Got let go after 6 wks orientation

[menoogdawb]

Hello allnurses memebers,

I am a newbie here. As I was reading through different posts of New Grad resignation/ termination posts, I was very disheartened yet felt very uplifting from many good advices and supports from other members. I, too, am one of the few that got let go today after my 6 wks orientation.

During my first 3 wks Day orientation on a med/surg floor, I was confident that I will be able to grasp the concept of being a med/surg nurse as I was on time with my med pass, looking up on unfamiliar meds/iv/ivpb, asks questions on unfamiliar procedures, etc, and managing time wisely with drugs, documentation, and orders. At the end of my 3 wks orientation, I asked my preceptor about my abilities and progression wise, I was told by my Day preceptor that I am doing good and will be able to take on 4-5 pts on my first day of Night shift.

Going onto my Night orientation with a different preceptor, I thought I was doing fine til the end of my orientation; however, I may have asked too many meds questions that made her think that I was not being competent enough to take on pts' acuity on my own? I noticed that we didn't seemed to click as much as compare to my previous preceptor as we are different in personality wise. There will be time where I'll walk by the nursing station to come asks her questions and will overheard other co-workers (her group of buddies) and her talking about me (status, current situations, etc). However, it felt very awkward when I came by and everyone became very quiet. IMH, I did not felt comfortable/ supportive as I was when I was in Day shift. I'll admit that I was dealing with quite a few of high BP pts for the last 3 wks of night orientation, and I always make sure she's aware of me giving certain BP PRN's when needed, which I know I would need to give, but just want to confirm and make her aware of it - maybe it was too much of a common sense to not ask her? Maybe I should be making nursing judgements by myself more? I thought a preceptor is there to help and guide? Everything I did was still the same as day shift regarding time management, meds, and asking questions.

Today, I met wit the nurse manager and was told that they'll let me go because I was not fit to be part of their acute facility and that I should go works nursing homes after the reviews they've received from my night preceptor and the night charge nurse (they're friend) and my other preceptors and ppl who have worked with me. Their reason was that I should have know about and when to give Labetalol, a BP med and for me not knowing is their reason for letting me go. Never once throughout my orientation did I receive any clear written evaluation from anyone or any hints of termination. I did confirm with the manager that I do know and it was an PRN's order to give if SBP >160 and was just telling the night preceptor that I will be giving the PRN's because the SBP >160. After I left, I called my day preceptor about the termination, and she denied of talking to them or them calling her in for an eval of me and she think that it was unfair to make such a lie about talking to everyone about me. They couldn't give me anymore better reasons beside this example, which I felt very bad and injustice.

I did not argue much with them since I was only hired as a per-diem, plus I am 18 wks pregnant and in a BSN program. I guess my current situation was too much for them to handle. Btw, do we have the right to call HR for termination verification form and ask about record being show in our background check?I'll reflect back on my mistakes and learn from it. The hard part is getting back up from this miserable event and starts looking for a new job again. It's even harder when families start asking. Life goes on. There will be better advancement for me if I don't give up.

Any advices will be greatly appreciated!

[RNNica]

God knows best. You will be fine.

[Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM]

I think your pregnancy had more to do with it. The med was just an excuse.

[Jules A, MSN]

I guess my current situation was too much for them to handle.

What does this mean?

I'm sorry this didn't work out for you but doubt your pregnancy had anything to do with it as a PRN employee. Best of luck finding a better fit.

[caliotter3]

Personality conflict will cause a person to leave a facility when the decision maker sees that as enough reason, or when they allow their judgment to be clouded with pleasing the clique. There is nothing you can do about this. In fact, consider it a favor, because working there would have been unpleasant in such an atmosphere. Hopefully you will fit in at your next job.

[menoogdawb]

Thanks. Advancement will come with hard work. :)

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Unfortunately, one can be let go during their orientation for any reason, or no reason. Chances are that you would more than likely have done per diem on the night shift. Which does take some independent critical thinking skills. I would, in the future, see exactly what your preceptor is wanting you to do as far as informing her of meds you are giving, that kind of thing.

If you believe you were let go due to your pregnancy, that is a different story. But not sure it would be worth the energy to pursue, but that is your call.

I would, however, not call your former preceptor again and put her on the spot. That is unprofessional. What she may or may not have said is confidential.

Are you thinking that there is something in your backround check? I am not sure why you would need a copy of it, however, chances are that if there were, you would have had difficulty before now.

The last thing that you want to do, I am sure, is to continue with behaviors that can be seen as unprofessional and harassing. Especially if you are pursuing your BSN and plan on working as a nurse in your community. And you can state that the "culture of the unit was not in tune with supporting my developing practice" as opposed to bad-mouthing the facility in any future interviews.

Best of luck going forward.

[amzyRN]

Take it as a learning experience. Next time, make sure you get weekly evals to make sure you are meeting your goals. When you're on orientation, I think you're supposed to run things by your preceptor. Next time, try to use other resources besides your preceptor though. Lexicomp or another drug guide should be available on your floor. I'd consult that for med questions or pharmacy. Get a little note book and write stuff down so you don't ask the same thing twice. You'll do better next time, keep your head up!

[danielle2000, MSN, RN]

I got let go before I even was going to start orientation on the floor. The night supervisor accused me of being a no show stating she said I was to return to work at 7 am which was not true because like a wise nurse in this game I save all my voicemail messages. I also told her I that I do not appreciate her coming at me like a child. When I was in the manager's office everything seem fine then a week later the mgr called to let me go. She did not even have to balls to tell me why. Honestly, I was not upset I was relieved. I realized that I am not losing anything I have the experience they lost out. I am not going to sacrifice being talked to like a child and expect to bow down to a night supervisor that terrorizes her staff. It was a blessing in disguise got hired elsewhere making more $$$$$. Just imagine if you worked there you may have undo stress and develop issues with your pregnancy. So look at it as a blessing. :-)

[jherd]

Hello allnurses memebers,

Going onto my Night orientation with a different preceptor, I thought I was doing fine til the end of my orientation; however, I may have asked too many meds questions that made her think that I was not being competent enough to take on pts' acuity on my own? I noticed that we didn't seemed to click as much as compare to my previous preceptor as we are different in personality wise. There will be time where I'll walk by the nursing station to come asks her questions and will overheard other co-workers (her group of buddies) and her talking about me (status, current situations, etc). However, it felt very awkward when I came by and everyone became very quiet. IMH, I did not felt comfortable/ supportive as I was when I was in Day shift. I'll admit that I was dealing with quite a few of high BP pts for the last 3 wks of night orientation, and I always make sure she's aware of me giving certain BP PRN's when needed, which I know I would need to give, but just want to confirm and make her aware of it - maybe it was too much of a common sense to not ask her? Maybe I should be making nursing judgements by myself more? I thought a preceptor is there to help and guide? Everything I did was still the same as day shift regarding time management, meds, and asking questions.

Today, I met wit the nurse manager and was told that they'll let me go because I was not fit to be part of their acute facility and that I should go works nursing homes after the reviews they've received from my night preceptor and the night charge nurse (they're friend) and my other preceptors and ppl who have worked with me. Their reason was that I should have know about and when to give Labetalol, a BP med and for me not knowing is their reason for letting me go. Never once throughout my orientation did I receive any clear written evaluation from anyone or any hints of termination. I did confirm with the manager that I do know and it was an PRN's order to give if SBP >160 and was just telling the night preceptor that I will be giving the PRN's because the SBP >160. After I left, I called my day preceptor about the termination, and she denied of talking to them or them calling her in for an eval of me and she think that it was unfair to make such a lie about talking to everyone about me. They couldn't give me anymore better reasons beside this example, which I felt very bad and injustice.

I did not argue much with them since I was only hired as a per-diem, plus I am 18 wks pregnant and in a BSN program. I guess my current situation was too much for them to handle. Btw, do we have the right to call HR for termination verification form and ask about record being show in our background check?I'll reflect back on my mistakes and learn from it. The hard part is getting back up from this miserable event and starts looking for a new job again. It's even harder when families start asking. Life goes on. There will be better advancement for me if I don't give up.

Any advices will be greatly appreciated!

If that's all you did, then they probably did you a favor. In the sense that they did not like you and the are very "catty" and the management didn't hesitate to sort of run you down.

The alternative would be to slowly show you they don't like you every day and make your life miserable and then still fire you. Just take it as a bad experience and learn from it.

Good Luck

[strawberryflds]

As a nurse you learn to be resilient and take things in stride. You just got a really early lesson in that. Get back out there and maybe do long term per diem or sub-acute. Don't let one bad experience get you down or you will have a long career ahead of you.

[menoogdawb]

Thank you very much for the advice. It really hits me to think deeper. Definitely will take into consideration next time.