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

Emergent, RN · Mar 7, 2017

Seriously, does that educator think she's got a room full of kindergarteners? She was worried about 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.

That was probably her nice way of saying "I am furious at your disrespect of the power point I put together!". Then she proceeded to feign sympathy and understanding regarding the 'personal' call, while seething inside...

Strugaaa4eva · Mar 7, 2017

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!

I know I can't flag anyone lol I just don't need to be put down at this time I'm feeling really depressed and basically heartbroken from the news. I understand what my mistake was and to be honest your post and a couple of others were the most helpful and provided some relief from the heartache. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness and kind words. Everything happens for a reason I guess..

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 7, 2017

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?

Once you put it online, you don't get to choose who answers or how they answer. You can "accept" the answers or choose to ignore them, but you did solicit advice.

It looks like you DID do something . . . you left the last half hour of class. If I had to guess, I'd guess that is why they terminated you. Really -- you left to take a phone call? I hope it was a really important phone call -- along the lines of "Your father is having a heart attack; please meet us at County General's ER" or "Your child fell off the monkey bars and broke his/her leg; EMS is taking him/her to Midtown University's ER." Your phone should not even have been on during class.

Something else to consider -- are you SURE you were doing well the whole week? Because it seems that your educator and your manager were unwilling to work with you. If you were doing well up until then, it seems as if they'd at least talk to you about it before terminating you.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 7, 2017

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?

It's not unusual at all. Orientation/probation is the time when both employer and employee determine if they are a good fit for each other. And most facilities make it clear that you can be let go at any time during orientation--or you can resign--if either side doesn't feel it will work out.

Unfortunately, the cell phone incident didn't reflect well on you. After all, you did take a call at work AND was not where you were supposed to be...doesn't really testify to your reliability, especially when they are getting to know you. And that was enough for them to decide that you weren't a good fit in their eyes. It may not have seemed fair to you, but you did bring it upon yourself.

Definitely a lesson learned the hard way, and one you should keep in mind for the future.

As far as flagging comments, you--every member, actually--have the option to report a post. Click on the yellow triangle with the exclamation point in it, and then indicate why you are reporting the post. But keep in mind that just because YOU find something objectionable in a post doesn't mean that the post automatically violates AN's Terms of Service (TOS). If after review, we determine that the post doesn't violate the TOS, the post can remain. Hope this helps.

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Mar 7, 2017

Live and learn. It sounds like you have a good attitude so don't give up. Maybe this wasn't the right fit for you. Success is falling down seven times and getting up eight. :)

preemiepoweredRN · Mar 7, 2017

So sorry this happened esp after going through the whole first week.

You definitely deserve more of an explanation than "you'll receive a letter in the mail". I would request a meeting with the manager and HR. If they decided your position was no longer needed the manager should have been open and able to say this. I have a hard time believing it's related to the cell phone, or JUST the cell phone. Good luck to you!

Purple_roses · Mar 7, 2017

My thought is that you blew it by answering a phone call in the middle of class. Since people are usually on their best behavior in the beginning of a job, your instructor obviously saw this as a red flag.
I am from the time before cell phones. We managed to do very well without constant availability to our friends and family. It may seem unconceivable to the younger generation , but it is possible to survive without a cell phone on one's person at all times.
In the future always have your cellphone off in a situation like that.

This is a ridiculous generalization and it sounds like you're assuming the OP is a millennial because she has a cell phone. You have absolutely no clue why she's getting a call from an attorney. You have no way of knowing if she should have taken that call or not, so it's pointless to even consider this variable in this situation.

I'm sorry this happened OP. If I were awaiting a call from an attorney, especially if the call was about an emotional or serious situation, I probably would have answered the call as well. Yes, you should have notified your instructor beforehand, but (to me at least) that's a small mistake to make, especially if you admitted the wrong and apologized for it. As others have said, maybe your letter will reveal more that went wrong.

I'm sorry this happened.

Edit: After reading a few more posts here, I do agree that stating you were taking a "personal call" does sound like you were just chatting with a friend. Your instructor probably thought you didn't value classroom time :/ Either way, I'm glad you found another position.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 7, 2017

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.

Personal phone calls on company time -- especially personal phone calls that last "awhile" -- are a red flag. Especially for someone in their first week.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Mar 8, 2017

Is it possible that this has nothing to do about the phone call? Is there something in your past that HR would find out about and only discovered it during your orientation that would make them change their mind about hiring you?

allnurses Guide · Mar 8, 2017

I kind of doubt just the phone call would lead to an offer being rescinded. I suspect either they found something in your background check, someone overheard the "lawyer" nature of the call, someone asked your instructor where you were and SHE looked stupid for just then realizing you were gone...something along those lines.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 8, 2017

The truth may or may not have anything to do with that phone call, or nature of that call, or anything the OP did or didn't. The manager very well might just find someone wishing to work full time and knowing how to read ECGs that very day and therefore not need the PRN position any more.

Exit interview would be useless spending of time, because the OP would be given generic politically correct lie of being "not a good fit" or her mistake (yes, mistake it was) of taking that call would be blown into size of a crime against entire humankind. To know the truth, the manager and/or HR will have to be forced to tell it; I am afraid that a Court's order to testify under oath wouldn't be enough to do that.

OP may like to try agency nursing or LTACH when dust settles down. The units which have to deal with agencies tend to care more about what that particular nurse really does and knows than about "potential red flags". And good acute care LTACH will teach all ECGs ever known, and then much more. Both will let her try the waters in acute care.

allnurses Guide · Mar 8, 2017

Just my $0.02, but I think it was a bit draconian to fire anyone for this mistake, if all is true. I admit I am anal about being professional and would hope the OP would have deferred the call til later. Maybe a little counseling from the educator? Everyone is so connected his/her cell phones these days; what did we ever do before we had cell phones? But to fire her? Of course, I am not there so an opinion from afar.

I agree unless it was stated at any time during the morning session that personal phone use while at work has a no tolerance policy. We tell all our new orientee's this in the first hour of the first day and all cell phones are to be turned off and kept in a locker or the employee's vehicle. Failure to follow this policy can be grounds for immediate termination. Almost all phones have a camera and therefore pose the risk of unintended HIPAA violations.

Hppy