Got fired as a grad

Published

Hi guys,

I was recently a graduate nurse 5 months in a 6 months probationary period and I got fired, they said it was due to performance issues they said mainly time management. It was really out of the blue, they told me they didnt need a reason to fire me cause I was only 5 months in and I have no idea what to do from here. The feed back I got in my previous ward was okay, (which was higher acuity). I got a email from the registration people saying they have had a notification about me about my non performance and that can hypothetically land me in a lot of trouble (no more registration). But the person on the phone from the registration said it was unlikely.

I cant see anyone wanting to take a non performing grad.

Does anyone have any tips or advice.

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Are you a GN as in pending NCLEX & licensing in the U.S.? Most states that issue temp GN permits they expire before 6 months or when you first sit the NCLEX whichever comes first. What type of role are you in? Is this a new grad internship/residency training program? As a grad nurse you must work under the supervision of a licensed RN until you are fully licensed.

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Looking at your previous post, are you in Australia by chance doing your post nursing school grad year before fully licensed?

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Hi guys,

I was recently a graduate nurse 5 months in a 6 months probationary period and I got fired, they said it was due to performance issues they said mainly time management. It was really out of the blue, they told me they didnt need a reason to fire me cause I was only 5 months in and I have no idea what to do from here. The feed back I got in my previous ward was okay, (which was higher acuity). I got a email from the registration people saying they have had a notification about me about my non performance and that can hypothetically land me in a lot of trouble (no more registration). But the person on the phone from the registration said it was unlikely.

I cant see anyone wanting to take a non performing grad.

Does anyone have any tips or advice.

You can be fired at any time and for any reason while you're still on probation and at five months, I would think you were. Time management is often an issue with new grads, even after orientation. I would think that if you get an interview, you could explain that you had difficulty with time management, but you've done a lot of thinking about what you did wrong and you've come up with a plan to improve your time management skills. I'm not sure what your individual issue was, but I've often seen new grads do well after they learn to use the right brain sheet, develop more confidence in the role or make time management (rather than hand holding or chatting with the patients) a priority.

There's always the time honored "it wasn't a good fit" as your reason for leaving, but if the registration folks know that you were fired for nonperformance, you can assume that any potential employers do as well.

Good luck.

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.
Looking at your previous post, are you in Australia by chance doing your post nursing school grad year before fully licensed?

Grad nurses in Australia are fully licensed. The limit of under grad clinical hours is recognized as an issue and the grad year was developed to assist with the transition to independent practitioner. It consists usually between 1-3 rotations over 12 months in a hospital. We do not do the massive supernumary periods the USA does. First rotation is usually a week supernumary with a preceptor then taking a pt load. Between the in charge, your preceptor, NUM, educator we can keep a pretty close eye on whats going on. There are formal check in points that the educator has to feedback to the grad coordinator and NUM.

To have such concerns that a report is being made to AHPRA is significant.

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.
Hi guys,

I was recently a graduate nurse 5 months in a 6 months probationary period and I got fired, they said it was due to performance issues they said mainly time management. It was really out of the blue, they told me they didnt need a reason to fire me cause I was only 5 months in and I have no idea what to do from here. The feed back I got in my previous ward was okay, (which was higher acuity). I got a email from the registration people saying they have had a notification about me about my non performance and that can hypothetically land me in a lot of trouble (no more registration). But the person on the phone from the registration said it was unlikely.

I cant see anyone wanting to take a non performing grad.

Does anyone have any tips or advice.

Firing a nurse even in a grad program in Australia is a long process. I have been through it with a grad nurse before. There is a process that has to be followed, informal conversation, formal conversation, learning contracts, conversations with the NUM, education team and graduate coordinator. I can't believe this came out of the blue.

Wait and apply for the next round of new graduate intakes. Apply interstate and every hospital that is offering.

It sounds very odd that this would come "out of the blue". As an Australian myself, I've found that the new graduates are very supported and hear early on if they are not cutting it on the wards.

I'm sorry for your situation and I hope you find a new position that supports your learning.

Firing a nurse even in a grad program in Australia is a long process. I have been through it with a grad nurse before. There is a process that has to be followed, informal conversation, formal conversation, learning contracts, conversations with the NUM, education team and graduate coordinator. I can't believe this came out of the blue.

My thoughts exactly! It's very hard for new graduates to just get fired in Australia "out of the blue". There's more to this story I think then is being told.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Thread has been moved to the Nursing In Australia forum to hopefully elicit feedback and responses from nurses who live and work in Oz. Good luck to you.

Specializes in Cath lab, acute, community.

I think you need to have a sit down with either your preceptor, or educator at the hospital. I am quite shocked that this wasn't brought up prior, as part of the new grad process is that you are precepted. I do feel that they failed.

When I was a new grad, I had constant feedback. You need it!

You need to ascertain where you went wrong, and how. The fact that AHPRA was informed means the situation was rather quite serious I should think. So you need to ascertain what went wrong.

Once you ascertain what was wrong, you need to work on it further. You shouldn't graduate without the skills, so I would think you need furtehr education or to work in a less intense enivronment

+ Join the Discussion