Should I quit nursing?

[I RN A]

It has been a year and 2 month since I have graduated from nursing school. I look back at my graduation and I see myself as an excited new grad nurse with hopes and dreams of making a great nurse and loving every moment of my decision of becoming a part of the nursing force. Today I look at myself and see someone who has no hope of finding my way through. I have tried to do everything right. Had a job at one hospital, where I wasn't given a chance to even pass the orientation. I admit I needed a lot of patience and training, I was nervous and making mistakes. My preceptor smiled to my face and reported every small and stupid mistake I've made. I have learned at my own pace which I guess wasn't fast enough and I got fired. 1 month later I found another job. I drove 150 miles one way to get there. The same thing happened again. Now I'm so broken, I have no idea what to do. I looked everywhere, no jobs. I'm in a worse position than any of new grads. I have 5 months of experience and 2 hospitals on my resume. Since I have under 1 year of experience I'm not qualified for nursing jobs, since I have 5 months of experience I'm not a new grad anymore. I need to survive and I don't know how. One year ago I had hope of beng a great nurse. Today I feel as no one cares and I'm sinking to the bottom. I don't have any other skills and I need to survive. What do I do?

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Just a hug.

[calif-me]

I graduated a year ago December from the LVN program where i'm from. I'm definitely the nervous type. Even though I had my clinicals at the hospital I now work at, it took me a very long time to "calm down". If it hadn't been for such wonderful charge nurses, who both had the patience of a saint, I wouldn't have survived. I've been at this for eight months now working on a med/surg floor in a small community hospital. I feel for you and would encourage you to take a deep breath, debrief with a close friend or two, journal write, or something like that to get it all out. I've only had a few times where I allowed a nurse to make me feel bad because I didn't know something, thank goodness it only happened a few times. I work nights and the night staff is kinder than the day staff from what i've heard. Maybe you could work for a LTC facility, or in the meantime, work for a temp agency while you are waiting for something to open up. You probably need some time to think things through, and time to heal from all the hurt and disappoints thrown your way.

[lou12]

You spent time, energy and money to become a nurse, don't throw in the towel so to speak, yet. Reflect and vent as was suggested, next talk to other nurses about their jobs and decide what path sounds good to you whether it's another hospital, LTC, home health-with nursing there are a number of options which is very helpful. Some people need more time to settle into a career than others, don't be too hard on yourself; as a person who can be their own worse critic, don't give up on your dreams and definately don't let others discourage you. I believe in you, you didn't get all the way through nursing school without ability and skills!!

[Texcal43]

I recently experienced what you have experienced. I was dismissed after 30 days of employment with a new employer, however it was not due to my performance and fortunately I was able to complete one year of employment with a previous employer. I too am finding it difficult to obtain employment with one year's of experience. But giving up is not an option for me. I suggest you move on. If you were passionate enough to complete nursing school, then put your best suit on, make sure your resume and cover letter are impecably written with no typos and apply for the next position.

In the position I lost I was too ambitious and I think it threatened some of the current staff and I noticed people resenting me for absolutly no reason at all. The manager began talking down to me and making me feel really uncomfortable. Her reason for dismissing me was, she stated I was scheduled to work a shift that I had no knowledge of. When someone lets you go for something really bizzarre it's because they don't want you there, this was not a loss for me this is a loss for that facility, because I am a passionate and competent nurse. I am moving on to what GOD has in his plan for me. NEXT!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}

What did you learn from your two work experiences? How are you going to apply that learning in another position? It is uncomfortable, but necessary - take the time to really analyze what happened; what you did wrong and how you can avoid it next time. I don't know about you, but I have learned far more from my mistakes than from my successes.

I agree with previous posts about trying a different setting. Hospitals these days are very fast paced and many cannot afford to provide effective transition programs for new grads.

Best of luck to you.