How common is it to get fired?

[TurtleCat]

How common is it to be fired from a nursing job? I've been reading these forums and I hear reports all over the place of being fired over minor things, like being slow or unsure of how to do things at first, etc. and as an aspiring nurse it kind of scares me. I can understand being fired over obvious abuse or negligence, careless med errors, etc. but a lot of these seem excessive. It just scares me because I'm in nursing school right now and I'm wondering if I'm just wasting my time if I'm going to have difficulty getting or holding a job.

[BellasMommyOBRN]

keep in mind that when you read a post on this site, you are only hearing one side of a story.

for a "minor" error, one would not be fired. they would be fired if they repeatedly made that same "minor" error, especially if it has been brought to their attention. a major error could result in termination without repeated action for obvious reasons; we are dealing with lives here.

just focus and work hard, you should be just fine :)

[79Tango]

Have you had difficulties holding a job in the past? Its not only nursing you can get fired from. I was fired at least 5 times before getting into the biz (mostly for my big mouth).. I will say in nursing the lazy, unwilling, unmotivated, unskilled, slacker/shirker types are usually the first to go. Depending on who you know or what youve got on somebody depends on the speed of it happening.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

A lot of the posts you read about new nurses being fired actually refers to nurses being let go after their probation period is up. Most hospitals will offer a position "contingent on successful completion of a (3 or 6 month) probationary period. During this time, both the employee and the employer can leave the agreement. Employees who are determined to not be a good fit for the job are not hired after this period, so it's not technically firing.

That being said, being fired is more common in the current economy. Many hospitals are strapped and need to lay people off, so they look for the slightest reason. But in most places, you won't be fired for any little thing. There is progressive disciplinary and corrective action. Just do your best. That's all you can ask of yourself. :)

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I agree with Ashley. We hear only one side of the story here, and progressive disciplinary action is most likely the part of the story we aren't getting.

Three years ago when I first starting working in my current position, a co-worker was telling me all about how management was 'out to get her' and how she was a 'victim of the system'. I believed her because I didn't know any better. As I learned more about her, the unit and hospital policies, I figured out that she was pointing the finger to everyone else because she didn't understand accountability. At all. Seriously.

This same employee has been called to the carpet more times than I can count. She constantly dances on the edge of getting fired. Every write up was an avoidable one...totally under her control.

To answer your question, nursing isn't an area where you make one mistake, get fired and then blackballed from local hospitals UNLESS you made a gross error in judgment resulting in a sentinel event.

If you keep patient safety and professional conduct in the forefront of your mind while at work, you will do just fine.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

True, but railroading is really common in nursing. It's the culture of nursing lacking professionalism that is the problem.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Don't sell yourself short. Remember this is a public forum and you are only getting one side. I answer but in the back of my mind there are times....I wonder......good luck in school

[DixieRedHead, ASN, RN]

And remember, you are not hearing any stories about the people who make mistakes and get support, education, and a helping had. Those folks don't write in complaining.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

And remember, you are not hearing any stories about the people who make mistakes and get support, education, and a helping hand. Those folks don't write in complaining.

Exactly.

And we don't hear from the many thousands who successfully complete their probationary period without incidence

[ErinS, BSN, RN]

I have made several mistakes, some of which have cost my companies tens of thousands of dollars. I say this not because I am proud of these mistakes, but because i have always worked somewhere that expected accountability but was willing to allow errors if it did not happen again. I agree with the above posters, every nurse I have ever known that reported management was 'out to get them' was lazy, incompetent, or a little crazy. Smart, competent nurses are hard to come by, and if you are good at your job you will not have a problem being fired over and over.

[gettingbsn2msn, MSN, RN]

I was fired from a job. However, I am in an at will state. This means fired anytime for any reason. I was never absent, always on time and was even told while being fired that patients "love you". We have no union representation so it does not matter. Some nurses work 20 hours non stop (yes it is legal). I am now a traveler and will never revert back to working for a hospital. Also in my prior career I was at the same place for 15 years so I was not exactly a lazy employee!

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I worked for 20 years in jobs other than nursing without being fired. Never even close.

I was a nurse for 3 years and was fired for the first time in my life.

There was no back story. No lengthy history of write ups. No probation. No attendance problems.

Look to the right on this page to the article about the nurse who was fired to appease an anesthesiologist. There are a million ways/reasons to fire a nurse.