Soooo, I quit

[TX911]

I've posted here quite a bit but have been here in awhile so I couldn't log back in for some reason. Anyway:

I've worked ICU for the last year. I was a paramedic for years, transitioned to RN and got a job out of nursing school in aforementioned local ICU. Throughout this year we have been understaffed, stretched to 3:1 ratios EVERY night, even when caring for CABGS, valves, heads, etc. Didn't matter what it was, you had three every night.

So the night before last, I had a 8 hour old CABG, a 21 year old dying from complications of cystic fibrosis with the family all in the room wanting information (looking to have some sort of control over a bad situation I imagine), and a schizophrenic pt admitted post status epilepticus that I cannot see from my pod with the 2 aforementioned pts in it. I told charge that I could not see the SE pt, had this heart, and that the family needed some attention with the CF patient. No dice. "Everyone has three again, I don't have anyone else to take the heart." I told them I'd get through tonight but I wasn't doing it again (we all say the same thing every night and yet we all come back.) I get through the night with minimal incident.

So the next night I come in, have the same 21 CF pt, a new GI bleed on bowel prep with a hgb- 6.9 getting blood, and a new admit HTN on cardene and getting peritoneal dialysis q 4 hours and is just generally very needy. I can't give this guy the attention he wants, my poor lady with GI bleed keeps messing the bed, and the CF family is still very frazzled. So I get in a groove finally and get some things lined out when I happen by more GI bleed's room and she raises her hand. She tells me she's messed the bed again. I say no problem, just now? Then she proceeds to tell me "No, about an hour ago. I didn't want to bother you, you just looked so busy." And right there ladies and gents, I was done. That was it for me. I told her that no matter what, if she has an accident to hit that call light and I will make sure someone comes immediately (we don't have PCAs regularly either, did I mention that???) . I then proceeded to tell charge that she needed to call someone in because I was done. She tells me that there is no one to come in, so I said fine, I'll finish tonight, give report to oncoming in the morning, but they can consider this my last shift. A year of this garbage is enough.

True to my word, I finished the night, gave report to oncoming, said goodbye to my pts, and approached the "director" and asked her if she wanted to do this here or if she wanted me to go downstairs and talk to the honcho. She gives me this disappointed look (like your mom does) and says, "no I'll take it." I hand her my badge and walk out. In my younger years I would've probably gave her about a 20 minute tirade in front of everyone about exactly what I thought of her and her units staffing practices (the 3:1 ratio is deliberate for "productivity" numbers, though they've been lying through the last year telling us it would get better.)

So, today I feel bad about not giving notice and I know that it was unprofessional. I know that and I'll wear it. But at the same time, in that same situation, finishing the shift and not tearing through the director was all the professionalism I had left in me. I feel cleansed, but at the same time disappointed in myself to a degree. Partially for not blowing my lid at her and partially for not giving notice. I've worked since I was 14 years old and this is the first job I've ever had that I couldn't go back to whenever I wanted. I still talk to my old oil field bosses and I'm headed back to my previous ambulance job full time. So I'm going to mentally chalk this one job up as the exception to my professional history and not the rule. I feel that it was my fault for not gritting my teeth and bearing the two week notice, but I have no plans of ever going back there again or ever working for a hospital that that company owns. I will miss my friends there dearly but I just couldn't stomach it any longer.

The problem is now that as far as nursing goes, that job in ICU was my only experience and now on applications I have to check not eligible for rehire (I'm sure.) So I guess my best bet is to just stay a medic and be honest when it comes to what happened.

Anyone ever have anything similar happen?

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

in response to what you learned. . .

1. Advocacy is real, We are the eyes and ears of the Doc. If something is wrong, fix it and move to the next. Critical thinking is the real advocacy. If one thing doesn't work, think of something that will. There are always ego freaks; brains and options (knowing yours and how to use them to your advantage) will go farther than giving up.

2. Experience means everything in the circle of influence where you received that training. Civil experience equates to "civilian" jobs, Military experience means next to nothing in civilian careers. If you want Military experience to mean anything, get the degree equal to the experience (8+ year or DNP) and work with an MD doing what you have experience with.

3. Slander is slander no matter what "church" you belong to. With nothing else to go on but this post, there should be a legal defense that would allow you to combat that particular problem, as long as there is documented evidence that it was that supervisor that made the difference in hiring.

In my experience, there are clicks with those on the inside and those on the outside. Again, in my experience, those on the outside are there by their choices and actions more often than not. It is too late in your case, but I left a toxic situation before getting fired (fried) because I wouldn't bow the powers that be (not necessarily upper middle management). Nursing is big enough to for those with experience to get a job and work until their dream job comes along (as long as you keep searching)

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Post Hijack over. . .

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As to the OP, I say Good on Ya' for getting out of the situation with your nursing license intact. You know that the staffing defense would only go so far when the first of many lawsuits is won because the RN didn't advocate for his/her patients and now doesn't have a job but still has school debt for a career they can't use.

His military experience is very useful and makes him a better nurse. True he can't be a dr or NP because he lacks those coveted credentials, but he still retains all the skills and experience during wartime! Don't disrespect his experience andk knowledge just because he doesn't have a shiny piece of paper to go with it! With his hands on trauma experience he could probably run circles around many others with the shiny piece of paper! Too bad the VA turned him down, I'm sure he would be an asset. He should consider working for a Level 1 trauma center ER or go back to school to get his PA or NP or MD if so inclined, but don't discount him!

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

yes. early in my career, i left two consecutive jobs in neonatal intensive care units. it was more personal for me than problems at work, like you described. I got 3 other jobs aftger that, and now I have been working in an OR for 5 years. so yes, you will get a job.

[TX911]

Dude! Major congratulations! You did have things turn in your favor, but be advised, this is not often the case. But in general principle, I agree with you.

About the wrongful termination, well, perhaps it really needed to be done. So many places get a way with SO much, it's not funny. At the same time, the honest statistics still don't show much promise for the bulk of wrongful termination suits---BUT, maybe this is finally starting to change with nurses.

I'm not a litigious person, but there are times when a stand clearly has to be made.

Thanks guys! samadams8, oddly enough, the biggest suit they got involved in this year was with a compliance officer who reported some, ahem, medicare discrepancies. I'm not going to say who the company is, but rest assured it is a fairly large one. This just kind of got the ball rolling I believe. Following that suit, the company's stock price dropped 20% in 36 hours and a ton of fund managers dumped them. So this is quite the situation.

I will reiterate that I do NOT recommend anyone just up and quit the way I did. Regardless of the reason why or how justified I felt in doing it, it simply is not a good move for your career. The best thing I could've done was voice my concern one final time while giving my two weeks notice. Always give notice, learn your lesson, and move on.

[KevinKares]

I think you did the right thing. Quitting a job is a skill. You gotta know when to go. And you dont need to tell a prospective employer that. With all the hospitals using Gallup and such and then not doing anything with the results, something has to give. I'm not a real union man but.... unions are the only thing going to help nurses on the job. Hospitals are only interested in making money and expanding. They do not care about the nurse, unless you include cookies and soda and a cheap umbrella or something. I asked our DON once when were we going to get some extra nurses or PCTs or a turn team on the floor and she said, and I quote," That ain't never gonna happen" Unbelievable! And this in a hospital system that went from 7 hospitals to 27 in 5 yrs! For 5 years they, administration, has asked us what we think we need and we never get anything asked for. Then they wonder why 45% of hospital employees are "disengaged". How about a disengaged employer???? In my opinion, nursing is all about taking care of the patient and if you are not at the bedside then you don't get it. In fact, while I am on the subject, I think we need to add an asterik or something to any nurses badge that hasn't been at the bedside for 2 yrs. That way we will know beforehand that our voices are falling on deaf ears. I don't consider any nurse in administration-above a NM - a nurse and am insulted when I see RN on their badge.Disgruntled?? Damn right!!! KK

[ad_rn]

Okay, I just left my job today. No prospects for employment at this time. I left because I am one of two nurses in a community setting overseeing 16 group homes. One LPN under us, many issues, documentation all over the place, my assessment with regard to a patient I am very concerned about ignored.Director of the clinic ignored my assessment and took an LPN's assessment over mine. LPN is definitely practicing out of scope. But the straw on the camels back was when I had a patient have a seizure no protocol in place or written order. Patient was not in immediate danger and med certified staff all me and asked if meds should be given. Being that I am fairly new other RN on vacation, I called the doctor to ask what he wanted to do. Doctor told me to hold med and get blood work to check med levels. In the meantime LPN calls staff and tells them to give medication. I was never notified by DR. or LPN that this was done, nor was I consulted. When I went to the administration to express my concerns I was asked why I have a problem listening to an LPN? I realized then that not only is my license in jeopardy so are patients. I left for fear of losing my license and now have no way to pay my mortgage. But concerned about LEGALITY of what is and what is not going on?