So I moved for a job 300 miles away from home...this was my first nursing job...I have no prior hospital experience,this was a big change for me but I was also quite excited (it took me nearly 6 months to find a job)...well the position I found was in a private teaching hospital on a telemetry floor...very nice unit,nice people I guess you can say a dream job...I was happy despite being far away from my hometown and my family,friends and a boyfriend..When I was first introduced my preceptor she appeared to be nice and pleasant but also had that look about her that told you "be aware of her she might smile but she looks tough" Well at first she was nice and enouraging,telling me when she first started working on this unit she felt overwhelmed and she didnt know a lots of meds etc..so I thought that she was humble and "cool".Then fast forward to a day when she asked me to give an IM injection in the arm (flu shoot) Ok so I graduated from a ADN program and we didnt get any experience in a flu clinics during our school so I asked her if she could demonstrate an IM injection on a patient just this one time for me (since I never had given an IM injection in the arm before) Mistake number one!! She got upset and was "shocked" that I never gave an IM injection in the arm...then she told me straight up to my face "that I must come from a lousy school" That day she went into manager office and told her that my school didnt prepare me well enough for the real world,strike number one....then she went ahead and told everyone on the floor that I dont know anything...oh and she also asked me "if I like it over here and if I ever though about transferring?" Mind you this was my second week on the floor!!! But despite being discouraged I kept going and showing up every day one hour earlier before my start time....It is worth to mention that my preceptor never discussed our patients with me,never asked my opinion,what was the plan for the day etc,during lunch never spoke about our patients,nothing....I often had a feeling that she "was bothered by questions and I was hesistant to ask questions and I often felt discourage to ask questions or even scared at that point! Well then came strike number two,patient had a low blood pressure and she asked me to take his bloood pressure manually,so I put on a cuff on the patient inflated the cuff but for the life of me I couldnt hear a thing....so anyway since the patient was unstable and she was in the room with me I told her if she could recheck for me since I couldnt hear anything....she did..Later I realized that my stethoscope somehow got turned off,but I guess it was too late cause she run to the manager office and told her that she doubts that I can handle unstable patient,so later that day my manager call me and her to the office for a meeting.....the manager voiced her concern to me with the preceptor backup,the manager told me that according my preceptor I'm not meeting my goals and she is giving me one week to improve (I should have known right there and then I was going to be terminated in the near future)..so I tried my best the following week,yes I did my share of mistakes (nothing major,nothing to do with a patient safety)...all of the sudden (that week) my preceptor started to take interest in me....asking me which patient I think I should go see first,what did I think the plan for the day was for each patient...asking me did I check my labs etc??? I swear to you she never bothered to ask me that before...I guess she got scared after the previous meeting with the manager...So like I was saying that week I made some mistakes but also I caugh a lot of things (like inflitrating IVs,patient pulling out IVs,pressure ulcers) my skills were getting better,I was gaining more and more confidence and started to feel that I can do it....still had some trouble with prioritizing but I think that is expected of a new grad,unfortunately not on this floor..well fastforward to yesterday (sunday)...very busy day,my preceptor was a charge nurse and one of the nurses overslept and she had to take care of her patients so she left me with 'our patients" well I handle my patients quite smoothly,finally felt like a real nurse and went home with a light heart and happy that things finally are coming together for...hah what a dillusionment of my part....today monday my manager calls me home in the morning to come in to see her ( I was suppose work a night shift today with my preceptor)..I have a feeling that something is wrong...so I go with a heavy heart...the human resource person is there,all of the sudden I know I'm getting fired...so the manager tells me that she doesnt think I'm a good fit for this floor,that she spoke with my preceptor friday and she still thinks I have trouble prioritizing...I'm crushed I'm trying to explain that I'm a new nurse and that comes with an experience and that there is always someone there to help...but my manager is set on her mind...she tells me that I should go into med surg first and then maybe after one year reapply if I want (is she ******* kiddding or what??)..I almost burst into tears,yep,signed the termination papers and left...yep so that is my story what do yo think?
If they didn't offer to transfer you, then you either had a lot of difficulities that you didn't say about or know/understand, or this is not about you. The hopsital might need to cut down the workforce. Nursing is always the biggest budget.
Well I think they didnt offer to transfer because during my first meeting with the manager I said that I dont see any difference between "making it" on a tele floor or med-surg,so she probably took it as that I would struggle on a med-surg floor as well..It is also worth to mention that they dont have too many openings on their med-surg,anyway I really believe that med-surg is much harder than telemetry...During my orientation at times we would get a medical overflow and those patients were the hardest,even my preceptor at times had to go get another nurse for an advice...I'm not denying my lack of experience but I also think that they were aware of that when they hired me and they should have had expected me to be a super nurse in those 5 short weeks.I didnt even take cardiac classes yet that were due at the beggining of the april and did not make any med error despite being left alone on numerous occasions..I have been there for 5 weeks but I learned tons,I got the charting down,learned how to give all sort of shots,dressings,assesments,I mean you name it,but yes of course I had trouble with time management and prioritizing but then again I'm a new nurse...I'm also a very honest person and speak my mind.
I'm not going to say "I am sorry to hear" because I think it's such an empty statement that does nothing to make you feel better. The best thing I can do is empower you to feel that you're above this situation and that something better is awaiting you. I think you were in an unfortunate situation that did not work out and it's probably because another door is opening for you that will be a much better opportunity. You clearly busted your butt not doubt about that, I can tell that you have a passion for this field, don't ever give that up.
You might want to look into "nurse residency" programs as opposed to plain old jobs. These residency programs are quite right for the new nurse and have the support you need.
I have had similar experiences (closed doors & another one opens) and that is how my life has worked out to date. I hope this is how things work out for you. Chin up and move forward from this experience, they really did not deserve you!
:)
Thank you for your encouragement,I'm open to constructive criticism as well but those words were like a lotion for my sore soul.
I was on the job for an entire year and was still working on my time management. I think that these people just had something in mind and you did not fit whatever that was. Your preceptor sounds a little off. You are probably better off. So, are you moving back home or are you going to do a job search from your present location?
This is why I am not up for going cross country for a NG Job. Nursing is irrational now, and nobody wants to commit to anything at all. Very dicey situation.
OP, I'd try to get a reference letter from both your manager and your preceptor. Ask today, if they feel just a tad remorseful, they might say something a little positive. If you don't like their letters then you can toss them. But get them, and gush with gratitude.
I was on the job for an entire year and was still working on my time management. I think that these people just had something in mind and you did not fit whatever that was. Your preceptor sounds a little off. You are probably better off. So, are you moving back home or are you going to do a job search from your present location?
There is one large catholic hospital nearby,I might try there or just go home and look for something there.But I know it will hard..we are in an economical disaster.
This is why I am not up for going cross country for a NG Job. Nursing is irrational now, and nobody wants to commit to anything at all. Very dicey situation.
OP, I'd try to get a reference letter from both your manager and your preceptor. Ask today, if they feel just a tad remorseful, they might say something a little positive. If you don't like their letters then you can toss them. But get them, and gush with gratitude.
It ***** but it's a freaky world.
Yep,and on top of that I spend tons of money to move here...they never help me with relocation fees.
Op, did you at least stay in some sort of extended stay place and not sign a lease?
I signed a lease for 3 months only (thank God)..April is my last month...also I took a huge pay cut..they were paying me 20.77 hours per hour wheras in my original state nurses on a night shift start of at 30 per hour...so to sum it up I moved out of state for a lower paying job that didnt work out plus I lost a tons of money to come here...
This is why I am not up for going cross country for a NG Job. Nursing is irrational now, and nobody wants to commit to anything at all. Very dicey situation.
OP, I'd try to get a reference letter from both your manager and your preceptor. Ask today, if they feel just a tad remorseful, they might say something a little positive. If you don't like their letters then you can toss them. But get them, and gush with gratitude.
It ***** but it's a freaky world.
Yeah world is ****** up,true and the odds are against new grads.
I cannot understand the impatience of seasoned nurses with new graduates, I just don't get it. Prioritizing comes with experience. Did they at least allow you to complete your orientation period before showing you the door? Gosh!!!
Let me tell you something based on your explanation, the problem is not you. I'm not trying to dog your preceptor too much, but I feel that she was just way too impatient and premature and should have given you more time before making her final judgment. Prioritizing takes time and is something you still have to work on way after your orientation period. As far as skills go there is nothing wrong with asking for a demonstration.
Don't give up or despair, pick yourself up, brush yourself off and try to move forward.. "This too shall pass". Get out there and start applying for new jobs and as someone pointed out try getting into a hospital with a nurse residency program if you can. Also bear the following in mind:
The first impression a preceptor has of a preceptee can set the stage for how much confidence he/she places in the preceptee during orientation (just my humble opinion).
My biggest advice to you is to be proactive during your next Job orientation and help run your own show, it will demonstrate that you hold yourself accountable for your own learning experience:
1. On your first day of orientation with your preceptor request a meeting if even for 30 minutes so you can tell him or her about your past experiences. For example, I told my preceptor that I have a lot of experience with G-tubes and Traches, but not a lot in other areas. For example, I have done IV starts before and one IM injection (in a NICU) but I still need more opportunity to practice. I am telling you to explain these things in the beginning, so that it doesn't come across as if you just don't know anything at all or that the school you went to was not a good school etc.
2. Let your preceptor know that you may ask for a demonstration of certain skills as a refresher because you may not have done them enough in the past.
3. At some point during your first week of orientation write a list of skills relevant to the job that you feel ok with such as: taking vital signs, blood sugar checks, subQ injections etc. and write another list of skills you would like more opportunity to practice during orientation. Again this will give your preceptor a mental picture of where you are skills wise, so there are no surprises if you ask for a demonstration of a particular skill you are not comfortable with.
4. At the end of each day of orientation summarize what you learned and the next day when you go to work with your preceptor, spend a few minutes going over what she taught you the day before, because that will make him or her realize that you do listen and make note of what he/she is teaching you. It may help the preceptor feel good about his/her preceptingl.
5. Keep a running list of every pt you have seen (identify by pt condition ex. TIA pt) and the skills you had an opportunity to perform, so that if for example your preceptor says you should know how to do X Y Z by now, you can remind him or her that you haven't had certain opportunities as yet. You know what I mean. I know all of what I'm telling you sounds a lot, but I did it and it really wasn't difficult.
Keep the faith, vent and cry off your frustration if you need to, but keep on applying for jobs.
:smackingf OMG, Sorry for the long post above, I am working on being shorter and to the point in the things I want to say, but sometimes when I am writing in the moment I don't realize how long the post is until after I have posted it. My apologies again and I hope I didn't annoy anyone with such a long post.
Use the month of April to apply at the Catholic hospital and all the local LTC facilities as well as any other local places where you might get a job before you move home. If you find something, you might consider moving into a rented room or a residence hotel type situation to save some money on a place. I imagine you exhausted the job prospects at home before you took this position so it will at least be worth it to look where you are now for awhile before you go back to square one. Good luck and keep your spirits up.
Blackheartednurse
1,216 Posts
Well I think they didnt offer to transfer because during my first meeting with the manager I said that I dont see any difference between "making it" on a tele floor or med-surg,so she probably took it as that I would struggle on a med-surg floor as well..It is also worth to mention that they dont have too many openings on their med-surg,anyway I really believe that med-surg is much harder than telemetry...During my orientation at times we would get a medical overflow and those patients were the hardest,even my preceptor at times had to go get another nurse for an advice...I'm not denying my lack of experience but I also think that they were aware of that when they hired me and they should have had expected me to be a super nurse in those 5 short weeks.I didnt even take cardiac classes yet that were due at the beggining of the april and did not make any med error despite being left alone on numerous occasions..I have been there for 5 weeks but I learned tons,I got the charting down,learned how to give all sort of shots,dressings,assesments,I mean you name it,but yes of course I had trouble with time management and prioritizing but then again I'm a new nurse...I'm also a very honest person and speak my mind.