About to get fired. HELP!

[BellaBlackwell]

I am new on Allnurses and new to the nursing profession in general, though I aspire to be a trauma nurse someday.

Right now I'm an aide at an upscale LTC. I've been working there since about mid March and after some delays just got off of training about 2 weeks ago. I haven't even been by myself on all of the floors yet.

No one had mentioned any problems to me and I called my boss earlier this week to ask about getting more hours. To my surprise she informed me I have 4 shifts to improve or face termination.

All of the reasons she stated were either half truths (was running in the hall- had an emergency that morning that I was inadequately trained for and had to pick up the pace) of flat out lies (I refused to do my work)

if I get fired this early on I feel that this will be a huge setback, if not the destruction of my future nursing career, because my dreams are to work in New York City and I read on another thread that nurses don't get hired in NYC if they stayed less than a year at their first job.

I don't know what to do and I need some advice! Thanks.

[BellaBlackwell]

Thank you @iluvivt for your reassurance! And I do believe that is the case. They're out to get rid of me, but I don't know why other than the fact that my attitude and theirs are greatly different. I have a happy-go-lucky outlook and love every minute of it while they count down the minutes till its time to leave. I didn't know a difference in opinions like this could get me on someone's bad list to the point of trying to get me fired though.

There was never any real tension. They're all friendly while we're working but obviously it's different behind my back. I like this job. The coworkers at least give the appearance of being civil, it's straight noc shift which works great for me, and it's personal care, so nothing too hairy pt care wise. It's also a highly respected place to work (I don't know how if they pull this bologna tho)

anyways, point is, I don't want to lose this job. And though I have the feeling the dynamic with the coworkers is going to change knowing what they've been doing, I'm just wondering if I can save this job or if I should even want to?

[BellaBlackwell]

I received a written plan of action on Saturday. I worked hard all weekend and last night trying to focus especially on those areas. My supervisor said I was doing well and to not worry about it if I kept up the good work. My trainer even said to not worry about it. Last night was my last shift to "prove myself". Sure enough when I got off, the director was there. I asked her what she thought and she said she didn't think it's going to work out.

I've found that my deficiencies stem from being improperly trained. I just found out tonight where the stock is kept on the floors. I had been going all the way to the main stockroom up till this point to get things like a few rolls of toilet paper. I was quite surprised this morning when a coworker showed up with a laundry basket full of toilet paper and began filling a shelf on my floor with it (all the while chewing me out though)

i was also not trained on incontinence protocols so I had to wing my first BM accident. That was the day I was running in the hall because this all happened 15 minutes before shift change.

There were many other instances where improper training hurt me as well. Now I'm going to probably lose my job just because somebody didn't care to train me right.

Im really bummed today.

[Psychcns]

Maybe ask your supervisor/preceptor to speak up on your behalf. Otherwise you now know a little more than you did before and there are other jobs..

[BellaBlackwell]

@Psychcns, my perceptor was the one who didn't train me properly, and when I told my supervisor about it (she is friends with the preceptor and I'm the low woman on the totem pole) my supervisor literally told me to get out.

[NurseCard, ADN]

Eh. I'd do just what she said and get out. Find another place to work. It's great that you love this work. That's over half the battle. You'll find another job.

[Erythropoiesis]

Don't sweat it. If you STILL loved your job despite all of the abuse it sounds like you had to take, just imagine how you're going to feel when you get another job in which you are actually appreciated.

[Psychcns]

The director will listen to the preceptor and her supervisor. They are the ones you have to please. This is politics.

When you look for a new job do not say anything bad about this facility. If you can leave it off your resume do. If you have to put it on, it is better to have resigned than be fired and "it was not a good fit for me " is the usual neutral reason to give for leaving.

And that you love the work job is huge. Just be prepared for interviews. Best wishes.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

1. Your boss didn't bother to have you come in for a talk. She informed you of your sins only when you called her to ask if you could pick up more hours. She didn't let you know you were in trouble. What kind of management is that?????

2. You may be young and spry and happy, but at least some of the others you work with are miserable B++++##@@'s. Your happines, your youthfulness, your joy remind them of their own broken dreams and lost youth. In other words, they are jealous.

3. Don't be yippy skippy and immature at work. At least try to put on your sad face when you're around sad and angry people. At the very least, be quiet.

4. It's very disturbing to me that your boss did #1 above. Did she give you a written plan with specific goals and expectations? Do you know how this mess started?

5. Goals need to be in writing and measurable. Your boss should give you a written plan and/or the two of you should sit down together and make a written plan. This should include when you are to meet again for review of your work. Four shifts to improve doesn't sound like very much time.

6. Do not gossip, do not share your happiness, do not share your woes, heartaches, and disappointments at work.

7. Start now to look for a different job. It really sounds like there's very little chance you will survive this one.

Good luck.

Don't be immature at work, and bubbliness tends to annoy people who are sad and angry, so being quiet is good advice. But I cannot imagine that your troubles stem from your "happiness, youthfulness and joy reminding them of their broken dreams and lost youth." Who thinks like that? Mothers tell their children that people who don't like them are "just jealous", but in the real world that is rarely the case. It is abysmal advice to tell someone that their problems started because someone is jealous of them.

[BellaBlackwell]

The other morning at the end of my shift I saw the director. I asked her how she thought it was going. After she told me it probably wasn't going to work out (despite the fact that my supervisors has signed off on my action plan) I expressed to her that I believe I had not been adequately trained (that's when she and my supervisor went all berserk and were looking at me and talking to me like I had 2 heads) after a few minutes of heated conversation with the director I had listed some instances in which I had been improperly trained. She told me I had to document it, to get to her in writing all the instances that my preceptor didn't train me right. I wrote the letter tonight but I feel bad that I had to rat her out so to be fair I included what everyone else was doing that is against policy as well. Do you think I should keep all that in the letter or stay focused on my preceptor?

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

Don't focus on your preceptor. ​Focus on what you were taught vs. correct procedure. Focus on the processes, not the person. Good luck!

[Psychcns]

OP

she asked for instances where you were not trained properly! Just give her that. She didn't ask for all the things wrong with the unit. For now focus on learning and doing correct procedures. It is more important now that attend to all detail. You may be stirring up people against you. I think you should still look around for another job.

[Erythropoiesis]

It's best not to rat out the entire unit plus your preceptor specifically when all you were asked to do is list the things you felt you were inadequately trained to handle. Remember that this is your career and you're likely to see these people again. At the very least, keep in mind that everyone knows each other. Healthcare can be a close knit community and you don't want to be labeled as the girl who bashed the entire unit on her way out the door.