I Quit My First Nursing Job in 7 weeks!| New Grad Nurse

I quit bedside nursing after 7 weeks! This is my first video, the camera failed on me while I was recording that's why there's a weird edit.
Instagram: Caramelrenliving

Update 2023: please stop coming into my comments giving me suggestions about what I should be doing, or any condescending statements that imply that nursing isn’t for me. If you watched this entire video you would know that I work in outpatient now. It’s almost been a year.

[supenskylesko]

Immediately after nursing school I either quit or was fired from several jobs before I found my passion in nursing, where I stayed for 24 years!!! I'm praying for God to guide you as He did me. 🙏❤️ Starting out in an ICU or on a Stepdown Unit is far too much for a new grad, especially since Covid. Find the right fit in a nursing job which is less demanding, and then do some prn shifts on the side in order to get your feet wet in a higher end nursing job. Find your passion, as God showed me. But don't allow these experiences to discourage you away from nursing, unless God specifically impresses you to do something else. Think of it this way- would an airline take a pilot fresh out of school and put him or her as the chief pilot on an airplane filled with hundreds of people going from Los Angeles to Rome? Yet that is what we do with new grad. nurses!!! It's not fair to the nurse or to the patients.

[BreeziDeezi]

Congrats to you on prioritizing yourself, your mental health and well being. No one can pour from an empty cup.

[flippityjippit]

Girl, your story is exactly what I'm going through right now. I have never had panic attacks until I stared working in a step down cardiac floor as a new grad... I have only gotten more unhappy as the weeks went on. I felt that pressure of what to do to be a good nurse... but I finally told myself that my health and happiness comes first! Thank you so much for posting this and making me feel like I'm not alone. I feel so much better after I made that decision to quit. Good luck in all you do. You spoke right to my heart. ❤️

[carlasouza]

I second what everyone is saying. This video is a godsent. I'm going through the same thing. I had 7 preceptors in 9 weeks (it was supposed to be 12 but who has the staff for that). No orientation on nights. Constant floating to other floors. Little to no help. It was taking a toll on me. I couldn't sleep anymore. The job was sucking all the joy out of my life. I asked my boss if I could go part time and she said no. I still wanted to stick it out and finish that first year. But i went back and had 3 discharges and two admissions within 30min of each other. Not one person offered help. We didnt have an aide. While I was admitting my second one, my first admission fell. Still no one helps. I decided right there I was quitting. I cried my whole way home because I felt like a failure. I honestly think I don't have what it takes to be a floor nurse. I emailed my boss the next day my letter of resignation. The relief was instantaneous. I'm still feeling like a failure but watching your video and reading these comments really helped. Thanks everyone! And congratulations on putting yourself first. Best of luck with everything.

[riskybiznuts]

This video is a Godsend for me. I'm working my first bedside nursing job and it is WEARING ME OUT. My biggest fear of leaving is that I won't find anything better. I was considering clinic jobs, but like you said, I was worried about "wasting my skills", which honestly sounds silly now after watching your video. Thank you so much for shining some light on how rough this career can really be, and giving me the courage to look for something better (after all, we ARE RNs!) And so long as you're comfortable with it, you should absolutely continue making videos on your journey! There's not that much out there on clinic/outpatient nursing :)

[yeseniamunoz]

I quit after a year and it was the best decision ever! Now I teach health and bio at a high school and life has never been better!

[myimperfectdiary]

Your feelings are valid. As a nurse for 3 years I have that feeling everyday after work. I have to see a therapist on a regular basis bc the stress of the job. Nursing will ruin your life if you let it.

[Angela_]

Good video, the best decision I made as a RN nurse was to create a side hustle for extra income streams. It has really helped me and my family financially stable.

[choucobra]

I was a phlebotomist for 5 years. I loved it so much, but then the pandemic hit. And the patients were meaner, the nurses and doctors were taking their anger out on us (lab), and my manager was too much of a coward to stand up for us. I had an anxiety attack one day on my way to work and decided that was it. I've never had a panic attack before and that was my cue to quit. I don't regret it. I'm stress free, living how I want and a lot happier. Quitting a job isn't easy but you have to put yourself first. Good luck to you!

[Sixdays_aweek]

I am leaving ICU and transferring to same day surgery. I am THRILLED! Everyone is so happy in my new unit. 🥰🥰🥰

[Cherellecoaching]

Thanks for sharing your story. I went through the same thing. I worked on a Medsurg, Neuro, Cardiac unit as a new grad for 6months. I had 3rapids on my own, code violents and missing person codes. The anxiety I had from working was unbelievable. I was trained for 10weeks and had 9 preceptors. We were made charge nurses at 2months of being new grads with 5-6patients most nights with no techs. I love the Nurses I worked with they were my family we worked as a team. Honestly none of us would have made it without each other. The Most experience nurse there was of 2yrs so that speaks a lot on night shift. After that I left I couldn't take it. My mental health was deteriorating so bad I started having tremors in my hands never had it before. I just tried another hospital medsurg and quit after 2 days of training. I realized I'm am burnt out as a new grad and it hurts my heart because I love helping others I been in the health field for 10yrs but Nursing is completely different. I refuse to give up on my calling and I know some day I will find the speciality that's best for me.

[brittanymasi]

I felt the same exact way when I was working on a med surg unit. I could only do it for 6 months. I felt like a different person, I was depressed and anxious all of the time. I feel better since I left. Now I work in an outpatient dialysis unit, but it’s getting stressful again. It’s so tough working in health care right now. There is so much more I wish I could do for my patients but we are rushed to go from one task to the next. Being a nurse today is exhausting.

[caramelren]

I appreciate all of you sharing your kind words as well as experiences. It’s nice to know I’m not alone in this. I’m still new to my current outpatient role, but I plan on giving an update towards the end of August when I’m off orientation. ❤️

[selinaleewright]

Thank you for your honesty. I wish you all the best and good for you for standing up for yourself

[alanna]

Congratulations, that's a huge move to choose yourself first, both mental and physical health. And Thank you so much for sharing your story and giving that amazing advice!! ❤️ I would LOVE for you to please document about your new job working as a clinic nurse as a new grad nurse 🙏🏻

[jtorres]

I knew I did not want to do bedside nursing while in nursing school. However, I felt that I “HAD TO” because nursing school said so. Got my first RN job as a new nurse in progressive care at a Fantastic hospital. 1st week was okay then as the weeks went by I felt the same way you described. Exhausted(mentally and physically), depressed, anxiety. I ended up getting sick with a sinus infection during my 3rd week working, crazy how you mentioned you wished got covid to not go into work… sadly that was my same thought process. Every shift before and after work I felt horrible and questioning if I made the right career choice. Sure enough I said I can’t do this anymore, my mental health and well being is important. This video was amazing and thank you for reminding us nurses and giving us hope that there’s other options beside bedside that we can get into!!

[squish]

I stumbled across your channel and I just want to say you seem so sweet. I'm half way through nursing school and I had a panic attack in my clinicals last semester on a tele unit and had to go home early. It made me feel so lost. However, none of my other clinical experiences were like this. Your gentle, caring demeanor shines through your video and gives me hope that I can (and will) find my niche in this profession. Keep on shining!

[deniseflores]

Thank you so much for this video. I really needed to hear this, I was feeling really bad about myself not liking or having bedside experience.

[khadijahmorning]

Luckily I found PACU nursing. I’m now 11 weeks completed with my residency. I’m super grateful they took me as a new grad, but it’s definitely been a dream come true. I absolutely despise true bedside nursing.

[glory.b]

I completely understand what you were going through, I’m looking for a way out now lol cause it’s just too much. Been doing it for 2 years and I’m already over it. Congrats to you for putting your mental health first! New subbie :)