Are they trying to get rid of me? Will I make it as nurse?

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I posted several weeks ago. I am a new LNA and managed to get a job on a critical care floor working nights. I was called, interviewed and hired despite having no experience. When I went in to start work my Nurse Educator expected that I would be available days to orientate; I was not and had made HR aware of this. Apparently, the message never got through. So I orientated 3rd shift-my normal shift.

Well the floor has been very quiet and the Nurse Educator is concerned that I will not be able to cope when it gets super busy. I caved and agreed to orientate some days this week so that (in her words) I could do things like a "bed bath". I am kind of surprised as I do not expect to be doing too many bed baths between 11pm and 7am, but I digress.

At first the complaint was that I did vitals too slowly. I managed to speed those up.Then I was speaking in too soft a voice for the patients (Sorry but I do not believe in yelling unless someone is hard of hearing) I have done everything asked of me with a smile on my face but I have to admit that I am getting irritated. Either these folks want me or they don't want me. I want to be a nurse and am now feeling like a loser....I mean, if I can't cut it as an LNA then can I make it as a nurse?

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Kind of sounds to me like someone is looking for ways to get rid of you. Apparently you are getting the same gut feeling. Just keep your guard up and attempt to enlist the aid of the supervisors. If they put in a good word for the quality of the work you are doing, you should be able to surmount whatever is being said to criticize you. I think you were sent to day shift for orientation for the express purpose of dealing with you for possible elimination. You could not be hounded and watched over with a magnifying glass on the night shift. They probably do that with everyone, so that they can control the employees who go to night shift. Just my opinion.

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Welcome to the tough world of nursing! Just hang in there and do your best. It takes a while to get comfortable but you'll get there. Whether they like you or not is another issue. But just watch your back, be careful with your words, and again, do your best!

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Specializes in Thinking about ER Nurse.

You and me are in the same situation right now. My coworkers are trying to get rid of me, so, they can pull their buddy in. what I hate the most is those who like to kiss ass at my work place who blamed everything on me. this people have no skills for this kind of work, but they're cheap, maybe that is part of reason why they been hired. No certification, lazy, no skills, ask too many questions during work...

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do not let these people make you feel like a loser!! in nursing, it is a dog eat dog, career at times. sounds like your kindness is your weakness. get alittle backbone about you, and show these folks that you can and will make it! the longer you work around nursing, you will see various attitudes.

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Yeah it is tough out there in the real world for new grads...I started a thread recently titled "I got fired" in which I described my recent traumatic experience that took place during my orientation period and as a result I was asked to leave...I started my new grad orientation with an fresh enthusiasm that was soon crushed by less than ideal preceptor who apparently didnt wanted me to succeed...I learned that a lot of people are envious of new grads..my preceptor made a comment once that I was very lucky to get a job in such a prestigious hospital with having only associate degree (she graduated with BSN) I also felt she was jealous of my looks (I'm quite attractive)..She used to talk behind my back all the time...Remeber there are a lot of burned out,bored,envious people in nursing field who are waiting for a chance to humiliate you..My preceptor started to complain about little things,I received two complains (that I didnt know how to do a flu shot and I couldnt hear BP on a patient once) She told my manager that she is not sure if I can handle a critical pt well and that I have trouble prioritizing my care..from that point everything went down hill...as a result of her complaining I lost my job.I felt my fate was sealed due to my unwelcoming preceptor,trust me the preceptor can make you or break you.

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Specializes in med-surg.

Some encouragement hopefully. I started out as a CNA while waiting to take my NCLEX exam, and I was quite slow at the beginning. It took me forever to take vitals and get things done. After some experience though, I was able to pick things up much quicker and in a more timely fashion. Now, I'm a nurse, have been one for almost 2 years. I made it and you can to! So take a deep breath, remind yourself that you do have what it takes, and keep going!

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

I don't know that they are trying to get rid of you. I remember my very first job after finishing CNA school. It was at a major teaching hospital on nights on a 47-bed Neuro stepdown unit and I had NO experience other than my week of CNA clinicals. Needless to say, I was sloooooow. Everyone ****** and moaned about the slow new girl. I just stood and stared for a good 10 minutes at my first 'code brown' because I wasn't sure what to do and I mistakenly believed the nurse had gone to get me supplies :lol2: These people picked apart everything I did. It was extremely intimidating, but I stuck with it, got faster, and learned a TON.

And don't fool yourself into thinking you're not going to be giving a lot of bed baths on nights, especially on a critical care floor. On those types of units, messy things happen any time of day or night and you need to be fast when it comes to cleaning up patients.

Good luck :yeah:

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"I also felt she was jealous of my looks (I'm quite attractive)"

:lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2: :lol2::lol2: :lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:

Your looks have nothing to do with your attractiveness at this point..............

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Well the floor has been very quiet and the Nurse Educator is concerned that I will not be able to cope when it gets super busy. I caved and agreed to orientate some days this week so that (in her words) I could do things like a "bed bath". I am kind of surprised as I do not expect to be doing too many bed baths between 11pm and 7am, but I digress.

I'm going to agree with your educator and say that this is a legitimate concern.

There are no guarantees that 3rd shift will always be "quiet". As a former noc shifter, I know for a fact that people do NOT always sleep all night.

As a member of the Team, they may need you to cover a 1st or 2nd shift at some point in time, and you need to be able to cut the mustard.

I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that they are trying to get rid of you, but rather, I would presume that they are trying to provide you with opportunities to make yourself an asset to the team.

How you choose to respond to this reflects upon your work ethic.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Home Health, LTC.
"I also felt she was jealous of my looks (I'm quite attractive)"

:lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2: :lol2::lol2: :lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:

Your looks have nothing to do with your attractiveness at this point..............

Actually your looks can have something to do with it! Not in reality, but working around nurses that are

functioning at this level emotionally..it can make a difference. I had this experience when I was new and they were

experienced and umm not very good looking ( by their choice) . So just keep being cute :nurse:and working hard and

know that you will learn and make it.

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This is a little off the nursing topic. When I was a waitress I had a harda** manager. It was my first gig and he was HARD on me. He nit picked on every little thing. "Your moving too slow","your tables are dirty", keep the floor swept". etc. One day on a really busy day he told me I was the worst waitress ever. But I took every thing he told me and never took it personal, but made myself better. :smokin:

Sometimes it's the people that are the hardest on us that help us learn the most. It doesn't mean your a failure, but you need to get better. What I love about nursing is that you learn something every single day. Everyone is not always going to be nice, but take it as contructive criticism and know that it may make you a better nurse.

Now when I see my old manager I laugh about those days, but he made me into a hard worker who notices everything. Good luck to you.:redbeathe

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