Quit during orientation

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what are my chances of ever working in that hospital again?

I recently quit this past week my 1st ever tech job as a Nursing student b/c i felt it was unsafe. I had to juggle up to 15 patients, some mentally unstable and some being total/complete care with not much help from the nurses/techs and unsupportive management. I thought i'd be gaining valuable skills but all i did was clean patients for most of the day. This was something i was already taught in NS, so i dont need the additional practice. i felt like i was doing all the grunt work. The nurses were mainly charting and giving out meds, but they too seemed busy but their work is alot less physical. I was thinking of just working at my friends dads company as an administrative assistant until i graduate. It pays more and its a lot less work....It was a nice hospital, id like to go back, but only as a nurse.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

So when can we expect the third version to this story?

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This can be one of the best experiences you may have with your nursing knowledge. I for one have been a patient care tech, surgical tech, medic, and many other roles. All areas have their low and high points. I learned so much from the nurses that I worked with previous and enjoyed asking questions.

While I say this. This may have been an eye opening experience that bed side nursing might not be for you. You might prefer a business type setting in nursing? or many other areas. Many people on this site are jumping you for quitting hastily.

I am not in your shoes and would never want to judge you. However, If you had plan to work at this facility in the future it might be harder. With that said.....

You need to feel comfortable about the Nursing position. Its not easy and not always fun..... However, I am not saying this is you.... but I liked this post because It keeps me grounded that no task is too little for me.

"Yesterday I overheard a nursing student snark, "yeah, this is why I'm in nursing school - so I can pass trays." And if I hadn't been up to my eyeballs in other things to do for my patients, I would have stopped and said: You've already missed the point entirely. I'm not sure why you DO think you're here. If you hope to be a good nurse (or coworker, or person with a heart), you're going to spend the majority of your working life doing things you SO mistakenly think are beneath you. You are going to pass trays with a smile - excitement even, when your patient finally gets to try clear liquids. You will even open the milk and butter the toast and cut the meat. You will feed full-grown adults from those trays, bite by tedious, hard-to-swallow bite. You will, at times, get your own vital signs or glucoscans, empty Foley bags and bedside commodes without thinking twice. You will reposition the same person, move the same three pillows, 27 times in one shift because they can't get comfortable. You will not only help bathe patients, but wash and dry between the toes they can't reach. Lotion and apply deodorant. Scratch backs. Nystatin powder skin folds. Comb hair. Carefully brush teeth and dentures. Shave an old man's wrinkled face. Because these things make them feel more human again. You will NOT delegate every "code brown," and you will handle them with a mix of grace and humor so as not to humiliate someone who already feels quite small. You will change ostomy appliances and redress infected and necrotic wounds and smell smells that stay with you, and you will work hard not to show how disgusted you may feel because you will remember that this person can't walk away from what you have only to face for a few moments. You will fetch ice and tissues and an extra blanket and hunt down an applesauce when you know you don't have time to. You will listen sincerely to your patient vent when you know you don't have time to. You will hug a family member, hear them out, encourage them, bring them coffee the way they like it, answer what you may feel are "stupid" questions - twice even - when you don't have time to. You won't always eat when you're hungry or pee when you need to because there's usually something more important to do. You'll be aggravated by Q2 narcotic pushes, but keenly aware that the person who requires them is far more put upon. You will navigate unbelievably messy family dramas, and you will be griped at for things you have no control over, and be talked down to, and you will remain calm and respectful (even though you'll surely say what you really felt to your coworkers later), because you will try your best to stay mindful of the fact that while this is your everyday, it's this patient or family's high-stress situation, a potential tragedy in the making. Many days you won't feel like doing any of these things, but you'll shelve your own feelings and do them the best you can anyway. HIPAA will prevent you from telling friends, family, and Facebook what your work is really like. They'll guess based off what ridiculousness Gray's Anatomy and the like make of it, and you'll just have to haha at the poop and puke jokes. But your coworkers will get it, the way this work of nursing fills and breaks, fills and breaks your heart. Fellow nurses, doctors, NPs and PAs, CNAs and PCAs, unit clerks, phlebotomists, respiratory therapists, physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, transport, radiology, telemetry, pharmacy techs, lab, even dietary and housekeeping -- it's a team sport. And you're not set above the rest as captain. You will see you need each other, not just to complete the obvious tasks but to laugh and cry and laugh again about these things only someone else who's really been there can understand. You will see clearly that critical thinking about and careful delivery of medications are only part of the very necessary care you must provide. Blood gushing adrenaline-pumping code blue ribs breaking beneath your CPR hands moments are also part, but they're not what it's all about. The "little" stuff is rarely small. It's heavy and you can't carry it by yourself. So yes, little nursling, you are here to pass trays." (Facebook -

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Dear Themostsupreme,

Contrary to what you say, you have a lot to learn and a lot of growing up to do. Nursing is a "calling" not a job. All that "cleaning" you refer to; that's when you learn and bond with your patients. I've been a nurse for 43 years, 30 years in hospitals and 12 years in LTC as a D.O.N.. I have been in and seen all types of situations. The only thing that was not a variable, was my love for the profession despite all odds. You will only be as successful as you allow yourself to be. Sounds to me like you need a new job. Nursing is not a "job" but a career . Sounds like you have a job mentality.

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Dear Themostsupreme,

Contrary to what you say, you have a lot to learn and a lot of growing up to do. Nursing is a "calling" not a job. All that "cleaning" you refer to; that's when you learn and bond with your patients. I've been a nurse for 43 years, 30 years in hospitals and 12 years in LTC as a D.O.N.. I have been in and seen all types of situations. The only thing that was not a variable, was my love for the profession despite all odds. You will only be as successful as you allow yourself to be. Sounds to me like you need a new job. Nursing is not a "job" but a career . Sounds like you have a job mentality.

I really hope you don't truly believe nursing is a calling. Blah. Was not a calling for me. But that doesn't mean I'm not good at what I do.

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Specializes in critical care.
Nursing is a "calling" not a job.

Not for everyone.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Dear Themostsupreme,

Contrary to what you say, you have a lot to learn and a lot of growing up to do. Nursing is a "calling" not a job. All that "cleaning" you refer to; that's when you learn and bond with your patients. I've been a nurse for 43 years, 30 years in hospitals and 12 years in LTC as a D.O.N.. I have been in and seen all types of situations. The only thing that was not a variable, was my love for the profession despite all odds. You will only be as successful as you allow yourself to be. Sounds to me like you need a new job. Nursing is not a "job" but a career . Sounds like you have a job mentality.

All of that "calling" bullhockey is controversial. You're correct that nursing is a career -- but save the "calling" business for nuns and priests.

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I see that everyone has already dragged you, but I just have to say this is the stupidest thing I have ever read. "I was doing grunt work." Pssh, did you think you'd be handing out lollipops?!

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...I want to hand out lollipops...! :D

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I really think the OP meant it was unsafe for him, not the patients.

Also, I believe nursing, being a profession of helping and service for others, has the potential to be both a "job" and a "calling." The OP, however, clearly didn't demonstrate a belief in either :sarcastic:

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I really think the OP meant it was unsafe for him, not the patients.

Also, I believe nursing, being a profession of helping and service for others, has the potential to be both a "job" and a "calling." The OP, however, clearly didn't demonstrate a belief in either :sarcastic:

But why would it be unsafe for him? Unless, of course, hard work is potentially fatal ;)

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
But why would it be unsafe for him? Unless, of course, hard work is potentially fatal ;)

Perhaps he fatally irritated his co-workers?

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Perhaps he fatally irritated his co-workers?

Good question. If enough irritated co-workers were, in fact, rendered "fatal" due to his actions, then I imagine it'd be unsafe for him because of the expectation of possible incarceration.

If, however, he irritated his co-workers to the point where HE was the one suffering the fatality (and they were ok with the possibility of incarceration because it'd be worth it), then...it'd be very clear why he was unsafe in the position.

Hmmm.

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