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 ninja nursing.
To be fair, I worked with some nurses who, we aides joked, wouldn't answer a call light if the patient was on fire.

Funny. I thought that was just the people on my floor! lol.

And I'm so stealing that quote by the way and using it.

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Specializes in ninja nursing.
As a CNA you cannot perform any tasks or duties an RN does. In clinicals you perform those tasks under an RN's supervision as a learning RN student. As a CNA you cannot be delegated those tasks as you are not acting as an RN student. You would be honing basic care skills, organization, and prioritizing. You would not be assessing, doing procedures or anything you need your RN license for. The things I listed above are what are going to save your butt when you are on a floor.

Off topic but this is something my unit has been having problems with this last six months or so. We have PCAs/techs who are in nursing school and who are acting like they are nurses. I have had to tell one to get out of the room (politely) because they start educating my new admission patient while I was trying to do my admission paperwork and assessment. And then there was the PCA who stopped the heparin drip and the patient was no longer at a therapeutic level...

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
Off topic but this is something my unit has been having problems with this last six months or so. We have PCAs/techs who are in nursing school and who are acting like they are nurses. I have had to tell one to get out of the room (politely) because they start educating my new admission patient while I was trying to do my admission paperwork and assessment. And then there was the PCA who stopped the heparin drip and the patient was no longer at a therapeutic level...

Now that is just terrifying! Hope they were fired over this.

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Specializes in hospice.
And then there was the PCA who stopped the heparin drip and the patient was no longer at a therapeutic level...

Holy crap! Please tell me that person got fired.

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

.... Wow. What did you think a CNA/PCT *does*? Just, wow. *shake my head* I wouldn't hire you back as a nurse if you quit as a CNA during orientation. If there were that many patients for you imagine how much work the nurses had. If this is the attitude you have as a PCT, please stay behind that desk. What an attitude. Just because you're in nursing school doesn't mean you're above doing PCT duties. I worked in nursing homes with 30-40 residents, so if you think *that* is unsafe, I don't know what to tell you. Your whole post is just, wow. I can't.

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Specializes in ninja nursing.

Some nurses and I were discussing our PCAs a few days ago at break and this event happened a few months ago. The nurse rounded on her patient and noticed the pump had been turned off. When she asked the PCA, they gave some excuse as to why they didn't think the patient needed it. I think I slammed my head into the wall at that point of her telling me the story. The PCA was talked to by our supervisor very sternly that they are a not a nurse and to stop acting like one. The PCA has four children and is the sole breadwinner so I'm sure that's why no firing took place. It got so bad with this PCA that they stopped charting their hourly I&O for the shift (too busy playing nurse and educating and assessing patients) so I had to take him aside and tell him, "look, I don't have time to double check your work and make sure you are charting. You know what your responsibilities are. I don't need you playing nurse".

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Come on people! Just because someone was never a CNA or would ever want to be one doesnt mean they will make a terrible nurse. One of the best decisions I ever made was to NOT work as a CNA before becoming a nurse. I am scrawny and weak and know I couldnt handle the physical demands of a CNA. I'd much rather work fast food or retail than make a few bucks more as a CNA, regardless of the experience I'd get. It would not be worth it to me. I have seen and learned enough working as a phlebotomist, plus I got paid more. That doesnt mean I view cleaning up after someone as "beneath" me. Not everyone is cut out to be a CNA and that is ok. It doesnt mean nursing isnt for them or that they should find a different career.

Yeah....except that the OP TOOK THE JOB as a tech, and then complained bitterly about having to do the work the job specifically required. And quit that job during orientation.

Does this mean he will be a lousy nurse? Not necessarily. But it does paint him to be a lousy employee. And since his question had to do with his chances of being re-hired by the same hospital he essentially screwed over in quitting while still in orientation phase....he got his answers. That was the point.

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Specializes in hospice.
The PCA has four children and is the sole breadwinner so I'm sure that's why no firing took place. It got so bad with this PCA that they stopped charting their hourly I&O for the shift (too busy playing nurse and educating and assessing patients) so I had to take him aside and tell him, "look, I don't have time to double check your work and make sure you are charting. You know what your responsibilities are. I don't need you playing nurse".

I'm glad there is some compassion in play, but this idiot will deserve firing if he doesn't straighten up. I feel bad for his kids, because it seems your employer is more concerned with keeping their father employed than he is. Jeez.

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Specializes in ICU.
Come on people! Just because someone was never a CNA or would ever want to be one doesnt mean they will make a terrible nurse. One of the best decisions I ever made was to NOT work as a CNA before becoming a nurse. I am scrawny and weak and know I couldnt handle the physical demands of a CNA. I'd much rather work fast food or retail than make a few bucks more as a CNA, regardless of the experience I'd get. It would not be worth it to me. I have seen and learned enough working as a phlebotomist, plus I got paid more. That doesnt mean I view cleaning up after someone as "beneath" me. Not everyone is cut out to be a CNA and that is ok. It doesnt mean nursing isnt for them or that they should find a different career.

I completely agree that someone does not need to be a CNA or PCT during nursing school. I'm not. I have no desire to. I have various reasons as to why that would not work for me. My problem with this OP is that they took this job, agreed to the wages, and then quit because it was too hard for them. They only want to be a nurse, they say. Well what exactly do they think nursing is? Then they come in here and ask if we think they had burned that bridge. Well, yeah, you did.

They also stated that they don't need any more practice on these CNA skills and I beg to differ on that. One can always use the practice on any skill. They just came off arrogant and felt work was beneath them. Instead of trying to learn something, they bailed. That also tells me what kind of employee they will be in the future.

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Specializes in Hospice.
To be fair, I worked with some nurses who, we aides joked, wouldn't answer a call light if the patient was on fire.

I once had an anaphylactic reaction at work. It was just me and one aide. She called the Supervisor, and pretty much bullied her into coming to the floor. I had always gotten along well with this aide, unlike two of the other nurses who were very much into the "me nurse, you peon" mentality.

When I was cleared to go back to work, I thanked her for all she had done. She told me that if it had been either of those two nurses, she would have just stepped over their bodies and kept walking. Yikes.

Moral of the story? Don't piss off your aides; they might have to save your life some day!!

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You were actually!! I did get uncommonly lucky once, during a clinical. I had a nurse who wanted me to do everything she did. I just made sure she was aware of everything I did, down to the last detail. She seemed to think it was a little strange, but I wanted to cover bases for her and me. After all, I would never want the university to ask after stuff that didn't need to be worried about... but they would anyway, because of 'policy.'

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When you are a nursing student, every staff member on a clinical unit knows way more about patient care than you..including the clerks and the housekeepers. I think it's safe to say you burned a bridge at that institution. Additionally, nursing is really hard work. What are you going to do when the going gets tough? Roll up your sleeves and do your best or go home? The choice is up to you.

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