Family member RN asked for resignation yesterday

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

A family member of mine is also an RN. She just graduated this past May. In October, she started working on an adolescent psych unit. (the same unit I used to work on before moving) Yesterday HR and her nurse manager asked for her resignation. She knew it was coming since they spoke to her before. They think that acute care isn't for her. She had problems with documentation and keeping the teens under control. It is a 14 bed unit and the last night she worked 3 wound up in locked seclusion and 2 in full restraints. She did offer redirection. She offered prn meds to those who had meds ordered and they did take them. However, she failed to call and ask for orders for the kids flipping out who did not have any prn's ordered. Obviously, this was a problem. I asked her why she didn't call for orders and she said that no one ever told her she was to call and ask for orders if someone needed something. She is now wondering where she can work. I know that she is not good mechanically or using fine skills. She hid throughout clinicals and took easy patients so she didn't get in trouble for not being able to do skills. She had average grades. So basically, she never inserted a foley, ng tube, did trach care, suctioning, start an iv, only did a few dressings. She only hung a few ivpb meds and had trouble with doing that. She does not think or move fast so med/surg is obviously out. She thought she would try psych since she knew she wouldn't have to do any physical skills. She is terrified of skills. She also does not want to be a charge nurse or supervisor. She worked in an office her whole adult life. She doesn't want to throw away her nursing education, but I don't know what to suggest to her to do. She likes the idea of being a nurse. She has a very good full time day shift (college office) job that she is not going to leave. It is a very good paying job with good benefits and lots of time off. So she isn't going to trade it in for a full time nursing job. She is in her 50's and in good health. She is looking for mostly weekend or occassional evening work. Do you guys have any suggestions what may be a fit for her? Do you think she should forget nursing all together? I really can't think of anywhere for her to work. Please help me with idea's for her. Thanks in advance.

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With a good orientation it's not important that she didn't do "some" of those skills. She can learn them on the job. But... she has to stop hiding from them.

The other thing I could suggest is working at a nursing home where the RN does mostly paperwork?? Might be a good fit. I know sometimes at those places they do almost entirely administration.

Sorry about the job. Sounds like it's a pretty scary place to work (and I worked exclusively ER my entire life!).

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Specializes in Case Management.
. So basically, she never inserted a foley, ng tube, did trach care, suctioning, start an iv, only did a few dressings. She only hung a few ivpb meds and had trouble with doing that.

I can't get over how she could get through nursing school without at the very least being proficient in these basic nursing skills.

Regardless, acute care is not for her. I agree that skilled nursing facilities or home care even, would be a better fit as a part time job.

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Could she handle being a medpass nurse at a group home or jail?

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

I think she would like the idea of passing meds. I know she can't handle being a charge nurse or supervisor in LTC. Thank you for the idea's! Keep them coming!

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

Truth is, she's probably not going to get proficient only working part-time/PRN. If she's serious about nursing as a career, can she choose to take a sabbatical/LOA from her office job to immerse herself in a position? She would need a full orientation and then to work in it daily for a period of time to feel comfortable. It does sound like from a practical standpoint this is not going to happen. She's in her fifties, and if it's not reasonable to leave her regular job, then maybe she should not consider her education wasted, but that she's not going to be able to apply it in an work setting.

Psych may not involve tubes and lines sticking out of people, but it's a hard specialty to go right into out of school. Psych patients (particularly of the adolescent variety) smell fear. Other seemingly less acute areas also require a solid base of knowledge since you are working independently (home care, hospice.) Long term care is incredibly fast-paced and requires assessment skills to properly evaluate those who may not always be able to speak for themselves. There may be a nursing position out there for her, but given the restrictions you describe, I'm not aware of anything.

Again, education is NEVER wasted, but she needs to seriously evaluate whether or not she can develop sufficient competency at a position, only working very part time, so that she is not doing a disservice to her patients.

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Nope....even some of the paper pushers in LTC need to be able to do basic skills and heven forbid she is pulled to do a med pass. Now a LTC that agrees to and is actally willing to put in an orientation might work.

What about a refresher class?

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Specializes in MICU.

Gooey-

Honestly, I'm confused. If your family member only acheived mediocre grades and "hid" during clinicals to avoid skills, then I'm not sure why she chose to go into nursing, even as a part-time job. I'm an ICU nurse and a new grad, but I can't imagine assuming another area of nursing would be easier for someone who seems afraid to take care of patients- that's a requirement in all areas.

While I wish her luck, I think she should either consider taking some serious assessment/skills/pharmocology CEU's (with instructors, not just online) and/or a RN refresher course- or she should consider another type of part time job.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Education.

After reading the entire post, I'm wondering about this person's "want" to be a nurse in the first place. The entire description is troubling to me.

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Hi,

I just graduated with my BSN and during my last year of school I worked at an HMO. Lots and Lots of RNs worked there. There are many different roles they play- some in quality management, some in case mgmt for complex patients, some in provider management, claims, appeals and grievances, ect. Absolutely no direct patient care!

They totally loved hiring RNs! My boss was an RN MBA and was brilliant and an absolute pleasure to work for. Everyone was really nice there. Tell her to check out HMOs, insurance companies, or even large companies hire nurses to act sort of as "school nurses."

Also, does she have a BSN?? If so, public health would be another option. LOTS of education and assessments, no skills (other than shots)...

Hope that helps!!!

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Also, what about working at a plasma donation center... Just supervising the UAPs. Or being an IV nurse- where people come in to get IV drugs...

The one of the coolest things about nsg. is you can do ANYTHING with it!

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One more idea... She could do chart review for an insurance company to see what should/should not be covered.

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