I am SOOO bummed. Today, I was fired from my very first job in nursing. I graduated as an LVN in March, passed the Boards in May and was hired 3 weeks ago.
When they hired me, they knew I had Zero nursing experience, that I was a fresh grad and they promised me they would "extensively train" me as "long as needed'
Well hmm....ok. So after 8 days of orientation, they come to me and say "time to take a med test"....whether or not I was ready. And quite frankly I wasnt ready. The 8 days of 'orientation' was me watching as the nurse(s) I was paired with did their med pass like they were lightening Jack, didnt answer any questions I had and told me "If you're not fast here, you dont deserve to work"
This facility has anywehre from 24-30 patients for each nurse, you also have to chart and whenever a new patient is admitted, it is the LVN who creates the care plans. And if this isnt done according to "standard" you get "audited" by medical records and have to come in on your day off and "fix" your mistakes in the charting.
So I failed my med test. They said "you only get 3 chances....we want someone who is fast here. you can't be slow"
I failed 3 times. And I did the med pass correctly....I did 6 rights, 3 times, I made sure I washed my hands, did the correct protocol etc. They were looking for a reason to get rid of me. She told me today after I gave a breathing treatment, "Why didnt you assess her lungs? Get in there and assess her!!!" Ok, that was new to me. I thought assessment was during your rounds, not during med pass time.
The whole situation there is shady. They tried to pin giving a patient a narc on me when I never did it, despite someone signing my name in the narc book. Very very shady.
The other things I saw here.....when a patient asks for a narc, they will make fun of the patient for awhile and then say "You just are a druggie" and then give tylenol when clearly they have a PRN order for Vicodin. These are freakin old patients here, if they are a druggie, let them be, they are also dying.
But the worst is how I was treated. They had me believing I was incapable because I couldnt get a med pass done in 20 minutes for 24 patients. Well maybe with experience yes, but right now I dont know these patients and I dont know what meds they are on, so I am going to pick safety over speed.
Im just angry because now what do I do when it comes to looking for work?? I cant say I spent 3 weeks at this facility and then they fired me, I cant put this on my resume can I???
And to top it off, Im dealing with my dad having newly diagnosed esophageal cancer (Stage I/II thank god!!!) and massive debt and im the sole supporter of my family. So I really could use money right now.
Oh and the worst......they wanted me to work NOC shift, but when I found out they wanted me to watch 56 patients for no differential, I said no way. Thats insane. I dont mind working the NOC, but at least give a 6 percent differential.
Any advice, support or tips would be greatly appreciated,
Okay, so I don't graduate until May, so maybe I don't comprehend the finer points of nursing, but. . . How in the heck can a nurse administer medications for 24 patients in under 20 minutes???? I suppose if you had every patient waiting, with their hands out, standing outside their room, with their arm bands prominently displayed, as they repeatedly stated their name and date of birth, blah blah. . . as you sailed past them on roller skates, and as you carted about your festive, hand sanitizer, simultaneously foaming in and out of every door jam. . . Yes, I can see how this is a completely reasonable expectation. Clearly, it's your own fault for not buying rocket powered roller skates. When will nurses learn that it's all about the rocket powered roller skates????
Not all facilities are like that. It is best to protect your license. Believe me, you will find another job with a better working environment.
I had a simililar situation years ago where I was let go so that the DON could get her daughter, a nurse with a drug record, a job there. I have since gone on to better things.
I think you are better off keep your license safe! Good luck with your father and job search! I hope that you have the best of luck with your future endeavors! A place that truly cares about their nurses and doing their job correctly and their patients that are getting the best possible nursing care. Good luck once again!
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
I'll include you and your dad in my prayers. Seems like Someone had a plan for you. Take good care of him and of yourself. You'll find a job when the time is right and you'll be fine.
I know it's already been said... but I'm gonna throw MTC in anyways: wow what a MESS that was just a disaster waiting to happen. Yes I know you need the money... but as was said: protect your license/protect the patient! The jobs will come!
I would NOT put that on your resume... it was only three weeks, and most would consider the first three months a probationary period anyways. If anyone asks, you could very easily say "I was at a long-term care facility for three weeks... it wasn't a good match." Believe me, anyone interviewing you will totally understand. Three weeks is a very acceptable amount of time to try out an employer or employee.
Tylenol instead of Vicodin? Not only unethical, but incredibly illegal. In all seriousness you might consider blowing the whistle on that bunch. Not out of revenge, but because there are some very wrong practices going down in that place, and patient safety is being placed in jeaporady.
I really wish you and your father the best with his illness. The other posters are right, you will certainly find another job.
My thoughts about the med pass are that nobody can pass meds at the rate of one person per minute unless you are Superman. Consider it a blessing that you are gone, it is easier to find a job when you don't have to staple a discipline decision from your board of nursing to your resume due to a mistake being made from rushing.
Good things come out of bad....In the longf run, I think it is good you were fired. That place certainly does not sound very caring ...to patients OR nurses! Best of luck to you.
So glad you are out of there! There is no way those nurses who can pass meds to so many in 20 minutes is even looking at the MAR. i worked in LTC as an RN for about 4 months. I had 20 residents and it took me over an hour to do my med pass. I did my treatments in between med passes. Safety is ALWAYS first! what goes around comes around and unfortunately it will be at the expense of one the residents! don't beat yourself up over it. Something better will come along. My first experience as an RN was brutal. I was in a hospital but worked with nurses that ate their young at each meal and sometimes came back for seconds! I loved what i did but the Unit i worked on was toxic. i left and didn't have a hard time finding another job. What I had a hard time with was gaining back my confidence. I'm a telemetry nurse now and the experience at this hospital is worlds apart from my first job. I now believe I AM a good nurse! Hang in there, your job will come along. No need to mention the nightmare.......it was only 3 weeks..........
You sound like a very good and conscientous nurse. That place was BAD!!!! You are better off out of there. I'm sure you'll find a better job in a place that deserves you. Good Luck!!!
Lunaticus, LPN
68 Posts
Okay, so I don't graduate until May, so maybe I don't comprehend the finer points of nursing, but. . . How in the heck can a nurse administer medications for 24 patients in under 20 minutes???? I suppose if you had every patient waiting, with their hands out, standing outside their room, with their arm bands prominently displayed, as they repeatedly stated their name and date of birth, blah blah. . . as you sailed past them on roller skates, and as you carted about your festive, hand sanitizer, simultaneously foaming in and out of every door jam. . . Yes, I can see how this is a completely reasonable expectation. Clearly, it's your own fault for not buying rocket powered roller skates. When will nurses learn that it's all about the rocket powered roller skates????