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

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I am unsure if this post is under the right topic or not but ...... am I being to niave to believe that ones race has nothing to do with how well you can get along with others? I have had the hardest time obtaining and then holding on to a RN job? I had no problems in nursing school. I smile mind my own business and do my work the way it was taught to me, I even ask questions just to be on the safe side of things? I was the only black nurse working on night shift, but that didnt bother me at all. I loved my job. I was so excited to even have a job. Being a new grad I wanted to learn, any and everything that I could. I thought I was on my way to becoming a great nurse when I got written up. I was shocked I had no Idea that I was doing such a terrible job? Why hadnt anyone pulled me to the side? Or talked to me so that I could do better? Then it just got out right rediculous my co workers were reporting everything I done even things that they to were doing? But why was I the only one getting written up for them? Who do you go to when there is no one you can trust? How do you evaluate your job performance when there are those that tell you, you suck? I know for sure that the honeymoon phase is over. I was let go after my 90 day evaluation due to my so called lack of critical care skills? Is it wrong to believe that your job should help you to gain confidence in your critical care skills or is that just a bs excuse for we dont like you or we dont want your kind working here with us? I know that I have never had a patient go bad on me nor did I ever neglect to give a treatment or dressing change? I know that I always checked vital signs and knew what the meds I was giving to my patients were for at all times. I am unsure. But as lousey as I feel, I am also glad that I dont have to go in to work anymore....

Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

I worked as a CNA for a year and a half before becoming a LPN. I was still put through the whole "nurses eat their young thing" when I became a nurse. Then someone told them to knock it off and they did. I've seen the same nurses gang up on new people/new nurses. It's disgusting. Just remember this one day when you are the one with years of experience and you are annoyed with the new people.

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I did not work in an ICU setting. My patients were not that critical. Thank you for your honest opinions. As far as ownership goes......? I could take responsibility for showing up late or administering the wrong medication, but when people are lying on you and making the work environment intolerable, how can I take responsibility for that? And as far as the Ipod story everyone would be doing their charting with an Ipod on cna's included around 2 to 3 30 am? Maybe it was not exceptable but it is what they were doing and I decided to wear mine as well. It was not my justification to wear one ear bud or two. That is what I was told after my co workers who also listened to Ipods complained because I to listened to mine. Once my charge nurse told me that everyone wears one ear bud and I have two in my ear when I listen to mine I never brought my Ipod back to work again. But everyone else continues to wear theirs? I dont know what you were reading because I never posted that I worked in an ICU setting?

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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!

I did not mean to offend others, and I never intended to write a short novel lol But I would like you to know that I did ask for a policy and procedures manual several times, I did ask for feed back from several different people, I also purchased books, looked for information on the internet and various other things to help me thru. Nothing I did prepared me for the pettiness,the bitchiness,the rude treatment, the unfair treatment as well as other things. I followed the chain of command talked to three different charge nurses but guess what? NO one told me they thought I was lacking critical thinking skills until I was being fired. How can I except responsibility for that? What I have learned is to never get a job where I am the only black person. I have learned that it is not about the quality of my work it did not speak for itself! (maybe I should have worked on the day shift?) All I can say is that I did everything that I knew to do and it did not help me. Maybe had someone told me something other than a bunch of lies? I could have done something different? I was told I would be fine, all facilities are like that in the begining, keep working hard you just have to work twice as hard to show them you are a good nurse I was even told?

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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.

Thank you this is the most honest advice I have recieved. I do believe that there must be official and unofficial rules. No book prepared me for that. Me asking for feed back was a waist of my time because they only told me positive things which led me to think that I was progressing just fine. It amazes me how some nurses act like this type of thing does not exist and in order for co workers to want to gang up on another nurse and get rid of her she has to be doing something wrong? Because you cant possibly trying,or fighting for your job? Thanks again

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

I'm white and the nurses tried to do the same thing to me when I'd already been working at the place for over a year and a half. Next job, expect a little treatment like this, follow school rules to a T (NO Ipods, don't read magazines at the desk, eat at the desk, don't cut corners with meds or treatments, whatever) until you are done with orientation and have made some friends. It sucks, but that's just the way it is sometimes.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

It doesn't sound like any of it is on you. Even though I'm not black, I know what you are saying is real. Some time ago there was a suggestion for an African American nurses forum here on allnurses, and tons of people posted in support of the idea. There's a Male Nurse forum and a Phillipine Nurse forum, so it isn't unheard of here to have a sub-section like that. There were some people very vocal against the idea, and after considering it they decided not to do it.

Most of the people who introduced themselves to the group in that thread have never posted here again. It still bugs me. I'm so sorry you experienced that. I live and have worked in a large city. Mostly there has been a mix of backgrounds and we simply couldn't function if that crap was tolerated. Best to you. :)

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Who knows maybe in a few years I will be able to look back at this and smile. I do know that I am a new nurse. I also understand that not everyone has to like you regardless of race. But why take my job away over minute issues that could have been worked out? I never administered the wrong medication, I never let a patient go bad and did nothing about it.......Yes it is true that primary care is not my favorite but you work at it and ask if you dont know right? Everyone of us arrived at the finish line but we all took different routes. I have a friend that cheated her way thru nursing school she has had multiple complaints about her she has even had a Doctor after her job! We worked at the same facility. She has even been on probation twice and still has a job?

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

In a few years you'll be working a job you like and just be glad you got out while you could. ;)

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Specializes in Behavioral health.
Thank you this is the most honest advice I have recieved. I do believe that there must be official and unofficial rules. No book prepared me for that. Me asking for feed back was a waist of my time because they only told me positive things which led me to think that I was progressing just fine. It amazes me how some nurses act like this type of thing does not exist and in order for co workers to want to gang up on another nurse and get rid of her she has to be doing something wrong? Because you cant possibly trying,or fighting for your job? Thanks again

You are very welcome chocolateskye.

As I said I lost a few jobs because of workplace politics. A union rep schooled me on how to handle them. I pass my wisdom to you.

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Specializes in CCU.

This sounds like something that happened to me in another job area. I'm black and unfortunately these type of issues happen alot. You can ask for honest and constructive feedback but they won't tell you anything and this is probably because they dont have a solid legitamite reason at all. You have already received good advice here, I just wanted to add that maybe this position isn't meant for you. If it takes all this much trouble to hold onto it and prove that you aren't doing anything wrong or out of the ordinary as compared to other coworkers, then simply let it go and find a better place to work. I once tried so hard to fight and prove myself to ppl who were saying otherwise and in the end I realized that God was trying to pull me away from that situation and it all ended up working out for the best, although I didnt see it that way at the time. Some solid wisdom and advice told to me was that...the hardest part of your job...will be dealing with your coworkers. Good Luck

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Thank You Ambitiouz, you are right. They had nothing solid, but they sure wanted me to think that I was stupid? How can you bring your skills up to par when no one is being specific or they are telling you nothing is wrong to your face?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.
I did not mean to offend others, and I never intended to write a short novel lol But I would like you to know that I did ask for a policy and procedures manual several times, I did ask for feed back from several different people, I also purchased books, looked for information on the internet and various other things to help me thru. Nothing I did prepared me for the pettiness,the bitchiness,the rude treatment, the unfair treatment as well as other things. I followed the chain of command talked to three different charge nurses but guess what? NO one told me they thought I was lacking critical thinking skills until I was being fired. How can I except responsibility for that? What I have learned is to never get a job where I am the only black person. I have learned that it is not about the quality of my work it did not speak for itself! (maybe I should have worked on the day shift?) All I can say is that I did everything that I knew to do and it did not help me. Maybe had someone told me something other than a bunch of lies? I could have done something different? I was told I would be fine, all facilities are like that in the begining, keep working hard you just have to work twice as hard to show them you are a good nurse I was even told?

Just try and keep your head up! You'll find a job that works for you. I did travel nursing for 2 years, so I've been in a lot of different environments. There are some that are just that bad, and others that are great. I worked at one hospital that was horrible. I couldn't wait for my contract to end so I could get out of there. You are right, you can't improve if no one is willing to tell you what you need to work on. Good luck in your future, and as hard as it may be, try not to let this one bad experience shape your future and your outlook on nursing!

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