I still hate to utter the words, even five months later...I was fired from my first job after only eight weeks. I just applied to a different department, and somehow my application snuck by HR. I had an interview today, and explained the situation to the manager of this unit. At the end, he said that he would contact HR to find out if I was eligible for rehire, and I said that I would also look into it. I spoke with someone in HR who apologized for allowing my application to slip through, but I in fact was not eligible for rehire. She said that the only time that she had seen that decision overturned was when the request came down from the CEO. "If you know some big whigs, you might have a shot".
Is this how it works? You get fired from the only hospital in your town, and that's it??? I would like to fight to change this status, but I don't know where to begin. HR isn't going to help, and I doubt the manager who stuck by his decision to fire me will either. I am in an "at will" state, so I am fully aware that we can be fired without reason at any time, but if hospital policy wasn't followed in the process, or a preceptor blatantly lied about some of the complaints she made against me, who would be the best person to turn to? Any feedback, advice, criticism, backlash, pity partying, or slap in the face is welcome! I still feel that this organization is where I am supposed to be, and it makes the most sense for me right now. I have had several months to reflect on the situation, and have made some life changes. I have always been willing to take full accountability for my actions.
" I still feel that this organization is where I am supposed to be, and it makes the most sense for me right now."
I don't know why you "feel" as you do about this facility, but I think it's time for a reality check. As has been said, unless you have some strings to pull, I think your future is elsewhere. Probably better for you to be more realistic about that and begin to look at "elsewhere."
I have been looking elsewhere for five months...no luck yet
Hahah absolutely I can tell you why I was "really fired"...But why is everyone here a "liar"??? I was joking about the pity party part, really, just wondering who has authority here...
I was late twice in four weeks. 8 minutes once, and 17 minutes and I called. We had some stuff going on, spoke with my manager, he suggested I switch to 12s, the shift I was hired for, and I agreed. A few weeks after switching, an assistant manager called me into her office at the end of a shift and handed me a final warning stating I was late three times, 4-8-17 minutes. All occurances happened before I switched shifts. There was a corrective action plan stating that I would be on time for every scheduled shift. I had the next few days off and tried to call and email my manager to discuss it. I had tried to set up a time to meet with him prior about some concerns I had with the preceptor. I worked my next three shifts, couldn't find my manager, but got a call from him the next day. He asked what I wanted to discuss, I asked if I could come off orientation as I felt that I was competent and confident enough to do so, he stated that "you're definitely competent enough, your competency has never been an issue". He then stated "the problem is, you can't get here on time. I can see where you punched in on time your last three shifts, but can't for the life of me understand why you have been 20-30 minutes late and missed report". My preceptor told him this, that I must be punching in at 0300 and taking off for a while. I suggested she was mistaken, and asked if we could talk to the two nurses I had gotten report from, he didn't think it was necessary and asked that I meet him at HR the next day where I was fired for not meeting the terms of the agreement "per preceptor". When I tried to defend myself, I was told that this isn't a conspiracy. When I asked for a copy of the hospital's attendance policy, he told me that he had followed it. I refused to sign the papers, and the HR rep told me to take a while to reflect, and get settled into a new place, and reapply for a different position.
I'm a new nurse, but a seasoned vet of the game of "life". I'm not sure why this young lady who was my preceptor, and a terrible one at that, could not have possibly acted like a catty little teenager who just didn't like me and decided to put my faith into her hands. This isn't some big glamorous job, it's a community hospital that has never achieved Magnet status and has always had a somewhat lousy reputation. However, they have brought in a lot of new managers, invested time and money into upgrades, and into striving to be better. This is where I live, and I wanted to serve my community. I have a sick first grader, and want to be close if he has an emergency.
The hospital attendance policy states that anything over five minutes is considered a tardy, and that four in three months warrants review, and possibly a conversation with the employee regarding the situation. I had two. IF it continues, a formal verbal warning may be given, followed by a first and second written warning, final warning (but only after review by the director of the department, vice president of the division, and HR director. This attendance policy is used from the start of employment, even within the 90 day probationary period. A different corrective action policy is used for competancy and other issues. I was given a final warning first, and fired after three more shifts. I was on time for each one.
I should never have been late in the first place, should not have handed them any ammunition, kept my head down and my mouth shut even when my incompetent preceptor was acting unprofessionally, and later downright being a bully...live and learn I guess.
Clocking in late 2 times during orientation is a deal breaker. NO excuses allowed. Your discussion with the manager and your preceptors input are a moot point. Management now knows that you cannot show up on time. They will find someone that can.
Not making it off of probation for attendance issues is kind of a big deal, in my opinion. I also probably wouldn't have been to bold to announce that you were ready to fly solo and come off of orientation early, but again, just my opinion.
You say this hospital is nothing special, proximity seems to be your big reason for wanting to work there. I would need more than that! I think it's time to cut bait and fish elsewhere
Hahah absolutely I can tell you why I was "really fired"...But why is everyone here a "liar"??? I was joking about the pity party part, really, just wondering who has authority here...
I was late twice in four weeks. 8 minutes once, and 17 minutes and I called. We had some stuff going on, spoke with my manager, he suggested I switch to 12s, the shift I was hired for, and I agreed. A few weeks after switching, an assistant manager called me into her office at the end of a shift and handed me a final warning stating I was late three times, 4-8-17 minutes. All occurances happened before I switched shifts. There was a corrective action plan stating that I would be on time for every scheduled shift. I had the next few days off and tried to call and email my manager to discuss it. I had tried to set up a time to meet with him prior about some concerns I had with the preceptor. I worked my next three shifts, couldn't find my manager, but got a call from him the next day. He asked what I wanted to discuss, I asked if I could come off orientation as I felt that I was competent and confident enough to do so, he stated that "you're definitely competent enough, your competency has never been an issue". He then stated "the problem is, you can't get here on time. I can see where you punched in on time your last three shifts, but can't for the life of me understand why you have been 20-30 minutes late and missed report". My preceptor told him this, that I must be punching in at 0300 and taking off for a while. I suggested she was mistaken, and asked if we could talk to the two nurses I had gotten report from, he didn't think it was necessary and asked that I meet him at HR the next day where I was fired for not meeting the terms of the agreement "per preceptor". When I tried to defend myself, I was told that this isn't a conspiracy. When I asked for a copy of the hospital's attendance policy, he told me that he had followed it. I refused to sign the papers, and the HR rep told me to take a while to reflect, and get settled into a new place, and reapply for a different position.
I'm a new nurse, but a seasoned vet of the game of "life". I'm not sure why this young lady who was my preceptor, and a terrible one at that, could not have possibly acted like a catty little teenager who just didn't like me and decided to put my faith into her hands. This isn't some big glamorous job, it's a community hospital that has never achieved Magnet status and has always had a somewhat lousy reputation. However, they have brought in a lot of new managers, invested time and money into upgrades, and into striving to be better. This is where I live, and I wanted to serve my community. I have a sick first grader, and want to be close if he has an emergency.
The hospital attendance policy states that anything over five minutes is considered a tardy, and that four in three months warrants review, and possibly a conversation with the employee regarding the situation. I had two. IF it continues, a formal verbal warning may be given, followed by a first and second written warning, final warning (but only after review by the director of the department, vice president of the division, and HR director. This attendance policy is used from the start of employment, even within the 90 day probationary period. A different corrective action policy is used for competancy and other issues. I was given a final warning first, and fired after three more shifts. I was on time for each one.
I should never have been late in the first place, should not have handed them any ammunition, kept my head down and my mouth shut even when my incompetent preceptor was acting unprofessionally, and later downright being a bully...live and learn I guess.
"Little" things are very big things when you're on orientation. Most of us are on our absolute best behavior when we start a new job, so when someone's shows up late three times while still training, it's a huge red flag.
Hospital attendance policy wouldn't actually apply here -- the point of orientation to new positions in healthcare is that it is a "trial period" for both parties; either the employer or the employee can terminate the relationship for any reason, or no reason at any point in the orientation. Once you were off orientation/probation, you would have more protection under the hospital's policies, but, during orientation/probation, you're just there on their sufferance, and if they get a bad feeling about you, that is enough for them to cut their losses and move on to someone else. Unfortunately, it sounds like that's what happened here.
I agree with the suggestion by previous posters that you give up on this and move on. For future, be aware that it is vital that you be on your "best behavior" during orientation. People who have gotten past orientation/probation and become permanent employees have more flexibility and leeway, but you are "under a microscope" during orientation. It is a "trial period" for the employer to decide whether they want to keep you as much as it is orientation to the position.
The ship has sailed for appealing the discipline and termination. Sorry... it's a hard lesson to learn, but like another poster mentioned, I got the vibe that you really didn't think much of the job, your manager, your preceptor. Maybe it's just the disappointment coming through in your tone now, but maybe they picked up on that vibe too during orientation?
Agree with previous posters on this one, a poor attendance performance during orientation/probation period is grounds for termination. I am sorry that this happened to you, but I do hope you learn from this experience and learn to take a little more effort in attending future jobs on time. 17 minutes late is a huge deal when you're a nurse. I have been on my unit for one year now and never have I or anyone I work with been late. For your to be late three times in 8 short weeks is not good.
Again, I truly hope you learn from this. Best of luck on your next position.
Most places I have worked have had different attendance policies for orientation than for established employees. It was pretty much, "Screw up once and you're out."
I think you are lucky you made it to three tardies.
There's nothing you can do except learn from this situation.
The lesson? Be punctual.
Definitely don't reveal your inability to show up on time until after your probation period is up. If you were late three times on orientation, that doesn't bode well for your reliability as an employee. At all. They probably decided to cut their losses while they were ahead.
Clocking in late 2 times during orientation is a deal breaker. NO excuses allowed. Your discussion with the manager and your preceptors input are a moot point. Management now knows that you cannot show up on time. They will find someone that can.
HR confirmed that the hospital's attendance policy is in effect from day one, the 90 day probationary period is different, though attendance may be considered, there's a different corrective action plan for non-attendance issues. I was late twice, made a plan with my manager, and resolved the issue when we changed my schedule.
run.for.the.roses
32 Posts
I have been looking elsewhere for five months...no luck yet