Should I resign(quit) my job?

[stram87]

So I work two per diem jobs. One in psych and one in critical care. I am back in school working on my doctorate to become a psychologist so I can't work full time. I usually work 2 shifts a month in critical care and 4 shifts in psych. The psych hospital I work at is great. My coworkers are supportive and its a pretty easy gig. Not stressful and pretty laid back usually. However management has been known to fire people for no reason and randomly. I have never seen this but my coworkers always complain and worry about it.

My critical care job on the other hand is fast paced and more physically demanding. I have been thinking about leaving this job for awhile mainly because I get depressed and anxious 1 -2 days prior to my scheduled shifts and it ruins my days off. I have tried medications and therapy with little relief. This job however is union and no one gets fired for no reason. I started in critical care at this hospital so I feel like it is my "home" and I'd feel bad quitting. I use to work full time there before I went per diem. I think part of the reason I get depressed and anxious is because when I first started training at this hospital I was the victim of horizontal violence which the management was aware of but never did anything about. Everyone else there is fine and it was just this one nurse. Even though it has been 3+ years since the event I still get anxious about going into work. I'm sure there are other reasons for my depression and anxiety regarding this job.

My concern is that if I only work in psych I will become obsolete to any other kind of nursing. However my long term goal is not to stay a nurse. I finish my PhD in 4 years.

[NurseNanci1]

Sounds like If u need to quit one of them in order to free up some time the critical care would be the one I would quit. The psych job seems it would keep in the field you are pursuing it would keep u up to date and give u valuable insight while continuing your education. Good luck to you what an ambitious goal go for it!

[LisalaRN99, BSN, RN]

I worked in psych before becoming a nurse and wanted to be a psych nurse. As a nurse I worked psych, and then 3 years in, I got this idea that I wanted to try something new, so I went into a telemetry preceptorship, worked telemetry for a few years, and then went into an ICU preceptorship. That's where the problem started! In hindsight, I was also a victim of horizontal violence. I and the other preceptees were not well recepted in ICU. Most ended up quitting and going back to Telemetry, some went to night shift, and I was not going to get run off! I stuck it out for a year. I would get so depressed before going to work! About 6 months into my new psych job, I realized the difference in the way I was feeling. I was no longer depressed. So for whatever reason, you are still having some sort of negative reaction to your experiences in ICU. Since you are working toward your PhD in psych, just go to psych where you are not having this depression. That's what I would do.

[stram87]

I guess I should edit my post. I am a nurse but my long term goal is not to stay a nurse. Unless I end up also doing mental health NP. Thanks so much for your quick replies. I have been thinking about this for 6 months and its a tough decision but I think I will turn in my letter of resignation this week giving them a month notice.

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

From your description, yes. I would quit the critical care job as it doesn't seem quite suited to your long term goals. A month's notice is very courteous of you!

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

Since your long term goal is to be a Psychologist and your critical care job is causing you so much distress, it makes sense from a pragmatic standpoint to let the critical care job go.

I get that you have some emotional attachments to it; I've been in the position of leaving jobs where I bonded with other folks and I know what that feels like, but in the end, it sounds like you need to let go of this for your own self. It's not easy, but I think that once you make the decision, you'll know it's right on a gut level.

Best of luck to you in your future endeavors!

~*Stargazer, RN*~