Resigning after 3 months

[sarah620]

Hello,

I recently got hired at a new job in December and got off orientation about a month ago.

However, I really do not feel like nursing is the right career for me and thinking about quitting nursing altogether. I've been a nurse for about two years now.

When I was working at LTC i thought things will get better if I go into an acute care. but i still dread going to work every morning and it's actually worse now. My new manager and coworkers have told me that I am doing really well and they like me there.

The stress is getting worse everyday and unbearable for me at this moment so I've decided to go back to school and study something else. I feel terrible for leaving a job after only a few months when the hospital has invested so much in me.

My question is, how should i let my manager know that i am leaving? I am still in my probation period which will not end until July. How many weeks of notice should I give my manager?

[Pheebz777, BSN, RN]

I can't remember how many countless times I resigned back then because I didn't feel nursing was for me as I dreaded coming into work and feared the unknown. Worked 2 years on a Med-Surg floor, resigned, then worked 5 years managing a music store and teaching piano.

Worked in a Nursing home for 1 year, then resigned, tried a bread business with some friends.

15 years later, I'm now working in a CV-ICU as well as an Agency nurse working E.R. and I love it!

[Libby1987]

If your manager and coworkers believe you are doing well, I would strategically figure out ways to support my stress and get two years completed. I may still go back to school in order to do something for the rest of my life but 2 yrs acute experience will bolster many other career avenues and I would love to have that in my back pocket. Not as a career failure but framed as a career builder. Kind of like those who have their stellar military experience on their resume as a bonus to their capabilities and credibility that gives them an edge over others who *merely* completed school while say living at home with mom and dad (that was me).

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

I would stay with it because it is certain, meaning you have a job and on top that your boss and coworkers have said that you are doing fine. Many people work jobs that don't give them the unicorns and rainbows feeling. It is a job and you get lucky if you actually like it. If you can do the work and not let your dislike for it, get in the way I would stay with it until you can get something better.

[Littlenurse74]

I can honestly relate to how you are feeling about the nursing profession. I have been in the field for twenty years now, and am feeling that I would like to pursue another profession. I have many reasons why I would like to leave the profession. I.e.: the catty women in nursing, demanding family members, the long and brutal hours (nights, weekends and holidays), almost never getting off work on time, doctors who want us to hold their hands, demanding and obese patients that kill our backs when transferring them or just pulling them up in bed. Trust me, there is plenty more that I could add to this list. A lot of times, I end up missing important events with my children and family. After all of the schooling and the jumping through hoops to get through nursing school, it's a huge deal to admit that you hate nursing. Once you feeling strongly about this, your attitude can start affecting how you treat your patients. My plan is to enter the MBA program at my local university in the Fall. Though it may feel like it, you are not trapped in this career. Good luck to you. Make the choice that is best for you. That hospital and the unit you are on will survive.

[40thEditionRN]

I can't remember how many countless times I resigned back then because I didn't feel nursing was for me as I dreaded coming into work and feared the unknown. Worked 2 years on a Med-Surg floor, resigned, then worked 5 years managing a music store and teaching piano.

Worked in a Nursing home for 1 year, then resigned, tried a bread business with some friends.

15 years later, I'm now working in a CV-ICU as well as an Agency nurse working E.R. and I love it!

Can I ask how difficult it was for you to get back into nursing after an absence? Just curious. I left the hospital for school nursing and worry about my prospects later if I should choose to try a different area of nursing. I love what I do right now, but always hear how impossible it is to get re-hired at a hospital after a long time away. Thanks!

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I can honestly relate to how you are feeling about the nursing profession. I have been in the field for twenty years now, and am feeling that I would like to pursue another profession. I have many reasons why I would like to leave the profession. I.e.: the catty women in nursing, demanding family members, the long and brutal hours (nights, weekends and holidays), almost never getting off work on time, doctors who want us to hold their hands, demanding and obese patients that kill our backs when transferring them or just pulling them up in bed. Trust me, there is plenty more that I could add to this list. A lot of times, I end up missing important events with my children and family.

Nursing doesn't have to be all or any of those things. I am a nurse and don't experience any of the things you mentioned. Particularly working nights, weekends, holidays.

You might expand your career search to nursing outside of the hospital environment.

[lilly-may]

On 3/31/2016 at 7:08 PM, heronurse said:

Were in the same boat, I'm 2 months in but I'm feeling burnt out. The difference is this is my first job, if you follow the site im the one who always ask for advice, how to resign. I think we all go to this phase. First month was worst, i always want to quit every after shift, anxiety is always off the roof, overthinking everytime, feeling stressed out even though you dont having nothing to be stressed. 2 months in, I still having the same feeling but it lessened. What I learned from this job is let the stress in and let it all out. There are bad days there are good days, we just have to find a way to pull it off

Curious to know did it get better? I'm a new grad on my 2nd job 3 weeks into oreintaion out of a 6 week programme on a level 3 NICU. I graduated in sept 19 and spent 2 months at a busy general peadiatric unit, orientation was only 6 clincial shifts but during my 2 months there i remained on oreintation and working with a mentor. I never felt confident working on my own, and i already know the same is going to happen. Im introverted, my knowledge is so limited and i don't enjoy the hospital environment. Im convinced im not cut off for nursing, any advice?

[EDNURSE20, BSN]

If your completely sure that you want to quit nursing. Talk to your manager. Let her know in person what’s going on, she will let you know exactly how much notice you need to give. Instead of your notice coming out of the blue and the manager wondering why. Leave on good terms, you never know what will happen in the future...

[lilly-may]

7 minutes ago, nznurse93 said:

If your completely sure that you want to quit nursing. Talk to your manager. Let her know in person what’s going on, she will let you know exactly how much notice you need to give. Instead of your notice coming out of the blue and the manager wondering why. Leave on good terms, you never know what will happen in the future...

Thank you! I know my notice period is 1 month whilst still on oreintation, subject to manager's discretion. I'm not very confident in my nursing practice, which i know is normal to feel as a new grad. But i'm an anxious person, during nursing school I had my doubts but i did make it to graduation. Im 23 years old, i don't want to be a failure. But cannot help thinking I'm not good at nursing or even cut of for it. Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Wuzzie]

52 minutes ago, lilly-may said:

But cannot help thinking I'm not good at nursing or even cut of for it. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Literally every single one of us felt this way when new. I started in NICU and was convinced I was going to kill a baby. ? I think all of us can admit to still having days where we feel unskilled, inadequate and downright stupid. I know I do even after 3 decades of this. But that's just the thing, I've been doing this for 31 years and regardless of how I felt at the start I'm actually kind of good at it. I'm confident you will get there too. You just have to stick it out. Having a mentor helps. Is there a seasoned nurse there you might ask to do this for you? We have a formal program and it works very well.