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.

[NeoNatMom]

I got a interview already for a pediatric home care agency. It one patient per day and they are 10 minutes from my home. I have always loved pediatrics and emergency, I know one day I will combine the two but i am very happy now to be out of there.

They also are going to pay me more, no holiday work and I make my own schedule and own hours.

Things are looking up because I can't stay in bed and eat bon-bons all day and feel sorry for myself. Life goes on whether we like it or not. I'm choosing to make the best out of a bad situation and I will be the best nurse I know I can be.

Thank you to everyone for the advice, really do appreciate it.

This really resonated with me because I have been dismissed from my nursing program last Fall. It has made it very difficult to find a program that would accept me, but now I have. Things do get better. I wish you the best!

NNM

[RNHART]

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.

Please don't be so harsh to our young! There are nurses who eat the young we all know this is fact.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

That sets off the biggest red flag, for me, as those types of conversations are rarely one-way. Someone who blabs to you about your preceptor will blab to your preceptor about you. When you move on to the next place, remember that you love your job and everyone you work with is exceptionally wonderful. Never speak a word otherwise.

Yep, this struck me as problematic too. Classic pot stirrer move. If an established unit nurse thought there was a problem with a new grad's orientation, the appropriate thing to do would be to privately talk to the unit manager.

[PANYNP]

Totally different worlds. Apples and oranges.

In fact, it might behoove OP to limit or eliminate entirely any discussion of her pre-hospital experience when applying for or starting a new position.

Speaking as a COB former nursing faculty member, my colleagues and I typically dreaded having pre-hospital personnel (EMTs, other first responders) as students, both clinically and in the classroom.

While we have unlimited respect for the work they do, it rarely is a seamless transition for a pre-hospital provider who enrolls in a nursing program. More than "not knowing what they don't know", there are different limits to professional autonomy.

OP ultimately will be successful as a nurse. It takes patience and finding the right ego-free fit.

[PANYNP]

My apples and oranges comment was intended as a response to Workinitnurfava who commented that an EMT should be able to transition to RN.

[whisperingsage]

I am an LVN and have worked mostly SNF, rehab, psych, jails, prisons and a little acute. I am lucky to have 10 years experience as. CNA and I value that highly. I think it has been very important for my success in organizing for high loads if patients. Be that as it may, I have to wonder at comments from folks coming from respectable facilities. Those doubting your story are lucky indeed.

I have worked a lot of per diem, registry positions because my husband is a Pastor and I need to have Sundays off because I work them.already for my husband's church. ( I run the music and organize). I have found since my graduation in 2004 that abuse of staff is routine in most places. I have 10 SNFs uner my belt and all of them put staff in unethical dilemmas. Ditto the jails, prisons and psych facility ( for teens). The few acute hospitals i have worked​ were mostly a break from this. Examples, staffing is always an issue. They love to leave facilities understaffed. A close second is preouring meds for other staff. Because of the timing of the shifts and the understaffing, the psych facility and the jail routinely required prepacking patient meds and the oncoming nurse had to visually check them and hope the brand changes were still recognizable and you knew them by heart. ( Not even possible for a new grad). In addition, the jail required the prepacked meds to be stored in an unmanned unlocked cart , outside the suicide rooms. Don't tell me the inmates didn't notice this. I don't know ow what the point of keeping them.uocked was, but I had to pressure the male DON.to give me a key to my own cart. I pushed safety. ( The nurse on the first cart held my key for reasons unknown to me. I was told to locky cart but pick the lock when.i wanted to get into it, which.of course was all day long). Also don't tell me inmates don't notice that. The DON finally gave me a key but I wasn't asked back after working there a month. That is just a tiny example. I have grown used to the lack of ethics in the whole medical industry. I thinking of going into teaching nursing. With my number of units no I can just take the CBEST test. Maybe I can teach some ethics.

[guest52816]

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.

Again, you cut out part of my quote. I also stated that folks SHOULD look to their BON!

Anyway, I have already given advice to the OP. The rest of this is simply a tangent that does what, exactly?

Best wishes to the OP.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Again, you cut out part of my quote. I also stated that folks SHOULD look to their BON!

Anyway, I have already given advice to the OP. The rest of this is simply a tangent that does what, exactly?

Best wishes to the OP.

It is to correct a pervasive misconception. Of which you have yet to cite a source for while I have provided a source that directly refuted what you state.

[gypsierose]

No advice, just an observation after reading the beginning of your post. A new nurse who graduated at the top of her class in a program near me years ago, also did not make it at her first job. It became a matter of discussion in the local nursing community. It could very well be that you were targeted because of your "top of the class" status. I would not highlight that fact on resumes or applications to future jobs to preclude that possible factor. Easier for you to do now that you have this experience on your record.

That is terribly sad. I'm also an "A" student who has been given the same advice. I've been told not to show I'm "too smart" when in clinical rotation. I never pretend to know anything about nursing that I don't know and admit to being all thumbs when learning new skills. I never question experienced nurses and come humbled and ready to learn, but I'm always sad to be told to play stupid. Its probably good advice but I don't have to like it.

[klone, MSN, RN]

No, you should not play stupid. But you should have humility, and come with a "ready to learn" attitude. Do more listening than talking. If you can remember those things, you'll be okay.

[Proverbs 16:3]

wow. acerbic but truthful

[Proverbs 16:3]

wow. acerbic but truthful

I swear they only hire supervisors and management people that are either sadistic or have no conscience. It wasn't enough to just fire you, the witch had to insult you and possible damage you emotionally. A normal, civil person would just tell you that you weren't a good fit. If this pig follows the norm, she will also go out of her way to dish you if future would be employers contact her. They get off on that, and rest assured, your future employers will go out of their way to contact her. So I would leave that facility off your resume completely. In the old days, I used to get hired on the spot, sometimes even over the phone. My attitude was put me on the floor, I will show you in no time what I can do. Now that there is an abundance of nurses, their attitudes border on downright abusive. These hospitals and nursing homes are feeling the pinch of an economy that is in a permanent state of contraction and will completely collapse in 10 years or less, so they have ways to harass and torture their seasoned veterans who once commanded a decent salary and hire in fresh grads for a "revised' wage scale (ahem, significantly less per hour). Making you rotate your floors means you have to learn faces and their routines, which makes an already stressful job even more unbearable. At my last LTC facility, the day nurse had a stroke, the midnight nurse developed peptic ulcers, everyone else was totally burned out or exhausted and had to quit or were fired. Everyday, more threats and intimidation, they leave notices up by the time clock telling you to do this or if you don't do that (like pluck out your eyeball and donate it to the organ donor market or cut one of your kidneys out), it will lead up to 'disciplinary action' and their favorite words 'up to and including termination'. You walk into the place and its like getting slammed in the head with a baseball bat. Always some drama, people trying to stab each other in the back, or the one that happens all the time and everywhere you go, trying to dump their work off on others. New admits that sat their for 7 hours and nobody started a chart, got vital signs, or ordered their meds. When you start to think that gargling razor blades would be better than putting up with another day on the job and can't take the torture anymore and quit before you lose your mental health along with your physical health, they like to get even with you by giving you a bad reference, so you have to smile while they skin you alive and pour battery acid in the open wounds they love to inflict on you. Welcome to the nursing field. Truth be told, it's like this everywhere. The drama is minimized if you are lucky enough to get into home care. It doesn't pay well and you have to buy a new car every 4 years or so from wear and tear, but if you want to enjoy life and not have the sadists and slave drivers at the local hospital or nursing home suck your soul and sanity away, there are other options.