Submitted my two week notice today

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Mar 21, 2008

With only 3 days of prientation I would quit too, and I've been nursing 20 years. This was not your fault- if you choose to try some where else there is no reason you cannot succeed.

trsa34 · Mar 21, 2008

Thanks for replying so quickly because I really need advice about this. Whenever I try to put into words what I'm feeling I feel myself starting to cry. My husband is in Iraq so I don't want to bother him with this even though I know he don't mind talking. The lady I submitted the notice to jokingly called me a chicken and she's right but I don't know anything about being in charge of anybody beside being a mother to my kids and that's easy compared to that place. I'm sorry for the typos but I can't really see through my tears. I know that all new nurses go through this but I wonder why can't I deal with it. I always considered myself as a fairly strong person, but my goodness this is just too much for me right now. Thanks again. T.

jelorde37 · Mar 21, 2008

im really sorry you had to go through all of that. its really hard to work in a facility when there is no teamwork. it make you feel like your the only one working... i went through that when i first started and i learned to only depend on myself. eventually, i learned to become more assertive with my CNA's. i didnt care what they thought about me just as long as the job gets done... i dont think you should quit nursing all together but instead, just try out a different facility. nursing can be a great profession but you need to find your niche in it.

hope my personal experiences help you out.

jon lvn

joyfulone · Mar 21, 2008

Don't give up on your dream! You made it through nursing school and you will be a great nurse. That desire is already in your heart. Have you given any thought to home health nursing or finding another LTC facility to work in? There are always other options....when you try one thing and that doesnt work...try another and another until you are content and at peace.

MzMouse · Mar 21, 2008

Wow. Please don't feel like this was on you. You were given no chance to succeed and completely right to resign. No teamwork makes any nursing job near impossible. The person who called you chicken, joking or not, needs to get a clue. That place needs some shaping up if they expect any nurse to stay.

There are better places out there, you do not have to give up your nursing career.

Best wishes! Please keep us updated on how you are doing.

proud2b1 · Mar 21, 2008

my first job after school was in ltcf also.My personality seemed to have changed somewhat.My mother used to say,"you seem so depressed,could it be where you are working"?She was the first one that noticed.I have stayed in ltcf now for 15 years.I have adapted well,You need to realize,that you cant change the world,but you can make a difference.Make those cnas work for those res,or get them out of there.This is part of your job.Dont give up,just hang in there.There is alot to learn to handle,and it can be a depressed kind of area.Dont worry at all what the cna's think of you,if they are being that way to you.Make it clear to them,that your lisence is yours to keep,and not loose because of their laziness.Trust me there are those cna's that will work for you well,and you can both respect one another,and that is what it takes to work together.If they continue,after you try your absolute hardest then I would consider moving on to greener pastures.There are the good places to work and than there is those other places!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :twocents:

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Mar 22, 2008

The lady I submitted the notice to jokingly called me a chicken and she's right but I don't know anything about being in charge of anybody beside being a mother to my kids .

What a witch. Would you expect a childless woman:no: to know all the ins and outs of running your household after three days? If you called her a chicken would that be supportive or dismissive? Turn the tables around to see just how inappropriate their expectations are.

bluegeegoo2, LPN · Mar 22, 2008

I have only been a nurse for 4 months, and I can tell you it DOES get better. After just a couple of weeks on the floor, (with 5 days of being ignored on orientation), I was ready to quit. I really, REALLY questioned my decision to be a nurse, and was largely ignored by other staff. Having "stuck it out" and come through the other side, I can look back and see that what was going on was: a) I was a new nurse, therefore noone took me seriously and b) the turnover rate was so high, that most of the "long-term" staff didn't bother to get to know me. Things began to slowly change once they realized I was staying, and that hey! I might have a clue. Now, other nurses listen when I speak, and my aides do what I ask. I also had a period of a few weeks where the illusion of what nursing was like, instilled in me from school, was shattered once I hit the "real" world. It was very depressing and hard for me to accept, but it did finally happen. I have actually quit looking for another job, and have really begun to settle into my role at my facility. I'm sorry for rambling, but I know what your feeling and just wanted to let you know it does get better.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Mar 22, 2008

Hello, it's been a while since I posted. I'm a new nurse (finished school in Dec, got licensed in late Jan) I was hired at my first job at a LTC in late Feb. After 3 1/2 days orientation, I was on my own. From the first day it was horrible no respect from CNA's, residents cursing at me, and no one to really talk to. After many sleepless nights, I decided to call it quits but ended up changing my mind because I always wanted to be a nurse. My second week was no better, same stuff different day. I feel so weak and disappointed in myself and like a failure. I can't believe I'm letting these people (lazy Cna's) run me off. I can handle the residents b/c they don't mean any harm, but not having the support of my co-workers is what's making me want to leave. I was told that the hospitals are no better, if that's the case I don't think I'm cut out to be a nurse. I really don't know what to do. I'm in my mid 30's and don't know what I'm good at. Isn't that pathetic, I've worked most of my adult life at becoming a nurse (different things in my way) and finally I'm here and couldn't last 30 days at my first jobs. Anyway, thanks for listening (reading) to me. I'll be ok in the morning after a good cry. Sorry So Long.
T.

I think you need to find a better place to work -- and keep in mind, there really are better places to work. You shouldn't have to work in a place where you get no support from your coworkers.

eldragon · Mar 22, 2008

It's really hard, isn't it?

I just finished my 3rd week at my first job - also LTC, skilled nursing.

I don't have a problem with the CNA's at all, but nurses on other shifts.

I work days as a medication nurse, and am responsible for the morning med pass, which is LARGE, to say the least.

I am diligent, ethical and trying to do a good job, but I am already noticing how many other nurses aren't doing their part. I see meds signed off by previous shifts, when there is no way the med was given, due to the pharmacy being out, and the facility being out. And the patient says they didn't get it, either. Everyone knows the nurse didn't pull the medication out of their butt and give it - because it didn't exist. (New order.)

I see errors upon errors upon errors made. Staff not bothering to fax in drug refill orders, which means I do not have what I need on my shift.....

every single form I fill out to chart something, is completely filled up so that I am constantly going to the file cabinet for new sheets and making copies to put back in the file cabinet............

previous shifts not restocking a single thing: empty CBC test strip containers, with no replacements; empty syringe boxes with no replacements, etc. How can I do my job when they don't do theirs?

Nurses taking dayshift meds out of the drawers and not putting them back, so I end up racing around to find something?

Sheets being carelessly ripped out of the MARS, and even being LOST? I am the only person reinforcing these papers and trying to get the MARS back in order?

Misplacing crucial items - such as putting insulin in the med cart - when it's supposed to be in the fridge? I am so busy, working through my lunch trying to get everything done and then I can't find insulin?

Not documenting or charting that a med was given, or wasn't given - and then charting that it was?

The list goes on and on. I give up to 300 meds every morning, and I am busting my hump to get done. Nobody helps me with vital signs, even though - every single day of my orientation for two weeks - another nurse helped with vitals. Now? It's only me.

Graveyard shift nurse tells me that I should come on graveyard - because it's dead, and they have "6 hours of doing nothing." REALLY? So why not earn some of your paycheck and get some clerical work done? Why not fax that drug order over to the pharmacy and stock the cart?

So many errors and laziness, I can't believe it.

If dayshift does all the work, how come graveyard gets a shift differential?

All this running around and stress, and I'm getting paid the bottom of the barrel wage for LPN's in my county?

Thanks for the vent!

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Mar 22, 2008

My first job out of school was in LTC and it was a dangerous facility for a nurse. I was ready to give up too, but I was offered a job in a physician office. I get paid less and I actually do more "hand on nursing". I assist in surgeries, run labs, etc. I think its sad, before all I did was pass meds and do treatments, and now I make less.. LTC isn't for everyone. There are other things out there you can do. Keep your head up and NEVER let anyone make you doubt yourself. You're a nurse! :bow: