Help!

[newrn20]

I don't know what to do. I think I may be getting fired. I had my 6 month evaluation 6 weeks ago and it wasn't good. They said that I wasn't a team player and wasn't thinking for myself. So, I've made a real effort to answer tons of call bells and ask questions only when absolutely necessary. I'm asking no more than any other new nurse on the unit at this point. They will be reevaluating me in 2 weeks about my future on the unit.

For background, I should say that I had an absolutely horrible orientation. It was supposed to be 6 weeks of a gradually increasing patient load. One patient 1st week, 2 patients second week... up to 6 patients and you function on your own. I didn't get that. None of my preceptors would ever let me function on my own and were constantly helping. When I was finally on my own, I was totally stressed out and totally overwhelmed. I asked tons of questions and felt very insecure about my own judgement and was a pain to the people I worked with. The unit director is aware of this situation and it doesn't happen to new nurses starting after me. Also, the unit I'm on has a very high turnover rate. I think 10 RN's have quit in the past 2 months.

Last week after talking to another nurse (nurse 1)on the unit about how to find an alternate way to work, another nurse (nurse 2) beside her said to her that it didn't matter how I got to work because I wouldn't be working there much longer. Nurse 1 said to Nurse 2 that she knows that but didn't say anything because she didn't want to be nasty. This happened when I was walking away and I wasn't supposed to hear it. My evaluation will be done by peer review only because I work night shift. It just sounded like they both have already filled out their review form and trashed me.

I'm going to go talk to my unit director after my next shift and find out where I stand. I'm thinking of just turning in my 2 weeks notice because it seems like it would be better to quit rather than be fired. I just don't know what to do. I'm not sure what I'm looking for from anyone. I just wanted to put this out there.....

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

It sounds like you work on a very difficult unit.How many beds, what type of unit?

A poorly planned orientation can certainly start you off unprepared and confused.

Did you document the problems with your orientation?

As far as your review...

What was the plan to improve your performance?

I have a suspicion that this unit is actually ran by a handful of long term nurses that really don't like anybody... but each other and are running out the rest.

You may be better getting away from all of that. If they are still unhappy with your performance, get it IN WRITING as to what you are not doing / doing. Is there another unit you could transfer to? Could you file a grievance? Could you resign?

There are options ,besides quitting, to think about.