Tough setting... or bad nurse?

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

Hi, all,

I'm writing this on behalf of a good friend of mine who just had a really dreadful experience on a stepdown unit of a large hospital. Two weeks off orientation (she isn't a new nurse, but had not been practicing for a year due to family issues) she was given really difficult patients and managed the best she could; ask questions when she hadn't done something yet (or encountered a situation yet), even asked for help when two high acuity pts needed attention at the same time. She had been encouraged to do so by her preceptor and told that resources would be available to her even off orientation. Then...

She was suddenly, without warning, called to the manager's office and told that she "didn't work out" in the unit. No specific incident was cited, no particular pt situation. Only that they had some high acuity pts here and needed nurses who could act quickly, on their own (without asking questions or for help) if a pt went bad and still take care of their other pts as well; because otherwise they would "inconvenience the other nurses". And that she seemed to have trouble with "critical thinking".

Did I add that no one on this unit helps anyone and they don't cover for each other for lunch (if you want a lunch, you have to stay available to take care of pts at any time). My friend never got a break or lunch...

What do you make of this? What should she do? Good riddance to this he||hole of a unit, but my friend is of course devastated. The manager did say she would do what she could to help her find another position.

I just don't get it... why do hospitals invest in training nurses and then throw them under the bus when they don't fit a certain mold? Is giving someone 2 weeks off orientation to prove herself really a fair deal?

Thanks for any input,

DeLana :)

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

awful situation but probably the best thing that ever happened. She needs to be thankful she left!

[oramar]

I think it has something to do with the tight job market. It could be as simple as the manager's buddy needing a job and begging her to make a spot for her. I feel really bad for your friend but there is so much of this going on right now. People are showing up here every day and saying that got fired for the strangest reasons and in some cases no reason at all. Sadly, management can do anything they want. Sounds like the one that really needs our sympathy is your friends replacement on this he**ish unit.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

I think it just wasnt the right setting for her. Im learning more and more that us nurses thrive in enviroments that are the right fit. This simply wasnt the right fit for her.One day she will find her ninche in nursing and thrive!

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Tell her no matter what, to take her NM up on the help deal for her next job.

She must have her NM write her a rec letter!!!!!! Also try and get a letter from someone else if possible.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

Some nursing units are teams. This place obviously wasn't. If each nurse must be able to work independently, then your friend should not have been encouraged to ask for help. The nurses she worked with should have told her asking for help was unacceptable. I can't believe I'm writing this as I've never worked where the nurses were "islands". Is it possible the pt load was so horrible that each nurse literally could not shoulder one extra question or one extra request?

[erroridiot]

There are just too many tough (BAD) settings right now in nursing.

How is your friend doing? Is she OK?

It sounds like she will land on her feet because others are offering to assist her.

The nurse manager may have a unit out of control and be powerless to change the situation.

There may even be bullies working there.

You just never know what sick dysfunction is lurking behind the door of a new job.