Anyone been fired from their first job in less than a year?

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2007

Hang in there. I was fired from my first job - I'm an LPN - and am hearing vague grumblings from my current employers but, when I ask them to cite something specific, they can't.

Wishing you the best.

abundantjoy07, RN · Jun 24, 2007

As of right now you're still hired. Don't start thinking "it's over" before it is.

Maybe you didn't recieve enough precepting and need more time. That's normal because you're still a very new nurse!

If you feel like you need more learning time and more time to be really comfortable on your own, you should let your nurse manager know this. Stress to her that being a safe and effective nurse is your priority and you intend to be a safe and effective nurse. In order to be one, you might need more time.

Could it be the floor you're working on? Too many patients at one time? Too difficult of a floor to manage at this time in your career?

Take the time to evaluate your situation. If Telemetry is where you want to be then is this the hospital you want to be at? If it's really want you want, then I'd make time to study study study! Practice at home and get more familiar with the ongoings on the floor. Read about common conditions, meds and procedures you see. Take notes on your patients and when you are at home study more on their situations. Make use of "Cheat sheets" at work. There are lots of pocket guides for nurses that you can look up and learn from while on the job. Find a nurse that is kind and willing to help and explain things you aren't sure of.

But if this is too much at once, realize it's okay to step back for a moment. If that's the case, consider transferring to a new unit or a new hospital/clinic/etc.

You're still in this. Realize you've come a long way. Heck, you passed the NCLEX right? You're no dummy. Figure out what you really want and then go for it.

Oh. And we've all made mistakes and been frustrated at times. It happens to us all.

SalemRN · Jun 24, 2007

Excellent advice from Abundantjoy. Can't add anything more. Do remember that we have all been there.... Don't hesitate to move to a different floor with a different focus. Perhaps straight med-surg??

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Jun 25, 2007

This might help..go to your manager and talk from your heart. Sounds corny but really let her know that you want to learn and ask for specific things to work on. They should have an awareness though that you are still a very new nurse and it can take about 2 years until you get to a point where you feel completely comfortable( some situations may take even longer!). Also, I feel your pain about being the quiet type. Sometimes people underestimate or look down upon the quiet types as being not aggressive enough. I am more than capable of advocating for my patients but am kind of laid back and I don't like to toot my own horn. Unfortunately, in this field, the loud, obnoxious, too agressive types often flourish, even when their nursing skills may not be all that impressive. If you do get fired, it will make you feel bad, but dust yourself off and try again. You'll get another job and if it comes to you looking for another job, make sure to ask them what their orientation process entails. It sounds like the place you are working for now subscibes to the "throw new grads to the wolves" theory and that is both outdated and counterproductive for all concerned. Good luck, hun.

sandieO · Jun 25, 2007

Look after yourself

Apply to other jobs may be something a little less responsibility until you get your confidance do not wait to be fired as you may then find it hard to get another position

SandieO

NurseCherlove · Jun 25, 2007

Absolutely agree with SandieO - start looking NOW, every minute of your free time - Apply, apply, apply. Call the other hospital back and tell them you have regretted your decision ever since you made it and that it is just not a good fit at your current hospital. Start interviewing on your days off and secure something NOW while you have a job. Treat this as a worst case scenario so that you can have a back up plan....you can always say that you decided to stay at a later time, but you have to get an offer first of course.

Now, otherwise....YOU ARE STILL EMPLOYED. Believe me, I remember how the lack of confidence thing can snowball. You must stop this now and be more aggressive in getting the support that you need as a new grad. Surely there is a senior nurse there who you can double check things with. Try contacting the nurse educator there and see how she can help you.

Think about it this way too...Are you EVER going to forget to turn off the NG suction and check the lites on such a patient? You may not realize it now, but all of these mistakes you've been making are helping to mold you as a nurse because you learn from them.

It takes time to "drown out" all of the background distractions on a floor so that you can focus in on each patient's needs because you see yourself getting behind in assessments, meds, treatments, and a million other things. Just remember this: many routine things can wait. A daily dressing change is not an emergency, although some patients may try to have you to think it is. Giving someone a QD clairitan 20-30 minutes, heck, even an hour late...not a big deal at all. I say this because I can remember wanting to do EVERYTHING exactly by the book as a new grad. With some experience, you realize it is IMPOSSIBLE. Just begin to trust yourself and realize that if your patients are comfortable and in no distress and there are no STAT orders, you'll get to the other stuff. Also, realize that the lab is going to call you with any critical labs. Yes, you should check your labs, just how immediately depends on what's going on with the patient, their age, meds, and history. Oh, and do not always trust what you get in report...read orders from the previous shift or 2. It will all come together...I promise

luv2luvlife · Jun 25, 2007

i graduated with my bsn in december 06.
congrats!:balloons:
started a new grad program in january on a telemetry unit. i was with a preceptor until the end of april. so i have been on my own on the floor for almost 2 months now.
lets do an assessment on your preceptor. do you remember her routine? did she check labs at the beginning of each shift? check her orders etc? how do you start off your shift? do you priortize your patient load?
i had a talk with my manager yesterday.. she said i'm not taking enough initiative to defend my actions on the floor. i have all these little mistakes every shift i work, it feels like it never ends! for example, i had a small bowel obstruction patient with a ng tube. listened to his bowel sounds, but forgot to turn the suction off while doing so!!
did you go back and do another assessment? or did the charge have to do it? did you just tell your mistake and do nothing?
i had to tell that to my charge nurse, who further asked me what the patients electrolytes were. another mistake- i had forgotten to look up labs before going to the charge rn to give her report!
how do you organise/priortize your shift?
this charge nurse is the type who always asks questions of new grads, and when she's in a bad mood, she's mad at pretty much everyone around her. she tells alll of my mistakes to my manager.
are you telling her your mistakes, or is she catching them?
anyway the problem is that these kinds of mistakes are consistent, the charge rn noticed, and my manager is aware. now my manager is starting to think i'm not a "safe and effective" nurse on the floor and that she might have to terminate my employement next month if this keeps up. i actually cried in my manager's office!
what did you learn and do during your time with the preceptor? did the preceptor say you were ok to be on your own? they must have said you were ok to work on your own.
i'd hate to be fired. i like my job, most of the people there i can tolerate. i'd feel so humiliated and most of all, how would this look to future potential employers? my heart is breaking, my self confidence is low and now i wish i'd taken a job at another hospital that i stupidly turned down last december to be hired at this current one.
what do i do?
do a nursing care plan on yourself. find out where your problem areas are. and find the resources to attain your goal.
and have any of you been in this situation? please let me know. any experiences or comments, good and bad, will help. thanks!

there has been many new nurses in the very boat you are in right now. you are not the only one going through this. try to find your learning needs and work on them. be kind to yourself during this transition, and others may follow suit.

jjjoy, LPN · Jun 25, 2007

You're definitely not alone in your situation. As hard as it is, try not to take it personally. Everyone has their own strengths, weaknesses and learning styles. Yours may not match up with this units' style; that doesn't mean that you inherently are missing something. You just need to find a better match.

Meanwhile, milk the experience for all you can, including advocating for yourself. As another suggested, perhaps schedule a meeting with your supervisor and let her know you ARE concerned. Sometimes, another may assume the worst, that you don't really care and aren't really trying. By calmly and formally addressing your performance concerns, at least you can make sure that they know that you acknowledge you still have a lot to learn (of course you do!) and that you're willing to take active steps to learn.

Come up with a few suggestions that you think might help you. Whether or not they can provide you with what you need and whether or not they think your performance is adequate, you can be proud of your efforts to take care of yourself as a person and as a nurse. And you might even be able to change the dynamics directed towards you by doing so.

However, if they decide that they're not willing to work with you, it's THEIR lack of resources/creativity/etc that is the obstacle, not YOUR abilities. No one is great at everything; with a little luck and persistance you can find a place that complements your learning style and abilities while supporting you in building on areas of weakness.

This is a learning experience that money can't buy. It's probably not what you'd choose voluntarily, but as long as you are in this situation, there is a lot you can learn from it and grow from.

rn/writer, RN · Jun 25, 2007

Whether you start studying your hindquarters off or put the bulk of your energy into finding a different job, the one thing you need most right now is a way to find freedom from fear.

If you go into your job consumed with worry about making mistakes and paranoid that each move might be your last, you can't help but be preoccupied, and that only makes you more vulnerable. You can't just quit being afraid, but you can work to re-direct that energy into something more productive.

Spend some time organizing your approach. This might involve coming up with a more detailed cheat sheet that has room for labs and other info you have to look up. Taking five extra minutes at the beginning of a shift can save you much time later.

Think through frequently performed procedures and write down reminders of things like turning off the suction to listen to bowel sounds. Make yourself a pocket-sized notebook to look up these "booby trap" items that can make or break the outcome.

Before you do anything, take a couple of cleansing breaths and tell yourself that you can achieve your goal--safe and effective patient care. Think your way through the procedure as you gather your equipment.

Every time you come up with a question or stumble on a problem, write it into your notebookl. Then, when you have a few moments, look up the information you need.

Be open to teaching and reasonable correction, but don't be too quick to fall on your sword. There are some who become energized in a negative way at any sign of weakness. Remain confident in yourself as a kind and decent person even as you receive criticism. Do NOT walk around projecting an aura of fear and trepidation. All that does is peg you as the weakest link and make you a target for more negativity.

When you have a good day, perform a procedure well, or receive any kind of compliment, write these things in your notebook, too. Building your confidence is just as important as building your skills. Either one without the other shortchanges your patient. And yourself.

If you are a spiritual person, pray for wisdom, protection, and freedom from unhealthy fear each day as you enter your workplace. And pray in gratitude as you end your shift for all the good things that took place.

Rather than picturing a trap-door ready to open beneath you, imagine each successful task as a board being placed over the trap-door or a nail that will help to keep it shut.

Don't cave in on yourself and make termination easy for the higher-ups. Instead of grovelling and presenting a pathetic figure, come up with your own action plan. After you present it (with a sense of hope and determination), ask if there's anything else they can suggest.

Check in from time to time and let your manager know about areas where you have improved.

Rather than passively waiting for the axe to fall or scrambling around in a panic, be calm, dynamic and active in claiming YOUR job. If someone comes at you with unreasonable criticism or unrealistic expectations, don't freak and go into defensive mode. Quietly tell them you will consider what they have said. If you have to rage or cry, wait till you are safely out of reach before you let loose.

Project an image of slowly building strength and wisdom. Reject attacks on your person or your character.

Even if you end up leaving this job, it will be standing tall, not crawling away with mortal wounds.

You can do this.

NCnurse2B · Jun 29, 2007

RN/WRITER that was an awesome reply, very inspirational!! I completely agree:)

romantic, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2010

Whether you start studying your hindquarters off or put the bulk of your energy into finding a different job, the one thing you need most right now is a way to find freedom from fear.
If you go into your job consumed with worry about making mistakes and paranoid that each move might be your last, you can't help but be preoccupied, and that only makes you more vulnerable. You can't just quit being afraid, but you can work to re-direct that energy into something more productive.
Spend some time organizing your approach. This might involve coming up with a more detailed cheat sheet that has room for labs and other info you have to look up. Taking five extra minutes at the beginning of a shift can save you much time later.
Think through frequently performed procedures and write down reminders of things like turning off the suction to listen to bowel sounds. Make yourself a pocket-sized notebook to look up these "booby trap" items that can make or break the outcome.
Before you do anything, take a couple of cleansing breaths and tell yourself that you can achieve your goal--safe and effective patient care. Think your way through the procedure as you gather your equipment.
Every time you come up with a question or stumble on a problem, write it into your notebookl. Then, when you have a few moments, look up the information you need.
Be open to teaching and reasonable correction, but don't be too quick to fall on your sword. There are some who become energized in a negative way at any sign of weakness. Remain confident in yourself as a kind and decent person even as you receive criticism. Do NOT walk around projecting an aura of fear and trepidation. All that does is peg you as the weakest link and make you a target for more negativity.
When you have a good day, perform a procedure well, or receive any kind of compliment, write these things in your notebook, too. Building your confidence is just as important as building your skills. Either one without the other shortchanges your patient. And yourself.
If you are a spiritual person, pray for wisdom, protection, and freedom from unhealthy fear each day as you enter your workplace. And pray in gratitude as you end your shift for all the good things that took place.
Rather than picturing a trap-door ready to open beneath you, imagine each successful task as a board being placed over the trap-door or a nail that will help to keep it shut.
Don't cave in on yourself and make termination easy for the higher-ups. Instead of grovelling and presenting a pathetic figure, come up with your own action plan. After you present it (with a sense of hope and determination), ask if there's anything else they can suggest.
Check in from time to time and let your manager know about areas where you have improved.
Rather than passively waiting for the axe to fall or scrambling around in a panic, be calm, dynamic and active in claiming YOUR job. If someone comes at you with unreasonable criticism or unrealistic expectations, don't freak and go into defensive mode. Quietly tell them you will consider what they have said. If you have to rage or cry, wait till you are safely out of reach before you let loose.
Project an image of slowly building strength and wisdom. Reject attacks on your person or your character.
Even if you end up leaving this job, it will be standing tall, not crawling away with mortal wounds.
You can do this.

It is truly words of wisdom. Many, many thanks to you, RN/Writer!