Fired from my first RN job after only 2 weeks.

[Mountainrnbsn]

I am a new grad who graduated this summer with my BSN. I was let go from my first nursing job only after 2 weeks. I graduated with honors and had my capstone in a busy Emergency Department. I started my first nursing job on a busy orthopedic floor at a trauma 1 center. It wasn't what I was passionate about but wanted to give it my all. My real passion is ED, but I knew that I needed to get ICU experience before I get to the ED. The orthopedic floor would help me get my foot in the door for a trauma 1 ICU. I was hired along with 5 other new grads. Are orientation was only 5 weeks long but the director told us that if we needed longer that it would be okay. All other new grad started out with taking care of one patient at a time while my preceptor gave me 5 my first day. I found it difficult to find a routine and I was penalized for even asking questions or not knowing the answer to question. One of nurses on the floor noticed that I was being criticized more than the other new grads and that I should request another preceptor. Director told me it wasn't possible and the next thing I know the education department is following me around. They suggested that I spend another week on days, (I was hired on nights) and that I go down to two patients. I agreed, thinking it well help me develop a routine so I can provide safe care for my patients. The whole orthopedic unit moved from 20 bed unit to a 40 bed unit and nurses were taking on 8 patients at a time. They pulled me into the office last week and gave me some recommendation which I truly took to heart and made myself a whole new brain sheet and even came in an hour early to prep for the day with permission from the director. Yesterday they pulled me into the office and said that I have two choices, either I was going to be terminated or I could send her my letter of my resignation. The director told me that didn't have time to teach new grads how to real nurses and that I would never make it any hospital. She said I would be better off in longterm care where there is less critical thinking. She said I shouldn't bother applying to new grad programs because I would fail at those too. I don't feel like 5 weeks of orientation is enough to provide safe care for patients especially for new grads. I don't want to believe her but I feel like a failure and wasted my time becoming a nurse. I really am passionate about being in the ED nurse one day. I was an EMT/firefighter for 6 years before I went to nursing school. I'm not sure where I should go from here. I also moved to the city for this job. Any advice would be appreciated.

[HalfBoiled, BSN, RN]

At least you can say "I have 2 weeks RN experience" on your resume. Take what learned from your orientation.

WHEN you get another interview and they ask about the 2 weeks from prior hospital, mention positives from that job and you were let go for "differences of opinion."

[Ben_Dover]

You hear now and then that the nurses who made the best grades in school don't make the best nurses. In some cases, it's true, but I don't really see a correlation.

There has to be a correlation, there are lots of great, bright, and studious people in nursing school but most are not well-equipped to handle the first few months of being an actual licensed nurse and only a selected few will easily excell and acclimate instantly to the stressful environment but most will not.

That's why I wonder why the op needed to mention she graduated with "honors". I thought that it was irrelevant. The issue here is the amount of orientation that the op has had.

Two weeks of orientation on a busy floor, supposedly, is not enough and most have already established that here.

Again, I just really think that the OP should just accept that this happened and be glad she's no longer with that company.

Also, I do agree with some posters here, no need to add this on her resume, unless she's seeking a job with the federal governerment as they can check everything about you including your credit score.

[mariahlily]

Only two weeks orientation? For someone brand new to nursing?

Sorry but that's just nuts.

[Generativity]

Thank you! I learned the hard way.

[Ben_Dover]

Thank you! I learned the hard way.

Are you the op?!

[Irish_Mist, BSN, RN]

I only had 2 weeks of training as a new grad. I think new grads are spoiled nowadays with such legnthy orientations and want their hand held and caudling the entire time. I know I sound mean, but I repeatedly see new grads like you, where your not prepared by the end of orientation, need to extend orientation etc. etc. Nursing is hard, especially acute care, some people just don't cut it. Some new grads don't ever catch on and are so slow about eveything, not just slow with tasks, but slow comprehending and prioririzing and want to take the long methodical way to do everything-ot look like a deer in the head lights when you explain the simplest things. That's great if you have 1 patient, but it will never work on a busy unit. You're not a nursing student anymore!!

And I don't believe you had 5 patients on your first day! Maybe the nurse had you take report on them and you helped, but no way she had you do all the assessments, med administration and care under her license without at least seeing you do an assessment first.

Your comment is absolutely ridiculous and mean spirited. To say something like this to someone who is clearly distressed after being set up for failure from the get go and then being told she will always fail as a nurse speaks volumes of you.

The average new grad is not equipped to practice as a new nurse right after graduating from nursing school. For this reason, hospitals utilize nurse residencies. Said residencies usually last 3-ish months. TWO weeks is not enough for a brand new nurse to practice independently or more important, SAFELY. I highly doubt YOU were the super nurse you think you were after two weeks of orientation.

To the OP,

Please disregard comments like this. This job did not work out. That does not mean you cannot be a successful nurse. You just need to be in the right environment to flourish. Keep applying for jobs and be honest. It's okay to say it wasn't a good fit but don't bad mouth your prior employer, your manager or your preceptor. Focus on what you can do to improve and highlight your accomplishments and what you've learned from the situation. Best of luck to you!!!!

[Daisy Joyce]

It was stupid and cruel for your manager to tell you you'd never make it in a hospital (and nice little sideswipe at LTC while she's at it!)

I wonder what's wrong with a person who takes a vulnerable human being and kicks them while they're down.

That's the type of remark that can cause lasting damage by planting the seeds of self-doubt.

Rant over

You've probably learned a lot at this job, take your knowledge and your budding experience and go elsewhere, and don't listen to anybody who tears you down.

[Roy Hanson]

well, dearest, after the comments you wrote of what the higher ups commented. you need to start small and gain experinece. YOur a rookie! No poor pity..you earn your stripes. You may have graduated with honours, but so what! Your green. Big city hospitals are for the big girls & boys, not a rookie.

[klone, MSN, RN]

She actually said they operate under preceptor's license. Yeah, as I already said, she wanted preceptors to understand that orientees weren't simply there to pick up the slack, while the preceptor lounged.

Yes, my preceptor actually would put her head down on the desk (I work night shift) and attempt to sleep while I did all the work.

I suggest that if folks have questions regarding this issue, they check with their individual state BON. Perhaps that is the best solution to this vexing question.

Why do you think my preceptor always wrote a patient stating that I was providing care, but under HER supervision?

They do not operate under a preceptor's license. If they're licensed, they operate under their OWN license. However, any time an RN delegates a task to someone else, they are responsible for making sure the task was done fully, correctly, and safely. So if a new RN screws up, the preceptor could be found liable by the BON for inappropriate delegation. But the actual screw-up would be on the new RN, not the preceptor.

[klone, MSN, RN]

According to my NM (you cut out the rest of my comment), they are. You should probably check with your facility.

It's not facility dependent. It would be dependent upon the state BON. I know of no states that allow for a licensed RN to work under another RN's license. Your nurse manager is wrong, if that's what she said.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Yes, an orientee has their own license. But during orientation, the orientee is operating under the license of the preceptor.

My NM made this very clear just few weeks ago, when she sent out an e-mail discussing the importance of preceptors really teaching their orientees, and not just letting the orientee pick up the slack and do all the work.

According to my NM (you cut out the rest of my comment), they are. You should probably check with your facility.

Your nurse manager is incorrect. The only person who is working under a license is the person whose name is on the license. Students do not operate under the license of their instructor. Orientees do not operate under the license of their preceptor. It's a misunderstanding or a scare tactic. Just because your nurse manager said it doesn't make it true- because it isn't.

She actually said they operate under preceptor's license. Yeah, as I already said, she wanted preceptors to understand that orientees weren't simply there to pick up the slack, while the preceptor lounged.

Yes, my preceptor actually would put her head down on the desk (I work night shift) and attempt to sleep while I did all the work.

I suggest that if folks have questions regarding this issue, they check with their individual state BON. Perhaps that is the best solution to this vexing question.

Why do you think my preceptor always wrote a patient stating that I was providing care, but under HER supervision?

The preceptor shouldn't be lounging, but that's more an issue for the employer to deal with. If you've got proof that an orientee operates under the license of the preceptor (again, they don't- because they have their very own license to work under), please share it. I won't hold my breath waiting.

The only issue I can see arising is if the preceptor knowingly allows the orientee to do something that he or she is not properly prepared to do. It is exactly the same set up for nursing instructors. I would consider the NCSBN a reliable source. Read myth 3. https://ncsbn.org/Ch_12001.pdf Yes, it's about nursing students, but the line "the fact is that the only person who works on a nurse's license is the person named on the license" is 100% applicable.

Again, please cite your source if you have proof that an orientee works under the preceptor's license. The word of your nurse manager is not proof.

[wanna_be]

Ugh, I'm sorry this happened to you. I've been nurse for 1.5 years now and still fear getting fired pretty much all the time (my supervisor was recently cut along with a lot of other staff, so it hits close to home). I wasn't there, so who knows what happened, but I will say that you come across as fairly level-headed considering the circumstances. You will bounce back. Getting fired after two weeks as a new nurse has the silver lining of still being able to say you're a new nurse. Being let go, as I've learned, often has a lot to do with the politics of the organization--sometimes moreso than your individual work ethic. That said, one thing to learn (and perhaps you have) is to remain humble and admit your mistakes is one of the best traits you can have as a nurse, because we ALL make mistakes, all the time...but the difference is how you handle it :) I don't know if that applies to your situation or not, but take what you will. As you look for a new job, consider deeply what mistakes you may have made at your last job and learn from them. Best of luck!