The July/August issue of Nursing Outlook recently published a study that said more than one-quarter of new nurse graduates leave their first job within two years. Why is there such a high turn-over? Do new nurses have disillusions about the job? Too much stuff? Not enough support? What do you think?

I am coming up on my two yr mark at my 1st nursing job. And ready to find a new one. I am planning on leaving is for two reasons. 1) NO BENEFITS! 2) Some of the people I work with/for are some of the most jaded, overly seasoned nurses ever who dont have a heart for it anyomore, and I cant stand to be poisoned by their attitudes any longer. In the two years I have worked there I have noticed some things change about me that I do not wish to continue on that path. Make sense?

But I am still going to be a nurse, just somewhere else, if I can find a place. Short supply right now.

Everyone has their own reason for dropping out or changing jobs.  In my case, it was disillusionment.  Nursing school painted such a pretty picture of what it would be like to be an RN.  It would be hard work, yes, but it would be a very rewarding career.  Baloney!  They were right about the hard work, but where were the rewards?  "Oh, you're getting so efficient, I think we'll give you the next 2 admits tonight."   I'd do it because it was my job, and I enjoyed the admission process...getting to know a patient & family, learning their history, teaching them about what was going to be done and why.  But what about my other 7 patients?  Would someone else check on them for me?  Fat chance!  Unless I specifically said "Mr. Jones in 422 is on the bedpan right now.  Would you please take him off when he's done?"  When I got back to Mr. Jones, the other nurses were sitting, chatting at the desk, noone had checked Mr. Jones, and his red bottom was practically glued to the pan, in which there was a drying gift. 

If I found myself with 10 free minutes, I'd usually ask if anybody needed help.  I was there to work...and help patients and staff alike.  I sometimes had trouble getting out on time because I'd find myself actually talking to my patients!  Having conversations.  Allaying fears.  Explaining why the day nurse was so mean and never came in to see the patient. (That was how she perceived it anyway). 

Decent pay, but  long hours, heavy patient loads, having to do other departments' work (maybe no phlebotomist or pharmacist at night), no time for teaching (which might prevent another hospitalization), having to scrounge around for equipment...There was no time to enjoy my job.  Maybe another hospital would be better.  Yeah, right. 

I haven't worked for 5 years, but I'm going to take a refresher and try it again.  Maybe things have changed?  From what I hear, they have...but not for the better. Am I nuts?

OK, feistymama...stay optimistic.  A good attitude will get you farther, more easily than just thinking "I can't do anything about it, so why try?"  Even if all around you are in bitchy tizzies, remember why you're there.  Learn early to be organized.  That's what took me so long to find out...because things were different at each hospital and each department in the same hospital.  Have a generic SOP that will work anywhere now. 

To answer your questions: Because of changing specialties and then being a travel RN,  I worked at 6 different hospitals in 12 years.  4 were major hospitals in their area.  The other 2 were just smaller hospitals.  The problems were the same everywhere, just more pronounced at some.  If you reread my post, you'll find I have tried different hospitals in different parts of the country, and in different departments at the same hospital.  My sister was a MA and worked in Dr's offices.  She described her duties to me...not what I signed up for...and spent 3 years in college for. 

I did not get burnt out, I was in a car accident and not able to work for some time.  When I was physically ready, I realized I had been living just fine without the stress and frustration, so I remained at home.  I'm finally getting my desire to work back and hope I can find a job.  Maybe I'll go back to school first (I'll need a refresher at least)...maybe I'll try another department or venue...maybe I'll wake up one morning and decide to flip hamburgers at McD's...who knows.  I never even thought about being a nurse til I had been a Respiratory Therapist for 20+ years, and by then you'd think I should have known what was in store for me.  But I was ready for a change, and nursing sounded like a ticket to new adventure. 

It was!

Its a great issue, its really a high turn over for dropping out or changing jobs. Lots of nurses are passing out through Nursing School every year and what I think, this is all because of working conditions.

It's great to be appreciated, feistymama!  Congratulations to you for being smart enough to look before you leap into nursing.  Being a patient and observing a family member or friend as a patient doesn't nearly prepare you for floor nursing; HOWEVER, you know what patients want, how they feel, what they need.  You've been on the other side of the bed.  It gives you what I think is a great jumping off point in the personal side of nursing (as opposed to the medical, technical and secretarial sides)

I'm getting my toes wet now, giving flu shots.  I have very few hours to work, but it will be nice to be seen as a nurse again.  I check the company's website every day for open shifts, and I've even had a call to fill in for someone.  I didn't get the message in time, and since it was my birthday, I probably wouldn't have accepted, but I'm glad they know my phone number!  As I went through my (online) training for the job, I was reminded how much paperwork there is to do.  This may be because this is not a 24/7 operation, and everyone is a one-shot (so to speak) patient.  I'm hoping and assuming that in the time I've been away from hospitals, paperwork has been rethought or computerized.  We'll see.

I'll be out of town for 10 days the end of October, so I won't actively job-hunt til mid-month.  I don't want to have to say, "I'd love to accept your offer, but you'll need to give me 2 weeks off right after I start."   I'm going to look into other than hospitals first...nursing homes and Hospice (both something new to me).  If nothing works out, I'll do the refresher (I've found one close to home), then try hospitals again, too.  The refresher includes 96 hours of clinical, so I'm hoping I'll have a foot in the door wherever I do that. 

Right now, I'm getting daily updates from Monster about jobs; but, besides the nursing jobs, they also send listings of everything from dishwasher to head accountant.  I have a couple of other places I check, too...just to see what's out there.  Yep, I may be in Looney Land, but I'm enjoying the house hunting!