I got fired while being on orientation at a hospital for just 1 week. Why did this happen?

[Strugaaa4eva]

So I am seeking some advice as to why this occurred and am still pondering on what could have I done wrong for this to have such a bad ending. After searching and searching years and years for a hospital job (I've always worked in subacute rehab settings) and have been craving a hospital job for nearly 5 years as it will be 5 years this coming May that I graduated from nursing school. Long story short, I was hired by a local hospital and all was going well with the first week of orientation. I mean, c'mon it was only classroom work and I passed all the required exams such as the IV and medication administration. I had to take a personal call during the last 1/2 hour of our last day of class and when I returned the nurse educator was saying how I shouldn't give her a heart attack next time about not telling her where I was. I explained what had occurred and I didn't realize that 5 days later I was going to be reprimanded for that. I received a call from the unit manager I was supposed to work at stating that I was technically supposed to come this weekend for my first day of clinical orientation (I was hired as a per diem nurse) she told me that I don't need to come. Refusing to provide further information, when I asked her if the position was terminated she said "yeah kinda, you'll get a letter in the mail explaining everything." I'm really baffled about this? I seriously didn't do anything and am unsure why did this lead up to here?

Please take note, only constructive comments will be accepted otherwise demeaning, ridiculing words will be flagged. I just need to get some advice as to why this happened and if it is something usual?

[Emergent, RN]

On reading the OPs subsequent explanation, I see another red flag, that her personal problems are already interfering with her work performance in the first week of the job.

Seriously, a call from your lawyer? You probably struck the educator as someone with a lot of personal drama, and a poor prospect to be a reliable employee.

[Strugaaa4eva]

No, I seriously did not. That same day we had the medication exam and IV exam and the same educator was praising me for getting an 88% on it. After I completed my exam, she sent me upstairs to get fingerprinted and I obliged. It was after I got my fingerprints that I had the phone call. I did not arrive late neither of the 5 days, nor did I use my cellphone during class either. When we were sent to lunch I returned back with the rest of the group at the time they had ordered. My only other thoughts of them firing me is because the floor I was supposed to work on was a telemetry/med/surg unit and me and another nurse were not certified to read the EKG strips. However, they told us we were still allowed to orient on the unit until the next course for beginners for reading EKG strips will be held in May. Until that time, we would remain with a preceptor. I'm unsure if they felt as though they didn't want to put up with me remaining on orientation for 2 months but they did not make it a problem when clarification was being done regarding the lack of certification. You can continue to say that I did something wrong, but I will tell you this was the only flaw that went down. The educator told me how the hospital is responsible for me and that I should have informed her where I was. As I said, I will not excuse myself for making that mistake, it was fully on me although the outcome is what I least expected.

[Sour Lemon]

Since people are usually on their best behavior in the beginning of a job, your instructor obviously saw this as a red flag.

I think that's it. They might be looking at the long phone call during class as a small sample of what's to come. Most people take care to not breathe the wrong way while on orientation.

[Strugaaa4eva]

I didn't reveal that I was on the phone with my attorney, I told her it was a personal phone call. I already have a full-time position employed somewhere else and I don't bring my personal life into my area of work.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

You can continue to say that I did something wrong

You do not need to do anything wrong during the probationary period in order for your employment to be terminated.

If management develops a gut feeling or impression that you will be a poor fit for the organization, they can terminate your employment during probation. You may not have done anything wrong. You might have even fit in wonderfully if they had kept you aboard.

However, in this era where hospitals have their pick of new hires, any potential red flags can lead to a new worker's employment being terminated. After all, HR probably has several hundred online applications in their computer database from interested applicants that can be called for interviews.

[Emergent, RN]

I didn't reveal that I was on the phone with my attorney, I told her it was a personal phone call. I already have a full-time position employed somewhere else and I don't bring my personal life into my area of work.

Your story keeps evolving.

You clearly demonstrated to the educator that you DO bring your personal life to work.

Good luck to you. I hope you learn from the constructive feedback you've received here.

[Strugaaa4eva]

I guess you're right. I will take this as a lesson learned but will not be seeking anything else at this time.

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

I didn't reveal that I was on the phone with my attorney, I told her it was a personal phone call. I already have a full-time position employed somewhere else and I don't bring my personal life into my area of work.

But you did bring your personal life in, I bet the educator was upset since she was waiting for you to return from HR. You said it was a personal call, which was on work time.

[Wuzzie]

I guess you're right. I will take this as a lesson learned but will not be seeking anything else at this time.

You don't have to give up on acute care. You just need to learn a few things about it so you can adjust.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Yes, you DID do something. You had that almighty phone on during company time. You took a call, and left your training to deal with it. Many facilities have a strict policy against the use of PED.

Why are you surprised?

[brillohead, ADN, RN]

To an employer, a "personal call" looks like you were chit-chatting with your BFF or flirting with your boyfriend, etc.

That's something that you take care of on break, at lunch, or before/after work -- NOT on the clock.

If your attorney called and you HAD (?) to take the call, you could have had a 30-second conversation and said you'd call back in half an hour when class was over to discuss it further.

What would happen if you were in the middle of doing compressions on a coding patient and your phone rang?

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Seriously, does that educator think she's got a room full of kindergarteners? You gave her a heart attack when she didn't know your whereabouts?? The hospital is "responsible" for you?? Did she have you all walk to the restroom in a line with a rope strung between you?

Maybe you're better off not working there.

Out of curiosity, how exactly will you "flag" the words you don't like? I usually enjoy meeting new posters, but not when we're threatened in the first post. As if we're kindergarteners......wow - I sense a theme!