let go on first day because of OSHA :(

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I was just hired for my first RN job in pediatric office. Today was my first day! I was soo excited and my family was so proud of me. I had so many people congratulate me for my job offer this weekend and wished me luck. I went in and filled out all of the dreadful paperwork. Then the nurse supervisor and I went over the employee handbook and gave me a tour of the facility while introducing me to everyone as the new nurse. We also went over OSHA. After this, she gave me two quizzes. One quiz was on TB which I got 100% on. The other quiz was on OSHA. I got the first question wrong which was about something I've never heard of. It had something to do with which one doesn't involve OSHA and the answer was CLIA. I've never heard of that term and the supervisor even said being I'm a new nurse I've probably never heard of those terms. The second question I got wrong I didn't understand but after she reviewed why I got it wrong, I realized I read the question wrong and explained that.

Then I was sent to read over materials and then was sent on an hour lunch. When I came back, I was told that the nursing manager needed to talk to me. I was informed that I didn't pass the OSHA quiz based on their standards and was told I couldn't be employed. They said I needed more education and I would be a liability to them to hire me. Is this ok?? I was heartbroken, my family was heartbroken, and I feel like I got screwed over.

Yes I'm aware they can terminate me as they please. It was just bizarre the way they did it. There is definitely more to the story on their side. Just wish they would have told me.

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There must be some other reason they let you go. Maybe someone with power decided they just didn't like you. Maybe you did/said something without realizing it. But the reason they gave you is a lie. Good riddance to a job where you'd work for such people.

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It could be that, for one reason or another, they are on OSHA's radar and are skittish about being further scrutinized.

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I've worked at a nursing home and now with a school district and there was a large emphasis on OSHA at both places of employment. I was required to take a 'test' on OSHA working with the school district. I work in AZ, a Right-to-Work state where any place of employment can terminate you for any reason at any time and to my knowledge, any employer anywhere can do the same if you sign a notice while filling out new hire paperwork. I would be upset if that happened to me, so I'm sorry.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

The "more to the story" would be from their end, Ashley, Lord knows people in nursing will have you saying "wait----what?" hundreds of times in the future. Sorry that happened and hope you are soon hired into the job that is truly meant for you. :)

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I am NOT saying to sue this practice but it wouldn't hurt to investigate what is really going there for your own peace of mind and self-esteem.

Call the EEOC of your state to see if this was appropriate and check to see if this practice is on a public OSHA-has-been-violated-by-this-workplace website, call your BON to find out what RN's are responsible to know about OSHA, since OSHA is Federal perhaps the Department of Labor who manages OSHA should be contacted as well to find out what RN's OSHA responsibilities are.

Let us know what you find out!!!

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Specializes in LTC.

Been working as a nurse for 2 1/2 years now... would it make you feel any better that I don't have the slightest clue what CLIA is either???

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Specializes in ICU.
I was just hired for my first RN job in pediatric office. -snip-

I was informed that I didn't pass the OSHA quiz based on their standards and was told I couldn't be employed. They said I needed more education and I would be a liability to them to hire me. Is this ok?? I was heartbroken, my family was heartbroken, and I feel like I got screwed over.

Sorry to hear that you were apparently treated so poorly as a new RN. If your performance on the pop quizzes was the sole reason for your termination, that just plain sucks.

If this was the case, then your former employer apparently has pretty crazy employment standards.

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Thanks everyone!

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I just started my first semester in nursing school this week, I'm not sure if this is a new practice or what but we were assigned to do 3 test on ACE Passport, being a requirement to enter clinicals. Each one had about a 45 minute presentation/powerpoint (it was all online) and the last test was all OSHA related. We only had two chances to pass it, if we did not pass we were not allowed to go to any clinical site!

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Specializes in Psych/AOD.

That totally sucks!! It is difficult enough to find a nursing job and then to have been let go because of this. I feel your pain and I wish you all the best. The only thing you can do is put on your big girl panties and move forward. Go get em!!!

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