Terrible first NP job

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I need some advice. I was working in a very uncomfortable work environment with a physician who offered no training at all. I did learn alot but it was a daily struggle with no back up. I wont go on and on about her but there was no opportunity to make it better and she seemed to thrive when others were failing around her. To make a long story short. I quit without having another job. Financially it will be tough. I made it one year and couldnt take it any more!!!

Maybe I am freaking out but I dont know how to explain this on interviews without making myself seem like a failure or a quitter. I dont want to trash her. How can I say I learned alot when there was no training??

Has anyone ever been through anything like this before??

Thanks for any advice!

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I once read that in a situation where you don't want to say anything negative, but there was not a lot of positives, say, "It wasn't a good fit." And leave it at that. Say that you spent a year there and are looking to expand your experience base.

Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Orthopedics, Hospitalists.

I had a job like that as an RN, I literally couldn't wait to be out of there and resigned pretty much one year to the day after I started. I did fortunately have another job lined up for when I quit. I work in a sizeable hospital that can spread gossip like you couldn't believe, so I always gave the "I left because..blah blah blah" kinda reason, not what I really thought! There are lots of sites that give great advice on what to say that is PC for why you left, I'd do some googling. Pick out something like "oh, the ____ just wasn't working out" that is mostly true so you can say it with a straight face! One sentence, then start going on about what you learned there and how you grew as a professional NP in that role. Never say anything negative about your former employer to your potential employer - it can make you look petty, no matter how you phrase it, and if you live in a "small" town, things have a way of getting back and biting you in the butt!

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1 year at any job is not a failure! I left my first job after less than a year 40% increase in salary and a much more positive work environment b/c I was " looking for a better fit"! I agree w/ the other posters- the medical community is small and things bite you in the butt!

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I'm going through that now...I can tell it's territorial thing since I am the only NP :(

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This is what I'm really afraid of in choosing my first job. Are there things you wish you had asked or checked into prior to taking the job? I know a lot of this is unavoidable, but if there are things you could have done/asked/etc. prior to taking the job that would have tipped you off, I'd love to hear about that.

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