Quit my first Job during orientation

[DUDERNGUY, BSN, MSN]

Hi, i recently graduated in jan, passed boards first time in march, and landed a job in a STC/Acute care/LTC facility. I have been on orientation for a couple of weeks now. I have been feeling very overwhelmed. Last night i could not sleep due to high levels of anxiety and stress. This morning, overwhelmed with anxiety, i called up the nurse manager and she did not answer. I left her a message on her voice mail that said something like "i do not think i am cut out for your facility. I am stepping down from my position you guys offered to me. I am sorry and everyone there has been great to me though."

A few hours later she calls me back, i missed her phone call. She left me a message and said something like she wishes to speak to me and would like to offer me a slower paced orientation and to call her back. So i call her back and she said she is sorry that i feel that way and she had wished she had checked up on me more. I told her that i m scared and nervous about all the liability, documentation, fast pace environment, Telephone orders, confusing med passes hand written on cardexes, transcribing orders, and other nursing responsibilities.

She told me she doesnt want me to quit, will cut my hours down to 32 a week for orientation and put me on a slower passed unit where i can have more time to ask questions and look things up. This all sounds really great. I was amazed and shocked that she actually wanted me to stay.

Should i be worried about my reputation for throwing in the towel so soon and having the manager having to ask me to stay??? I m beginning to feel concerned about my actions, even though i was and still am truly truly overwhelmed. I have a feeling she is knowledgeable of the "reality shock" most new grads go through and is aware that I am suffering and beginning to go through this transition.

I m assuming they could have kicked me to the curb at that point if they wanted to. Why continue to pay and train someone your company doesnt see as good or adding value? Any input or thoughts from you guys on this type of situation would be great.

[hope3456, ASN, RN]

You will find that being a DUDERNGUY will earn you brownie points in the female dominated nursing world.

However, you might want to listen to your gut instinct on this one. These "ltc/rehab" facilities are generally "for profit" and can be very unsafe. You mention "hand written orders" and card exes? They would raise my anxiety too because they increase your chance for errors big time.

Take the manager up on her offer and learn as much as you can (unless you find it to be incredibly unsafe) but be looking for something better - with electronic MARS.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I think you have a remarkably responsive manager who does NOT want to kick you to the curb and WANTS you to succeed.

You are one fortunate person - and I would take advantage of the opportunity. And in response to the above poster, ANY place (profit or not) CAN be unsafe. Lots of facilities still use hand-written orders and kardexes - you learn to take precautions, follow procedures and AVOID errors.

You are being given a chance to OVERCOME your issues - my advice it TAKE IT!

[hope3456, ASN, RN]

Everyone has to start somewhere but IMO the handwritten MARS can be more dangerous to an inexperienced nurse who isn't familiar with the normal dosages of medications, abbreviations, ect.

[DUDERNGUY, BSN, MSN]

Everyone has to start somewhere but IMO the handwritten MARS can be more dangerous to an inexperienced nurse who isn't familiar with the normal dosages of medications, abbreviations, ect.

that was a complaint i brought up to the manager. The floor that i am being moved onto will allow for an orientation that is slower placed and she said i will be able to look meds up until i become more familiar with them. The reason i asked her about this is cause our pharm teacher, in college, looked each one of us in the eyes and said YOU DO NOT ADMIN A MED IF U DO NOT KNOW THE MED! For abbreviations there are facility policies on acceptable abbreviations. I have the whole list on my "orientation clip board". I will not admin a med with a unclear abbreviation without further clarification.

I am worried about medicine transcription. For new admits we have to, in some cases, take the medicine list from the hospital, get them verified and changed by the doctor or aprn and then re-write them onto a cardex type mar. this whole process to me is complex and allows to much chance for error. I know it can be done, but electronic is so much easier as far as i know.

[Kayemin]

I'm sorry you are going through this! Just know that your 1st year out of school will be very stress-inducing. It was for most of us. You are not alone. You did the right thing by recognizing that you were overwhelmed and you took a step back. I don't know what advice to give you as far as your particular facility, but I just wanted you to know that what you are feeling is completely normal. It WILL get better :)

[Julius Seizure]

The manager obviously sees something in you if you are being given this chance, so take it. It probably not a good thing to leave right now....that decision could come back to haunt you when trying to find another job and they ask what happened to your last one right out of school. I was a wreck during my orientation to, don't worry.....almost lost the job. Stick with it! It'll get better!

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

Wow! I want her for my nurse manager!! Go for it! She seems willing to work with you and obviously wants you to stay. Give it a shot and don't be worried for speaking up. New jobs are always going to give you some stress and a new nurse as well..... Hang in there. Good luck!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Gosh, I feel ancient.

I am starting to hear increasing complaints from new grads about having to use the 'Stone Age' processes of handwriting rather than electronic charting & MARs.... sheesh. (I just need a minute for my pacemaker to kick in)

Reality check here. Electronic systems are frightfully expensive. Despite their for-profit designation, LTC is not exactly a high-margin business. It may take years (decades?) to be able to afford to spend tens of millions of $ to implement electronic documentation systems. In the meantime, processes like medication reconciliation will just carry on like they always have - with pens and paper. Remember, just because something is typed does not automatically mean that it is more accurate.

Back in my day, we had 9 planets.

[salvadordolly]

Since you are a new grad, you will feel anxious anywhere doing any type of nursing for at least the first six months. Changing jobs will not save you from feeling overwhelmed right now. Your manager is responsive and is willing to give you an extended orientation. This forum is full of posts from new grads who are not so lucky. You should give it a chance.