Quitting job during orientation?

mrsboots87 · Dec 16, 2016

L&D is a tough area to break into. Even more so if you burn a bridge with a hospital system. There really is no way around it. If you quit during orientation, expect to be non rehireable. Also expect a bad reference. You may hate it, but you will miss the bigger picture if you quit. In that, working hard on your unit will put you in a good position to cross train and apply for L&D positions internally. You will also have a good basic set of knowledge and skill when doing so. Tough it out or your career path with be much more rocky.

angieRN528 · Dec 16, 2016

I just think that is ridiculous to have to stick out a job that I hate í ½í¸, but I don't want to be non-rehirable.

Sour Lemon · Dec 16, 2016

I agree with boots. Med/surg is a more reliable path to women's services than LTC is. What is it that you don't like about your new job and where are you at in your orientation?

Davey Do · Dec 16, 2016

I don't know... I quit a job during orientation back in 1991 and have worked steadily over the years, even holding two administrative positions since then.

Then again, I accepted a position in chemical dependency treatment program at a hospital where I had worked in surgery, loved it, and was laid off due to budget cuts, with me being the only LPN in the OR. I thought the CD tx position would be the same old psych thing and it turned out to be one of the greatest jobs of my career.

So, ya never know.

Good luck to you, angieRN!

allnurses Guide · Dec 16, 2016

What is your ultimate goal? Do you think working in L+D or

mother/baby is your ultimate goal? What area interested you

the most while you were in school?

I ask because, well, like others have said, if you really truly

want to work on a women's care floor, then you may have to

put your time in in Med Surge first. L+D/OB tends to be competitive

and therefore openings are going to go to either experienced

L+D/OB nurses, or go to nurses who have worked at that

hospital for a while and earned the privilege to transfer

internally.

angieRN528 · Dec 16, 2016

Thanks everyone! I'm wondering if I can talk to the manager and change my status from full time to part time? That way I'm not really quittting but not doing the 3 12s either. I used to do 4 8s at my old job. Anyways, my husband just found out that starting in Jan he will be traveling again with work and gone mon-fri. We have 4 kids and it's always pretty hard when he's gone mon-fri. Working the 12s I usually don't get home until 8:30-9pm and then in home chilcare provider I'm using is not able to keep my kids that late. SO that is something that was really unexpected! I was thinking I could do 1 day a week possibly? But other than that I just don't like the unit, I'm just uncomfortable, I hate the drive. There are things I was unaware of before I took the position! I just don't know what to do!

roser13, ASN, RN · Dec 16, 2016

So, at some point you wanted to work on med/Surg, right? And so far, you don't care for it? Who's to say that L&D wouldn't be the same?

I don't think that orientation is the place or time to make quick decisions. You haven't even given yourself a chance to remotely feel comfortable. Having said that, if your family circumstances have changed and affect your work schedule, that's a whole other issue.

Wuzzie · Dec 16, 2016

Thanks everyone! I'm wondering if I can talk to the manager and change my status from full time to part time? That way I'm not really quittting but not doing the 3 12s either.

They hired you for a full-time position. In many cases switching to part-time is not an option depending on the unit's approved FTE's. You might be able to spin it as a child care issue but don't be surprised if the manager tells you it's full-time or nothing. If you tell her you can't do full time on her unit you won't be eligible for a job on another unit in that hospital and any associated facilities. Add to that the fact that the nursing world is small. You may find obtaining another acute care job difficult when you haven't really given this one a chance. I think you're shooting yourself in the foot.

RNperdiem, RN · Dec 16, 2016

Sometimes you do what you have to do to pay the bills.

Give the job a chance. Once you are on your own out of orientation you will have some more freedom to do things your way.

angieRN528 · Dec 16, 2016

Thanks everyone! I guess the only thing I can do is talk to the manager and be honest and see if there are any options available for me. I know with my husband gone mon-fri I can't pull 3 12s unless I find another childcare provider willing to keep my kids that late. I hate to switch sitters though because hey have only gone to this woman and I trust her with my kids. I will keep you all updated!

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 16, 2016

I know you don't want to hear this, but give it time, you may like it once you are more comfortable in your role. You will have an easier time getting into that hospital's labor and delivery unit if you are already employed there, so it may be worth it in the end.

Annie