no win situation

Nurses General Nursing

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I seriouly need advice. I accepted a job a few weeks ago after quitting another one due to stress and anxiety.

Though it might be less stressfull I realise all my anxiety is coming back and actually ended up calling in sick after just a few weeks of orientation!!! ( That is diffenately not typically me)

I feel like I am not compentend though I have a good resume but Ive been hiding so long behind a desk and having doctors and more experienced coworkes around me and maybe actually avoidning direct patient care that I am freeked out about being the only nurse and doing bedside nursing.

I have five years experince as a nurse. Should be able to do this but a just want to run away doing a job with no direct patient care for a while due to anxiety.

I feel like a fraud for accepting this position knowing I might react this way, but everyone kept telling me this was a golden opportunity to find something less stressfull and I was reacting this way due to anxiety/low selfasteem at the moment. Problem is I hate almost every aspect of nursing this point. I feel incompentent and burned out and dread going to work . I thought maybe some time away since leaving my old job would do the trick....Now I know I really need to get out of this and sort myself out

Question is ...how do I explain this to my new employer that I want to quit after only 3 weeks when they have invested time and energy and giving me this opportunity to work for them???? I know I will burn my bridges and seem like a mental case ( hmm maybe not far from the thruth) but I know I wont be able to function in this position now or months ahead.

Sorry for the vent.

Before you quit this job, I think you should see your doctor. Do you have anxiety outside of work? If so, you may have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and you may benefit from taking a medication for it. If your anxiety only happens at work and you feel as though you're not competent, consider taking some RN refresher courses. Some colleges allow alumni to revisit previous courses (ie. you could go back to the college you attended and re-take any of the courses you took while there) free of charge. If this is not an option, sign up for a refresher course at one of your local nursing schools. It sounds like you need to build your confidence, and this may help.

Also, just as already posted above, I think a lot of nurses have some degree of anxiety during their job (myself included). We have big responsibilities. It's not uncommon to feel this anxiety or fear. I like to remind people that a certain level of anxiety or fear is actually a good thing because it makes us double-check our work & therefore prevents errors and promotes safe care.

Best of luck to you!

Amanda

Specializes in Ambulatory Care, Case Manager.

Have you thought about what you would do if you quit? It's hard to find a job nowadays, so you might as well stick around a little longer. Nobody said that nursing is easy. It's how you manage. Before you quit your job, you have to confront and deal with your anxiety; seek professional help. You said that you left your previous job because of it, and now brought it on to your new job. Ask yourself if you will encounter the same problem at your NEXT job. Are your co-workers helpful? Do you have support from your supervisor? That's one of the main things being in a new job and going through orientation.

I will be in my third week at my new job and thought I knew what what I needed to know about case management, but there is so much to learn. The first week I was confident, the second week not so much; too much information to say the least and so it's hard not to feel overwhelmed. And yes, I've asked myself "What if I can't do this?". However, my supervisors are great and meet with me to see how I'm doing and how they can better help me.

On another note, it is also putting your own efforts. I'm here at home going my manual again and I'm making my own flow charts and rewriting my notes to fit how I learn. Maybe you need to do that too; review your A&P and your NCLEX. Ask questions.

Good luck!

Thanks everyone. You all gave some usefull advice. I am seeing an MD but don´t think I will be able to go back. Just needed some advice on how to explain to my new employer why I am leaving so soon without burning my brigdes but seems like I just need to face my desicion and try to move on... ( in a non nursing job).Hugs

Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

"I have to resign for personal reasons. My last day will be ____. Thank you for the opportunity to work here."

Specializes in Ambulatory Care, Case Manager.

ulmaulma, I'm sorry about what you ended up deciding. However, it's important that you take care of yourself. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Take care,

BJ

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