Was suspended but reinstated - should I resign?

[doglover45]

I finished nursing school this last summer and got my RN. The recession hit and jobs were (are) scarce. I got a job at a LTC. Orientation was pretty short and nurse to patient ratio is high. After a couple of months of being there, I had a shift during which a patient had a poor outcome. I was suspended.

I was devastated, and I had no idea of the process. I looked at this forum and got some info. (I now have insurance.) I'm afraid I was pretty ignorant of what to do. I think I still am. I saw some people advising people to just resign after being suspended.

After a week of being suspended, I was brought in and told that I was to be reinstated. I asked several times what I had done wrong and they were only able to give vague references to "critical thinking skills" or something like that - nothing specific. Now I'm afraid that it could happen again. That was a very scary experience!

So my question is - should I resign? The job is not great, and I feel at risk after that last experience. I don't want to damage my career when I'm just getting started. On the other hand, I am getting experience, and a paycheck is better than no paycheck. Advice? If I do resign, should I include this job as experience on my resume? If I stay, how can I better protect myself?

Thanks so much to all who reply!

[Kevin RN08]

I'm with NC Girl, I think I'd have been looking during the suspension. I don't know whether I'd go back until I was comfortable in knowing specifically where the failures were. How can you fix something when you're not sure it was broke? Maybe you could request some sort of remedial orientation, or atleast discuss it with someone that works the floor that has been around there for a while.

Before I resigned I would look at what it's going to do to your household finances, that is cold reality. What do the prospects look like in your area will you be out of work for an extended period?

Yes, you should list the job on your resume, you had great responsibility and learned a lot. Besides you normally have to answer "Why did you leave your last position?" on most applications so that gives you room to give your side. It's a small world and people talk.