Confussed and hurt

Nurses New Nurse

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I am a new grad who just accepted my first job. It was in intense (ICU) environment. I was told not to start off in the ICU as a new grad but I had been a PCA on a med/surg floor and was turned off by it. So I decided to take the job in the ICU. I was weeks into my orientation with very inconsistent preceptors and inconsistent reviews of my progress. I was told I was progressing well and every thing was fine then bam... out of left field I was told that I am being terminated for little mistakes such as scanning a med late, or sanitizing but not washing my hands every time I enter a new room! This is easily corrected and was not something I had consistently been doing. I can't even count the number of times I see nurses who have been in the profession for years make these human mistakes.Especially for a new grad who is still orienting! I could go on and on about this sketchy experience but it was very out of nowhere that all these 'issues' were brought to my attention. I had been told I was making great progress! Now I feel like I'm a horrible nurse and I'm scarred to try again elsewhere. Anyone have any advice or words of encouragement I really need it right now. :o

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

Oh That makes me SOOOO MAD!!! What the h*** are they thinking?? Obviously, you are not in a hospital with a Union. You would be protected against bull**** like that. There should be a verbal counseling session, then a verbal warning, then written warning, then possible termination....with extra training and orientation in between. It just doesn't make sense.

Actually this might be a huge blessing in disguise!! I can't imagine pursuing my career in that kind of an environment. There must be something else going on...probably some political undercurrents that you are unaware of.

I am sooo sorry this is happening to you. I would not let it get you down because it soooo unbelievably idiotic. You know, I had 6 different Nursing Jobs in the first 2 years I was a nurse, I just kept looking for my niche. You should have no difficulty getting your next job. I always believe honesty is the best policy.

Hang in there...don't let this defeat you...see it as a blessing in disguise and look for a better place.... good luck to you!

:icon_hug:

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

I'm shocked to read that! When an orient struggles, we sit down, redifine new goals, either add classes, change preceptors, change assignment types or lenghten orientation....

I don't know what to say. That environment would never support you, and I don't know how many options you have for facilities but surely there is one near you that for your first two years that is used to growing new nurses. It's easy for me to say this but you really are better off, their lack of knowing how to train you does not mean you're untrainable:angryfire Don't give up, give future facilities the interview and ask THEM questions about orientation. good luck

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Specializes in tele, ICU.

that's a horrible first experience in orientation... but please know, it's THEM, not you, and no one deserves to be treated that way. i wouldn't want to stick around an environment that isn't supportive. if that's how they treat you in orientation, imagine how much worse it could get once you're on your own.

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Specializes in Peds ED, Peds Stem Cell Transplant, Peds.
Oh That makes me SOOOO MAD!!! What the h*** are they thinking?? Obviously, you are not in a hospital with a Union. You would be protected against bull**** like that. There should be a verbal counseling session, then a verbal warning, then written warning, then possible termination....with extra training and orientation in between. It just doesn't make sense.

Actually this might be a huge blessing in disguise!! I can't imagine pursuing my career in that kind of an environment. There must be something else going on...probably some political undercurrents that you are unaware of.

I am sooo sorry this is happening to you. I would not let it get you down because it soooo unbelievably idiotic. You know, I had 6 different nursing jobs in the first 2 years I was a nurse, I just kept looking for my niche. You should have no difficulty getting your next job. I always believe honesty is the best policy.

Hang in there...don't let this defeat you...see it as a blessing in disguise and look for a better place.... good luck to you!

:icon_hug:

That is a big fat lie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I worked at a UNION hospital had pretty much the same thing happened to me in the PICU. The problem was there was a new contract fight and well, they fired everyone they could to get the Union to agree to sign to scare them. I was told to come back in a year and they would rehire me, I came back 2 years later and was told I could not ever be rehired there because I didn't finish orientation.

Unions don't save jobs, they take money out of peoples pocket like mine and don't offer a bit of protection. Sorry that is how I feel and what I have experienced myself and with my father

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Actually the method for termination is the same in a non-union environment (verbal warning, documented warning with written goals, 2nd documented, possible termination) but during the first 90 days (Introductory period) employers or employees can terminate employment for any reason and with little or no warning. (We have had new nurses quit without warning, which is so unprofessional and not fair to the rest of the team :madface:.)

I hope that you learn from this, as there had to be writing on the wall, for both parties. Some units or managers are NOT supportive, so you can ask in your next interview about how they handle situations like yours. But be honest with yourself, and ask what your role was (sorry, I have a counseling background ;)). Was the ICU a good fit for you?

Who is on your support team? Instructors who can reinforce your strengths? Fellow students who can share their similar stories?

Finally - some units still "eat their young". It sounds like this was not a supportive and encouraging environment. Frankly, I see how new nurses can get squeezed out of a unit where the "top dogs" don't like someone. It may be that simple.

Keep your chin up and best of luck!! We chose a tough profession, but there IS a comfortable learning environment for you!

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