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Discussion

Advice for on what you would do.

I moved out of state and took a job in Ambulatory care. I worked there for a year, but wanted to get back into more critical care so when a job opened I went back to PACU. It's been a tough transition. I was initially told my orientation would be 3 days. I said that needed more than that. This PACU happens to be more acute cases and patients than I was used to. I was brought into the manager's office on my second week and asked if my experience on my resume was "even true". I was crushed. I tried to explain that my experience in icu/PACU was different than here and that I wasn't getting the best orientation. I was kind of getting a "sink or swim" approach and it was making me even more flustered. I was told that I had 2 more weeks. Mind you I have been a nurse for 14 years and I feel like a new nurse all over again.

At our last meeting I was asked if I wanted to go back to the icu for a few weeks to get a refresher since it's been awhile since I was in icu/PACU. Of course I said sure, but in the same meeting I was told I was too slow, keeping patients too long, and only taking one patient at a time which isn't true (I'm almost ready to track my day to show my manager that I'm not as bad as they make me out to be). At this point I feel defeated and anxious to go to work. I will be on the unit tomorrow and then go to icu two days at the end of the week. I am really trying, but maybe I just won't be cut out for this area, especially when I feel like an outcast as it is.

I decided to put some job applications out there because I'm not sure how this job will go. I'm also having a hard time respecting my manager when I was asked if my experience was even real. I'm just so disheartened. I did get a call today about a job working in a pre/post Cath procedures area and I'm thinking about talking to that manager because it would be a hospital much closer to home.

Thank you for letting me vent. This whole ordeal has been causing me so much stress.

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    If you believe in yourself, I think you've got to come back strong against the people who doubt you. Be respectful, but set them straight and let them know you have the ability to get up to speed quickly. Ask for what you need to fly from the nest and promise them you're worth it. Then, preform.

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    I was brought into the manager's office on my second week and asked if my experience on my resume was "even true".

    Take in the situation and decide whether anything good is likely to come from serious effort when the judge of those efforts is someone....like that. I'm guessing I wouldn't have time, energy, or enough goodwill to put up with it. That was way more than just inadequate communication skills; it was meant to be insulting.

    I suspect there could be problems with retention and disrespect of nurses in these situations where people start getting all hateful when a nurse doesn't come up to speed on some fantasy timeline.

    Put a smile on your face and ramp up your orientation efforts. Also, find a different job. I am a fan of nurses walking away from situations that involve abject disrespect whenever humanly possible.

    Good luck ~

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    Good that you are interviewing. I would not work for that snotty manager. A three day orientation to transition to PACU from ambulatory care is ludicrous.

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    • Author

    They said since I had the experience it should only take me 3 days. I still don't think it was fair as it's been some time since I have even done that kind of nursing.

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    Your first red flag was 3 day orientation. Get outta there. It's definitely not you.

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    Even with prior experience, 3 days seems totally unfair and unrealistic. It takes more than 3 days just to learn the basics, where's the bathroom, break room, supplies, etc.. I'm assuming that just because you've worked in PACU before, you have not worked in this particular PACU. It takes time to learn the routines of the institution and charting practices. The only time I have heard of a 3 day orientation for an RN is for travel nurses who only take short assignments.

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    I had another bad day. This area is just over my head. I feel like such a failure. I just don't know this stuff and it makes me unsafe. I get it. I guess I just have to look for another job. I got pulled into the managers office and she said that while I'm shadowing in the icu I should consider working there. I guess I'll be putting in applications although I don't think I want to stay at this hospital

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    I had another bad day. This area is just over my head. I feel like such a failure. I just don't know this stuff and it makes me unsafe. I get it. I guess I just have to look for another job. I got pulled into the managers office and she said that while I'm shadowing in the icu I should consider working there. I guess I'll be putting in applications although I don't think I want to stay at this hospital

    Sorry for your troubles. You have been a nurse for 14 years, you are not a failure!! Sound like they are not willing to train the way they should. Maybe considering the icu would not be bad, completely different unit with different people. Just because this job may not work for you doesn't mean you cannot find a better job elsewhere, just find one that works, may not be that easy but it will be worth it! Again, you are not a failure, they failed you! Good luck.

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    Find another job. During my first year of nursing I applied to LTC. They gave me three days orientation I told the managers I am a new nurse I need them to extend the orientation. They offer me two days more I decided to quit during orientation. Most facilities now require three days orientation because they don't want to pay.

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    I had a job once (non-medical) where after 1 month, I already knew there was something fishy going on. I spoke to another employee who was in that same position previously and told her "something is off.....is it just me or ???" She just smiled because she knew exactly what I was talking about (manager). My gut feeling right away told me to get the heck out. Did I listen to my feeling. No. To make a long story short, it was 1.5 years of hell and I stayed there

    only because I thought things would change. They never did. Just got worse and worse.

    My point is: Trust your gut. You know what's best for you.

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    Wow, this sounds ridiculous.

    I have been a LPN since 2010 and a RN since 2016. I just recently transitioned to an Acute Inpatient Rehab position in the hospital amd the mandatory orientation for experienced nurses is 6 weeks, new nurse is 12 weeks.

    I have to say that hospital would have a horrible retention rate. Hope it works out for you.

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    I'd leave. I'd get another job and bail. You don't deserve to be treated like that.

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