I got fired today...

Nurses New Nurse

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I'm officially fired from my first RN job today. My manager suspended me starting from last Thursday due to my medication error, which happened on Sunday, 25th. I made two errors during my orientation period, and those two errors are something that didn't teach in nursing school.

The first incident happened around 4 weeks ago. This patient was admitted due to SOB and was getting better. When I was providing medication to the patient, the doctor walked in and assess the patient for a bit. I stayed and listed to what the doctor said to the patient. Doctor said that patient is getting better and told me to walk the patient around the unit. So I agreed and walked the patient. On the half way, patient started showing SOB and wanted to sit down. I called help and many nurses helped me to sit the patient and escort the patient back to the room using a rolling chair. One of the nurses pointed out that I should grab a portable oxygen tank with me when walking this type of patient.

Oxygen is considered a medication. In fact, it's the most common medication administered in hospitals.Eventhough you want to blame the school for not teaching you this...I have no doubt you learned the concept of oxygenation throughout your nursing program (medsurg, peds, fundamentals, you name it). What you didn't develop was the ability to critically think and apply your base-line knowledge learned in theory to practical applications such as this one. There's no one to blame in this scenario except yourself.

You are preaching to the choir. Most of my pts are on and have been on vents. I've been in critical care for over 20 years. It's just that what she describes initially is not referred to as a med error issue.

The whole thing sounds screwy. Betcha somehow you weren't liked or they found someone they liked better for some reason, or there is some kind of game going on. Your mistakes were not Fire-worthy in the bigger scheme of things, especially for being a new nurse.There's a game afoot. I've seen this at other places.This sounds like a potentially toxic environment. Seriously. The whole thing is asinine, and I wouldn't want to work there....and I'm a very good nurse. Something is wrong there.Considered yourself blessed. Write a strong letter to admin and appropriate people w/i this place, and then don't look back.I'm not saying you were right, but I have seen much worse mistakes, and nurses and doctors that have made them grew to be great in their roles. This is a bad environment. The way it sounds, they would have just continued to make your life there miserable. You can do much better..seriously...I'm not talking sour grapes, sweet lemons.

1 Votes
Specializes in Occ. Hlth, Education, ICU, Med-Surg.

"I find that incredibly harsh for a new nurse. You made a mistake. Learn from it and move on. I'm sorry you didn't think of bringing the 02 with the patient.. I would've been cautious and asked another nurse but you live and you learn. "

To Belle1005: that's because you don't understand the reply and choose to project your own interpretation. The OP said ". I made two errors during my orientation period, and those two errors are something that didn't teach in nursing school."

The OP is not taking responsibility or learning from the mistake and moving on as you put it.

Please don't reply to my postings unless you grasp the concept of the message

Specializes in Occ. Hlth, Education, ICU, Med-Surg.
You are preaching to the choir. Most of my pts are on and have been on vents. I've been in critical care for over 20 years. It's just that what she describes initially is not referred to as a med error issue.

what are you talking about...you're replying to a message that's not even meant for you!!

Specializes in Occ. Hlth, Education, ICU, Med-Surg.

"Delaware is right, it's harsh but true.. I don't blame anyone but myself. Yet.. hm, I don't know what to say seriously. I just want to share this to someone. We all make mistakes; you learn from it and move on. Just don't do it again in the future. I guess this will be the most memorable experience I will ever learn as an RN."

To OP: Introspection and self-reflection on your practice strengths and challenges is one of the first steps towards becoming a true professional...you've taken that step with your acknowledgment now you just need to keep up the good effort. Good job!

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Maybe they are right and that level of care was too difficult for you as a new nurse. Try to find something not as intense where you can build your ability to think critically. Not everyone can handle every type of nursing. It has nothing to do with your worth as a person. Just means you need to learn from it and work on that stuff and find something else that suits you better.

OP, both incidents weren't tooo bad but the o2 showed a lack of judgement and the solumedrol one is a dime a dozen on any unit. Didnt you remember giving it just 2 hours before? always look to see last time if ever med was given even if it is a new med. look in one time doses, prn and scheduled. I wouldnt be so quick to blame the preceptor only . I am not suprised you got fired because you are new and because some dont make any errors while on orientation. If you had been there longer , I doubt you would have been fired

I have heard of these unpaid residency jobs, I can't believe hospitals can get away with this....

Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

Clinical and nursing unit managers are charged with hiring and maintaining professional staff that are competent in provision of that care. We do try to nurture our new staff into success, however, it sometimes becomes apparent that a particular person is not a good fit in a role. Fortunately, decisions to move staff out of positions are rarely made because someone has made a terrible or life threatening mistake. More commonly, it has become evident to the manager, over time, that a change would be best for everyone and the process for termination is begun.

Many of us are terminated from positions over the course of our careers. Please do not let it dampen your enthusiasm for your new profession. Keep your chin up and continue with the positive self reflection and personal/professional growth.

I suspect you will be fine.

Specializes in cardiac CVRU/ICU/cardiac rehab/case management.

It sounds like your preceptor wasn't around much or in retrospect were you a bit of a bronco bill charging ahead without knowing what you were doing?

Either way,learn from it. You may have been trying to hard to "show " you are a good nurse but the truth is perhaps you didn't know and were winging it? You are on orientation you are not meant to know everything. New nurses frequently lack judgement because experience is our greatest teacher.

I feel very badly for new nurses. In the yrs of nursing shortage we gave people a chance,allowed for a learning curve and even extended orientations so a nurse could gain confidence. Now, it sounds like new nurses are turfed with the attitude of there is someone right behind you ready for your spot.

I have precepted for 20 +yrs and in my experience what you did, didn't merit firing. My sense is your willingness to jump ahead (because perhaps you wanted to be seen as team player) made you a risky nurse to take on. The nurse who is unsure but continues to act can kill people. The nurse who doesn't know may get some flax for not knowing but stays employed because they won't put pt safety in jeporardy.

I applaud your enthusiasm, now work on judgement. Ask questions. If you are a natural leader you may find being led very difficult. You may even send cues like "Please, I know that already " or "I can do it myself " so the preceptor gets annoyed or just backs off as you are already an "expert". If this resonates, back up, make a decision next time to be more open to learning. Be kind to yourself and give yourself a chance to learn. This is said not as a judgement but to help you examine rather than getting stuck in either poor me or I am such a terrible person.

EVERY nurse makes errors and usually far worse than you did,even the ones pointing their fingers self righteously at you. Nursing is a team effort,not an orificenal of one, (remember that when you think you are expected to go it alone). Try not to focus on I made a mistake but rather what can I learn from this and how can I do better. It's a painful lesson. Rise above it, aim to be the preceptor you wish you had and this experience will just be part of the education you needed to be the best type of teacher. Be kind, gentle with yourself, you will get there.

PM me if you need assistance on your next orientation

@EchoRNC711.

Just read your response to the OP. I was moved by your wisdom and compassion. If everyone was like you in the global scheme of things ,the whole world would be a better place. God bless you.( My apologies if my spiritual leaning don't sit well with you)

Specializes in Pediatrics.

Eventhough you want to blame the school for not teaching you this...I have no doubt you learned the concept of oxygenation throughout your nursing program (medsurg, peds, fundamentals, you name it). What you didn't develop was the ability to critically think and apply your base-line knowledge learned in theory to practical applications such as this one..

This is the problem. As long as we keep looking at nursing school as a series of tasks, (like passing meds accurately), we will continue to graduate robots, who perform skills properly, and not learning to critically think.

Example: every single one of my students can robotically recite the steps of passing meds. "My first check: right pt, med, dose, time, expiration date, name, date of brith". But if the med is not there, or the patient's IV doesn't flush, or the patient cannot swallow pills, they don't know what to do.

Yes, I am generalizing. Not all are like this. But there is this feeling (by students) that nurses only "do skills", and pass meds.

What the OP did was a med error, as well as a critical judgment error. Many hospitals are more inclined to cut their losses sooner, rather than later. The sad reality is, There is no shortage. There is a virtual pile of resumes waiting to replace the ones who aren't cut out for the job. There are many other professions out there who will fire you for doing a lot less, and theses are non-life saving careers (retail, hospitality, etc). No one will die in these jobs if someone makes a little mistake.

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