What to do when you're already wanting to call it quits?

Published

I am at the end of my first year as a new grad RN. I work in a very busy SICU in a level 1 trauma center. After my first year I have found that I really enjoy a lot of aspects of the job but I am ready to change careers anyway. I feel like I was unprepared for my job w/ only about 6weeks of orientation. I am terrified of making a mistake and being sued. I have seen some really scary errors made probably because nurses are over worked. At this point I don't think that the pay is worth the amount of responsibility the nurse is expected to take on. In addition to that RN's in our unit have been physically attacked by family members of gang bangers. Despite this the higher-ups are still trying to open up our unit to unlimited visitors all times of day. :mad: My boss is very passive-aggressive and feeds off creating drama amongst the staff. Basically, I want to be done. I am now looking for a career option outside of nursing but I am having difficulty finding anything. The jobs that I do find want 3-5 years of clinical experience. Any ideas for me would be greatly appreciated. Please help!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Do not quit your job until you have something else to go to.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

oh man sorry to hear this...i just finished school.. and this is what im trying to avoid..its great to get paid..but i want a calm job...im not going to apply in trauma especially because i'd imagine that this is fast paced.

I think maybe you have a different persepctive of nursing because of this rough experience. Maybe try to get a med surg position night shift? it may be still busy but i don't think it will be as crazy...and definetly get of of trauma floor...that would be the first thing i'd do if i were you.

also...if ur not finding a job...try to get a job in a clinic...it is much slower. :) hope this brightens up your mood.

God bless

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

If you are almost done with a year why not look into different areas of nursing that aren't as stressful. There is a whole array of areas and fields, in and out of the hospital and after a year you aren't a new grad anymore and it seems like the position you just did would be able to put down as great experience. (as in nursing skills)

You might be able to still utilize your nursing degree while finding an area you like more.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It sounds like your unit is tough to work on....so why not try to transfer to another floor or another facility? Maybe you just haven't found your niche yet? I'd be hesitant to give up on something you've invested so much time and effort in without at least trying other places to work first.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm so sorry you're feeling this way, but I want to share that this is not unheard of. I wanted to quit nursing three months after I graduated. I was working nights (so not sleeping well), received only 12 shifts (4 weeks) of orientation, and was given 8 pt assignments on a very intense Tele floor (In CA we're only supposed to get 4pts on tele, but they gave me a very unhelpful LVN that couldn't chart, touch IVs, or call MDs). I called in sick all the time and genuinely got depressed about my job and career choice. I stuck it out to six months, the minimum requirement to transfer to another unit, and went to days in a mixed ICU at a Level II trauma center. I found my niche! I absolutely loved every minute of it...for the first two years. Unfortunately the management has gone through a major overhaul recently and I'm also very unhappy. The stress level is so high and unending! It has taken it's toll on me for sure!

I'm getting ready to move to LA where there are a lot of nursing opportunities, but I think I'm leaving ICU for awhile, regroup, destress, and see if there's something else out there that I like just as much as ICU. I think you should try to stick it out in nursing. With a year of ICU experience, you'd be a great asset on a Tele or Med-Surg floor. The constant stress of that environment is responsible for the high turnover rates. Take time for yourself outside of work, relax on your days off, and get plenty of sleep before and after you go in. I hope this helps :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi, you and I have been on the floors about the same time. I work on a Surgical Unit and have for the past year. I recently went through a period where I felt exactly the same way. Its a little better now, but for several weeks, I could not get a shift that was not completely messed up and unmanagable. Think hard about trying to transfer within the hospital, like a med-surg floor or TCU/ARU unit. For me the biggest thing was to not quit until I had somewhere else to go, cause it is super tough to get rehired. For me, I have worked out some of my concerns and had some tremendous support from other nurses I work with, but I still check the open positions and wonder........should I stay or should I go???? Whatever you do, don't do it mad or do it hurt, do it with planning and deliberation, its your career. Hang in there and good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I understand what your going through. I am currently going through the same exact situation. I dont think I can even stay 6 months. Ive been there for 2 1/2. Im already ready to call it quits with the nursing profession all together.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Im ready to call it quits too in my work. Im debating whether to stay for 1 year or call it quits in 6 months. Im fairly new there, but with the heavy med-surg work load, I feel so overwhelmed most of the time. I never go home on time and occasionally skip lunch just to do work. Right now, I just want to find something less stress, maybe become like a dialysis nurse. Money is important to help pay the bills. But my happiness and health is also important. The more I stay there, the more i feel my health is slowly deteriorating. I need some suggestion. thanks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Geez something has to give! In an ideal world there would only be 3-4 pts per nurse plus ancillary support for admits etc. Just a slower pace, more time with less pts seems to be the solution. If only...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I feel your pain, I'm 4 months in and I'm ready to go, I dont think I can hold out 2 more months to make it 6 months. I'm depressed, crying every day and its not healthy but it's so impossible to find a job in this economy especially in ny that I'm forced to stay here but I'm reaching my breaking point with this job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I feel the same way. I want to quit my first nursing job. I am a new RN grad and I have been working in a skilled nursing facility for 3 months on the overnight shift. I was only given 2 weeks of orientation to the floor. During this time they only showed me unsafe short cuts to resident care, and did not tell/show me the proper way even though I asked several times (this should have gave me the clue to leave). The ratio of nurse to residents is 1:29 sometimes even higher, and during my shift I am the only RN in the building and this scares me to death. I feel that this is unsafe practice!!! Also, my supervisor clues me in that I have to be charge nurse on my shift. Well the problem is that I am a new graduated RN and I am unsure what needs to be done. Then a couple of days ago state walks in, and guess what, I felt that I was hung out to dry and did not know what to do. For I had to pass meds, do treatments, assessments for 29 residents along with deal with state...I hate my job so much that it makes me cringe and cry every time I think I have to go back. It has also made me feel horrible as a human and a nurse. I have brought up my feelings to my supervisor but I get blown off "don't worry about it." I have to go to wor tomorrow, but I have thought about leaving a VM and telling them I quit. Please, someone give me advice on how to handle this situation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion