Fired during orientation/7 weeks in

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Sep 1, 2015

I can't imagine there's much of a remedy at this point. Just give your interactions some serious thought, try to learn from them, and move on.

emmy27 · Sep 1, 2015

Be glad that you didn't spent more than 7 weeks at a place that uses preceptors who instruct new grads to violate not just policies (there are ways to give meds safely without scanning, but if that's policy, that's policy) but also basic best practice (there is no way to give pre-meal insulin safely to someone who doesn't have a meal to eat) and handles personality conflicts between staff by firing without warnings or discussion of any kind.

Getting fired is a harsh blow, but it sounds like a terrible place to work.

That said, it's unusual for a place to fire even someone on probation without any kind of attempt to address problems (I've seen some truly scary and/or difficult to work with people make it off probation successfully because they were being counseled on addressing issues) unless there appears to be an ongoing pattern of serious issues. So after some time to nurse your pride, take a really careful look back over your training period and see if there were any other times you received corrections or counseling that maybe didn't register as such at the time, to keep this from happening again at your next job.

And know that there will be a next job, no matter how devastating this feels now.

Jules A, MSN · Sep 1, 2015

I agree both that you probably don't want to work at a place like that anyway and that there is likely more to the story. It hard to imagine a hospital firing a good new nurse they invested in to orient based on one day and one preceptor's report. My guess is there were other complaints. Like others said give it some consideration, learn from it and turn the page.

FWIW I think this is way kinder than the ones they know are incompetent and extend orientation in what seems possibly a plan to gather more information to fire them.

cardiacfreak, ADN · Sep 1, 2015

I think there is more to this story.

Did you actually give the insulin prior to the meal? Because I would have not given it and explained to my preceptor that I wasn't comfortable doing so, because it was against policy.

Not scanning meds is a big no-no at my hospital and is grounds for termination. Again, I would have refused and given the same explanation as above.

This was a very hard lesson to learn, but never, never,never go against policy because "Everybody does it".

rearviewmirror, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2015

Report them to appropriate agency, although I don't know how much that will do since there is no physical proof of their wrong-doings and also since you were terminated from them...

VANurse2010 · Sep 1, 2015

I worked at a hospital for 2 1/2 years as an NA with no issues/writeups/problems. Once I received my RN, I was hired on a floor. On the last day with one of my preceptors, I was told to do things that were unethical and illegal. (giving meds without scanning them or the patient, giving insulin coverage when the trays were not on the floor and pt was being downgraded/transported soon). I stated each time that I was not comfortable doing this since I was on probation, but was told "we all do it and its no big deal" and yelled at for questioning her. I went along with it, hoping to speak to someone the next work day about this (it was a weekend with no admin/nurse educators/management in, of course). First thing the following day I was let go due to my being"disrespectful" to my preceptor and telling her what to do, not asking. I am still stunned. I have no union recourse, as I was on probation. Any suggestions?

You need to scan meds, but the insulin thing, eh...

NPO patients get insulin all the time. It's not really a big deal. How much are we talking about? 2 units of Humalog?

Jensmom7, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2015

I worked at a hospital for 2 1/2 years as an NA with no issues/writeups/problems. Once I received my RN, I was hired on a floor. On the last day with one of my preceptors, I was told to do things that were unethical and illegal. (giving meds without scanning them or the patient, giving insulin coverage when the trays were not on the floor and pt was being downgraded/transported soon). I stated each time that I was not comfortable doing this since I was on probation, but was told "we all do it and its no big deal" and yelled at for questioning her. I went along with it, hoping to speak to someone the next work day about this (it was a weekend with no admin/nurse educators/management in, of course). First thing the following day I was let go due to my being"disrespectful" to my preceptor and telling her what to do, not asking. I am still stunned. I have no union recourse, as I was on probation. Any suggestions?

Unfortunately, during your probationary period, they don't even have to really have a reason to let you go. Makes it easy to get rid of someone who isn't a good fit, without those pesky wrongful dismissal lawsuits. After you pass probation, they have to make sure all their ducks are in a row before they lower the boom.

Altra, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2015

Were the actions you were asked to take on that particular day different than the prior 7 weeks of your orientation?

CBlover, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2015

At my place of employment, insulin is ordered to be given prior to the meal. I am only covering what the pt's blood sugar was PRIOR to the meal. If the blood sugar is 220 prior to eating, giving 4 units of regular insulin is not going to make them hypoglycemic. That's my opinion, and I have NEVER had a pt's blood sugar bottom out with this method. Truthfully, as others have said, you probably should have listened to your preceptor here. After all, she's been doing this a while and you're new. With the med scanning thing, I know we should scan everything, but there are times when a barcode won't scan, for example, and you have to "override." I agree that this does not sound like a good work environment, but a lot of turned, new nurses tend to want to do everything textbook "perfect." Nursing has to have some give. That's all there is to it. You'll be miserable if you can't make allowances from time to time.

beachlover · Sep 2, 2015

That is what is so bizarre and weird about the whole thing. This one preceptor made my life a living hell from day one. I would be drawing up meds for a patient, and she would want me to put everything down (needle and all) and come out to the hallway to her WOW so she could show me something that was insignificant. I tried my best to keep giving the meds, but she would interrupt me constantly. I never said anything bad - just that I was in the middle of giving meds, needed to focus on that and that I would be with her in a minute. She would continue to hound me until I couldn't focus - so I had to "tune her out". I never said anything, just did my job and then would go to her and say nicely - what did you want to show me? As for both instances I listed (not scanning the meds and giving the insulin) she took my WOW and completed them under my name, and gave the insulin, while berating me. Both of these issues are cause for firing in my hospital.

As many of you have said, I am Ok with not working on that unit. I have thought A LOT about what happened, and I honestly would not change a thing because I felt I had my patients best interest in mind. I didn't argue, I just stated that i didn't feel comfortable doing certain things. If she had explained to me that it was acceptable to do these things because of X circumstance, I would have been fine with it.

My main concern is that I worked at this hospital for 2 1/2 years - with 2 of them in the ER. I got a long with everyone, all the nurses loved me and said what a great nurse I would be. And then this happens. I am not necessarily looking to fight for my job back, as I don't need to work with nurses who aren't on the up and up? But I am concerned about (1) using them as a reference and what is says in my HR file and (2) this happening to other new nurses. I am certainly not looking to get a 20 year veteran at this hospital in trouble, as it would be her word against mine - and I know it would get no where.

Thanks everyone for your posts. This does kind of haunt me, and I am trying to "get over it".

dream'n, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2015

That is what is so bizarre and weird about the whole thing. This one preceptor made my life a living hell from day one. I would be drawing up meds for a patient, and she would want me to put everything down (needle and all) and come out to the hallway to her WOW so she could show me something that was insignificant. I tried my best to keep giving the meds, but she would interrupt me constantly. I never said anything bad - just that I was in the middle of giving meds, needed to focus on that and that I would be with her in a minute. She would continue to hound me until I couldn't focus - so I had to "tune her out". I never said anything, just did my job and then would go to her and say nicely - what did you want to show me?

Bold and underlined are by me. That right there shows me why the preceptor didn't 'bond' with you. If my preceptee tuned me out, I would not be happy.