new graduate RN -- terminated after 2 months

Nurses Men

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hi all, i was recently terminated from my rn job at a major teaching hospital. i was let go after working there for only 2 months. how do you move on after this? i was in denial for the first 2 weeks, now reality is setting in and i need to figure out what to do next. i loved being a nurse, but i am questioning whether hospital nursing is for me. i always felt like i had to try 10x harder to fit into a profession that is predominately female. i held my own in my interactions with my patients, they gave me wonderful testimonials, i've been told i will go on to become a doctor and that i have great bedside manners. i know medical school is not possible at this point in time because i don't have the funds to afford medical school and i know i can't handle working the grueling hours of a medical resident. i would like to connect with other nurses who have been in my situation. how long did it take you to find a job and how do you explain your termination on job applications?

There is not much anyone can tell you without the back story. I will be honest that I was confused regarding your statement about becoming a doctor. How does that comment make you a better nurse? You may obtain a higher level of education but your presentation will not change without an honest assessment of the perceived problem. I can only hope after the time that elapsed since you initial posting that perspective have been achieved and you are doing well with a new position.

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Cyoucapri, please don't take this the wrong way, are you a sociopath? Some the things you mentioned, and for that matter, did not mention, sent a red flag for me. Sociopaths, are experts at mimicking emotions and empathy. You mentioned some bedside conduct which made me think something odd. Just a thought, no disrespect intended.

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i feel your pain, i was a medic military for 12 years before i was a nurse. working with almost all women is very very hard to get used to. shake it off, concentrate on your interview delivery, do your homework (learn all about the facility before you interview), make sure you got acls,atls,pals,bls, and letters of recommendation if you can get them. of course you dont need all those certifications but it shows determination and dedication. go ahead male nurse! get what is truly yours! a good job with good pay, love for medical science, patients appreciate you!

amen brotha

ps i spend a lot of time every single work day making sure my colleagues like me working with them. i know some of you may feel this is overkill but, i feel i have to do it to maintain a positive work environment. its better than playing in the sandbox.

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I find it odd that you will not devulge why you were terminated. It's nothing to be ashamed of unless you were doing something like diverting drugs. I was terminated from a job and I was devastated. I broke the hospital's policy of not being on the internet for personal use. (never mind that 99% do it) I got caught. I was earning a nice salary, because of nice raises, I was never written up and they were looking for a way to get rid of me because you can't lay a nurse off in a mandatory position. I was replaced by a new grad making 1/2 the salary.

I was devastated. I was honest on my applications and that I would like the chance to explain. I found out that employers are not concerned about whether or not you were previously fired if the reason is not something illegal. I found a much better job with better pay. They told me they hire nurses who have been terminated all the time. There is not the stigma attached to being terminated like it used to be.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Since we do not know the reasons you were terminated it is pretty difficult to comment. but, after working for just 2 months, it will be easy for you to simply say, "This was not a good fit for me." and leave it at that.

Some of the other things though that you say seem really odd. You do need a lot of experience to work in Public Health, and I have a funny feeling you would not find it to your liking either, as it requires an immense amount of communication with a large amount of women.

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yea I am wondering about the specifics on the termination myself. Unless your blaming women for your short comings as a nurse the three pages of comments mean nothing.

If it was your fault own up to it.

If it wasn't your fault move on.

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Specializes in DIALYSIS, PSYC, CORRECTIONS.

this sounds so familure....i also was termintaed after 5 month at my first job and have been terminted several times from other nursing positions due to female coworkers. women don't like male nurses that know more than they do, they get deffensive insecure and jelious and will look for ways to make you look bad or make an error. it is the been a patern any time a male starts to show up the female nursing establishment...... it has been jelousy insecurity of other female nurses. i have seen over and over again that women will support each other and help cover up mistakes and a male nurse is thrown under the bus. you need for your survival "men are from mars and wemon from venus", it will help you understand how women think and how to better manage yourself. relationship advice & health advice books by john gray, ph.d. - john gray's mars venus

my advise to you is to go into a specality that is male dominated such as oprerating room - emergency rooms - corrections and psyc. my self last year worked in a prision and it was the best job ever due to the male population of the prision, male correction officers, and due to all that testoserone even the female nurses started to work and comunicate more like men, direct to the point, not passive agressive, problens were taken care of on the spot and nobody held grudges, forgive forget and move on. it was great work emviorment to bad the state cut back agency staff and at that time i was not in a position to apply for full time employment with the state.if you have any questions e-mail me privately.

harrison rn for 8 years.

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

It might have been your spelling.

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DUDE BEEN THERE ,I HAVE TO TELL YOU ALOT OF MEN QUIT AND GET OUT OF NURSING, AFTER 36 YRS IN SURGERY I WAS LAID OFF AND, IN INTERVIEWS COUNTLESS TIMES ENCOUNTER DISCRIMINATION FOR MY AGE NOW AND I BELIEVE SEX, OUR COUNTY IS OVERFLOWING WITH OUT OF WORK NURSES......WHEN I WAS IN THE 70'S ,80'S ,90'S, 2000'S THINGS WERE DIFFERENT, EACH DECADE 1970 WANTED MALE RN'S, 80S TOO , 90S , LATE 2000S THINGS STARTED CHANGING, I NOTICED THE DECORUM IN THE O.R. BECAME MORE BOISTEROUS, LOUD HEAVY MUSIC IN THE O.R,( AND I AM NOT SQAURE) HEAVY PERSONALITIES, OBVIOUS MOOD DISORDERS AMONG SOME CO-WORKERS( ON MEDS TOO!), I CAN SAY I THINK NURSING HAS HAD A HUGE INFLUX OF THOSE, AND THAT THEY AQUIRE POSITIONS OF MANAGEMENT THAT BENDS AN EAR TOO FALSE JUDMENTS AND ACCUSATIONS OF MALE VS FEMALE BS, AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT... MY OTHER MALE RN FRIENDS ALL ENCOUNTERED THIS, OF COURSE YOU MEET THE USUAL KISS ASS WHO WILL TELL YOU HE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM... MY BEST ADVICE IS WE SHARED WITH EACH OTHER... "KEEP A LOW PROFILE"," SHARE LITTLE OF YOUR PERSONAL OPINIONS", "KEEP COMPASSION AT THE FORE WITH YOUR PATIENTS"... AND BE READY FOR A LIFETIME OF SOME JOY AND LOT OF B.S. FROM THOSE OF A HIGH AND MIGHTY MINDSET CO-WORKERS, THEY WEAR THEIR RN ON THEIR SLEEVE LIKE SGT STRIPES... YOU OLDER NURSES KNOW WHO THEY ARE!!... MY PROFESSOR IN COLLEGE WHERE I WAS A CUM- LAUDE NURSE GRAD, TOLD ME ,"BE AWARE THE NURSES EAT THEIR OWN'.....

KEEP PLUGGING AWAY AT FINDING WORK,THOUSANDS OF US OLDER AND NEW GRADS ARE GETTING SHAFTED BY THE HOSPITAL AND NURSING ADMINISTRATORS ALL OVER THE USA ,SOME STATES LIKE CALIF WORSE THAN OTHERS.......OR YOUR YOUNG FIND ANOTHER CAREER... I WAS STUCK AND HAD CHILDREN EARLY AND NURSING BACK THEN PAID WELL, SO I STAYED ONLY TO PAY THE BILLS AND STAY ABOVE WATER AND OF SOME$$$ LEFT OVER... SO IT SERVED ME WELL AND MY FAMILY/KIDS, BUT ALSO CAUSED BURN OUT OFTEN, AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AS A TRAUMA SURG RN 36 YRS, THERE WAS ALWAYS AGGRAVATING BS TO DEAL WITH AND THAT IS MEDICINE AND NURSING MY SOUL BROTHER......GOD BLESS US ALL MY BROTHER:rolleyes:

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Hey, I just found this post. I also found myself in a similar situation as the OP. Short story made long: I was scheduled to finish orientation within the next couple weeks. First meeting after I originally started the educator asked how it was going, I replied "a little slow but I think I'm getting it." she says "well, slow is ok so long as you're getting it". A month later she bites my head off for some odd reason (even my precept said she shouldn't have been that rough). 2 weeks later her tune changes and I move on through orienation up until last week. Called in for a meeting and am told of all of these things I was never aware of (one patient requesting I not be her nurse) and things from over a month ago that I do not recall doing or not doing. After sitting and listening to them yelling at me I'm met with "You're options are basically to resign or you can try to finish out your orientation where I'm more than likely going to terminate your status as an employee on this unit. It would look better on your resume if you just resign." So, for me, being spoken to like that made my decision easy. However, during my initial interview (which she offered me the position at the end of) she made this statement, "I normally don't like hiring new grads from the school you went to. I've had bad experiences with them in the past" and that was the thought that immediately came to my mind during the end of this meeting. I guess my question to any of you is, 1) what is the general opinion of an interviewer making such a statement about where you went to school, and 2) what are you're thoughts on the situation? (Yes, I am a male RN. Yes, I've had a few instances where I've been late on meds but never given wrong meds to wrong patient or wrong route. And they had complained about time management though from EVERY working nurse I was with they say that always comes with time AFTER you figure out what works for you). Oh, and yes this was my first job but I'm not disheartened or anything, I just have my opinions of certain individuals, ;). Any thoughts?

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I'm a woman, but I've had my head bitten off by a preceptor before, and met my share of passive aggressive female RNs. It's because they're HUMAN, not because they're women. Have any of you complaining male RNs thought that maybe the reason your previous coworkers didn't like you is, I dunno, maybe your attitude?

Sometimes people just aren't friendly. Sometimes the culture on a specific unit might completely clash with your personality. Why does it always have to be about discrimination?

They probably don't dislike you because you're a man. They probably dislike you because you kind of act like a jerk. Adjust your attitude BEFORE you walk in the door and you will be surprised how far it will take you.

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Sigh. Wish we could all get along and stand together. We might be able to change things...because right now nursing is not a great place. Yep, after everything, I am still an optimist. :).

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