quitting new job?

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 1, 2008

I would stay and here is why.

Those people may have already had one foot out the door when previous manager was fired. None one there knows that except those have resigned or been transferred.

Previous manager may have totally lied to you during the interview regardless of the situation you walked into. Maybe that is why they are no longer there????

There were problems in the unit long before new management came into play. Usually issues of this magnitude do not erupt overnight. New management is there now and things might very well turn up better in the end.

I know if feels like things are falling on deaf ears but you just never know. There could be great things in store for this unit and for you.

While it's frustrating to work with people with low morale you can be a positive light in what seems like a dark place. Without knowing the full details of your patients it's really hard to gauge patient nurse ratios but I know *most* (and I stress most here) have a patient ratio of 5-7. Of course with a vent patient that is a whole other ball game.....

Of course if you feel like your license and livelihood is on the line, everything I said previously is null and void and you have to do what you have to do.

Good luck, I know this can not be an easy situation for you!!!!

angel337, MSN, RN · Jun 1, 2008

your department sounds unsafe to me and extremely stressful. in order for a department to thrive you must have stable employees that are happy to work there. i say stick around a bit to see if it will get better and then make a decision.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jun 1, 2008

You are going to be "asked to leave" with 8 vacancies? This is the same song and dance a lot of facilities use. Do you feel you can practice safely? Is there a go to source if there are questions? Are you learning skills and new ways of doing things to improve your practice? Stick it out a little longer, see if things improve. You may end up learning a lot and liking this job once this situation settles down. Good luck.

RNperdiem, RN · Jun 1, 2008

Unless you are so miserable that you cannot function, or fear for the lives of your patients stay(for now).

I agree with barefootlady, if there are 8 vacancies, you would need to do something outrageous to get fired.

If you do decide you want to leave, do it right.

Take your time to look around at what might suit you better. If you quit without having another job lined up, you are liable to grab the first available job to pay the bills. The new job could be worse than the old one.

Accept another job.

Give your current employer at least 2 weeks notice and leave on good terms.

caliotter3 · Jun 1, 2008

You have already left one job. As far as job hopping, it does not matter that you had justification to leave. You are probably justified in leaving this position. But how many employers are available where you live? Even if you can get easily hired, how long will it be before you start to exhaust the pool of eligible employers? You will surely, at some time, start to get negative references from those employers you choose to leave. You can't expect them to continuously give you positive references when you up and go when the going gets tough. Employers generally don't like it when an employee leaves, no matter the reason. Stick it out. You may just find that each and every position you obtain, is but a different version of the job you wish you didn't have. No job is perfect. Sometimes you have to be the one who adjusts to circumstances. You don't want to find yourself jobless with every attempt fruitless because nobody wants to hire you anymore.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jun 1, 2008

One thing I would evaluate is the co-workers. Even those with low morale can be supportive of each other. This is what is happening at my job. We are overworked and the RNs really have no autonomy. However, we stick together as best we can under the circumstances. I do admit that I don't like going to the facility per se, but I do look forward to seeing my co-workers. We pick each other up when others are down, we pitch in and make each other laugh. If you have a situation like that, then, I would try and stick it out, at least for a year. If, on the other hand, that they are backbiting, selling each other out, setting each other up and is generally a toxic environment with the floor nurses, then I would consider cutting out.

I looked at my situation this way-this facility paid my way to become an LPN and I worked there for 11 years. I have a pension, union, benefits and great health insurance. I have vacation time, sick time, have weekends and holidays off and the hours work well with my lifestyle. Also, it is not too far from where I reside. I know the demons that are there. If I saw a better opportunity, of course, I would consider leaving after the contract is over, but I would have to had worked at this new place per diem at least to see the inner workings of the place and gather all of the information that I can.

It is true, no place is perfect. Looking at what is good for you there (if anything) may make the decision for you. But, like calioetter3 stated, don't exhaust all of your options early in your career.

BradleyRN · Jun 1, 2008

Jobhopping is very common in nursing. There is such a shortage that you will ultimately be hired wherever you choose to go. The bottom line is if you accept an assignment that you feel to be unsafe, then it is on your shoulders if something goes wrong. You have the right to refuse. So many nurses just dont stand up for themselves these days. We need to set a new trend. Everybody here suggests that you just take the old bait and switch youve been given. Well that is ludicrous. If they are willing to take an unsafe load then fine. They are perpetuating the reason nursing is so screwed up in the first place. But you should follow your instinct which is to turn in your notice and try something else. Nursing has so many avenues to travel. Not all of them will require you to be overwhelmed (just most). And if you are worried about looking like a jobhopper, then just leave this place off your application. You havent been there long enough to need their reference anyway. Stand up nurses! If you dont then you may wind up hurting someone just so a greedy facility can make a little more money off your back! Demand safe ratios..... :twocents:

Itshamrtym · Jun 1, 2008

The thing that concerns me is the un-safe ratios. This isn't what you were told upon hire. YOU could stick it out to see if it gets better. I wouldn't hang on too much longer though. If it doesn't get better, then put in your 2 weeks notice. Are you still in orientation?? If so, check with HR and see what there policy is. It may be that you wouldn't need to put in 2 weeks. Maybe you could move to another unit within the facility... I wouldn't stand for things the way they are.

Your license could be just flapping in the wind. This is so not fair to the patients. It makes me sad that people don't always get the care that they deserve. It makes me estatic when they do!!!! Don't burn your bridges though. You never know when you will have to go across them again... I also agree with the prior poster: Just leave this job off your resume. Don't think you would be the first to do this... Good luck to you... I do hope that it gets better for you... YOU stayed @ your other job for 6 months. I do believe optimal is a year. But sometimes this isn't possible.. YOU aren't a job hopper... Take care.

rehab girl · Jun 1, 2008

In my initial post I did not include that I have been a nurse for 5 years. I worked for 5 1/2 years at one hospital ( this includes the time when I was in nursing school working as an aide), then moved on to the next position for 6 months, then the tele position I am at now.