Regret after taking a job at a new hospital

[questioningnurse]

I had worked at the same small-ish community hospital for 3 years. I started as a new grad on a general surgery floor and moved to the MSICU where I worked for a year. Loved the ICU, was very involved in the hospital, took on leadership positions. Quickly became part of the code team, was offered to be trained on dialysis, and would work as charge and on the rapid response team within the next year. Liked my coworkers, loved the attending physicians. However, I was frustrated with chronically short-staffing, having no in-house physician overnight, and wanting more complex/challenging patients.

I took a job in an MSICU at a level 1 trauma centre at a large, downtown teaching hospital and have been here for 2 weeks. I was for a challenged and to feel more supported/safe by having more doctors in-house. However, the patient population at this hospital seems to be mostly the same and the day-to-day life as an RN seems to be similar to my previous hospital. 

I now feel that I made a huge mistake in leaving my previous hospital... I hope to return to graduate school in the next few years and work as some kind of mid-level provider. I feel like I have taken a huge step backward by moving to a large hospital, career-wise. Although the reputation of this new hospital is more prestigious, I am now a small fish in a big pond, and won't be able to take on leadership roles or additional skills (codes, dialysis, etc.), for at least 6 months-1 year. I will be starting from scratch to form professional relationships with managers and physicians who could act as references one day (already had great relationships at previous job).

I left my previous job on good terms. I'm wondering if it is worth it to wait it out at my new job to see if some of this feeling of regret is just "new-job jitters," or if I should contact my previous employer sooner and see if they would be open to having me back. 

Anyone have experience with switching jobs and regretting it? Thanks in advance!

[DyerRN, LPN, RN]

Both of your experiences sound very interesting! I tend to preform smaller facilities vs larger ones because as you stated, I don't like feeling lost in the sea.

I have changed jobs a couple times now in my healthcare career and can tell you every time I regretted it for the first couple weeks. I would find my mind wondering what could of been. I recently turned down a promotion to MDS coordinator at a SNF I've been with for a couple years and am going to hospice as a case manager next week. 

 I came to these boards to seek to ease my mind like you in the switch. I am already semi regretting the choice, but I feel like there is never a need to go back just progress on. Sure I may of made DON of the SNF in a few years, but I didn't want my entire career to be in nursing homes.

I switched to experience something new as I am only 28 and have time to go back to nursing homes if I want. I have to constantly remind myself of this even today so I don't go crawling back to the SNF begging for the job offer back.

It hard.... so very very hard, but since we are in the same boat I would suggest sticking it out for a little at the new job to see if it is just jitters. If you still hate it then wait for an opening at your old hospital.

[Chickenlady]

Move forward, 2 weeks is a very short time.  See where this takes you