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?
You also need to be mindful of who might be within earshot when you are saying anything about anything. Our medical records person used to be the source of info to the administrator and DON. One time I observed her walk all the way down the hallway to approach two nurses who were talking at the med cart. She just stood there for several minutes, taking it all in. I would never go within 20 feet of her if I could help it.
If you applied for any kind of credit while employed there, even something like a new cell phone plan, this employer will show up on your consumer credit reports like experian, transunion, etc.
Whoa, that really stinks! I'm so sorry. I was reading it thinking man, I probably would have gotten fired too! I was pretty clueless as a new nurse on an LTAC unit but I was lucky to have a patient preceptor and a longer orientation (12 weeks) that you would have gotten. Even after making in through orientation, a lot of people still made me feel stupid. I even had a charge nurse one time tell me that I couldn't find my way out of a paper bag. Now I'm working in the OR and my manager says she has docs that I work with coming to her and saying that I'm doing a great job. My advice is to hang in there...it makes all the difference when you find a unit that fits you! You've also got the right idea finding a mentor who will "take you under their wing," so to speak. Best wishes...you sound like you'll make a great nurse and I hope the right job comes along for you soon.
I can tell you right now that the reason you got fired had less to do with your clinical skills and A LOT to do with your (complete lack of) confidence. Yes you are a new grad so some amount of clinical uncertainty is expected, but it seems like you don't trust yourself at all to take care of the patients you had, down to the simplest task. Your preceptor probably perceived you as needy, while your manager and mentor saw you as whiney. BAD BAD combination in the nursing world, as you've just learned.
Don't take this as an insult, please!! I am just trying to help you prepare for your next job because if you don't address this now you will be in the same situation again. You have to kill the passive aggressive behavior, it will only get you fired every time. No more excuses either, like one of the other posters said just smile, nod and keep it moving if you get corrected for anything.
Time management and all that jazz comes in time. But like I said, I really don't think that's your issue (because time management is every new grads issue). I've known plenty of new grad nurses in your same position (lacking a particularly simple clinical skill) but they made it through orientation. Why? Because they believed in themselves. If you don't believe you can do the job then trust me you will just keep on gettin fired.
OMG Sweety I am so sorry this happened. That is just horrible you move away and then this. I will say this I am surprised that you were never given the opportunity to administer an im injection during clincals at school or had the opportunity to practice taking blood pressure manually.. That is def horrible on your school's end OMG. These are basics that we all should graduate knowing..
I am in a ADN program too and have actually been giving Im injections since my second semester, sometimes in the legs sometimes in the arm, and fortunately my clinical group was chosen to participate in a H1N1 flu clininc , as well as some other clincal groups in my program.
Everyone in my program has administered IM injections since their second semester during clinicals, I just can't imagine finishing school without having done that. Giving Im injections and taking a manual blood pressure is something you have to get signed off on in clinicals, and i guess the Hiring Managers assume that all Nursing Students get that training. We all really should because it is very basic.
I completely agree with VIRGo RN and SUESQUATCH RN
I just think that is a rough one, they should have given you more time to get your self situated. I truly hope you find another job soon.
( and It may not be a bad idea to start off in med surge.) Keep your head up.
Whoa, that really stinks! I'm so sorry. I was reading it thinking man, I probably would have gotten fired too! I was pretty clueless as a new nurse on an LTAC unit but I was lucky to have a patient preceptor and a longer orientation (12 weeks) that you would have gotten. Even after making in through orientation, a lot of people still made me feel stupid. I even had a charge nurse one time tell me that I couldn't find my way out of a paper bag. Now I'm working in the OR and my manager says she has docs that I work with coming to her and saying that I'm doing a great job. My advice is to hang in there...it makes all the difference when you find a unit that fits you! You've also got the right idea finding a mentor who will "take you under their wing," so to speak. Best wishes...you sound like you'll make a great nurse and I hope the right job comes along for you soon.
Thank you so much..those words mean a lot to me since as you all can tell I'm feeling like I failed big time,God I hope to find some unit with a more understanding and less back stabbing preceptor..on my last day of work I really felt like I can do this (I took care of my patients all by myself for the majority of time) and one of the family members thought I have years of experience when I was explaing to the patient how we will prepare him for a surgery and I did this for the first time.not to mention I received a thank you card from one my patients...yes I know I need to learn a lot but I know I can do it,I prove it to myself when there was chaos on my unit and I handle my patients pretty well,growing confidence means more to me then any job.
I can tell you right now that the reason you got fired had less to do with your clinical skills and A LOT to do with your (complete lack of) confidence. Yes you are a new grad so some amount of clinical uncertainty is expected, but it seems like you don't trust yourself at all to take care of the patients you had, down to the simplest task. Your preceptor probably perceived you as needy, while your manager and mentor saw you as whiney. BAD BAD combination in the nursing world, as you've just learned.
Don't take this as an insult, please!! I am just trying to help you prepare for your next job because if you don't address this now you will be in the same situation again. You have to kill the passive aggressive behavior, it will only get you fired every time. No more excuses either, like one of the other posters said just smile, nod and keep it moving if you get corrected for anything.
Time management and all that jazz comes in time. But like I said, I really don't think that's your issue (because time management is every new grads issue). I've known plenty of new grad nurses in your same position (lacking a particularly simple clinical skill) but they made it through orientation. Why? Because they believed in themselves. If you don't believe you can do the job then trust me you will just keep on gettin fired.
Good luck!!!
Yep you are completely right,that is what I think got me fired in the first place...from the get go my hands were shaking and I blank out instead of thinking it through,I tend to go into panic attacks when under pressure.I was so terrified of potentially failing or hurting patient than I didnt even try to perform an IM shot but rather I asked my preceptor to show it to me...probably if I had an opportunity to go back in time I would behave differently and just do the shot (I'm sure she would walk me through it) but my lack of confidence over rulled me...I didnt know that the consequences would be so harsh,I thought that preceptors are more understanding and patient,well I guess not the one I was paired up with. But believe me when I say this I learned a very valuable lesson to appear more confident and I learn a lot and use the skills I gained at my new place of employment (granted I find something since the economy for new grads isnt getting any better)
In my part of the world, a new grad hire doesn't get an extended orientation. I've only ever had five, yes, five shifts on a unit for orientation. The employers expect us to arive skilled and able to work.
The orientation period (all five shifts) were to learn the routine and paperwork of the unit. We are expected to inform the preceptor of what we need to work on and they will try and get us our experience. After the five shifts, it's up to the nurse to ask for assistance with an unfamiliar skill.
It's always a good idea to check your s'scope before using it.
Anyway guys all of you are awsome and good examples of what nurses should be like. I feel like I cant vent to none of the people I know because they wont understand.My mother is arleady devasted so is my boyfriend,my best friend and grandma,they were rooting for me so much
In my part of the world, a new grad hire doesn't get an extended orientation. I've only ever had five, yes, five shifts on a unit for orientation. The employers expect us to arive skilled and able to work.
The orientation period (all five shifts) were to learn the routine and paperwork of the unit. We are expected to inform the preceptor of what we need to work on and they will try and get us our experience. After the five shifts, it's up to the nurse to ask for assistance with an unfamiliar skill.
It's always a good idea to check your s'scope before using it.
What part of the world are you?? I know at least one European country (outside us) that provide one year nurse residency program for all the new grads,and I mean every hospital.here in US new grads get 6,8,12 weeks,6 months and even one year of orientation...honestly I dont think it is safe for a new grad to have just 5 shift of orientation unless you were running a nursing unit while you were in nursing school.
Specializes in Oncology, Rehab, Public Health, Med Surg.
So you need to be very careful about venting at work.
Oh, so very very true. I'll bet we could all tell stories that would further prove this true----
Also be careful venting on line--as in not making yourself identifiable. There are lots and lots of readers of this forum, and it stands to reason that some could be our coworkers, nurse managers, etc
OP, sorry you're going through this. Tough times.
But I do agree with the pp that said you're not without your license, you're not tied to a long term lease, and you can make it through this successfully;
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
You also need to be mindful of who might be within earshot when you are saying anything about anything. Our medical records person used to be the source of info to the administrator and DON. One time I observed her walk all the way down the hallway to approach two nurses who were talking at the med cart. She just stood there for several minutes, taking it all in. I would never go within 20 feet of her if I could help it.