I got fired while being on orientation at a hospital for just 1 week. Why did this happen?

Nurses General Nursing

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So I am seeking some advice as to why this occurred and am still pondering on what could have I done wrong for this to have such a bad ending. After searching and searching years and years for a hospital job (I've always worked in subacute rehab settings) and have been craving a hospital job for nearly 5 years as it will be 5 years this coming May that I graduated from nursing school. Long story short, I was hired by a local hospital and all was going well with the first week of orientation. I mean, c'mon it was only classroom work and I passed all the required exams such as the IV and medication administration. I had to take a personal call during the last 1/2 hour of our last day of class and when I returned the nurse educator was saying how I shouldn't give her a heart attack next time about not telling her where I was. I explained what had occurred and I didn't realize that 5 days later I was going to be reprimanded for that. I received a call from the unit manager I was supposed to work at stating that I was technically supposed to come this weekend for my first day of clinical orientation (I was hired as a per diem nurse) she told me that I don't need to come. Refusing to provide further information, when I asked her if the position was terminated she said "yeah kinda, you'll get a letter in the mail explaining everything." I'm really baffled about this? I seriously didn't do anything and am unsure why did this lead up to here?

Please take note, only constructive comments will be accepted otherwise demeaning, ridiculing words will be flagged. I just need to get some advice as to why this happened and if it is something usual?

You have already gotten some really good feedback from posters. But I am curious, what did the letter say? You must have received it by now.

Could something have popped-up on your background check? It's hard to believe they would fire you for taking a personal telephone call. There must be something more.

I also find it hard to believe they let you go over ECG strips. Hospitals hire all the time and then have you take the ECG class. If you can't pass the test, then, they fire you. But you hadn't gotten that far.

Something else must be going on, but I don't know what.

Specializes in Med Surg/ICU/Psych/Emergency/CEN/retired.

Lots of good comments. Not to hijack the focus, but why wouldn't the manager pull her into her office and lay it all out there? I find it at the very least disrespectful and even harsh not to talk face to face to the OP. A letter? I've never been a manager so I may be clueless. One time a manager, who I thought was incompetent asked, or rather told, me to come to a meeting and would not say what it was about. It was no big deal, but really? I let her know how disrespectful I thought that approach was.

I hope the OP considers it a learning opportunity. Heaven knows we've all had them. And don't give up on the hospital if that is where your passion is.

It is unfortunate that this happened, and it shows strength of character that you are looking for feedback about what happened. The best example I can think of to think through your question is this. Imagine you were hired, flourished on orientation, and are now on your own. You have some downtime while on the floor after finishing up your tasks. You stop to use the bathroom and your lawyer calls. The bathroom is close to an exit and you duck out to talk. You are then away from the floor for a half hour on this call. Nobody is looking after your patients, and you didn't think to tell the charge nurse that you would be away so long by accepting this call. Do you see why this might look bad to an employer?

This is a bit of a drastic response, but ultimately the only positive thing to gain from this is a lesson learned. I am not judging either your behavior or the employer's decision, but it's evident that there is a mismatch between each other's expectations (and judges of character), and this is probably a blessing in disguise. Hope you have better luck with a different job. Lesson to gain: keep your phone in your car during a new job orientation unless you are truly expecting a dire call about your kid being sick or death in the family or other such life changing drama.

My understanding is that per diem and wage staff can be let go "easier" than full-time staff. I am sorry this happened to you - I agree with the other posters. Ask for an exit interview, other than that all you can do is wait for the letter.

Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
The truth may or may not have anything to do with that phone call, or nature of that call, or anything the OP did or didn't. The manager very well might just find someone wishing to work full time and knowing how to read ECGs that very day and therefore not need the PRN position any more.

This was my first thought.

Seriously, though, a tele nurse that can't read rhythm strips is useless. Why would they want to hang on to someone who is unqualified for the position when a qualified applicant fell into their laps.

I can't believe a misplaced personal phone call was OP's undoing but a lesson learned. Turn off your phone while at work if you can't control yourself to not answer it.

Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

The reality is we all take personal phone calls at work because we are human,have lives and things happen.You must ,however, be very discreet about it because many hospitals do not like it or allow it.It does seem extreme to fire you though!

Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

I doubt your phone call had anything to do with losing the PRN position. It's probably something totally unrelated, like a bad reference that came in at the last minute or a credit check that raised flags. Could you have failed the drug screening? Who knows, maybe the position itself became a casualty of the unit budget? Don't be hard on yourself. Just wait for the letter to get your answers.

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
It may seem unconceivable to the younger generation , but it is possible to survive without a cell phone on one's person at all times.

Can I hear an Amen?

​AMEN!

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Specializes in Oncology.
The reality is we all take personal phone calls at work because we are human,have lives and things happen.You must ,however, be very discreet about it because many hospitals do not like it or allow it.It does seem extreme to fire you though!

A lot of people do, but most people manage to get through the first week not talking to their lawyer on the clock during class.

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
I explained what had occurred and I didn't realize that 5 days later I was going to be reprimanded for that. I received a call from the unit manager I was supposed to work at stating that I was technically supposed to come this weekend for my first day of clinical orientation (I was hired as a per diem nurse) she told me that I don't need to come.

If I am following this correctly, it wasn't until 5 days later you were told not to come in? What, out of curiosity, makes you think it was the phone call that 5 days later resulted in your discharge?

I'd think something came up on a CORI check or reference call or such that was more immediate to your being discharged....

So I am seeking some advice as to why this occurred and am still pondering on what could have I done wrong for this to have such a bad ending. After searching and searching years and years for a hospital job (I've always worked in subacute rehab settings) and have been craving a hospital job for nearly 5 years as it will be 5 years this coming May that I graduated from nursing school. Long story short, I was hired by a local hospital and all was going well with the first week of orientation. I mean, c'mon it was only classroom work and I passed all the required exams such as the IV and medication administration. I had to take a personal call during the last 1/2 hour of our last day of class and when I returned the nurse educator was saying how I shouldn't give her a heart attack next time about not telling her where I was. I explained what had occurred and I didn't realize that 5 days later I was going to be reprimanded for that. I received a call from the unit manager I was supposed to work at stating that I was technically supposed to come this weekend for my first day of clinical orientation (I was hired as a per diem nurse) she told me that I don't need to come. Refusing to provide further information, when I asked her if the position was terminated she said "yeah kinda, you'll get a letter in the mail explaining everything." I'm really baffled about this? I seriously didn't do anything and am unsure why did this lead up to here?

Please take note, only constructive comments will be accepted otherwise demeaning, ridiculing words will be flagged. I just need to get some advice as to why this happened and if it is something usual?

I highlighted and underlined the main things that pretty much says it all. If you will just re-read and keep reading your initial post, you basically answered your own question.

Also, I highlighted and underlined the things that is very concerning to me, that may say a lot about you, and why this time, "I" think they "terminated you."

Honestly, when I first saw the heading, I thought, this was another troll or a joke so I kept on flipping the pages and saw your responses and felt the sincerity in you. But then again this is the internet. Anyways. My Spill

Everyone pretty much told you that the main reason (we think) they got you was the phone call but for 30 minutes! Oh My GERD! "1/2 Hour" is a lunch break for most of us in the nursing world!

"I mean, c'mon it was only classroom work" - This Says A Lot About You, that was work related, most of your colleagues were in that room while you were out talking to your lawyer. :wideyed:

Since you pretty much informed the whole world of what exactly happened during your first week of orientation (very crucial time by the way). Can you please tell us as to why you were terminated once you received the mail from HR, this will tell and help us if our advices or hunches were right. :roflmao:

Lesson Learned For ALL Nurses not just for you , Stugaaa4eva, NO PERSONAL PHONE CALLS FOR "30 MINUTES" ON COMPANY TIME. :sarcastic:

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

I think there is a whole lot of speculation here both by the OP and those responding.

I would wait for the later and see what they say. If they don't specify I would request info from HR.

For your own sanity you need to know. I know I would be driving myself crazy over it without knowing their motives.

Please follow up and let us know. I will be wondering. My speculation is that there was some miscommunication somewhere that led to this outcome.

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