Am I good enough?

Jedrnurse, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2019

To protect your privacy and potential future jobs, change your screen name if that is your real name.

littlenurse · Dec 22, 2019

How do I do that?

CCU BSN RN · Dec 22, 2019

Youve had 3 or 4 jobs in a 3 year time period. You've been fired multiple times but it doesn't really seem like you've spent any time reflecting on that. On what aspect of your personality might be making you have so much conflict with managers and co-workers. To the point where you are 'absolutely ineligible' to be rehired by a hospital. Because if you don't figure it out, you won't be making a choice about leaving nursing. You'll have to move to a new state to find a hospital you haven't already burned bridges with.

I'm sorry if this is harsh, but in my experience it is relatively difficult to fire a nurse after the probationary period. So either we are missing details or your managers are finding something they absolutely do not like within 90 days of your start date...

beekee · Dec 22, 2019

How long did you stay at each job? Three jobs of short duration in two years tends to make one pretty unattractive as an applicant. From the hiring perspective, it’s a huge red flag. “Good” jobs are going to be tough to find, but whatever you do, stay there for at least a year, much better if you stay 2, before you change jobs again.

littlenurse · Dec 22, 2019

1 minute ago, beekee said:
How long did you stay at each job? Three jobs of short duration in two years tends to make one pretty unattractive as an applicant. From the hiring perspective, it’s a huge red flag. “Good” jobs are going to be tough to find, but whatever you do, stay there for at least a year, much better if you stay 2, before you change jobs again.

3 months at the first and 11 months each are the other two

13 minutes ago, CCU BSN RN said:
Youve had 3 or 4 jobs in a 3 year time period. You've been fired multiple times but it doesn't really seem like you've spent any time reflecting on that. On what aspect of your personality might be making you have so much conflict with managers and co-workers. To the point where you are 'absolutely ineligible' to be rehired by a hospital. Because if you don't figure it out, you won't be making a choice about leaving nursing. You'll have to move to a new state to find a hospital you haven't already burned bridges with.
I'm sorry if this is harsh, but in my experience it is relatively difficult to fire a nurse after the probationary period. So either we are missing details or your managers are finding something they absolutely do not like within 90 days of your start date...

The first one wasn't a personality thing at all. It was my first ever health care job and I couldn't keep up. The 2nd job, the manager and the physician were known for bullying and harassing but I didnt know until after I got on the unit.

littlenurse · Dec 22, 2019

Not to mention that the nurse manager threatened to write me up because none of the patients had written a WOW card about me

Rionoir, ADN, RN · Dec 22, 2019

12 hours ago, littlenurse said:
Fired for conflict with a coworker but my performance was great.

If you want to be hired again you're going to have to take full responsibility for the current trajectory of your career as well as come up with a plan for correcting whatever it is that you've left out of your post. People with "great" performance don't get fired for simply having a conflict.

I wouldn't seek out your dream job right now. Seek out any job that will let you rebuild your reputation so you can show some personal growth a few years down the road when you are trying to explain your resume to an OB manager.

juviasama · Dec 23, 2019

While it might not look good on resume, it doesnt mean you cannot secure a good job in the future. I lasted 9 months on my first job in a psych hospital and lasted 8 months on my second job in an acute rehab hospital. I'm blessed that a school district still gives me a chance despite having record of 2 jobs for less than 2 years.. A school nurse isnt a perfect job, but I like it way better than my first two jobs.. Best wishes for your next career.

Sour Lemon · Dec 23, 2019

Like some others have pointed out, your interactions with others may require hard assessment. As new nurses, we really need as many people as possible on our side. Conflicts with anyone, about anything, should be managed very carefully. Diplomacy is a huge part of the job.

allnurses Guide · Dec 24, 2019

Regardless of the reasons, unfortunately this situation looks like a pattern to a potential employer, which makes it a red flag. Fair or unfair, on paper it looks bad.

I second the above advice not to be looking exclusively for your "dream job" at this point, but rather for someone willing to give you a shot. Networking may be essential to get your foot in the door somewhere. Then you will need move hell and high water to stay on that job for at least two years to prove you are a stable risk who just got a rough start out of the gate. Its going to take a while to secure something, so be patient and be smart with your money until you land on your feet.

The coworker conflict is alarming and cause for serious internal reflection. Most people go their entire lives without having conflict to the point of having to be fired for it.

Waiting for Retirement · Dec 24, 2019

I'm imagining you telling your story to me, sitting in a chair in front of me, because I'm looking for a new hire. And all I can think of is how extremely risky you sound. Your work history is filled with inability to keep up, trouble with management, trouble with co-workers, trouble with providers, lack of "wow" (I assume a praise of some kind) from patients, although you describe yourself as having "great performance".

You mention having gone to your manager's manager when things weren't going well...and while that in and of itself isn't always a problem, when thrown in with the rest of it, you just look like a bad hire. And nowhere along this explanation do you mention having spent time working on interpersonal skills, or reflecting on what you might need to do to improve, what help you sought from experienced nurses to formulate a 'rehab' of sorts. That's vital to your survival in nursing, and you don't seem to have even touched on it.

Like some others have said, at this point you need to get ANY job that will have you. Forget "dream job", and if you are lucky enough to get hired by a nursing home, TAKE IT. Use that time to build up skills, organizational management, learn to work with cranky co-workers and watch how management handles things. Mostly....LEARN.

If after you are successful in that job and have been there for long enough to be considered for something "more", then go from there. If you are unsuccessful in this next job you really do need to assess whether it's nursing that is your issue or employment in general. For that you'd want to see a job coach.

For now, give this all a little thought and see what you need to do to be considered a good hire for a nursing home. I do wish you the best of luck.