i want to quit after just one shift

AutumnApple · Sep 11, 2016

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.

I feel odd saying this to someone with 40yrs of experience. It is what it is I guess.

The bold part was a mistake. I'd have refused. I've been put in that situation when I was a travel nurse and I made it simple for them: "I'll refuse the assignment as unsafe and go home. Me bypassing orientation is not an option. I'm sorry, but you'll have to find another solution to filling in for the call off."

Twice I had people try to cut my orientation short and both times, that was my answer to them. Neither time did I lose my job.

One did ask me to work, but without an assignment. I did odds and ends type things to help. They did not count that as a day of orientation either. That solution was fine with me.

We are allowed to say "no". Just be clear about why you are doing so, and have an open mind to solutions that may remedy the problem for everyone.

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Sep 11, 2016

I would not feel bad about calling and just telling them you aren't coming back. They should have called in another staff nurse to cover; you didn't even have a computer log in! Huge red flag.

Hopefully it is still early enough that you haven't been worked into the schedule, because of course no one likes to dump their shifts on coworkers. But at this stage of your employment, it's purely business; the sooner you get out, the better for all involved.

But of course, you should notify them asap.

djh123 · Sep 11, 2016

People quit where I work with no notice sometimes, which isn't the way most of us were brought up. But although that does sound bad - that someone called in and the other nurse said that's the way orientation is usually done (what, someone calls in? Or that they threw you on the night shift? - I wasn't totally clear) - I'd still give it a few more shifts before deciding to call it quits. That's only my opinion, obviously. Just thinking it might get better.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 11, 2016

With forty years in, you know this is probably only going to get worse. If your gut is telling you to resign, do it. But do it professionally. You may be ready to retire in a year, or even now. If you and your husband have run your numbers and think it's time, then go for it. But be professional about the whole thing because you cannot predict the future. In a year you may need or want to go back to work for some reason, and you don't want that big of a blemish on your work history.