Got Fired Help Plz

[Rin nohara]

Today is my 16 week of orientation in ICU. My manager told me about performance plan. What I understood from HR that they normally give me 30 days to improve and after 30 days if I don't improve I will be terminated. But my manager said, "No, we are not going to wait  30 days to fire you, you can quit today." It's not that I am not good fit in ICU but my manager doesn't want me there.

Yes, I made mistakes and learned from my orientation. I never put my patient life in danger or anything like that. The problem is, I left work,  I did not chart anything on both of my patient because I was so busy. I didn't chart my assessment or note progress. The manager said, "Don't give the report to my preceptor. You can just leave."

I don't know what to do. Should I go back and chart or just leave it. In eyes of law, I didn't do anything but in reality, I didn't get chance to sit down to chart. I don't feel comfortable to go back to chart, they don't want me there. Plz help

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

If you have already left the facility, there is no reason for you to go back and chart. It can be a challenge in the ICU, when something acute is going on, to maintain a minimum standard of care for the patients, but it is necessary. Have I charted an assessment eight hours after completing it? Sure have. As much as we try "real time" charting and interventions, we all know that sometimes that just doesn't happen. 

I'm sorry you've lost your job. I'm not quite sure from your post, though, what went wrong. Did they give you specifics? If your manager thinks you're a good fit for critical care, why not for the unit you're orienting on? Have you ever missed charting assessments before? They USUALLY want to give people time because they have invested resources in your orientation for 16 weeks. And you say you've never put a patient in danger, but perhaps as a newer nurse you were unaware that something that happened might have put someone in danger.

Being fired isn't the end of the world, but I've been there and it stinks. Your confidence can take a hit and you question a lot of things. I wish you all the best with finding something better.  Take care!

[Rin nohara]

Thank you so much for reply. my  old preceptor found different job, I was doing great, never had issue. Until, I was put with different preceptor. She didn't like me  I guess, reported every small mistake I did. Like I inserted NG tube for Patient and accused me of not setting up the supplies for tube feeding. this preceptor only been year as nurse. never oriented any one. half of the time, she didn't know what she is doing, and asked other nurses for help.  I only been with her two weeks and she wrote  whole page of small mistake that I did.  I am still shocked of the things the manager  said to me. She said I shouldn't  even work in Med surg because I can't take care of two patient in ICU  how am I going to take care of 6 patients.   

[HiddenAngels]

I would have went back to chart my assessments if it was under 24 hours unless you were fired and then that’s different because then you would be trespassing at the least. Wow, sorry this happened but you will find something else. Some people shouldn’t have leadership roles. Some people are just mean because they want to be mean.

[Davey Do]

?

[No Stars In My Eyes]

I've been fired twice in my career. The first time I was shocked...blindsided. But everyone who was familiar with that facility actually said it spoke well of me that I was out of there. I learned later that if I didn't 'go quietly, 'they' were going to set me up as having made a huge med error. And I didn't even pass meds there!

The second time I was fired? All I can say is what my hubby said, "I'm surprised you stayed there as long as you did." I tried and tried so hard to get a grip on EVERYTHING they loaded onto my position (as in: WAY too much for one nurse to do, even within 12 hours.) I never could figure out what shortcuts the other nurses were making to be done with everything and able to sit and chat in the nurses's station for 1/2 hr to 45 min before the shift ended. I ended up staying one and two hours after the shift ended, so I could do all the redundant paperwork. I gotta tell you, though, even though every RN I told my story to, after I was fired, said that it was not right, it was a relief in some ways. I already had another job doing PDN, so I had a back-up position with an agency. But, honestly? It took me probably two years to get over the sting of being canned!

Best of luck to you, and I hope you land a much better situation to work in!

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

I've been fired twice. Both times I expected it, can't go into specifics, due to settlements with both companies. I didn't lose a wink of sleep, was working within days

[K. Everly, BSN, RN]

The way I see it, if they refused to provide you an actual list of grievances they had with your performance or at least a legitimate concern that would markedly impact the care your pts were receiving, then they don't really have anything on you. Any respectable manager should have been able to communicate clearly with you when they saw error in your ways, or at the very least had you part with clarity about why you were being terminated and how you can improve in the future. 

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Write down all the things you would have charted, had you had the chance.  Put it with your important papers so it won't get lost or seen by anyone else.  But you will be able to refer to it if you ever need to.  I don't know if this is legal but you really do need to protect yourself.  I think.  Ask the nurse-attorney on this site.

Why have you not talked to your ex manager about going back to chart?  I'm not sure they can legally prohibit you from charting.  I suppose they can.  Not sure.

 

Best wishes in your next endeavor.

[Davey Do]

On 6/22/2022 at 2:31 PM, Rin nohara said:

 I left work, I did not chart anything on both of my patient because I was so busy. I didn't chart my assessment or note progress.

 

...!...

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

You had a preceptor and the preceptor will do the charting. Ultimately it's the preceptor that is responsible for the assessment and the care provided for the patient.   At this point I would let it go and move on since you instructed to just leave.  

[Alex_RN, BSN]

Sorry this happened to you. The important thing is that you are a nurse with a license and there are many opportunities for you, especially these days.