Terminated, now what?

[jram88]

Hey This is my first post. I feel like I have to start from the beginning so you guys can understand completely.

I Graduated 2010 with my BSN in NYC. During this time it was super hard to find a job in nyc. I started looking in nj and pa focusing mainly on acute care. After a year I landed a PRN job giving Hepatitis B vaccines. Not much experience there :/. A year later I finally got a real job working in a long term facility, Elizabeth Seton. Of course it's not that acute care experience that I wanted, but I was desperate. As you all know the saying, if you don't use it, you will loose it. I felt everything I learned in nursing school was slowly slipping away even if I tried reading my med surg books.

I stayed there for a year but still applied to acute care positions. I finally was able to get a job working at a ortho floor in PA(They said it's like a Med-surg floor). They also had med-surg and trauma patients as well. You could imagine it was a bit overwhelming. It was basically like I was a New Grad that has been out of school for 3 years! I still tried my hardest and studied when I got home, trying to brush up on policies and procedures that were common on the floor.

Three months go by and my NM sits down with me and says she can't take me off orientation because I cannot consistently maintain a 5 patient load. I was able to at times but there were times that all hell breaks loose and everything happens all at the same time and it took me a little while to try to prioritize what to do first.

My NM extended orientation for 1 more month. I did get better but I still was unable to consistently care for the 5 patient load without becoming overwhelmed. We finally sat down and she explained that she had to terminate me.

Now I'm here, almost 3 months later with no job. I had gone on a few interviews but of course the first question is... why were you terminated. I told them the whole story but I'm finding that hospitals are resistant to let me try again, afraid it'll happen again.

I don't know what to do. I need experience to do anything else, but can't get it. How can I word my answer to why I was terminated. I know I cant leave it off my resume so now what? I am DESPERATE!!! What are my options? Any help will be appreciated. I know this was a very long message but I feel like perhaps this might have happened to some new grad and I do not see any post about it.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Were you successful in the long-term care facility? If so, that's where you need to go. You need to get a job in a field you can handle it. From there you can re-build your confidence and build a career for yourself. It may not be the one you originally envisioned, but as the population ages over the next several years, people with geriatric expertise will be needed.

[Psychcns]

Usually people say the job was not a good fit. You will have to be able to explain why it was not a good fit and why the job you are applying for will be. Maybe there is something acute in the LTC setting, for example. Maybe a situation where you can practice acute skills but don't have as many admissions and discharges. Were you terminated or asked to resign. It always sounds better if it is mutual..Best wishes..

[jram88]

@llg I was successful at the long term facility but It was for children and there was no room for growth there. I did the same thing everyday. Trach care and feeding via gtube. I wanted to go into the acute care setting to expand my skills.

@PSYCHCNS... thanks. Yea I am thinking of trying LTC. I just feel like I need that acute care experience. I want to try it but i'm not given the chance since the chance because of the reason I was terminated. I kind of want a second chance to see if I can do it or to see if I am meant to work in LTC.

I was terminated.

[elkpark]

Another possibility might be an LTAC facility/unit. Best wishes.

[ceebeejay]

Another possibility might be an LTAC facility/unit. Best wishes.

This is what I was thinking.