Would you leave?

Specialties Pediatric

Published

I'm in a situation that I total feel uncomfortable with. I'm a new grad RN that started at an outpatient facility for special needs children. When I was hired 3 months ago I made it very clear that I did not have any peds experience. I'm in a room w/ 8-9 children under the age of 2. All are g-button feeds (which I don't have a problem with) and about 3 are on O2 with apnea or Sat monitors. What makes me nervous is these 3 are sometimes unstable, their sats will drop for no reason or because of positioning. Nobody has ever said exactly what I'm to do in a emerg. situation, I don't even know if there is a ambu-bag or crash cart in the building. Most of the problem is that my orientation was very poor, I have been left alone by myself at times, there are some management issues & staffing issues that make me uncomfortable. Sometimes I feel I'm risking my license everytime I go to work, because I have the feeling something is going to happen & it's not going to be good. I love being with the babies, but I think it's time to go. Would you leave? I realize that part of it is my fault because I have not spoken up & thought it might would get better over time.

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Go with your intuition. If you feel like your license is in jeopardy, then it is. Rarely does anything "get better over time." Things usually get better after something really bad happens, forcing things to change. Do you want to be the one holding the short end of the stick when it happens?

Emergencies do happen. If you do not know what to do in an emergency, then you are placing yourself and your patients at great risk.

Nursing is a huge field and there are many career paths that will lead you to working with the population that you want to work with--safely!

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Go with your intuition. If you feel like your license is in jeopardy, then it is. Rarely does anything "get better over time." Things usually get better after something really bad happens, forcing things to change. Do you want to be the one holding the short end of the stick when it happens?

Emergencies do happen. If you do not know what to do in an emergency, then you are placing yourself and your patients at great risk.

Nursing is a huge field and there are many career paths that will lead you to working with the population that you want to work with--safely!

Great advice. I couldn't agree more.

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I put my notice in today. What a relief. I think it would have been a great job if I already had some peds experience. I will miss the babes!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
I will miss the babes!

Nothing says you can't go back and visit.

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to the OP...do you mind sharing the name or at least the location of this place? I live in GA, and know of at least 2 such facilities. Since some of the work I do is with special needs/medically fragile children I would really like to know where you are talking about! pm me if you are not comfortable sharing in public, please.

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