I just got fired this morning from my first nursing job. I was 3 days out from my orientation, and have gotten positive reviews from my preceptors, and my nurse educator, but my first night alone (10/1/12) was a horror. On a busy med surg unit, there were 5 RNs. Total cumulative experience: less then 2 years between us all. No charge nurse ( she was on another floor with her own team), and we were all so stressed out because we all had questions and no answers.
My problem came about because I didn't administer warfarin from a prior shift (from a couple of hours prior to me coming on shift). I caught it, but I couldn't locate my charge nurse to ask, and when she did come up several hours later, quite frankly, in the utter chaos of the floor, I forgot to ask. At that point it was about 6 hours late, and then when I did remember, I tried to find my charge and ask, and she wouldn't (or couldn't) return my calls. I didn't administer the med because I was afraid of what administering it so late would be. I looked it up in a drug book, and all it said was to take it at the same time everyday.
So, yes, i made a mistake, and I have learned from it. The patient is OK, but I lost my job. I am embarrassed, but i don't know how to explain this when (if) I get another interview.
