Worsening Health, Considering Resignation

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ICU.

Hello everyone. Looking for some career advice here, especially from anyone that's been in my predicament before. Not looking for medical advice, just to be clear.

I've been working on a cardiac telemetry floor for about 7 months now, graduated May 2018. I have my ADN but I will have my BSN by fall of 2020. Job-wise, everything has been about as stressful as you'd expect for a newer nurse, but not too awful. I’ve received great feedback from my coworkers and manager alike, as well as recognition for patient satisfaction. The main stressors have been our patient population (often very wealthy, politically connected, or famous), the nature of cardiac tele, our understandably burnt-out day shifters, and the usual new nurse struggles.

I've been having some health issues more recently though. I've had some worsening back issues and the pain is beginning to push my limits. I also began having worsening migraines over the past 4 months or so with frequent nocturnal seizures that have been difficult to control while trying to tolerate the AED side effects. The migraines have started causing stroke-like symptoms in addition to losing sensation in my hands. It’s all been very overwhelming and it’s taking a lot out of me, especially with it being so new. I’ve had to call out twice since I began working here and I’m currently on short term disability. My PCP and neurologist have both expressed concern that my job may be aggravating my symptoms.

Being a new nurse with only my ADN, I know I'm fortunate to have this job, making this a difficult decision. We're trying a new treatment option before I resort to resigning. If I resign, I believe attempting to pursue a lower stress position (possibly psych?) may be in my best interest. FYI, I did not sign a contract requiring me to work a certain number of years here.

So, my questions are:

1. If I need to resign, how should I explain this to my manager? She is aware of my migraines since I am currently on short term disability. Is resigning before the year mark automatically putting me on bad terms with her, regardless?

2. What/how would I tell future employers about why I resigned?

3. Does a position in psychiatric nursing (inpatient most likely) seem like a better alternative? I shadowed a PMHNP and the DON back in nursing school so I am somewhat familiar with this setting. The DON did also offer to help me get a job back then...

4. What would anyone else realistically do in my situation?

If anyone else has gone through something similar, please let me know.

Thanks.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

My goodness, hon. I am sorry for what you are going through!

Psych units can be stressful or not. MY experience; I worked 11p-7a once on an adult psych unit and it was very non stressful, MOST of the time. The patients MOSTLY slept. Psych tends to be less stress on your body, until you have to participate in restraining someone. Or, unless you work gero-psych.

I worked 11-7 on a child psych unit once, and that tended to be very stressful mentally, but very little physical stress.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ICU.

Thanks for the reply, NurseCard ? I probably should've mentioned a close friend of mine mentioned putting in a good word for me at the psych facility she works at too. I'm hesitant to work with good friends but also desperate to find relief from my symptoms (and maintain health insurance).

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

1). Just as much as you want. Better yet, nothing. It is not anyone's business to know why exactly you resigned. And you are not responsible for making your health history known to anyone.

You might devise some short legend to keep things simple and preventing others from sticking their noses into your private life and let you not to burn bridges on your current job. Some suddenly seriously ill second cousin of your former MIL, for one example.

2). "I had some new and serious obligations in my life I couldn't bypass at that point. It's all over and dealt with now, so I can concentrate on my career". Just like this ?

3). It very much depends. Psych nursing can be just as stressful and back-breaking as any other bedside job.

4). Look in what you like and don't like to do as a nurse, then play from there accounting for your health (which must come first - always). You might need to make more long term plans, like getting your Master's (nursing education is one niche friendly and accepting for nurses with physical limitations), or look for less common positions like administrative nursing or case management.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ICU.

All great suggestions, Katie, thank you. I was considering advancing my education faster given my situation so it helps to hear maybe it's not such a bad idea.

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Specializes in ED, psych.

I’m sorry you’re going through this.

I have an autoimmune disorder that has many neuro s/s (flashing lights, muscle weakness, migraines, etc). On that note, I work psych and neuro ICU.

My FT neuro ICU job is actually more “laid back” (for lack of a better word) than my psych per diem position (that I worked at a year prior to moving on). It’s just the nature of the unit. I work with a great bunch of people who I learn something from each day. It’s also 3p-3a (3p-11p) so it’s not the craziness of days. It’s not the rich or powerful. Just a metro hospital.

My psych job (Geri), also a great group of people but physically and mentally draining and people get overworked and overwhelmed. Quite a lot of violence lately, as “Geri” has been 45+ and quite able bodied. I enjoy it, but oh boy: “please put down the metal cane, sir” as it was aimed at my head the other evening was a little stress inducing.

So what would I tell your present employer? What you feel comfortable doing. But I would personally keep it bland and short.

What would I tell future employers? Nothing personal or specific.

Is psych a better alternative? No. It depends on the unit. The people. The experience. My ICU keeps my stress levels DOWN. My husband, who works in a NICU? I’m sure if I worked there my stress would go way up. I’d hate it there.

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Some other ideas, especially after you finish BSN:

school nursing, informatics, public health

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Specializes in clinic, ortho/neuro, trauma, college.

Wow. That sounds like a lot to deal with, and I'm so sorry. My health improved dramatically when I left the bedside for a college health position. My migraines were through the roof, I wasn't sleeping between night shifts, and my blood pressure was stroke-level.

I hope that your new treatment option works, and that you are able to either continue doing what you're currently doing with much less stress, or you find a more suitable position!

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ICU.
4 hours ago, 40thEditionRN said:

Wow. That sounds like a lot to deal with, and I'm so sorry. My health improved dramatically when I left the bedside for a college health position. My migraines were through the roof, I wasn't sleeping between night shifts, and my blood pressure was stroke-level.

I hope that your new treatment option works, and that you are able to either continue doing what you're currently doing with much less stress, or you find a more suitable position!

Thank you for the kind comment. I'm looking forward to getting back to work to see how my body responds. Honestly, I'm not optimistic and I'm a bit worried, but I'll give it a shot and go from there. Was it a teaching type of position you had? I'm assuming you needed your masters for that, right?

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Specializes in clinic, ortho/neuro, trauma, college.
43 minutes ago, Serhilda said:

Thank you for the kind comment. I'm looking forward to getting back to work to see how my body responds. Honestly, I'm not optimistic and I'm a bit worried, but I'll give it a shot and go from there. Was it a teaching type of position you had? I'm assuming you needed your masters for that, right?

I'm actually a nurse in Student Health. I always say I'm a "school nurse for big kids." Working as a nurse to college students is never dull, and the normal schedule is also a lifesaver.

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I would consider looking for a new job before resigning from the current one. I work in school nursing and it's great in lots of ways but I will say having some med/surg or peds experience is helpful as you are often the only nurse in a building and have to make decisions quickly and confidently.

Could you work part time and perhaps make it to a year without your health being compromised? Less hours can make a world of difference in job satisfaction.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
21 hours ago, 40thEditionRN said:

I'm actually a nurse in Student Health. I always say I'm a "school nurse for big kids." Working as a nurse to college students is never dull, and the normal schedule is also a lifesaver.

My last job was Student Health. I do recommend it. The money wasn't the greatest but the bennies were just fine. Regular hours. Holidays off. Interesting work, but not crazy fast or stressful. It was a sustainable enough to take me to retirement.

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