Lost job after 6 months

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Hi all

I was employed for 6 months in a hospital OR, I had alot of trouble grasping the asceptic technique, so 2 weeks ago the manager spoke to me. They gave me some remedial training for 2 weeks, then I made a break in technique and they let me go. We have a union, the rep was at the meeting. I am filing a unemployment claim. My previous nurse manager told me she had to put me down as per diem status. Im confused, I feel like I have to take whatever they offer. But I dont want to. Any ideas?

Pam

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Specializes in Palliative Care, NICU/NNP.

I guess I don't understand how you can file for unemployment when as an RN you can work in many different areas?

Sorry that it didn't work out for you in the OR, but you were given a second chance. Maybe this is a blessing as not all areas aren't for everyone. Aseptic technique is the key to a good OR nurse and they (management) have to be patient advocates. Again I'm sorry it didn't have a better outcome but filing unemployment is ludicrous!

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A similar thing happened to me, it was a tough experience..

I too filed for unemployment recently, as I m not sure where my next paycheck is coming from.. not so ludicrous!

Anyway, It certainly has got me thinking long and hard about where I want to be, still haven't figured it out, though, its a process.

I dont think filing for unemployment is a bad idea, if you need time to regroup a bit.

its the tough experiences that show us what we are made of, and make us stronger, :pumpiron:better nurses.

"Some of life's greatest lessons are learned at the worst times"

Regroup , dust off , then look forward to your next adventure!:w00t:

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thanks cherilee, I will take your advice, I dont want to jump into the first job that comes along and be miserable. I was taken back by that last response. I am a fairly new grad and can't just jump into any job.

Good luck to you also

Pam

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I'm not a new grad and have filed for unemployment several times when I've found myself unemployed. The longer one is unemployed, the better the unemployment looks, if one can get it. Not every nurse has employers knocking down her/his door to hire them.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

I've done the unemployment thing a couple of times too. (A downsizing and a facility closing). Sometimes, even if you get a new job almost immediately, it can take a couple of weeks or so to actually get started working, and the unemployment check does help.

Good luck ini finding something that works well for you.

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Specializes in Palliative Care, NICU/NNP.

pamc217

I'm sorry that my posting was a bit rough. Since all the posters have applied for unemployment I guess I learned something. I thought you had to have looked for weeks in your field before you could apply. I had no idea it was a little easier to get it than I thought. Guess I've never had to worry about a paycheck between jobs which gives me a different perspective.

So I do wish you luck in finding a job you will like and restart your career with a better outcome.

Best.

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Hi all

I was employed for 6 months in a hospital OR, I had alot of trouble grasping the asceptic technique, so 2 weeks ago the manager spoke to me. They gave me some remedial training for 2 weeks, then I made a break in technique and they let me go. We have a union, the rep was at the meeting. I am filing a unemployment claim. My previous nurse manager told me she had to put me down as per diem status. Im confused, I feel like I have to take whatever they offer. But I dont want to. Any ideas?

Pam

I never worked in the OR but I have worked in the holding area. Starting IV's one after the other and hanging pre-op antibiotics sometimes having to call the doctor because he or she wrote for an antibiotic the patient was allergic to. Fast paced and very stressful especially when they have poor veins. But that job gave me the chance to talk with the OR nurses. Most of them told me they didn't feel really comfortable for about 2 years after starting! They said the doctors all had different techniques for doing the same procedure and they had to memorize them all. But once they got used to it they loved it! Maybe if you practiced in a place that was not stressful with an experinced friend that's a nurse you would get the hang of the asceptic technique. Just a thought if you really want to stay in that area. Well, what ever you decide Good Luck!;)

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Specializes in Operating and geriactric.

I worked the O.R. for 9 years and they probably did you a favor. You have to be really think skinned to work there and they are in their own little social group. It's not easy being an O.R. nurse. When I decided to get out of it, it was hard because I lost most of my floor nursing skills and had to learn over, on the job learning. As an R.N. you have a whole better change of getting another job that you will be more happy with and with less stress. Find a good job and go with it.

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You really should look at working med surg. If you have had difficulty with asepsis and sterility, you may have other areas that need polishing that you are unaware of. Med surg is hard. But it also exposes you to a wide variety of diagnoses where you can hone your skills. And although you can kill someone in med-surg, the chances are slightly less than if you went into critical care, ER, OB, peds, etc. You sound like you really need to be getting back to basics and become comfortable with nursing overall before you attempt to specialize. These days you really have to hit the ground running and specialty areas are not the place to do that as they don't always provide the proper orientation that is needed to keep both you and the pts safe.

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