QUIT in orientation?

ShiphrahPuah · Aug 4, 2009

I want to make sure I understand what is going on. Are you currently orienting in one job, but you just got an offer for a job in a NICU? At first I thought you were currently doing oritentation in the NICU job which is your dream job, but then you didn't like it because of the backstabbing and gossip, and if that was the case I was going to tell you to stick it out if you have always wanted NICU. However, after rereading, it seems you would like to leave your current non-NICU job for the NICU job. In that case, if that is your passion and you have a a job offer, I would tell you to take the NICU job or else you'll always be wishing you had. There is no guarantee of another NICU offer soon, and you might end up not getting the opportunity again for a long time due to the economy.

I just finished up my first year as a nurse, and the first year is a roller coaster. I just want you to know that some of the things you don't like about your current job might be issues a lot of places. For me, there were periods of time that the floor was so busy that they kept calling asking me to work more, and other periods of time where nurses were getting called off due to low census, so don't judge a job on a one-month window. I have had both extremes in my job. Also, no matter where you go, there are going to be co-workers that are not your favorite. It's great to identify nurses who are kind and willing to answer your questions as you go, but unfortunately every job has it's share of people who are not great to work with.... this is my second career, and I had the same situations when I was in Information Systems. People are people, and you get cross-section of the personality types everywhere. I had a really great day at work yesterday, and one of the nurses I gave report to on the next shift was very B!+chy, and I found myself driving home feeling unhappy about my job. Then I realized it I had had a great day, and one 4 minute conversation affected my perception of my job, which is just plain wrong when it's a person who is crabby almost always. I wished I could create a workplace where only nice people worked, but that's a fantasy. It is hard the first year to figure out all the personalities that you work with, and unfortunately the ones who are not-so-nice will be especially snotty during your first year when you are uncertain about things. The best thing to do is just continue to be nice, not participate in the gossip, and try your best to let snotty comments roll off your back, realizing the source of those comments. I found that now that I am at the end of my first year, people respect me because I am willing to help out, have a positive attitude, and do not talk behind people's backs, and my best friends at work are nurses who work that way too.

Long story short, if you do have a NICU offer, I would say you'll kick yourself if you don't take it. However, go into that job realizing there may be days you get called off, and there may be several nurses who are gossipy and backstabbers, and you may work some hours you don't like.

meandragonbrett · Aug 4, 2009

You will generally have the same issues in every unit you work in. There will be periods of low census, there will be gossip, there will be rotating shifts, working holidays and weekends, being overworked and short staffed. Get used to it.

ToughRN · Aug 4, 2009

if its your dream i would take it regardless of how your current nurse manager feels about it. just be honest about it. its better to do what you want and do it before you get put on actual staff then to go through life with the what ifs

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Aug 5, 2009

quit but give proper notice. i would not give a reason other then it is not a right fit. period. they do not need to know of your other job offer because they do not care! i currently work on a floor in a sub-specialty of medical surgical nursing i hate and i would leave this hospital in a heart beat if i had a choice, especially if i could land my dream position in the er (not this er but another er). so there is no way i would advise you to stay.

yes, it looks bad to leave during orientation but if you remain at the nicu job for 2 years or more then future employers will not care that you left this position so early. in fact, if you need a new job in the future i would list the excuse for leaving your current position as not a good fit or offered a position to work in the nicu. if your future jobs are nicu related, i highly doubt any future employer will be concerned about your early departure. in other words, this current job does not matter if you behave from here on out as a good reliable employee. gl!

blake87893 · Aug 5, 2009

I did quit in orientation. I was orienting at a LTC facility and found several parts of this job were not what I wanted at all. Feces on a G-tube, a dangling PICC line not covered at all, no snacks or drinks for a diabetic patient with very low blood sugar. I only was to have 3 days orientation and was supposed to work this weekend by myself. With little to no experience. I was to have a patient with a trach, I have never performed trach care/suctioning. And they informed me I was the only RN (brand new RN) the rest were LPN's. And to top it off 26 other patients that took approximately 5 hours to pass meds. No patient interaction, just pass meds. No time to get to know your patients. I was the one in charge, and did not have any experience. I was choking. I just got my license and I don't want to lose it already. So I told them the job was not for me, I didn't tell them all that I had seen because I'm sure there used to it and it wouldn't of made a difference anyway. My advice to you, get out now. It's not going to get any better. Do what you can live with and what makes YOU happy.

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Aug 7, 2009

hello to all... I'm a recent RN of 07-07-09
Well first off let me say this is a wonderful site and I look forward to chatting with each and everyone..
Here goes : I hate my job it is worst thing I could ever imagine. I was so in a rush to get a job when I got out of school I just grabbed it and ran, I know it is not for me. I was feeding into the nursing shortage and you'll never get a NICU/ nursery job as a new grad thing. well I was offered a position and now I'm ready to leave the job I'm orientating with. Its more than my dream job ,the times are great, the hospital is great (my first choice), the staff, and its a critical care unit which demends great skills and knowledge, I won't have to worry about getting pulled for its a specility unit, The Beneifits and Retirement is great, and I think this is what GOD meant for me to have all the time. Now I know that its not going to be perfect. But on the current job its gossip, getting canceled for work (low census), backstabbing, bad hours, etc....
The problem. I have no idea how I should go about quiting. Should I let the NM know of my recent job offer, or just simply tell her it isn't working out and I'm not a good fit. I probably would be told to leave stat since I still have about 2 weeks left in orientation so they won't waste anymore money on me. Good thing is they won't be shortstaffed for I'm not counted in the staff as of yet.
I know most are going to say I should be thankful to even have a job in this economy. But honestly I rather be without a job then go through the torture of staying there.
P.S. My nurse manager recently pulled me into her office stating that if I leave I will make them look bad.
But this is my career and if I stay I feel I would make themlook bad, because there is somewhere else I rather be.

bless your heart, go with the job offer that is what you refer to as "your dream job" I promise you will see some "warts" at your dream job, but you will not regret it....... what you have been doing is just " market survey of areas you would like to work at...heehee that is my sarcasism" anyway... you will not fall for these "situations (ie: the first job you are at stuff) as your maturation develops in your nursing career. welcome aboard and I am proud of you !!!

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 7, 2009

Go ahead and resign your current job and take the one you really want. Write a very simple letter of recommendation stating that you are resigning effective whatever date is necessary for you to give proper notice. As you know, they probably won't make you work out that notice, but give them the option on that to properly fulfill your obligations there.

Just be sure not to make a habit of leaving jobs so quickly. Doing it once or twice during your career is OK, but don't make it a common theme.

I think the job market will be very interesting to watch as hospitals start to hire again. I suspect there were a lot of people who took "any job" they could get these past several months. As more jobs open up (for lots of reasons that are now starting to appear) ... a lot of people are going to see job possibilities more attractive than the one they settled for. There may be a lot of "job hopping" over the next 2 or 3 years as the employment situation plays out and the new norm is established. Career histories similar to that of the OP might become VERY common.

LovingNurse, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2009

I would follow your heart and be honest with your NM. Leaving before even finishing orientation doesn't look good, but explaining why would help them understand and at least let them see that you are being proactive in your career choice rather than just a "quitter." You don't want to burn any bridges and bowing out with graceful gratitude for the opportunities they provided will serve you well if you should ever cross paths with these professionals again.

Good luck with your decisions. :)

blaaveispiken · Aug 10, 2009

You only live once and you know your own heart. It sounds like you already know you need to resign from your current position, take your dream job and don't look back! When you resign you don't need to tell them you are accepting another position -- you are being honest in just informing them it is not a good fit for you.

There is a lot of good advice here given to you, but I don't agree you need to stick out this current job out of obligation. I think you already know there are issues any where you go (e.g. gossip, overtime, bad hours, etc.), but some places are worse than others and it sounds like in your current position you may be in a toxic environment. Personally, I believe that if there is a lot of gossip at the workplace it's a red flag and the majority of the employees are not happy with themselves or their jobs.

I'm working on a unit where gossip is rare and for the most part there's great teamwork and support among the nurses and support staff. Healthy nursing environments do exist!

Let us know what you decide to do! You go girl!

caliotter3 · Aug 10, 2009

Go where you want to be. Be sure to give proper notice and be gracious on your way out the door. But do not kick yourself six months from now if you find out that your dream job is a nightmare. You can not fault yourself for trying to get what you want when you have the chance, and almost all places of employment have their bad and good sides. Good luck with your new job!