Got terminated from first job cant find new one, still a newgrad

karenchad · Jul 1, 2009

I have to say that I too got fired from my first nursing job- 30 years ago. I was placed on a tele floor as a new GN, My day shift prectptor was a real witch- that was back when demeaning a student,or new grad made the preceptor a real WOMAN. but I have to say- I did learn, I never thought once about did I get the crappyist or hardest assignment I just thoughtless forged ahead and did it. I'm not condoning my preceptors behavior at all, then as a NEW RN with out any preceptor I was put full time on the night shift- the only RN on this 24 bed tele unit- It was my responsibilty to do all 24 assessments, I did have a very experienced LPN who was going to take no crap off this young new RN- I ended up learning alot from her, I also had the sweetest older nurses aid. It was Murphy's Law everything that could go wrong- went wrong- I had wacky patients from the ICU with ICU psychosis- pulling out CVP lines, Climbing out of bed with their GLASS TPN bottles smashing, some with fecal explosions all over the place-walls, curtains, us slipping in it and having to code people in this mess, pulling out chest tubes. Part of this extravaganza was I had to float to ICU/CCU(which was my goal as a new GN) the reason I got terminated was I answered back to one of the nasty, arrogant ICU nurses- she looked like a cross between a playboy bunny and Miss Piggy with an attitude to match.( who several years later became the DON and in a Catholic Hospital). I had just had my son and my husband earned ok money back then so I stayed home for 5 years- I do not recommend this because when I did go back I almost lost all my skills- I'm a diploma grad(clinical skills were our middle name) Now I think if you are away for 2-3 years you have to do a refresher course- Rentry into Practice. The point is life does go on- I've seen nurses fired alot, all it boils down to is the manager- if you rub someone the wrong way, out you go. Those who DO commit the major mistakes are sheilded and saved( I never could figure that out, open your mouth and your gone, be dangerous and your protected) From what I am reading from the above posts- afew of you are BSN grads- probably not alot of hands on exposure(skills- this is where the critical thinking comes in and the prioritizing especially on MED/SURG and TELE) It sounds like you just need a preceptor who is honed in on your nursing preparedness- a diploma grad will not need as much precepting/constant dialog between new grad and preceptor as a BSN would and can precept you through the grounf work of priorities, time management. Critical think takes off with experience. I don't think it is your fault you just had the wrong/poor preceptor- This maybe a good interview question FOR YOU TO ASK- "What can I expect out of a preceptor, will one be chosen and is able to ADDRESS my Learning /transitional needs on to the unit given my type of nursing program(BSNvsDiploma). If you feel that you were not quick to catch on fast enough- what kinds of units were you hired on to- If med/surg(then my opinion is It was a Poor perceptor problem the preceptor of a med/surg unit should be aware of this)) if an ICU, CCU., NICU than maybe start on a med/surg or mother baby or peds. Get your bearings there first. It could also be the type of hospital --in a busy city teaching hospital- I have found they are more into teaching and more skilled at teaching than a rural /suburban/community hospital- on a med/surg unit in a city hospital- you will gain more experience in 1 year than you'll get in several years at the other hospitals. Good luck and don't despair, Maybe it's a tradition in nursing - to be fired from your first job- most of us have been. Keep your eyes on the prize and re route you journey.

mommyonamission · Jul 3, 2009

I feel like there is something wrong with me. I still job hunting and so far nothing. I got two rejections from hospitals I had applied to. One was via a letter and the other email. What is funny, but then again not really is both said the same thing. "Thank you for your interest (insert Hospital name). Although your creditials are impressive, you are not selected for interview at this time. Best wishes in your job search."
What a slap in the face. "my credentials are impressive." To bad I can't take "Best wishes in your job search " to the bank.
amazing how many hrs I put into job hunting, one would say that it is a full time job. to bad I can't get paid for those hrs. In my area nursing homes want people that have supervisor expereince. A skill i don't possess.
I called another place to see what was the status of my application. I was surprised when I got a message telling me that "curently they are in a holding pattern and that they did recieve my application." Pretty much you people are in a hiring freeze. Plain and simple.
I feel like I am wasting my time. I am currently looking into volunteer opportunities where me being a nurse might be beneficial. I sent my resume and cover letter out to one organization. I guess I shouldn't even hold my breath. My RN license renewal is coming up. Sent in my renewal fee and all. amazingly how on the back of the form they ask if you are working in in your currently licensened profession. It was devasting to check "no". Hopefully this will not interfere with my license being renewed, the state DPH already cashed the check. Hopefully that means they will be renewing it and sending me my license when it is time.
I am beyond my wits end to the point I don't even know how to describe where I am at.

After reading your post I couldn't help but respond to you directly.

I feel your pain through your words and I understand.

I've been searching for a job since January (I'm not a nurse yet...on allnurses because I'm about 99% sure that I want to go back to school for nursing) and it's been depressing, humiliating, frustrating and just about every other negative emotion to go through this. I used to cry and sulk and think "did I really go to school all these years to NOT land a job in my field WITH the experience that I have?". But you know what? I reached a point where I said I will not cry anymore and I will cherish what I have because tomorrow is not promised. My "aha moment" came when I realized that it wasn't me but it was things like this stupid economy and the fact that I have ZERO connections to "get in" anywhere in my area. I had to tell myself to stop the bull of feeling bad for myself and to relish in the extra time I get to spend with my little kids while they are still so young. Hey, I even got a chance to see my son's VERY first steps! Something I didn't get to do when I was a full-time working mom working crazy hours with my first child.

So anyway, I just wanted to write you to tell you to not give up, to keep your head up and to keep trying. Good for you - to decide to volunteer. It is a great way to network and to stay busy. Be thankful for what you do have - - like a chance to live another day. Look in the mirror and tell yourself that you ARE a valuable employee who would make one hell of a nurse for the right facility...which is out there and will come...but in due time. I'm a big believer in psyching myself out to believe in the positive. It works!

As for your licensure asking about your employment status, I wouldn't worry about it much. I know a lot of those questions are used for statistical purposes.

Best wishes to you

lynette.johnson · Jul 3, 2009

Help me cause my head is spinning! My story is pretty much the same except that I got fired due to med error. Let me just state that the pt is fine, no adverse rxn's. But I freaked at the time, and am now scared to death to give meds. I have 4 kids, 3 of them teens, I can handle alot but bringing harm to someone.I want to be a nurse so bad, but not if I can't handle it. I also feel like I can't rememember anything from nursing school. I feel like the average person knows more than I do. I have been reading so that I can feel a little more confident, but I am a hands on learner, and nothing is sticking. Honostly, I got through nursing school one test/paper/clinical/class at a time, and when it was over I think everything left. I don't know what to do. If anyone reads this, I am sorry for ramling. I have had alot building up in my head and sometimes feel like I am going to explode. I really want some honost advice. I am just so down in the dumps thinking that I maybe just wasted 8 years of my life getting through school and my husband and I are now up to our eye balls in debt for something that "I" wanted and now I can't handle it or will not be good at it.

karenchad · Jul 3, 2009

alot of us make a med error at some point in our nursing career- i wonce gave a librium for a resoril- i called the supervisor, called the doctor and filled out an insident report- i got a note from the manager thanking me for my honesty. it's not the end of the world, i.m not sure why the facility chose to terminate but nowadays i think facilites look and witchhunt then go to the extreme simply because they can and may have had an other reason- like they just wanted to close a position/simply to save some money-the cost of 1 nursing salary. go to www.nursingspectrum.com and check out the DEAR DONNA column-she had someone write her about this exact question, she gave some awesome advise. don't beat yourself up

lynette.johnson · Jul 3, 2009

Karen, Thanks for your reply. I don't mean to sound like it is the "end of the world." I am just a little discouraged right now. I have bills to pay, can't find a job, not retaining nursing knowledge, etc...on the other hand, once I get a job, I will learn, and am hoping that what I have read will flood my brain. I am the kind of person that tends to overthink things. I look at all angles, what could happen. Sorry if I sounded like a total bummer!! :bugeyes:

LiferRN, RN · Jul 3, 2009

I think it's always best to listen to your intuition. And yours is telling you that you are not cut out for this kind of work. Maybe you would be happier in something nursing "related" instead of an actual nursing position in a stressful environment. I don't think enough emphasis is ever placed on the stress level of being a nurse, and that you need to be able to handle that stress well enough to maintain your skills while coping with the stress at the same time. I know you are torn about having spent time and money to become a nurse, but sometimes things just don't work out the way we thought they would. I don't think you're doing yourself or anyone else a favor by forcing yourself to do something you yourself say you can't cope with. Good luck.

lynette.johnson · Jul 3, 2009

Dear Lifern, I didn't say I couldn't cope with it. I really want to be anurse and do believe that I will be a good one, I'm just confused right now, and certainly don't want to make another mistake, but I am human and mistakes happen. I appreciate your post, but now I feel worse. Maybe I should keep my thoughts to myself.

Morning-glory · Jul 6, 2009

Lynette,

I have been a nurse for 10 years. I got fired/quit a couple of times. Some of it was a personality clash, and some because I just couldn't cope. Sometimes, it's the hospital, sometimes it was me not fitting in. As a student, I gave the meds to the wrong patient because the nurse was rushing me and I didn't stop and check everything. I freaked. I started to cry and I was brought into a quiet room and I continued to freak for hours. I came back the next week and they still had my incident report and I overheard the nurses talking about the "idiot student". I yelled at them and left. I failed that clinical. But I learned from that. I now listen to my little voice when it starts the stress alerts.

Take a deep breath, hold it for 10 seconds and breath out slowly.

I worked the slave shops of nursing for 6 years. Then by accident, I was offered a job in psych. I didn't want it, but there was nothing available at the time as I had burnt some big bridges. And I love it. It is hard to see how sick people can get, but because of the med/surg, onc, tele, LTC, retirement home nursing that I have done, I can spot stuff before it gets out of hand.

So it does get better. I still miss stuff on occassion, but it doesn't make me feel less of a person/nurse if I miss something. It really is about the setting and the environment you work best in. It isn't always you that is the problem.

And to the poster that said that she has "termination" on your resume, my advice would be to change it. Don't go shotting yourself in the foot before you even get a chance to make an impression. If they see 50 resumes in a day, and see terminated, your resume will wind up in the garbage. I'm not kidding. Put start date and end date. No explanation is required on your resume. You don't need to appologise for the rest of your life.

Good luck to all. It certainly is a difficult trip, especially in the first couple of years. One suggestion would be to work agency. Yah, it's tough, but you don't get sucked into the politics of a unit, and you work somewhere else the next night. It also gives you the chance to get a feel for different setitngs and units. After a while, you get a better understanding of what you want out of nursing, instead of nursing bleeding you dry.

All the best.

lynette.johnson · Jul 6, 2009

Dear Morning Glory, Thank you!

Diaper, RN · Jul 9, 2009

I'm sorry to hear that. I can totally relate for that. If you're looking for a temporarily jobs for nursing, you can check out Mollen Clinics http://jobs.flushotsusa.com/joinourteam.aspx They're hiring new grads to give flu vaccine shots. Although this position is seasonal, at least you can get some experiences. I applied this position as my part time job and they called me right away. They didn't even ask me many questions, all they need is a valid RN license. You can schedule to work at the mall, drug stores, clinics and the time is flexible.

Apart from that, have you tried applying to some state prisons/ mental health prison/facility? I suggest you to drive directly to the state prisons/metal health facility and submit the application forms there. They'll definitely give you a call within few weeks to a month. You'll then go thru 2 steps of interviews. The first one consists of questions related to nursing knowledge and the second one is a physical test.

I hope it helps.

WhoaNelly · Jul 26, 2009

Lynette,
I have been a nurse for 10 years. I got fired/quit a couple of times. Some of it was a personality clash, and some because I just couldn't cope. Sometimes, it's the hospital, sometimes it was me not fitting in. As a student, I gave the meds to the wrong patient because the nurse was rushing me and I didn't stop and check everything. I freaked. I started to cry and I was brought into a quiet room and I continued to freak for hours. I came back the next week and they still had my incident report and I overheard the nurses talking about the "idiot student". I yelled at them and left. I failed that clinical. But I learned from that. I now listen to my little voice when it starts the stress alerts.
Take a deep breath, hold it for 10 seconds and breath out slowly.
I worked the slave shops of nursing for 6 years. Then by accident, I was offered a job in psych. I didn't want it, but there was nothing available at the time as I had burnt some big bridges. And I love it. It is hard to see how sick people can get, but because of the med/surg, onc, tele, LTC, retirement home nursing that I have done, I can spot stuff before it gets out of hand.
So it does get better. I still miss stuff on occassion, but it doesn't make me feel less of a person/nurse if I miss something. It really is about the setting and the environment you work best in. It isn't always you that is the problem.
And to the poster that said that she has "termination" on your resume, my advice would be to change it. Don't go shotting yourself in the foot before you even get a chance to make an impression. If they see 50 resumes in a day, and see terminated, your resume will wind up in the garbage. I'm not kidding. Put start date and end date. No explanation is required on your resume. You don't need to appologise for the rest of your life.
Good luck to all. It certainly is a difficult trip, especially in the first couple of years. One suggestion would be to work agency. Yah, it's tough, but you don't get sucked into the politics of a unit, and you work somewhere else the next night. It also gives you the chance to get a feel for different setitngs and units. After a while, you get a better understanding of what you want out of nursing, instead of nursing bleeding you dry.
All the best.

Wow. What a great, down-to-earth post. I'm not a new nurse, but I'm definitely not seasoned either. I've also had more than my fair share of difficulties in this field. But I'm gearing up to give it ONE last shot. Just one question for you: What do you advise writing when the job application asks, "Reason for leaving?" if one was terminated (even if it was bologna)? The problem is that pretty much now places want you to fill out an online application before they will even call you for an interview. Did you ever tell a prospective employer that you were fired and if so, what was the outcome?

Thanks in advance for your input. Also, thanks again for the great post above.

Bbnurse1221 · Apr 19, 2011

Hold your head up! You didn't get to where you are without working for it! When they say, "nurses eat there young," its so TRUE! I have seen many nurses fired and for the most part they have been outgoing , hard working individuals! Its the way the game is played (unfortunately!)