Quitting my job before my shift starts

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

Today is my first day back to work after a 6 day vacation and I already feel tightness in my chest and anxiety. I've never felt this way at a job before. In my life. I absolutely hate it here and the way this company is ran. I start my shift at 3. I tried to call off today to think since I had a death that has affected me recently but they will not let me call off. I am seriously thinking of quitting right now. I'm worried about job abandonment and what should I do. Thank you.

Specializes in LTC.
AnnieOaklyRN said:
After reading your multitude of threads, my honest opinion is you should not be a nurse, and should look for something else that doesn't include being responsible for someone's life.

I know what I said is harsh, but you are going to harm someone with all the med errors! Please pick a new career! There are lots of other careers you could do.

Annie

I understand where you are coming from. I've spoken to a lot of veteran nurses and they said if someone said they never made a med error, they're lying. I've always been very honest with myself and my life. I made a lot of errors. A lot of them were stupid like not giving an eye drop. I mean... not stupid because a med error is a med error. My bosses praise me and when I wanted to quit. They told me that I was a wonderful addition to the company. But because of these mistakes, I can't believe that I'm doing "well". I'm so neurotic with my med pass. I check and double check. I make sure they are given at the right time. I just have this voice in my head saying that I'm awful and I can't shake it

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Specializes in LTC.
Meriwhen said:
And making that 4 jobs in 2 years is in no way going to improve your hireability.

I agree. For two reasons:

1. It's easier to get hired if you're already working somewhere. Whereas the longer you are out of work, the less appealing you look to potential employers.

2. You need to figure out why you're prone to doing this and address it now, because if you keep up this habit of quickly bailing out of jobs, you're going to keep doing damage to your future career. What employer is going to want to take a chance on a serial quitter? None that I know of.

I say this gently, but you need to sit down and figure out what your problem is, and then find a way to fix it. IMO, if you've quit 3 jobs in short notice, the issue isn't with the jobs but with you.

Or maybe you'll realize from all this quitting is that nursing isn't really for you after all...and that's OK too. Better to be honest with yourself and go pursue whatever will make you truly happy.

Best of luck.

No i get what you're saying. I love nursing. I was saying to a few others here, I'm not the nurse I was before. Before... to be frank, I didn't take it seriously. Which is awful. I put my blame on others. I didn't accept responsibility. I then had a mental breakdown after I got fired and realized this it's ME. And if I can't shape up, I must go find another patch. So I did. My bosses love me, which is new for me. I take my job seriously. I ask questions. I take criticism and always thinking of how to improve. I just don't know how to believe that I'm a good nurse.

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Specializes in LTC.
tonyl1234 said:
Not always. It's unfair to just automatically assume this. In some areas, jobs are just bad. Common local politics and beliefs tend to play into it. An example is that no matter how much we try to stay ignorant to it, racism is still a thing. Then add in that healthcare is full of cliques and egos. A reality of nursing care is that if you're not one of the girls, your job is hell. If you tend to be more timid, you're the scapegoat at almost any job you can ever get.

Without knowing the exact situations, you really can't make that conclusion. Just remember, for someone to hate a job that badly that they get anxiety over going back to work after a vacation to the point of deciding to quit, there's something going on.

This. There are a group of people who tend to overcritize and purposely put others down. Including myself. And as someone who had worked so hard to change and take my career more seriously, their remarks are just so hurtful.

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Specializes in LTC.
Kallie3006 said:
Given the context of the majority of the threads you authored, and the minimal time frame between, it almost seems like you are seeking attention. They first started with respondents attempting to pick you up, boost your ego, let you know that it will be ok ect to this thread where the advise has been given to maybe changing your career choice. You would certainly give me anxiety if I had to work with you if your actions are accurately portrayed. And you thought about doing traveling? Goodness, you need to take a good hard look on where you are at for your sake and the sake of the patients that happen to fall under your care.

Im sorry you view my posts as "attention seeking". Unfortunately this forum is the only place I can turn to at times. I'm the only one of my friends that is a nurse and no one really understands what goes on. Maybe I'm just a whiny 20 something I don't know. But the tough love here has gotten my career on track and even though a few think I'm looking for attention, I'm really looking for advice.

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Specializes in LTC.
Chrispy11 said:
I new to this site and from reading others posts found how to look up the threads. In a word... Wow! I had to put a relative into assisted living and it was very expensive. If I came on here and had an inkling the OP was my relative's nurse I'd be calling administration in a heartbeat based on the all the threads.

Then there was the lazy med techs. I was a med tech while I was in nursing school. I passed medication in addition to the CNA duties of garbage, laundry, showers, and other ADLs and there was never enough time to get it all done. If I just sat and hung out my charge nurse would have said something to me. I know because I witnessed the comments directed at peers. It was your job to say something. However, there is a theme of theme of issues with co-workers.

As a CNA, I did switch some job switching myself but it was always after at least being there a year and for more money. I don't think people can fault someone for leaving for a better opportunity. I know that sometimes the new shine wears off a job and you don't like going there. A lot of people feel that about jobs but they suck it up and go in. At this point in time I'd say, IMO to not put your entire life on a board for people to see the pattern. (It seems that other poster may be experiencing sympathy fatigue) Maybe discuss the issues with the whomever prescribed the PRN Ativan you posted about on 10/27/17. I have anxiety myself at times, but my support system always says four words to me. "Suck it up, Buttercup." It sounds harsh, but it's a reminder that my problems are insignificant in comparison to what some of my patients suffer.

I found one common theme in may of your posts: Uncertainty. I often feel that way. However, I will give you one piece of advice that has worked marvels for me. You cannot control the actions of others or even situations, what you can control is yourself and your reaction to them.

Best of luck to you.

I feel like the post I made doesn't really reflect me as a person. You're right. I get it. My past sucks. The only person who knows about these med errors and my uncertainty is myself and all of you here. My current employers don't have a clue. They wouldn't even believe me if I told them to their face that this was me. I try to give myself a pat on the back for that. I AM uncertain. The past just haunts me. Whenever I'm feeling lazy, I snap out of it saying "I DONT WANT TO BE THAT NURSE AGAIN". My coworkers really admire me. I feel like a sham though. I think I was over exaggerating that day of the post. My brain sucks. But I promise I'm not that same person.

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Hang in there kiddo. You're going to have set backs but as long as you keep moving forward just see them as bumps in the road.

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Specializes in LTC.
Wuzzie said:
Hang in there kiddo. You're going to have set backs but as long as you keep moving forward just see them as bumps in the road.

Thanks Wuzzie ? you're my favorite !

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care.

Please don't think that this is judgemental because it is absolutely not meant to be. I believe that you need to visit your doctor and get treated for this anxiety. I can hear myself in so many of your posts and it's a viscious cycle. Anxiety tells you that you're doing a terrible job, anxiety causes you to make mistakes, and anxiety causes you to dread going to work. The common denominator here is your anxiety. Lessen the anxiety in some way and you will be a lot better off for it. Take care of your mental health and the rest will follow!

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Dear LPNewbie,

I used to have some anxiety before I started my shift. But what got me through it ? Telling myself no matter what happens just focus on my patients.

Because it's a wonderful job you are doing. You had a bumpy start but look at you now :) Regarding double checking medications, good on you. That's called safety. And too many nurses are in a rush and make mistakes. Don't leave your job, stick it out, strive to improve everyday and then think about where you would like to go later on. Trust in yourself. And say I can do this. And some of the negative comments on this thread those people probably have anxiety but conceal it. Everyone has anxiety about all sorts of things. And I bet they have made errors too. When I started a new placement another nurse who was loud said I was quiet and it bothered her. But 2 years down the track hello, acting charge nurse that was me. So don't let anyone tell you how you should be. So cheer up keep smiling.

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You need to find another job before you quit this one.You need income don't you? I'm not sure what youre looking for in a nursing job...maybe nursing isn't for you.There are so many different disciplines in nirsimg so much to choose from or a nursing degree would help you as a good grounding with any other career.I absolutely love my job been in my most recent for 25 years ...i think a minimum of a year is needed in a job to figure out your place .You get back what you put in .Best of luck

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You have your entire life ahead of you. Find another job, then give notice. Sometimes it takes a few positions to find your place but never just not show up or quit without notice.That's the kind of stuff that follows you around in any job. Get lots of rest and get back in the swing of things. If there are issue that can be resolved at work, try that first.

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Specializes in Neurology/Oncology.

I am appalled by the comment, "Please stop with the drama first of all. You are getting yourself more worked up then this is probably worth!". This is obviously from someone who has no experience with anxiety nor empathy for those who do. What truly concerns me is that they were/are an EMT, to boot. WOW!

Wuzzie is correct in that it is not abandonment. You are not at the job site yet. All of her other advice is correct, as well.

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