I worked in a LTC facility for a full year right after graduating as an RN. Then I was lucky enough to secure a job on the dayshift in MedSurg at our local hospital. I was so excited and eager to begin my new job.
As any new nurse, I asked a lot of questions and paid close attention to other nurses and how they did things. I was assigned to several different nurses as preceptors during this orientation. I thought things were going well. I did not get a mid-orientation review until I only had two weeks left of my 12 week orientation. At that time, I was shocked to hear from the DON that "more than one" nurse had told her that I did not seem to have the self-confidence that I should have in the job.
She also stated that one of the nurses told her I had made a med error with an injectable drug. The only such error that had been made, was one in which I caught my own mistake while still in the med room! I was shocked and disheartened.
She did not tell me any names or exactly what had been said about me. I then became very self-conscious and lost all semblance of self confidence. In essence, my excitement and happiness to be working in med /surg just went down the tubes that day! I told the DON how much I wanted to be a nurse in Med/Surg. She told me that it was nothing against me, but perhaps I would be better in an office setting or in Psych. She also stated that I was a wonderful person and the patients loved me! Unfortunately, instead of fighting for my job and showing that I have what it takes, I resigned my position the next day.
I spent a few days crying and feeling sorry for myself, but then went out and got another job in LTC. I work in the skilled area of the facility with responsibility for 22 patients, as compared to 4-5 in the hospital. I have since deeply regretted my decision to give up at the hospital. I am not happy at the facility at which I work and really want back into the hospital setting! I am not a young nurse - 60 years old, having graduated at age 58 with honors.
I am afraid that I have burned my bridges! The DON told me she would give me a good reference. Two positions at this same hospital in Behavioral Health became available, for which I applied hoping I would get a "bite." I called my former DON to ask if she would indeed give me a good reference for one of these jobs (had to leave a message on her voicemail, and did not receive a reply back from her).
I did not receive a call from HR to interview for either of these positions...I did call three times to let them know I was very interested! Sorry this is rambling, but I need to know what to do! In applying to other jobs elsewhere, I would just as soon leave the Med/Surg position off of my resume since I did not complete orientation. However, I did work at that hospital in a different capacity for four years and would hate to leave that off as well! I am just in a quandry here to the point that I am not even sure I want to continue in this line of work!
I do love nursing and caring for people, but the facility at which I work is not close to home, I work 12-14 hour overnight shifts, am tired all the time, and have just lost my zest for life! My husband is very understanding, but is not able to work, so all the responsibility is on my shoulders! I find myself resenting him, too! I KNOW I am a good nurse, but how do I resolve this??? Please help!!!
I worked in a LTC facility for a full year right after graduating as an RN. Then I was lucky enough to secure a job on the dayshift in MedSurg at our local hospital. I was so excited and eager to begin my new job.
As any new nurse, I asked a lot of questions and paid close attention to other nurses and how they did things. I was assigned to several different nurses as preceptors during this orientation. I thought things were going well. I did not get a mid-orientation review until I only had two weeks left of my 12 week orientation. At that time, I was shocked to hear from the DON that "more than one" nurse had told her that I did not seem to have the self-confidence that I should have in the job.
She also stated that one of the nurses told her I had made a med error with an injectable drug. The only such error that had been made, was one in which I caught my own mistake while still in the med room! I was shocked and disheartened.
She did not tell me any names or exactly what had been said about me. I then became very self-conscious and lost all semblance of self confidence. In essence, my excitement and happiness to be working in med /surg just went down the tubes that day! I told the DON how much I wanted to be a nurse in Med/Surg. She told me that it was nothing against me, but perhaps I would be better in an office setting or in Psych. She also stated that I was a wonderful person and the patients loved me! Unfortunately, instead of fighting for my job and showing that I have what it takes, I resigned my position the next day.
I spent a few days crying and feeling sorry for myself, but then went out and got another job in LTC. I work in the skilled area of the facility with responsibility for 22 patients, as compared to 4-5 in the hospital. I have since deeply regretted my decision to give up at the hospital. I am not happy at the facility at which I work and really want back into the hospital setting! I am not a young nurse - 60 years old, having graduated at age 58 with honors.
I am afraid that I have burned my bridges! The DON told me she would give me a good reference. Two positions at this same hospital in Behavioral Health became available, for which I applied hoping I would get a "bite." I called my former DON to ask if she would indeed give me a good reference for one of these jobs (had to leave a message on her voicemail, and did not receive a reply back from her).
I did not receive a call from HR to interview for either of these positions...I did call three times to let them know I was very interested! Sorry this is rambling, but I need to know what to do! In applying to other jobs elsewhere, I would just as soon leave the Med/Surg position off of my resume since I did not complete orientation. However, I did work at that hospital in a different capacity for four years and would hate to leave that off as well! I am just in a quandry here to the point that I am not even sure I want to continue in this line of work!
I do love nursing and caring for people, but the facility at which I work is not close to home, I work 12-14 hour overnight shifts, am tired all the time, and have just lost my zest for life! My husband is very understanding, but is not able to work, so all the responsibility is on my shoulders! I find myself resenting him, too! I KNOW I am a good nurse, but how do I resolve this??? Please help!!!