When you’re no longer happy being a nurse, you don’t feel excited to go to work. You become discontented and get easily tired on the job. At some point, you have a lot of reasons that push you to quit your job.
For instance, you may feel like you’re doing your shift over and over again, making you feel bored.
Another reason that can make you leave your work is the feeling that your career isn’t growing. Or your current job may not be as challenging as you have expected it to be. One of the pet peeves is having a work that does not allow you to live up to your maximum potential.
Whatever is the root cause of your job dissatisfaction, you’re the only person who can make the necessary changes. While it may be difficult to leave your career, in certain circumstances, it’s the only thing you have to do to make you happy.
But what makes you quit your nursing job? Here are the five tell-tale signs you should listen to.
#1: Inadequate support training
It’s quite challenging to work as a nurse while you’re clueless about the protocols. Does the management promise training only to back off at the last minute? If there’s no leadership support or training in your practice, then you are in a gray area.
The lack of training support is a clear indication that the management doesn’t take the needs of employees and patients seriously.
#2: Boredom
For sure, boredom is common with any career. This is especially true if you have been working in the same place or with the same employer for many years. It’s also true if you’ve been offering a similar type of healthcare for a long time.
Are you feeling unchallenged in your current job? Is monotony setting in? If yes, then you certainly need a change in career. It’s high time you consider going back to class to advance your degree. Alternatively, you can ask your HR about another opportunity in your practice.
#3: Exhaustion
Knowing the warning signs is the key to averting burnouts. Are you always feeling exhausted and sick all the time? Do you constantly dread the approaching working shifts?
These may be the maiden stages of burnout. Some of the warning signs include feeling unappreciated, feeling despondent, insomnia, lack of motivation, insensitivity with patients, and a whole lot more.
However, before making any rash decision, you need to have a serious talk with a career counselor or your manager in order to get some sense of your burnout level. If you feel that the consultation isn’t working, you need to channel that energy towards looking for another job.
#4: Disrespectful working environment
You don’t have to put up with a deliberate disrespect at your workplace.
If your manager, supervisor or colleagues are always discourteous, then it’s time to consider quitting. If they treat you any less than how a professional should be treated, you should start looking for another position.
Do you feel like your job as a nurse is always disrespected? If you do, It’s high time you resign from your duties. It will not only be a good thing to do for yourself, but it also opens your mind that it’s not the job you want to have.
It’s shameful that some people take advantage of the good and kind nature of others until it turns out to be unfair. For instance, if the management is always assigning you night shifts without day shifts, then you need to be prepared to change your job. This is a surefire sign that change is inevitable.
#5: Risky situations
Are you experiencing any of these red flags? If yes, then it’s high time you quit nursing.
- You know or suspect about patient abuse.
- You know or suspect any form of fraud.
- You feel as though the patient care is disorganized.
- Other clinicians work beyond their scope of practice.
- The management asks you to work beyond your area of practice.
- You feel like the patient’s safety is compromised.
- Your nursing license is always in danger.
Did you know that your license is a proof that you’re a registered nurse? If anyone tries to mess around with your license, the prudent thing to do is quit right away. Most definitely, losing your nursing license while working is not worth it at all.
If you’re experiencing any of the above situations, you need to consider working in a different environment or pursuing another career. In fact, you need to leave even before there’s a new position lined up for you.
Other circumstances
Constant conflicts with the management
Do conflicts with the administration, management, and nurses constantly arise in your workplace? If you notice that the problems happen every now and then, it may be best to think of a career change. But you need to ascertain their root causes first. Leaving the job without any knowledge of what’s going on may not be a good idea. Unless you’re not the reason behind the issues, then it’s easier to get out of a noisy and agitated environment.
You aren’t growing
The last thing you want in a highly competitive profession like nursing is to be stuck in one place or position for a number of years. Granted that you possess the qualities to pass for a promotion, but you’re still not being considered for a higher position, then shouldn’t you think about self-worth?
Here is another circumstance. If you’ve been anticipating a promotion but found out that it has been given to a less senior co-worker or a much younger colleague, then you need to have a chit-chat session with the manager. If the management doesn’t seem to pay close attention to what you’re saying, then it’s high time you seek for greener pastures.
Inadequate financial compensation
Do the tasks challenge your abilities as a nurse, but the compensation remains the same? You need to take a very close look at what’s happening. A good number of healthcare centers and nursing facilities add endless tasks to nurses but are paid the same. You shouldn’t allow yourself to be in that situation.
If you work, then you should be compensated properly. It’s not only unfair, but it can overburden you, making it difficult to deal with the patients. Furthermore, the fact that you have spent quite a lot of money for the education only calls for a good and well-deserved compensation. Cost Figures quotes nursing school costs around $40,000 to $100,000 a year, and that amount is no joke.
Your ethics are compromised
There are cases when the management asks its employees to take part in illegal, immoral, or unethical activities. If you are aware of such a thing, you must leave immediately. In the nursing profession, you’ll encounter moral dilemmas regularly.
In some instances, you may feel as though your principles are always challenged. But never give in to such situations. Get out as soon as you feel and think that your actions are way out of the line.
Poor leadership
Weak leaders are useless or ineffective at stopping cases of bullying, harassment, underpay, overworking, and other stressful circumstances. Inexperienced or unskilled nurse leaders abuse or misuse their power. They ignore evidence or best practices, demonstrate poor judgment, and play favorites.
Poor nurse leaders show no backbone. Additionally, they’re unable to protect and defend their nursing staff. If you notice that the leadership at your facility exhibits any of these signs, just know that you’re better off working elsewhere.
Tight working schedule
While most doctors clinics run from 8 to 5, Monday to Friday schedule, these hours may not work for everyone. Actually, some nurses work for many more hours in a week. Overworking can lead to boredom (following the same routine over and over again), stress, and in extreme cases, fatigue and sickness.
You can choose to work only on weekends or take twelve-hour shifts through the week. Alternatively, you can opt to work part-time, meaning you’ll only work less than thirty hours a week. If your practice doesn’t allow you all these options, it’s high time you consider leaving. A tight working schedule can take a huge toll not only you but also your loved ones.
Summary
If you want to live a long, happy and satisfying life, you have to know when it’s the right time to go. Fortunately, in this day and age, there are plenty of nursing opportunities to consider. You can choose such path rather than staying in a job where burnout, poor leadership, bullying, or any of the things mentioned above happen on a daily basis.
You should have the habit of assessing your job situation all the time. If things really look bad, it’s time to go.
In such scenarios, you need to immediately activate your job search, dig into job boards, and spice up your resume. You need to be in a workplace where you’ll practice your nursing career sanely, safely, happily, and healthily.
