Advice for a New Grad RN After Quitting job/ Orientation after 5 & 1/2 months

[DonovanRN]

Hi Everyone,

I am looking for advice from experienced RNs and nursing recruiters. I will try to keep this as brief as possible but it's complicated.

I am an adult male in his 40's, second career, new graduate RN, having graduated in January 2009 with my Associates in nursing with a GPA of 3.65. I passed my NCLEX in February 2009 at 75 questions. I started my dream job in the ICU in March 2009 beginning my 6 months orientation. I worked VERY hard (long story) to get this job and was excited to begin my career as a critical care RN.

My new grad orientation was very complicated, having several preceptors and then switching to one preceptor after 4 months of hell. My new preceptor was great but I was having a lot of problems with time management and anxiety and feeling overwhelmed all the time. I know this is expected as a new grad but it was truly hell for me and effecting my work. I never argued and always took the criticism graciously and seriously. I was determined to learn to become a good critical care nurse, but I continued to be corrected all the time and told I was not picking up fast enough and that they were concerned if I would be able to work safely on my own after my 6 months orientation.

I was called into meet with my nursing educator and the nursing director on 2 occasions to discuss their concerns. I told them how much I wanted this and that I was trying very hard but I was aware I was struggling with time management and being overwhelmed. After this last meeting I was told to decide if I wanted to consider resigning as I may fired in the near future if I continued to struggle. Well after hearing that and knowing how miserable I had been the last 5 1/2 months, I decided to resign and protect my nursing license I worked so hard to get.

I was extremely disappointed that I found myself resigning from my dream job and I was so humiliated that I left that day and never spoke to another person I worked with again. I couldn't even transfer to another job at this hospital over feeling I would always be reminded that "I failed" and I wasn't capable to be a critical care RN.

It has been 2 months now with no job. I have applied to SEVERAL jobs and even had a couple interviews but when I was asked why I left my first job after 5 1/2 months, I explained it was "bad fit", and that I discovered that critical-care was not for me and that I wanted to experience other environments to learn and grow in. Well, that didn't go over well. I was asked to further explain why I would quit my first job after only 5 months and never completed my orientation? The nurse recruiter was a previous critical-care RN and would not stop asking me to explain why it was a "bad fit". I guess I didn't answer her questions in a way she liked and she really wanted to get me to say I wasn't able to handle it. She said that it was a RED Flag to her that I left my first job so soon in my training. Obviously I didn't get that job.

So, I decided on my next job application and phone interview with a recruiter to not mention the new grad RN job at all. I thought I would just be a new grad with no experience looking for work like so many of us out there. Well, she asked me why I was still not working after 9 months since I got my RN License. I explained I had traveled some and that I hadn't found the right opportunity yet. Well, she said... "Wood luck to you in your future and we will keep you in our "new grad pile". So that was a bust too.

So my question is this: Should I mention my 5 1/2 months of ICU training from a prestigious hospital or just leave it off my resume and hope they never find out? I was told to be honest as they could find out, but when I am honest it seems like they think less of me for resigning my first job during orientation and that it's a RED FLAG not to hire me. Well, with so many new grad nurses looking for work I can't afford a red flag these days.

I know the job market is horrible right now for new grads and it's very depressing especially for me loosing my "dream job". I guess it wasn't meant to be and I am trusting that something better is ahead for me.

I am still pretty traumatized from the entire experience and still now have sleepless nights and or nightmares about my ICU experience. I sometimes wonder if bedside nursing is for me. I would love to find a clinic job but I know right now I need to take whatever I can and get a year or two of experience.

I am also looking to complete my BSN and may go back now while I am still looking for work, though I need a job soon as I have a mortgage to pay. I may have to get another kind of job if I can't find a nursing job.

So does anyone have any Job Search and interview advice for me? Words of wisdom are also welcome. I feel bad enough on my own so you can save the negative comments for someone else thanks.

Look forward hearing from you.

Thanks!

[NurseJJ09]

I am also a new grad and just found this post. I, too, can relate to your situation .... I'm just about at the 3 month point and orientation is about to end. I'm about to begin floating and I am ready to pack it in. I'll be floating to various med surg floors and just dont feel ready. I know that I'm slower than most (I like to triple check every thing I do), I feel extremely overwhelmed and stressed and have already decided that med surg is not for me. I think I would try to hang in for a while but I feel very strongly about not wanting to float! The only thing that keeps me going back to work is the fear that I won't be able to get another job. I don't even want another hospital job - unless it is psych. That would be the only area I would consider. Other than that, I'd like to try a doctor's office. I've been applying to other jobs but haven't gotten any call backs yet. I feel so worn down by this whole experience. The stress is taking over, I don't even feel like the same person anymore...

[WisRN10]

I am so glad that I found this thread and others that I can relate to in regards to being a new grad RN having difficulties in their first nursing position. Lolo2010-I am sorry that you were forced to resign your position...I can't imagine having only a 4 week orientation program as a new grad..The hospital that I was at typically gives new grads at least 3 mos of orientation so don't feel bad that you didn't quite get to the point that you needed to be. This is a ridiculously short training period and this hospital obviously needs to redesign/rethink their training program for new grads.

I want to share my experience with you. I started out on a specialty unit at a large teaching hospital and was not really given a set time for when I would need to be off of orientation. I had done clinicals in this dept. and thought for sure that my orientation would be a cake walk. Well, was I wrong about that. I was trained by an older nurse in charge of the entire training program for that unit who always seemed to find something wrong with the things I did , but I was never given any feedback about how I was progressing. When we met with the unit director after being on the job for a month and a half, the preceptor tells my unit director that she thought that I wasn't performing at the level that I should have been. Well, I was shocked and felt terrible at the same time. The only thing that I could say was that I would try harder. Then after that initial orientation period I went on to train with a new preceptor every single day and my learning really got screwed up because everybody does things differently. It seemed like every single person had a bone to pick about the way that I did things. I felt that I couldn't redeem myself. After this, things kept getting worse for me. I had been through about 10 different preceptors. I lost confidence in myself. People began not to trust me and I felt fearful of most of the nursing staff. I had been receiving little to no support from staff, but the unit director stood firm by my side. I also found out that the staff has been nasty to the unit director of a year or so. They send anonymous hate mail to her mailbox. So you can imagine that this staff is very childish, passive aggressive, etc.. No matter what I tried I could not fit into this group of nurses. The thing that gets me is that another nurse that I graduated with (same amount of experience as me) got hired on a few months after I did and the nursing staff thinks that she is progressing just fine. I just can't imagine exactly what would be different between us. They tell her that she asks the right amount of questions. I have no idea where I went wrong, but there are so many complex issues involved that unfortunately I had to quit. I kept on coming in to work and going through orientation, but it would kill me to see this other nurse treated so differently that I was. After a while they allowed her to take patients on her own and then whoever was precepted me would follow me and watch everything that I did with the patients. I couldn't develop my own routine. I just found it hard to transition from orientation to being comfortable own my own. Do you think it would benefit me to get feedback from the preceptors on how I could change things so that this doesn't happen again? Or do you think that it could have been a personality/fit issue? Has anyone struggled with this?

[me_again]

WisRN10, if you ask these preceptors what you could do better, you will get 10 different answers based on their own personal truths, to include (with emphasis) their own agendas. Don't put yourself through it.

In my opinion, you should move on and find a better place to work. Ten preceptors? I suppose they told you that it would give you many ideas on how to do something and then you could "find your own way to do it." No consistency equals no training. I'm sure you can translate it: not enough qualified preceptors to do the job, so anyone and everyone has you tag around after them.

Don't let your confidence be shaken so hard that it shakes you apart. My impression is that you will be a great find for an establishment that appreciates what you have to offer.

[RNstokes]

I know this is old but how have things worked out for you in these past couple of years?

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I think the term "bad fit" is not the best choice of words. I would just be completely (and probably overly) honest about the whole situation. Saying that it was a bad fit makes it sound like you can't get along with your co-workers.

I totally 100% agree with this comment. As soon as I read "bad fit" in your post, OP, my thought went right to the interpretation of "can't get along".

I would use your ICU experience as a keystone in talking with recruiters. You can use this to your advantage. It shows that you have SOME experience, but you quickly realized that the ICU setting was overwhelming as a new grad. Most people can identify with feeling overwhelmed, and will empathize with you. If you then tell your nursing recruiter that BECAUSE of your experience in the ICU, you found that working on a med/surg floor (or something similar) is more to your liking. Tell them that you know that med/surg would be a wonderful foundation for you to apply what you have learned.

I am so sorry that you had to endure this. It sounds like it was terribly hard on you. I encourage you to think positively regarding new job possibilities and please give yourself a pat on the back for knowing that you should look for a better fit for you. You can only grow from this experience if you do not let it own you.

[JudsonRn]

Your post was brought to my attention by my mother who thought that I had posted it. Our circumstances are similar. Like you I am a male nurse (recent graduate RN). I had a good GPA in nursing school. I passed the NCLEX in 76 question. I am in my 40's and am starting a new career. Like you, I recently had to resign from my first nursing job (or possibly be fired from it).

Also like you I had multiple preceptors. In my case, I had one preceptor writing me up for following the explicit instructions of another preceptor. It was awful. It was a game that could not be won! The only objective evidence presented at my kangaroo trial were my scanning scores. They were above reproach and summarily dismissed (perhaps because they indicted the veracity of my accuser).

In school, they told us about "nurses eating their young," but I did not believe it because it made no sense to me. Having experienced it myself, I am a believer.

I take comfort from the notes of thanks that I received from patients and their family members. I appreciate your post because it let me know that I am not alone in this.

Keep the faith and be a GREAT nurse.

Judson

PS. Never confuse "time management" with speed. They are related but not interchangeable ideas.

[ladybug1970]

:yeah:I am so thankful for these posts. I am in the same situation. I am slow because I double, tripple check everything. I am so worried about finding a job since they all seem to ask "did you leave your previous place of employment to avoid termination". I need to find my niche in nursing.

[MegRyanGirl]

I was happy to find this thread as I was recently fired from a Magnet hospital during an orientation. My situation is similar with some potential discrimination issue. I would like to hear some words of wisdom from you nurses :-)

I have 4 years experience in a subacute setting, and always wanted to work for a hospital. Had multiple hospital job offers earlier but couldn't start as I required a visa sponsorship at the time. Now that I don't need the sponsorship anymore, I was able to get a job at a local magnet hospital after being turned down by a few hospitals that wanted only RNs with acute care experience.

One thing I must mention is that I am an Orthodox Sabath observant Jew. This means that I am not allowed to work from Friday sunset until Saturday sundown. Most nursing facilities require weekends as you know, and I have worked every Sunday or Saturday nights and Sundays to do my share. Some hospitals have outwardly stated they couldn't hire me because of this, which is against Federal law. It is also not a legal requirement to say during the hiring process that I am sabbath observant. After I was honest and told prospective employers that I was sabbath observant and got turned down multiple times, I decided not to mention it until I get hired. (What's interesting is that I used to get job offers even after my mentioning of the religious observance back in the days when I needed to be sponsored. I guess times changed?)

So, I got the job offer on a Med/Surge unit, and I told the manager in the beginning of a 2 weeks class orientation that I was sabbath observant and that I can work every Sunday and Saturday nights but not during Sabbath. She got infuriated, tried to convince me to quit, saying I "deceived her and the hospital, that I was unprofessional, etc." Legally, employers are obligated to make accomodations for religious practices, but she told me that I signed a paper that stated I didn't need accomodation, and therefore, had to work on Saturdays. She was referring to the Veterans act and disability act paper that they ask you to sign, which has nothing to do with accomodation for religious observances. She still gave me a hard time even after I told her I could switch with other nurses and cover their Sundays while they cover my Saturdays.

Anyway, I started the on the unit orientation which is supposed to be 4-6 weeks, after I completed 2 weeks of in class nursing orientation. I got a preceptor who was really nice, and I asked a lot of questions. I asked her on multiple occasions what areas I need to improve and what areas I am doing well. She told me I was doing well, and had very little improvement suggestions. In the middle of my 3rd week, I get called in to speak with the manager, nurse educator, and my preceptor, and I'm told that I made a couple of mistakes and they made a huge deal out of it. A few days later, they did the same thing. And then at the end of my 4th week of orientation the manager told me that she was terminating me because she didn't believe I would be ready to care safely for patients at the end of the orientation. I was already at a 5 patients load and managing really well, and the standard patient assignment on the unit is 6.

She gave me no warning, no remediation, no change in preceptors. She even didn't follow the hospital protocol they have for orientation teaching and resolving issues. Other experienced nurses on the unit told me that other new hires had issues with my preceptor because she is "overbearing" and that I should get a different preceptor, and that I am doing really well. Some of them even said that what my manager called my "mistakes" weren't really so bad, and some of them were not even mistakes. So I am left to think that she was determined to get rid of me from the beginning because of Sabbath, and had a whole strategy to do it.

At this point, I don't know what to do. Do I claim my rights? Do I ask for a job back but in a different unit since I was fired unjustly but don't want to work for a manager that discriminates? Do I mention my experience in my resume?

Sometimes I feel that it's a curse that I was born a Jew....

[LisaGulliPopkins]

I have had a similar experience in med/surg in a hospital with psychopathic preceptors who break all the labor laws, scream 1 inch from your face and call names! I was denied ALL my breaks except lunch, which took place at 1430! with a 06300 start time, and after 60 days of a 120 days training time, I left in desperation for my sanity. I was politic and told everyone it was me, I had a hard time handling the pace, etc ( it is a VERY busy unit) and thanksed everyone profusely. I was also fighting tonsilitis the whole time and had a severe respiratory reaction to the antibiotic I was taking that required I spend a night in ICU and another in Acute unit too. So, I had a 4 week break ( unpaid of course as a new hire) to recover from additionally.

I do NOT want to put this experience on my resume, HOWEVER it is better than nothing at all, since I am going to be applying for mental health, skilled nursing and renal jobs. My question: How do I describe why I left? My husband, who is also a CCU nurse at the same hospital, said I should have reported the preceptors to management. They were both observed in their treatment of me, however and were both reprimanded without me reporting them, due to several other RN's witnessing their treatment of me. One was even removed from the floor for several months and transferred to another non nursing posistion!

Sigh. I am also a OLDER new grad, having graduated BSN in 2010, and this experience was in 2011. And, I am also over 40!

any advice that is KIND is appreaciated!

[Flatlander]

Hi. I was terminated in July at the end of orientation on a cardiac tele unit, first RN job. Yes, felt horrible, ashamed, devastated, you name it. Can totally relate with all of the above. Have had a couple interviews and struggled with how to deal with the termination. Recently I went to the state job service office and was able to speak to an employment specialist there. He was extremely helpful in suggesting some wording to use. Basically it was keeping the explanation as brief as possible, i.e. that it was not the right setting for a new grad due to the high acuity, and then to go immediately into discussing my strengths and what I can bring to the new job. He also said it's necessary to reheorifice your answers and video or audio record it with another person asking you interview questions.

I really appreciated all who shared their experiences, which were so much like mine. It is extremely heartening to know you are not alone. It is also very helpful to hear from others who went through this and continued on to have successful careers. Thank you!!!!

I don't understand the connection with firing and licensure... You're scaring me. How does this affect my RN license?

[silentwolves, ADN, BSN, RN]

Wow... Nice to know I'm not alone in feeling I was unfairly fired... Unfortunately I have been out of work for almost 6 months now, with no upcoming interviews or anything. I am really losing my faith in finding a nursing job anywhere. I cant seem to get interviews for any other types of jobs either. I get asked why I only worked at a hospital for 3 months. I explain what happened and never hear back from these people... I guess second chances just do not exist anymore...

I dont know how much longer I can go without hearing any good news from employers. I need to pay off student loans! My bills are pilling up and I just had to seek medicaid since I cant collect unemployment either... At this point, I feel like I will never work again...

(sorry, had to vent... I'm in a bad mood today..)

[utadahikaru]

I respect peoples right to religious pref, but I don't think it's fair for people to expect others to bear the burden of that choice. The proper thing for you to do would be to choose a job that won't expect you to work on the specific days that you need to be off, rather than to tell yourself that your needs are more important than the needs of your coworkers.