HR MGRS! HELP! Experienced Nurse-Job Failures

[Goldenhare]

Please help! I am in a bind.

I am an experienced med/surg RN with 5 years experience. I left a good job where I was for 4 years (and towards the top of the senority) on the east coast to move to the west coast to rejoin my husband who had moved here for his job.

It took me almost 5 months to find a job. @ days shy of my probation, I was dismissed for being 'too nervous'. Patients loved me, docs happy with me, no errors, got along with everyone, and NEVER been written up, talked to, or disciplined in any manner. Though I do struggle with anxiety, in my previous job, I was seen as 'high energy' and was told that my attention to detail was desirable as I caught ALOT of mistakes made previous by previous nurses.

But I tried to look at it as 'not the right fit'. I restarted my job hunt again with interviews but no job offers. I finally relented and became a travel nurse with an agency who sent me to my local hospital on a 3 mo contract.

After about a month, the contract was terminated because I was told and my agency were told that I needed more orientation and they were unable to give it. They were not precise about what they meant even when I asked point blank and they told my agency that I am a 'great nurse' and she also suggested that I apply for float pool at the same hospital and she would put in a good word about me with the manager of that

department.

I am so confused! I deliver good patient care-my patients ask for me by name to care for them, my charting is impecable, I do not drink, smoke or do drugs. I am always on time for work. I get along with everyone, I don't gossip and I am dedicated to my job. I have battled snowstorms to get to work and in my last week of employment, left my husband with a fever (bronchitis) to go to work. I am not understanding what is happening. Can anyone give me some insight? Thanks.

[llg, PhD, RN]

It sounds to me as if you have been perceived by your last 2 employers as being insecure in your skills ("nevvous," "needing more orientation").

A person's 2nd job can often be difficult because the transition to a new environment, new procedures, etc. makes you feel uncomfortable. As you are working to adapt, you may be asking lots of questions, double-checking everything, etc. and appearing as if you are insecure.

You may need to work on how you present yourself -- how you ask questions and interact with others as you are learning. You need to give the impression that you are confident in your nursing skills -- you may have a question about this particular hospital's policies and procedures, but you are confident in your ability to care for the patient.

Think back over your recent mis-adventures. Did you present yourself in a way that gave the impression of confidence and expertise? Or did you present yourself as someone who needed considerable assistance? When people hire experienced nurses, they expect them to adapt quickly and need minimal orientation. When they hire a traveler, they expect to have to provide almost no orientation at all.

Obviously, not having been there, I can only guess. But from your OP, that's what it sounds like to me.

[Popwhizbangz, LPN]

You are in the best position to pinpoint your problem(s) or areas to improve. It is possible you were let go initially for some reason having little or nothing to do with you personally; if so, then the reputation of 'a problem' can follow you a bit, as is true in any field of work. There would be little you could do in that case, except to persevere; otherwise, ask past coworkers for feedback, self-asess for any issues in your work but also in you interactions with coworkers and especially supervisors, and try to learn and grow based on anything you find out. We all, except for those perfect people I never seem to meet, have room to improve, and adverse experience is a great opportunity to learn.

[Popwhizbangz, LPN]

P.S. - catching others' mistakes, while to be praised and encouraged, is also somewhat risky in some ways - you need to be careful how you go about such activity, as you may risk incurring others' defensiveness (which, right or wrong, is normal human nature) and potentially retribution or animosity of some sort. Use diplomacy.

[Goldenhare]

Most questions were policy based questions, like to make sure I entered an order correctly or clarified spwlling of a docs name. You know, I wanted to get it right. l pretty much kept my head down and did my work because I didn't want to be percieved as nervous friendly, but no joking around.

i asked one of the day nurses what she thought and if she had heard anything and surprised at my said no and was surprised at my situation. She offered to help me in any way she could.

I was supposed to have one 8 hr shift for orientation but did not have that and took a full load on my 2nd day. I even floated to another floor and that was successful. I really am confused as far as self analyzing the situation. I used to hire and fire as a manager (not in nursing) so that makes things more confusing.

As far as catching mistakes, I usually just fix them and move on unless they are grievous. At my old job, we had to correct pharmacy mistakes by filling out forms that went to pharmacy and the managers in order for the mistake to be corrected-hence the paper trail.

So what do I say about all this interviews now? Thanks for all input.