I really need some support

CHATSDALE · Mar 25, 2008

lot of nurses have been terminated and gone on to happy successful careers

you just have to go out and hunt for a job, fill out your resume and hold your head up..sometimes one foot in front of the other is the only way to go

good luck

Ms.RN · Mar 25, 2008

i'm sorry you are going through this. i know its hard but try to put this event behind you and try to move on with your life. i made a really big mistake at work once and i was so scared that i was going to lose my license. i thought i was never ever going to forgive myself but fortunately i didnt lose my license and in time i forgave myself. there are many many nursing jobs out there and maybe you can use this opportunity to find a better job for you. maybe you can be frank with interviewer and tell her that you were terminated for administering atropine to a patient who was having an allergic reaction to antibiotic??? i'm sure they are going to understand that explanation. have you ever thought about working in ltc? the work is pretty repetitous you do the same thing everyday with same patients for long time but i think its less stressful than med/surg. good luck...remember, you are :nmbrn::nmbrn::nmbrn::nmbrn::nmbrn::rckn::rckn:

phoebebrat, ASN · Mar 25, 2008

Thank you so much, and yes I am seriously considering LTC. I love the elderly!

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Mar 25, 2008

I didn't see your original post, but please remember that you are human.

Sometimes the expectations are based on a perfect world which medsurg hospital nursing is not. It is almost like they set you up for failure.

Get over it! Brush yourself off. Do not let it way you down and hamper you in the future. You can do many more things in nursing.

Just be honest in interviews and discuss the mistake and preemptively discuss what you learned and how you would handle it differently now. That will stop any difficult questions or concerns and show a level of maturity that will be attractive.

Hugs,

Kim

medsurgrnco, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2008

Most hospitals will not give out information regarding your termination, only start & end dates and salary. You can check with HR to find out the deal at your last job. And interviewers don't always ask why you left your last job. So it's up to you to decide what you want to disclose, as long as there's no complaint against your license. As far as dealing emotionally with being terminated, I suggest you make a list of issues on that unit and factors involved in your termination to help you figure out what you could have done better or would do differently in the future. Good luck to you. I think you'd be surprised how many nurses believe they have been unfairly terminated. And in the future, I suggest you be prepared to resign instead of being terminated.

chadash · Mar 25, 2008

Sometimes opportunity is wrapped in difficulty. Something good is ahead!:heartbeat

phoebebrat, ASN · Mar 25, 2008

Sometimes opportunity is wrapped in difficulty. Something good is ahead!:heartbeat

Thank you, I am a believer that God doesn't close a door without opening a window.

BrokenRNheart · Mar 25, 2008

Sorry to hear about what you are going through.

Take it from me, it hurts. It is very degrading. You can start job hopping which seems to be the name of the game with nursing.

I did find an ad for summer camp nurse which someone suggested. The guy that I talked to could totally relate to the nightmare of hospital nursing. Seems the administrators do not care about open positions, the shortage or how nurses feel. They offer no support for you if you make a mistake or get stressed. As you can read in this forum, that is the life of a nurse.

Firing you was low. Even though it hurts and hurt your ego, please try to remember that this is a problem for nurses in general and you are not alone. It doesn't make you bad it just makes you feel bad.

I'm sure it is a revolving door where you just left. That is their problem. I wonder if nursing home would be more appreciative of you? At some point, try homecare. I liked it in the past except for the miles and wear and tear on my car. I am hoping to get back into homecare. Management in nursing seems to be the biggest problem no matter where you go.

I certainly can't offer a job suggestion because of where I am right now. I can tell you that I know it probably came out unfair for you. I would like to see more nurses sue to enforce more control on these administrators that use their hormones to get even. It is not an appropriate way to manage this field. I also know that legal support is next to hopeless. I have decided to negotiate my "termination" file with my last job and contact lawyers to see what I can do. I know it fell under whistleblowing and discrimination. I have been kinda defeated for weeks now and haven't done anything constructive. I finally sent out resumes today, left message with HR about the termination and I am looking into contacting lawyers. I'm not counting on any legal support, but I am going to try.

If you have co-workers that respected you, get them for references.

I'm sure you won't have a problem finding another job, but the chances of experiencing this again might be at least 50/50. This seems to be the way they want to run their business. An RN might be greatly appreciated in a nursing home. I know I am done with hospitals. I won't apply to another. I will work there for agency but I am done with the game. I am going to keep looking anywhere but there and I will be another nurse that refuses to work in a hospital.

Welcome to nursing. It's not you! Too bad we didn't get guarantees with our student loans! I'd be turning mine in!

I can honestly say that it was not worth the money and I wish I would have focused on another career.

Take time out for yourself - have a little pity party for yourself. We will all bring our own tears and hugs to it for you. You will be understood here but you need to take the time out to get over the blow.

It has been a month for me and I'm still knocked down. But I have been in this field for 15 years and I'm tired and burned out as well.

:cry: for you

:icon_hug: for you

BrokenRNheart · Mar 25, 2008

Most hospitals will not give out information regarding your termination, only start & end dates and salary. You can check with HR to find out the deal at your last job. And interviewers don't always ask why you left your last job. So it's up to you to decide what you want to disclose, as long as there's no complaint against your license. As far as dealing emotionally with being terminated, I suggest you make a list of issues on that unit and factors involved in your termination to help you figure out what you could have done better or would do differently in the future. Good luck to you. I think you'd be surprised how many nurses believe they have been unfairly terminated. And in the future, I suggest you be prepared to resign instead of being terminated.

I found that more and more the interviewers are asking why you left and wanting you to provide that manager as a reference. My guess is because they know that is what is going on and they want to know if you are going to kiss butt knowing how they treat staff.

suzi-Q · Mar 25, 2008

Honestly, it just takes time. I am just bouncing back from my incident back in November.

I will think of you and wish you well. I also believe another door opens. It has for me.

medsurgrnco, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2008

Many managers are not allowed to give a reference. Check with HR on the policy at your former hospital.