Unhappy at my new job

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Hi everyone!

I am seeking advice from all you lovely nurses on my current situation.

I recently moved and started a new job at a hospital about 2 months ago, after working at my old hospital for a little over 2 years. I came from a hospital where team work was the core of what made our floor, I was never afraid to ask questions and I felt very supported while working. I could ask for help in any circumstance and really bonded with the nurses I worked with.

Now, I am at this new job on a floor that is the complete opposite. I am struggling to fit in because the culture is very different. It is a much more cliquey group of nurses, who tend to like to gossip and talk. I am feeling extremely anxious before going to work because I do not feel the same support as I once did. Nobody helps anyone to turn off a pump that goes off, to act as a second assist, or anything in general. I have questioned my preceptors and charge nurses about when it would be okay to ask for help from another nurse and the response has always been that it is a unit where people usually do things on their own and you can always as your nursing aid for help instead of another nurse who might be busy.

So my question is now how long do you usually have to stay at a job where you feel unsupported and anxious going into work before you can switch to another hospital? I am trying to rough it out for a few months because I feel terrible about leaving even though I am extremely unhappy. I cry all the time before having to come back. How can you bring this up to a new hospital when looking for a new job?

Thanks for all the advice,

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Having been in a similar situation without boring you with the details, I quit the job before my orientation was up and went and found a job elsewhere, nursing28900.

I did quite a bit of job-hopping after working at the first hospital for 7 years. I worked anywhere from a couple months to 5 years for about 13 years until I found my present position where I've been for nearly 16 years.

A male nurse buddy of mine encouraged me to go for my RN when I was an LPN. He told me that an RN license would give me a license to fly.

And fly I did. Generally, I can say that I enjoyed my flight and got a lot of experience in the meantime.

Good luck to you nursing28900, and welcome to AN.com!

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You are in a different setting, it takes time to adjust to the culture of a new unit. You WILL find a few nurses that you can depend on.

I would stick it out for a year, learn what I could learn from the unit, and move on if necessary.

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Maybe switching hospitals would be unnecessary? Often there can be a different culture on a different unit, or even a different shift. Pay attention if you have to float to a different unit someday.

I would say a year is the bare minimum before going to a different hospital. Of course you can leave before that, but sticking it out for a year at least looks better. Also, if you quit before that you would be black-balled from any hospital also affiliated with that hospital. If you can't stay a year, you could always leave it off your resume and apply at other hospitals not affiliated with that one, as long as you don't apply for any government jobs and as long as you don't run into anyone you knew from there.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

I think the job market is too good for you to have to stay there.

Why did you leave the old hospital? Would you go back?

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

I am in a similar situation, but trying to stick it out, as I don't think you really adjust to a job for a few months. I want to stick with this one for at least a year and then I can move to a new unit within the same hospital. You may want to do the same, although your hospital may allow you to change units within a 6 month period.

Annie

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Why did you leave your old hospital? The cliques you describe are not the exception; I did temp/travel/PD for a few years and that is all I encountered. I grew a very thick skin.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Home Health, Corrections, School Nurse.

I would say when applying for a new job, if you have really good references from the job before your move, it would not be unreasonable to tell a prospective employer that your current job is just not a good fit. Just make sure you give 2 weeks notice. If you are in tears before work everyday, I say it's time for a change.

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