Quit first hospital job after less than 6 months

[murse27]

Any nurses new to the hospital setting able to bounce back after a year or less of experience? I've come to accept that maybe the hospital just isn't for me. Long story short, I was not mentally capable of handling things. Please share your insight and advice. Thanks.

[BrisketRN, BSN, RN]

Yep. I quit/was asked to leave a cardiac unit (it's a long story) after 3 or 4 months. I got a job as a private duty nurse for children on ventilators about a month later. It was a new grad program, and they said I was still a new grad as I had

I knew before I graduated nursing school that in-patient floor nursing would never be "my thing". I chose to ignore all of the brainwashing the professors do to students telling them they need two years of med-surg under their belts or they won't find a job. Instead I chose to focus my job search in ambulatory care and found an amazing job at a pediatric and maternal health clinic. There are many jobs out there that do not require in-patient experience. And truth be told, not all in-patient jobs prepare you well for an outpatient job setting. I was a nurse manager in an outpatient pediatric clinic several years ago and hired a nurse who had years of med-surg experience and was looking for a "change". Long story short, she could not handle the pace of the practice and got overwhelmed and quit after three months.

[Golden_RN, MSN]

I was in your exact same position 20 years ago. I followed my heart into SNF work & it was the best decision. The work is not easier, but it is just different.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Back to the original poster - what did you decide to pursue? As others have said, there are many options. Hospital nursing isn't for everyone, just like clinic nursing isn't for everyone - options.

Best wishes