Let go from orientation

Nurses New Nurse

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I'm a new grad RN and was let go 1 week before my orientation was up. I'm devastated as I have 2 small children to support. Luckily, they are giving me 2 weeks pay to look for a job. Should I use this job on my employment history when looking for a new job or not?? Anyone else been through this?? Any words of wisdom??

I would leave it off.....I think that it is BS to let someone go during orientation. I was so terrified that this would happen to me. Nurses, for the amount of responsibility that comes with the job, get a ridiculously short amount of orientation time. It truly took me a year to feel like i had any idea what i was doing....actual nursing has very little to do with nursing school! GL!

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newnurse1986 said:
I wasn't a good fit- I wasn't catching on quick enough and needed better assessment skills. She said this is why she doesn't hire new grad RN's. I feel like if she knew this might happen( and obviously its happened in the past) she wasted both my time and hers!

Similar thing happened to me. I moved 300 miles with two kids alone to small town. It really really sucks! Just beware, if you apply for any new grad positions, you might want to leave it off. I wish I had.

I was disqualified after my second interview for new grad program because, "I had experience". So I was stuck, could not get a job because I did not have enough experience, but could not apply for new grad jobs because I had too much experience. Frustrating to say the least. So I took a job as an assistant at a very rural clinic, but was used to my full RN potential. I was there a year. Then I got offerred a VA RN Clinic job, holy grail! Only the job was revoked because my time hired as an assistant did not count, even though HR told VA I was used as an RN and I told VA During my interview that was hired as assistant but used as RN and their Triage Nurse (which legally only an RN can do). Hiring manager said it was not a problem. Then VA said it was illegal and my experience could not be counted.

So, I am moving again, back to the city hoping to land something decent. I seriously would think twice about putting it down for a new grad program. I wish I had not listed it. Best wishes. I am staying optimistic for one more year, then if I cannot cut it as a nurse, I will find something else.

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Specializes in Aged Care, Midwifery, Palliative Care.

was only given 4 days orientation (being someones helper...not being oriented) before my epic fail ON MY OWN IN THE DEMENTIA UNIT WITH 31 patients...oh really, my first job, that's how you throw me in and expect me to make it?

RNitis that is exactly what happened to me in my first and last nursing job. Except it was only 3 days orientation, and 25 dementia patients lol.... oh and the week before I was put on night shift as the only RN on the facility and in charge of 160 residents. Yet management sounded surprised when I called them up and stated that I didn't think I was a good fit for the facility due to the lack of training for new grads.. I was told at the interview I would be doing 2 days a week while training up, LMAO that never happened. I worked the weekend after my resignation so she wasn't left short, and had so many nurses on the facility tell me they think I did the right thing. I couldn't beleive the support and respect I was shown that weekend by my colleagues.

Dosn't help me now I still can't get a job, and am beginning a nail technician course next month, then doing a masters in counselling. I'm so over it all... Shame, I really LOVED nursing, LOVED all my patients.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Quote

HR needs to know how nurses are treated in that department.

^They DO KNOW...it's "on to the next one" attitude during this saturation, when there is a line of nurses waiting outside for their "opportunity"...

I stand by my opinion...if you were there for less than the magic "probation" time, don't list it...how can it be "experience" if one does not "successfully complete" and feel at least knowledgable enough to step into another position???

I can understand if one was there for at LEAST a year...but orientation??? :no:

In this current market where people are moving miles away, have a chance in still eating and paying their mortgages, one needs to advocate for THEMSELVES, for the sake of survival...THEY DON'T CARE...the expectation of nurses is that we advocate for patients...Well, use those nursing skills to do the SAME for YOURSELF.

Get resourceful, DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, and get another job...this is NOT the end, however, don't risk in putting yourself in the "experience" box when you have not even had the chance to get your legs underneath you and be comfortable.

It may seem "unethical", to omit, but when you have mouths to feed and to maintain a roof over your head and REAL BILLS...THAT goes out the window as much as these employers CHOOSE to to not support new grads and employees in this saturated market.

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So sorry OP. but agree with previous posters - you have to list that job, it will pop up on credit and background checks. the board of nursing in my state tracks your employers too, so any license verification may turn up an old job or two. That said....also agree about your lack of support and clarity from management! New grads are just that - new. they should expect that you need more time, especially in L&D when we had so little of that content in nursing school. I think the HR rep is being deliberately vague for a reason - she's telling you "keep applying here as an internal candidate, but while you still can"

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Yes, it's a big hospital and they own 4 in my area along with an outpatient center and multiple urgent care clinics.

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I was let go in last week of new grad orientation, with all the same vague reasons you were given ("not a good fit, need to be independent with a full load, you're not ready, need less acute unit, etc"). Do not despair. Try to maintain belief in your ability. We all know the first year is a huge learning curve. Confidence needs building, not tearing down. Being let go under such conditions is a disservice to all and a waste of money, time, and effort. It will require herculean effort on your part not to let this shatter your self-confidence. So many others on this site have reported the same treatment in orientation. It is not unusual, but that does not make it right or easy to handle. Finally, DO NOT leave this job off your resume. Be proud of and able to document and communicate all that you've learned, including knowledge, skills, and experience. Also be able to communicate what you've learned NOT to do. I was able to eventually look at things I did or didn't do which might have contributed to my being let go. Honest assessment of deficit areas is essential, balanced by awareness that everyone makes mistakes and no one is perfect. You are not alone.

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Thank you. What area were you let go from?

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Some hospitals don't do those really intense background check. My nurse recruiter told me that they do theirs "manually," which she said means she just calls the places I already had listen on my resume to verify my information.

Also, for the people who say she should definitely put the job on her resume...what is the minimum amount of time you feel that a person can be at a job and still need to put it on a resume? If I was only at a job for a couple weeks it wouldn't have even crossed my mind to do that, before reading this thread!

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newnurse1986 said:
Thank you. What area were you let go from?

I was on an acute cardiac tele floor with high acuity and turnover and was let go after 11 weeks of a 10-12 week orientation. (The number of weeks promised was 12. The number was revised at some point, but not communicated to me until around week 8.) It was valuable experience. I learned a lot and will never be afraid or ashamed to include it in my resumes and job application forms. Job apps, especially, require you to list ALL employment over a certain period of time. My understanding is that HR can easily check your employment record (through Social Security records?) Not sure about this, tho.

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How are things going now, NewNurse? Your mailbox is full. Hope you're finding your way to the perfect job for you! Give us an update when you can....

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