i want to quit after just one shift

[KathyBSN]

Need some advice..... I've only had one shift on a new job and already want to quit! I've been an RN for 40 years, and took a 6p-6a shift in a skilled care nursing home as I thought it would work better at home as I'm a single mom with two school aged adopted daughters. I had one day of paperwork general orientation and was put right to night shift to orient. When I showed up I was told no orientation as there was a call in and I needed to jump in with the other RN and cover, and they felt I would do just fine as I had so many years experience and was known to be an excellent nurse and blah blah blah. Well I sucked it up and did it, and it was not great, as I didn't have computer access and was not yet shown the computer system, so the other nurse had me pass meds and chart under his password. I didn't even know where the bathroom was! I went home that morning exhausted and worried about liability and if this was the way it was always going to be as the other RN said this was how orientation is usually done. I probably can do it as I'm am a fast learner and quick thinker with excellent skills but I don't think I want to. And the night shift about killed me. I felt so sick, my blood pressure meds got all screwed up by my flipping my schedule giving me a migraine, and it took me three days to feel better. I'm scheduled to work tomorrow night and I want to quit now! Do I give two weeks notice? Do I go in person? Send a text? All communication from the facility is via text, even my job offer! And since I can retire in one year I'm even thinking of just quitting nursing now. There was so much computer charting and it's just not for me. Just to do a patient assessment took me 30 minutes as it was 46 pages of computer pages to check boxes and chart. Nursing is not how I remember. For the past 10 years I have done public health nursing as I couldn't work ICU anymore after adopting my girls. But I didn't like being gone ten hours a day and my girls are now old enough to want to be in after school activities. Is it time for me to quit? I'm only 61.... And hoped to work 10 more years. I don't know what to do.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Since you have been a nurse for 40 years and accrued a variety of experiences, I am not going to try to convince you to not quit. After all, you have been a nurse longer than I have been alive.

You can submit a two-week notice of resignation. However, since you are still in orientation, management will probably be irritated you want to resign so soon. Thus, the chance of being told, "We no longer need your services" exists.

Good luck to you.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

It's time for you to quit THAT job now. You were used and abused.. it will only get worse. It is not time to quit nursing. I found my dream job @ 60. With 40 years of experience, you can find much better options.

I would not give a second of worry regarding what this "facility " may say or do.

Best of luck with your next venture.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

And please do not ever pass meds or chart under anyone else's name/ID again.

[RNperdiem, RN]

If this is how this place treats a new employee on their first shift, I doubt it will get better.

You have been dumped on from day one and this is your warning.

If you have been nursing for a long time, you can spot a bad workplace quickly.

If you are able to line up another job quickly or have substantial savings, text your I quit notice. If you do have bills to pay and a couple of children depending on you, start applying for jobs ASAP!

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

I feel that way every new job, but this place sounds awful.

[Marisette, BSN, RN]

Even an experienced nurse should be oriented to a new EMR, policies & procedures, and obviously where the bathrooom is. An expectation of 2-4 week orientation is not unreasonable, in my opinion. The expectation that you document on someone elses password is outrageous. Is that even legal? Send them a resignation text, and don't bother returning to work.

If you can afford to quit nursing and be with your daughters, by all means do what makes you happy. However, don't let this job drive you out of nursing if you need the income. Sure nursing has changed since 40 or even 10 years ago, but your recent employer sounds worse than most. Try again, you may get lucky.

[TriciaJ, RN]

After 40 years of nursing, you owe the profession nothing. If you want to keep working and find a better job, great. But meanwhile, I wouldn't darken that particular doorway again. Send them a text telling them you are dealing with sudden health issues and won't be returning. You don't need to tell them that you are allergic to toxic work places.

It's not even really a fib; if you try to tough it out in a place like that, it likely will take a toll on your health. You owe it to yourself and your daughters to take better care of yourself. Good luck.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

If I was the author of this thread, it would have been titled "Length of employment from start to finish, in terms of hours and minutes".

See-ya!!

[OCNRN63, RN]

After 40 years of nursing, you owe the profession nothing. If you want to keep working and find a better job, great. But meanwhile, I wouldn't darken that particular doorway again. Send them a text telling them you are dealing with sudden health issues and won't be returning. You don't need to tell them that you are allergic to toxic work places.

It's not even really a fib; if you try to tough it out in a place like that, it likely will take a toll on your health. You owe it to yourself and your daughters to take better care of yourself. Good luck.

This, this, a hundred times this! You were an ICU nurse; you know that missing your BP meds is not good. That migraine could have been a warning sign for you. You've got two young girls depending on you (Bless you for taking on that responsibility!). Make sure that you're healthy enough to be there to watch them grow up.

And TriciaJ is so right: After 40 years of nursing, you owe the profession nothing. Don't lose a minute's sleep over this awful job.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Since you have been a nurse for 40 years and accrued a variety of experiences, I am not going to try to convince you to not quit. After all, you have been a nurse longer than I have been alive.

You can submit a two-week notice of resignation. However, since you are still in orientation, management will probably be irritated you want to resign so soon. Thus, the chance of being told, "We no longer need your services" exists.

Good luck to you.

In the famous words of Rhett Butler from the classic Gone With The Wind, (well, we all know what he said;)).

[sevensonnets]

It doesn't matter what management thinks. They were using you and you know it. They're probably used to "I quit!" texts or nurses who just never show up again.