I have given Nursing my best is it not for me?

julopy · Jun 4, 2010

If you are absolutely sure you performed all of your duties to the best of your ability maybe you should seek legal counseling. However the fact that your coworkers were reporting you for everything didn't help. I have seen this allot where I work. Sometimes people decide they don't like you for no reason and they in turn rally their "friends" to help hinder your progress. If I were you I would just move on and explain to any future employers that you simply had a bad experience working at the other place and are willing to learn and gain better clinical skills if given the chance. Don't give up nursing because of some immature people and a bad work experience. Nurses Are needed everywhere and speaking on behalf of myself and others I can say I appreciate them.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 5, 2010

If you were let go during or at the conclusion your orientation period, then I'm afraid you may not have strong grounds for legal recourse. Orientation is the "test drive" where they see if they like you and you see if you like them. You could try contacting an attorney but I don't know what good it will do you.

Yes, they should have said something to you about your performance instead of letting you flounder for the 90 days--for them not to do so and them let you go is irresponsible of them. Unfortunately, it's common practice in many places: a lot of nurses have the mentality that when they were new grads they went through "trial by fire" and therefore so should you.

But at the same time...how proactive were YOU in seeking out that desired feedback? Did you wait around to see if anything said to you, or did you actively ask your preceptor/charge nurse how you did that shift, what you did well, what you could improve on? If you got any feedback, did you really consider if it had merit or just blow it off (e.g., "oh they're just telling me I suck again")? Did you constantly seek out new opportunities or ask if/how you can learn new skills? Yes, orientation is a time of learning for you and they should be teaching you...but at the same time you should not expect to be spoon-fed or coddled. Orientation is what YOU choose to make of it.

Now if you did do all that and they still let you go... you can consider yourself lucky to be out of a bad environment. Unfortunately not every work environment is a good one...and based on what you write about it, you clearly feel that it wouldn't get any better.

If you really want to be in nursing, then don't give up. Consider this a learning experience (I'm sure you've gained some knowledge from being there those 90 days), let yourself mourn for a day or two, then brush yourself off and get back in the job hunt. Try another area of nursing, or another type of facility. There are many potential opportunities out there for you. Don't give up your dream, nor lose confidence in yourself, because of one bad experience. Easier said than done, I know...

Good luck!

chocolateskye · Jun 5, 2010

To tell you the truth I had no idea that I was doing poorly or that I was not liked by my co workers until about a month ago when I got written up. It came as a total suprise to me, and it hurt so bad because I thought I was doing a good job. Once I did recieve the write up I did go and talk to my charge nurse and asked if there were areas that she felt I could improve in. She told me that I had turned things around and that I was doing 100% better then she told me that she was recieving multiple complaints about me though and I said about what? She said that many of my co workers were upset about me wearing my Ipod and I said you have to be kidding me right? She said no Now this struck me as odd because I only brought my I pod to work after seeing everyone else wearing theirs. She said that I wear both of my ear buds and everyone else wears only one. I had to laugh on the inside as I knew that was a lie. After that I never brought my Ipod to work again I learned that I can not do as they do! I never knew that nursing was not about the quality of care you provide it is about who likes you or whose ass you are willing to kiss in order to keep your job! Yes I did seek out certain things like I asked several times for a policy and procedure manual never was shown to me nor was I ever told where I could locate it? I also let them know that I was not shown how to do an admission that was not shown to me either? I have volunteered to draw blood from other co workers patients just to gain experience and a level of confidence in it but none of that made a difference they still were able to let me go..........

Simply Complicated · Jun 6, 2010

What sort of things were you wrote up for? Can you be more specific? It's possible you were just working in a crappy place as well.

I did travel nursing for a couple years. I know I did a good job, I was asked to stay on permanently at places I worked. But I had one hospital that was not a good place to work. The teamwork was crap, the aids disappeared all the time. They would hide in empty rooms, watching tv, etc. You would be stuck in a room, and no one would answer a call bell if it wasn't there own. I finally went to the nurse manager about it, because I was so frusturated. She actually told me had I ever considered that it was my poor attitude that had them avoiding me. UMMM NO. I don't care if I'm the biggest ***** there is, it doesn't excuse them not doing their job. I left that assignment as soon as I was able.

chocolateskye · Jun 6, 2010

I was written up for being in my charts to much for one my CNO said to me that my co workers complained about me having my nose inside of my patients charts to much. I was written up because a patient lied on me and said that I told him I was to busy for him when in actuality he had to wait for his pain pills because it was a new order and one can not access them from the pixes without a witness from another nurse and if they are all busy and cant get down to where I was then???? I even told my charge nurse about why he had to wait she said it was ok since everyone was busy that night but that came back to bite me real hard! My co workers said that I was not a team player which confuses the crap out of me because I help anyone that asks for it and I offer my help to those that I see may be in need? Since I am a new grad nurse I would think that I would be the one needing more help from my co workers but that is just my two cents. Oh another thing I was written up for was I had a patient that had an order for an ekg and I was under the assumption that I had to do it? But finally another nurse told me that the day shift does it or at least the respiratory staff does it? So while in report since I had three different nurses to report to in the morning one of them asked me if I would like to see the ekg I said no because I was in the middle of giving report well the nurse went and reported me to the CNO and she said that I am unwilling to learn and turn down learning experiences when offered to me? Maybe it was a crappy facility to work for but it was my chance to learn how to be a nurse it was how I fed my children, I would have tried to correct any problems had I been aware of them to provide for my family it is hard out here to find employment for new nurses for me to go and treat people and my opportunities like crap!

Simply Complicated · Jun 6, 2010

I was written up for being in my charts to much for one my CNO said to me that my co workers complained about me having my nose inside of my patients charts to much. I was written up because a patient lied on me and said that I told him I was to busy for him when in actuality he had to wait for his pain pills because it was a new order and one can not access them from the pixes without a witness from another nurse and if they are all busy and cant get down to where I was then???? I even told my charge nurse about why he had to wait she said it was ok since everyone was busy that night but that came back to bite me real hard! My co workers said that I was not a team player which confuses the crap out of me because I help anyone that asks for it and I offer my help to those that I see may be in need? Since I am a new grad nurse I would think that I would be the one needing more help from my co workers but that is just my two cents. Oh another thing I was written up for was I had a patient that had an order for an ekg and I was under the assumption that I had to do it? But finally another nurse told me that the day shift does it or at least the respiratory staff does it? So while in report since I had three different nurses to report to in the morning one of them asked me if I would like to see the ekg I said no because I was in the middle of giving report well the nurse went and reported me to the CNO and she said that I am unwilling to learn and turn down learning experiences when offered to me? Maybe it was a crappy facility to work for but it was my chance to learn how to be a nurse it was how I fed my children, I would have tried to correct any problems had I been aware of them to provide for my family it is hard out here to find employment for new nurses for me to go and treat people and my opportunities like crap!

It definitely sounds like a huge lack of communication going on there. The management should have had had some meetings with you to discuss these things, especially as a new nurse. They can't expect you to learn and grow if they just expect you to automatically be doing everything. I would not give up on nursing completely, as not all facilities are like that.

julopy · Jun 6, 2010

I know I have already commented once but I have to do it again. The place you were is not the only place for you. I work with many people that have been employed for 20 + years by our company. I am considered a baby at 12 years. Anyways I have actually seen these people lie exaggerate and do whatever they could to get new hires in trouble. Just becouse they don't like their looks. I have seen upper management (including the current DON) take their word for anything reported by these people. I had one girl report me and totally lie about what was said. She claimed I threatened her yet all I said was if she had a problem with the supervising nurse she needed to tell her and not me. Then I told her I wouldn't discuss this any further especially since we were in a residents room. The DON literally screamed and called me names and claimed the resident coincided her story (here is the catch the resident thinks every women is his wife and we are holding him in a prison etc. major confusion). However there were no witnesses to the resident giving this statement and the coworker denies ever telling. Here is the thing I took this as a learning experience and decided I would simply make it there as long as I can hopefully till I graduate the nursing program next year and then I am going to move on. My point is there are other places that will hire you and want to grow with you. There really are people out there that are immature and simply try to hurt others. Hang in there as you said you have children to feed you will be ok just don't give up cause then the mean people win. SORRY MY REPLY IS SO LONG. :idea:

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Jun 7, 2010

I think everyone is providing some great advice... but one particular item from the OP really stands out for me. Listening to an IPOD at work???? In an ICU setting?? And trying to justify by making a distinction between one or two earbuds? *****?? When did this become acceptable? Heck, I wouldn't even tolerate this from a salesgirl at Macy's. I know I'm ancient but I still expect nurses to be fully focused on their critically ill patients.

In order to learn from any experience, we have to engage in honest self-reflection. This means that we have to analyze what happened, take ownership of what happened as a result of our own actions, figure out what we should have done differently & establish a mental 'plan' for responding differently if we are faced with the same set of circumstances in the future. I did not pick up on this process in the OP's comments... no ownership. I'm just saying...

Simply Complicated · Jun 7, 2010

I think everyone is providing some great advice... but one particular item from the OP really stands out for me. Listening to an IPOD at work???? In an ICU setting?? And trying to justify by making a distinction between one or two earbuds? *****?? When did this become acceptable? Heck, I wouldn't even tolerate this from a salesgirl at Macy's. I know I'm ancient but I still expect nurses to be fully focused on their critically ill patients.
In order to learn from any experience, we have to engage in honest self-reflection. This means that we have to analyze what happened, take ownership of what happened as a result of our own actions, figure out what we should have done differently & establish a mental 'plan' for responding differently if we are faced with the same set of circumstances in the future. I did not pick up on this process in the OP's comments... no ownership. I'm just saying...

I may be misreading, but I don't think she works critical care. Just that they let her go for lack of skills. Although maybe I'm wrong. You would be surprised how many people wear ipods at work on the night shift. I do agree with your statement about not seeing any ownership. There are some things you have to seek out. Like the policy and procedure manual for example. I would have pushed and pushed until I was shown one. I wouldn't be comfortable doing ANY procedures without knowing the policy.

I'm curious how they worded it to write one up for being in their charts to much? That would indicate they saw neglect towards the patients. They obviously can't just say you are spending too much time reading charts. It sounds like there was very poor communication on both parts. I recently came off orientation for a new job, in critical care. In situations like that you really have to take charge. I was having a not so great orientation. I had to take it upon myself to go to my nurse manager and request a new preceptor. I felt I was not learning what I needed, so I took the actions to fix that. I have learned through experience that you can't just assume you are doing a good job, because no one tells you otherwise. You have to ask regularly if there is anything you're preceptor feels you should work on. Especially if they are not coming to you. It's up to you to take charge of your own learning experience!

OP.. hopefully you can learn from this experience, so you don't have the same situation happen again. Definitely sounds like maybe they didn't treat you fair or give you a fair experience. Your managers should have been more proactive in making sure you were on track, and not wait until the end and just fire you!

allnurses Guide · Jun 8, 2010

I don't think you should say that nursing isn't for you!! Sounds like you have a huge communication breakdown where you were working! They should have been giving you ongoing feedback at the time they had a problem, and your manager should have intervened and discussed those things with you. Please do not blame yourself! Some work environments are just crummy, end of story.

It sounds like they misinterpreted your quiet and studious nature as being stand-offish. I'm like that, too. I've had to force myself to be more sociable with new groups. Don't beat yourself up anymore about it, hold your head high and move on. Best wishes to you.:)

Gentleman_nurse, MSN · Jun 12, 2010

Hey chocolateskye:

I'm not a nurse yet but I've lost a job or two over time. It doesn't sound like you did anything wrong per se. Every job has the official rules and the unofficial rules. Sounds like the unofficial ones tripped you up.

In your next position:

1. Be defensive. Our the quality of our work and professionalism should speak for itself but workplace politics are rarely based on logical stuff like this.

2. If you a recieve any type of feedback, respond to it in writing. "On such and such day you said I didn't do this. I corrected the problem by doing that."

2. Until you are off probation, do everything by the book so the can't hang you. For example, the Ipod. Folks may know who's is OK with THEM USING IT and who is going make a stink. Yet, If you and me do the same, we get a letter in file. Unfair, yes! After you're off probation you can push the limits.