Regretting new job. What to do?

[Stefanie Vega]

So I recently left my job to pursue a Peds ER position. For the past year I've really thought that's what I wanted. I've talked to other people whole work Peds ER and got their opinions about what it's like working there. My previous position was a newborn nursery nurse. So total 180. Going from a small skill set to needing to know every skill in the book. So I've finished my 1st week on orientation and I don't like it. I thoroughly explained to the manager and my preceptor in what skills I'm lacking and yet day 2 I was expected to pretty much take my own patient. After my 3rd shift, I realized I just don't like it. I tried it and it's not for me. I have 5 weeks of orientation left. Do I stay or just call it quits since I already know I don't like it and don't see myself staying there long term? 

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

Kind of hard to say which way you should go. If you see absolutely no value in moving forward and gaining some of those skills you might want to cut your losses and move on. But do you have a job to fall back on? Do you need the benefits from this job? Can you afford to be searching for a little while in case nothing comes up immediately? And are you really sure after only three days that you cannot see yourself staying in that position. The employer may appreciate you not using their time for training when they won't get any benefit from you as a trained employee, but you also might burn a bridge. Good luck with your decision.

[JKL33]

2 hours ago, Stefanie Vega said:

After my 3rd shift I realized I just don't like it. I tried it and it's not for me.

3 shifts may not be enough to say one tried (as "try" might refer to the process of learning something new). On the other hand if you mean that you've now exposed yourself to it and there are fundamental aspects of it that you were unaware of but can now identify them and have a definite dislike for them, that's different.

I bring this up not to nitpick your wording but to point out that it can be significantly destabilizing to have to return to novice/beginner position and be somewhat dependent on others after having previously achieved reasonable independence. So it's important that you think about whether it's just the new pressure that is uncomfortable (and can even cause a bit of panic* and buyer's remorse, so-to-speak) or if its really something about that area of work that you have realized you just fundamentally don't like.

Be sure that it isn't just a matter of communicating your orientation needs and eventually increasing your comfort level...etc.

*It sounds a bit like this, since you wrote that making this move has been a long-term interest of yours, and you're kind of down right now related to a less-than-ideal orientation situation.

[TriciaJ, RN]

As usual, I agree with JKL.  Your decision will be a lot easier if you can specify exactly what it is you're not liking.

What exactly were you looking forward to?  Does it just not exist in reality?  Is there some fundamental thing you can't see yourself doing?

I changed specialties a few times in my career.  I got one orientation that I would describe as useful.  Sometimes I had a steep learning curve to overcome, after leaving a comfort zone of competence.  It's the pits to go back to being the new stupid person and worse when they're not prepared to give you a great orientation.

The alternative is to never leave your comfort zone and spend your career battling a trapped-in-a-corner feeling.

Good luck whatever you decide.