1st week on job and absolutely hate it!!

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I graduated in July and have tried to get a job in a hospital but unfortunately I was not getting any call backs. I just accepted a job at a ambulatory surgery center and was so excited to start. Well after the 1st week I hate it. Working M-F is completely disrupting my family life and I think a 12 hr shift would be so much better for me. I have reached out to several nurses to help get my foot in the door for a hospital job.... but not sure what to do. My gut tells me this job is just not for me. I just can't quit without another job and I dont feel like it would be very professional to quit after just a few weeks. any advice from others especially working mothers with young children. I am so sad and stressed.

Rae

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Specializes in Cardiac, PCU, Surg/Onc, LTC, Peds.

If you think a 12 hr shift would be easier try shadowing one. How is an 8 hr shift disrupting your family life a 12 hr shift wouldn't? You realize that most new positions are night shifts because day shifts are for the nurses with seniority in the hospital? When I had young children 8 hr shifts worked best for me personally and I would have killed for weekends off.

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Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.

Wish I worked M-F :icon_roll

I don't know your family situation, but maybe it's just an adjustment period? Stick with it... jobs are hard to find!

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Be careful what you wish for! Most people working the 12 would kill for an 8 hour mf. My advice would be to start looking for something else. Do not quit until you have something else lined up.Make sure you give 2 weeks notice.

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Specializes in ICU.

I guess both have pros and cons.. But i think you're lucky to have a M_F job.. I'd switch my 3 12-hr NOC shifts with you!

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The grass is not always greener on the other side. It also may just be anxiety that makes you hate it. Most new grads hate their jobs in the beginning, I did too. Seriously, the learning curve is so steep and it's stressful. Plus school pretty tells you that giving a freaking bed bath wrong may kill someone. j/k

Anyways-chalk it up, get as much experience as you can and look in about 6 mo. or so. I would consider this 'resume building' and if you still hate it in 6 mo. then move on.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I honestly think that every single job I've had in my lifetime was one I wanted to quit within the first week! It is stressful and always an adjustment period with a new job.

I do sort of see where you are coming from with the job interfering with the family, though. I have a M-F day position, and now that I have a little one at home it is much harder than I would have thought. By the time I get home (I also have an hour commute), get dinner and take care of a few necessities, it is time for baths and bed! God forbid I need to stop at the grocery store on the way home, there is no time for anything!

I think either way is hard. Heck, just being a parent in itself is hard. What it boils down to is what works for you and your family. For the sake of your career, though, I would try and stick it out at least 6 months before you make a change. Perhaps in that time you will work out a schedule that suits you and find out that days and no weekends really does work for your family. Give it time and hang in there!

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

I say though it out. By doing so, you will have experience, which will increase your chances of landing the hospital position! It’s okay to keep looking while working.

I know many would kill for the M-F day shifts, but I like working week-end option days. It frees me up during the week to get things done.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Agency, ortho, tele, med surg, icu, er.

I work 7pm to 7am. I am on the verge of switching my job so I can work days.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hem/Onc.

I've heard this exact same thing from people that work 12s. It boils down to how much you're willing and/or able to make changes to family life to fit your schedule. Keep in mind that if you do work 12s, there's a good chance you'll be on 7p-7a.

Is it just the hours, or are there other factors that have you feeling this way about your job? Considering how hard it is to find any type of job, I would give this a lot of thought before quitting with the assumption that a schedule change will make life easier. You might find 12s make things more difficult.

Whatever you decide, good luck and I hope it's the right decision for you!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Working 12's may seem great, but when you have a family you have to consider you will be working weekends, holidays, and often they will ask you to pick up extra in the hospital. I currently work 12[s 7pm-7am and I have worked pms and days as well. Working 5 days may stink, but you don't have to work the weekends, your holidays are free and you are off at a decent time. Is there anyway that you can drop down to .9 instead of 1.0 at your job so you work 4 instead of 5? Would that help at all? I think you should stick it out for a while and see how it goes. The hospital will interfere with your life even more and it is harder to get time off because there is usually more staff requests. Good Luck!

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

I see where you are comming from. I have often felt being independently wealthy would be the best option for me for spending time with my family. I could still volunteer to practice nursing in my spare time if I got bored. Unfortunately, for you and most of us, nursing isn't a career that lends itself to unlimited wealth or lots of leisure time. In a hospital you will have to deal with every-other weekend, working holidays, mandatory overtime.... At some point it is just a matter of adapting you family life to your job schedule, not the other way around.

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