after 6 weeks orientation I quit

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I had been on the unit for a few years as an extern and recently passed boards and started orientation. I had talked with my director about preceptors in the months before graduation. She put me with a nurse and it was not working. There were alot of things that happened. Many I felt were serious but I have been told repeatedly that you NEVER, EVER say anything bad about another nurse because it could cause you major problems. :argue: I did not feel like I was given direction, my questions were ignored about the process of orientation and my training in general. and quite frankly some of the things I observed the preceptor doing were just WRONG.:no: This nurse has a reputation for playing on the computer, not providing pt care etc more serious issues I will not mention. I think the NM HAS to be aware because I know of complaints in the past that were made. A few people shared with me their surprise that I was put with her. I was so frustrated and approached NM several times to be moved. Well THAT seemed to cause a snowball effect and the weeks that followed were awful. I had great relations with 90% of the employees but the few that I had to deal with directly during orientation at the time I believe knew I asked to be moved and then the wrath rained down. Zero communication with NM at this point. :sniff:She was adamant that she had me with who she wanted me with and that SHE picked the preceptor even after mine polite attempts to say it was not working for me and not a good fit. I quit because there was no way out of a horrible situation and quite frankly my trust in NM was gone. I think if I had shared some of my more serious concerns it would have gotten alot worse. I am discouraged and feel so beaten down and betrayed. :banghead:I am hoping to find my place elsewhere. I hope it doesn't LOOK bad that I quit.

Specializes in LTC.

Well....It's good to see that I'm not the only one in that boat, lol. I started out on a card tele unit. I've done a rough 12-13 wks of orientation. I realized, it's not for me. I'm gonna work a notice though. I'm not sure where I wanna go from here. I just gotta find that area of nursing that's right for me. I'm nervous about getting questioned about why I quit so soon. I guess I'll just be honest and see where that gets me. It just wasn't a good fit.

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FromNH2VAwherenext,

Did you ever get advice from your father as to handle the situation? I have been including the position on my resume ... some nurses advised me differently but I feel like I have to.

Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.

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FromNH2VAwherenext,

Did you ever get advice from your father as to handle the situation? I have been including the position on my resume ... some nurses advised me differently but I feel like I have to.

Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.

He said I probably should have included it on the application (not necessarily my resume). That said, I should mention it in an interview quoting "not a good fit." It's easier to do that rather than "stretch the truth" at first as in, I took a couple of months to get set up in AZ and get "caught" later. It's a fairly small city and I'm sure people talk!

Hope that helps.

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wow.... your situation sounds identical to mine .. i quit after the 2nd week. the manager said she was sorry and they screwed up. they hadn't trained a new grad in years. I tried to work with the system, but after risking patient safety and my license, i decided to cut my losses. i'm searching for work now. we just have to have confidence in ourselves. i talked with a past professor who is a nurse and FNP, she said in her earlier years, she too quit --- after one day! this is my second career, i am not an idiot, and i expect professionals to be professionals.

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I had been on the unit for a few years as an extern and recently passed boards and started orientation. I had talked with my director about preceptors in the months before graduation. She put me with a nurse and it was not working. There were alot of things that happened. Many I felt were serious but I have been told repeatedly that you NEVER, EVER say anything bad about another nurse because it could cause you major problems. :argue: I did not feel like I was given direction, my questions were ignored about the process of orientation and my training in general. and quite frankly some of the things I observed the preceptor doing were just WRONG.:no: This nurse has a reputation for playing on the computer, not providing pt care etc more serious issues I will not mention. I think the NM HAS to be aware because I know of complaints in the past that were made. A few people shared with me their surprise that I was put with her. I was so frustrated and approached NM several times to be moved. Well THAT seemed to cause a snowball effect and the weeks that followed were awful. I had great relations with 90% of the employees but the few that I had to deal with directly during orientation at the time I believe knew I asked to be moved and then the wrath rained down. Zero communication with NM at this point. :sniff:She was adamant that she had me with who she wanted me with and that SHE picked the preceptor even after mine polite attempts to say it was not working for me and not a good fit. I quit because there was no way out of a horrible situation and quite frankly my trust in NM was gone. I think if I had shared some of my more serious concerns it would have gotten alot worse. I am discouraged and feel so beaten down and betrayed. :banghead:I am hoping to find my place elsewhere. I hope it doesn't LOOK bad that I quit.

Wow, sorry you had to go through that. I am experiencing something similar. I know for me, very soon I will begin looking elsewhere . . .

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Wow...I know how you feel. I started my orientation this week and worked with a really great nurse. The problem is she only works weekends. So today (Monday) I started with a different preceptor. I graduated 6 months ago and yes this is my first job, but she asked me if I felt comfortable getting blood pressures and finger sticks??!! THEN tonight a patient needed and ICP and straight cath and my nurse was going to let me do it she but took forever getting into the pt.'s room, needless to say the patient was anxious to have her bladder expressed when my Nurse strolled in. (I had been waiting there with the pt. because it was my first day with this new nurse and she would not let me do ANYTHING without her). So after she strolled in, my patient was upset for having to wait. She put the ICP on hold and asked me to step out into the hallway where she asked what I did to uspet the pt. and then came to the conclussion the patient was upset because I was a new grad and wouldn't let me do it! The patient had been very nice to me and knew I was a new grad and encouraged me to do the ICP with her. I don't know if I chose the right profession...I have driven home crying and have cried myself to sleep the last two nights. The place I work is a SNF and pretty much every employee has been there less than two years and the rest are registry nurses...HELP =( I think a clinic would be a better fit...any advice on finding a job as a new grad (BSN)?

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I was just hired in an ER where a friend of mine (also a new grad) works. I interviewed with the director and oh my goodness!!! she answered every concern I had with out me having to ask the questions!!! Their orientation is very strong and everyone works together. I had never thought about ER but it is a small community hospital that I feel I will get alot of experience. I am still a little nervous but am trying to put my old job/experiences behind me. I'll let you know how it goes!! I just told her in the interview that I had worked on the unit for 2 years and after a short stent of orientation I knew that was not a good fit for me. I said that I loved everyone I worked with and brought up none of the negatives. I am still very resentful for how they treated me. I still have friends on the old unit and a few others have left as well!! I spent alot of time in prayer over my job change and I am looking forward to FINALLY being able to work as a nurse. Hang in there!! There are TONS of people in our situation as many of my classmates have changed jobs as well. There is no sense in staying somewhere where they are not supportive...there are other places to go!!!!!

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Just an update for those of you who are interested... The major teaching & magnet hospital I applied for hired me, despite my "ordeal" with the first hospital (I was forced to leave after 60 days). I told the new hospital straight up (leaving out the blame and negativity) what happened with the old hosp. They hired me as a graduate extern 'til mid-Feb 2009; then put me with the new grad program from there. This orientation is 15 weeks and from shadowing on the unit, I think I'll have the support I need. It's a pay cut to be an extern, and I'm acting more like a tech but hey - I get experience on the unit (BMT/Oncology) prior to having the responsibility of an RN. :nuke: I start orientation next week (pending background checks of course). Thanks for all of your support through the rough times. :bow:

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I just finished my third week of orientation on a m/s floor. I was moved to 4 patients this week which shocked me. I could barely handle 3!! We are working with no aide which means I do my own care. Normally that would be fine if I had a clue what I was doing as a nurse already. 3 of the 4 pts were complete care, 2 were accu checks which the nurses do on my floor, 1 was on isolation, one had extensive dressing changes and I had to get ready for the cath lab, and one called me every 10 mins cause she was in pain. Also, my floor director picked this day to have my weekly meeting (1st meeting which was 2 weeks late). NEXT WEEK I MOVE TO 5 PATIENTS. Crazy.

Boy did I unload on them. I said I felt I was not learning how to fill out the paper work which is extensive in this hospital. Never have I seen so much. I felt my preceptor spent all her time doing the am care so I didn't have to (which was very nice of her) but then I had to waste time trying to find her. I felt I was barely keeping my head above water everyday and did not feel good about myself at the end of the day.

I will deal with it for 2 more months and if it doesn't improve I am gone.

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