · Dec 12, 2018

I would have fled in less time; that 1st year was most stressful of my life. Book smart and street smart but no idea walking in the degree of responsibility and constant exhaustion working nocs.

I'd been a waitress for years, any mistake could be redeemed by a free mousse/ drink etc...

I had a lot of tenacity and, more importantly, a preceptor who did not eat his young and I was being eaten alive. A few were quite open about it and while I had a tough youth I went into that 1st job so blindsided I was a wreck; on a good night I'd make it all the way to the car to have a sobfest, a few nights I just stopped for a sobfest on the floor prior to report with abject dread over what the shift would bring. They thought I was an unhinged basket case and I was.

And I was, if preceptor hadn't been kind I would have turned around. I used one person as the glue to hold it together and stuck by him as my protection; shelter from the storm. My luck we became friends and he had a codependent side.

So I stayed and it got better, took awhile. I finally went to days as I never adjusted to nocs. Worst part was no longer working with the colleague/friend I'd come to rely on to protect me from any/all ugliness staff could dish out but I became stronger.

In reading this I feel urge to sing "I will survive"! And that is the way I felt, even as a ball of insecurities wrapped up in fear with a nice bow of angst wrapped around it I suited up and showed up no matter what although I think I became a bit too thick-skinned in process never letting my guard down. Survival instinct as there were still some sadistic colleagues and managers out there, it made me a kinder person in the long run.

I wish you well! Remember it does get better but it takes time.