Failed Orientation

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jan 20

Make the best out of this new unit. Get your year of experience, and move on to another ED.

JKL33 · Jan 20

Sapa22 said:

Should I leave this job off my resume? And if I choose to leave it off, will the jobs I apply to be able to figure out that I am not a new grad with zero RN experience?

Yes. Your resume and what you choose to include and highlight is your business, it's your personal marketing document. Your application is another matter and will ask about your employment history; most often these have some sort of statement where you attest that you are being complete and truthful.

delrionurse · Jan 22

Sapa22 said:

Hi all, I was hired as a new grad in an ED about 5 months ago. I was recently removed from the ED for being unsuccessful in my orientation (which I do not agree with and also believe my inadequate orientation played a part). I am still an "active" employee at the hospital, as they transferred me to work on a different unit this week. I hate the new unit I'm on, I miss everything about the ED. This unit is really making me miserable and making me feel like I hate nursing now. That being said, I would like to apply to other EDs and feel as though my ER stint will hinder my chances of being hired (I actually applied to another ER job, and told them my previous ER job wasn't a fit for me, and I still ended up not getting the job). This job is hiring again and whenever I apply, I get the "didn't get the job" email within a few hours (this ER hired tons of brand new nurses too, so I don't think experience is the reason). Should I leave this job off my resume? And if I choose to leave it off, will the jobs I apply to be able to figure out that I am not a new grad with zero RN experience?

Depends on where you live. Some areas are more forgiving than others. If you are still employed there, I would still look elsewhere while being employed and leave the ED experience. It's still some experience and it's still valuable.

student24 · Jan 24

Hi,

Add the experience but DO NOT put the ER, add the ward that you transferred too and if you get a ER gig, just go there fulltime and keep the ward you transferred to as PRN. You have to realize in nrsng, you fend for your self, 5 months orientation is too long, whatever you learned in that 1st ER job, tag on to it for next ER job but in the meantime sounds like you need med surge to learn the basic, ER can be fast paced but with repetition, u get better. Take the criticism and be better from it, good luck in your journeys.

Sapa22 · Jan 24

student24 said:

Hi,

Add the experience but DO NOT put the ER, add the ward that you transferred too and if you get a ER gig, just go there fulltime and keep the ward you transferred to as PRN. You have to realize in nrsng, you fend for your self, 5 months orientation is too long, whatever you learned in that 1st ER job, tag on to it for next ER job but in the meantime sounds like you need med surge to learn the basic, ER can be fast paced but with repetition, u get better. Take the criticism and be better from it, good luck in your journeys.

To clarify, the standard orientation is 4 months, I was given 4.5 because of a shortage on experienced preceptors

Tomascz, ASN, RN · Jan 24

Sapa22 said:

"I was recently removed from the ED for being unsuccessful in my orientation"

I don't know what this means. I'm assuming your preceptor was not satisfied with your performance, apprised you of the facts (at least once previously, in writing) and then reported the situation to their supervisor who removed you to another position.

That's a preceptors job.

You got 5 months of good experience in ED nursing that you enjoyed. Bonus! Good for you. You didn't get un-hired so there are apparently no real hard feelings on the part of the company.

This is nursing. It often sucks and you probably won't work for this company forever anyway. Get used to it. Let your supervisor know you're glad to have a job and learn everything you can where you are now.
If you spend all your time concentrating on how you were screwed and looking for a way out you'll find one; probably one you won't be happy with either.

Get tough, go with the flow. Be someone your coworkers can depend on. It'll work out, honest.

Barriss Offee · Jan 24

Been there,done that said:

Make the best out of this new unit. Get your year of experience, and move on to another ED.

Agreed.

delrionurse · Jan 25

student24 said:

Add the experience but DO NOT put the ER,

If you live in a competitive state, I understand don't put the ER, but if she/he lives somewhere where staffing is scarce, then it would be OK to put the ER experience. The OP will get another job. In certain areas, they look the other way with small indiscretions such as why someone quit a job especially if there was horrific staffing and a terrible preceptor.

angelrn1 · Jan 27

Hello sorry this happened to you. I personally think a year of med surg is needed for a new grad prior to er position...it needs to be a seasoned nurse which only comes with experience. ER nurse for 27 yrs here..Maybe you didn't get the job cause you have only been out of school for 5 months. Sometimes telling the truth about past jobs that were terminated just burns the nurse. I would say I worked at this ER on the resume and wasnt a fit...Legally they are not to say why they terminated you just to say yes you worked there...don't hate nursing hang in there I personally have gone thru some of this stuff also.

angelrn1 · Jan 27

OF course they will find out you are a new grad when they look up your license says when you got it. Maybe they just feel like you are not er material just like I wouldnt be a good surgery nurse..Cruel to say but don't apply to that er job again I know you are hurt but move on to a job that appreciate you..do a year med surg and become a travel er nurse to get time under your belt

In some states it is called fraud to leave off jobs on your resume....put the jobs on.

nomad_2888 · Jan 27

I could only imagine the heartbreak you're facing right now. Keep in mind the ED is a specialized area, even experienced nurses spend months of training before hopping the bandwagon. I've noticed that hospitals are hiring new grads in these high acuity areas without regards to quality patient care. We wonder why the preceptors are drained, why the staff turnover rate is high, and why thousands of new nurses like yourself feel discouraged. I'm not sure if it's just a part of the hospital's rat experiment in hiring these new nurses in these areas to see their level of competence, or if the hospital just really doesn't take the patient in account. Your job is to monitor, to care for and advocate for the patient. The management's job is to advocate and care for you. This sounds like a management problem. Take care and best of luck to you!