Let go from my first nursing job, cant find another job

[MI_RN_87]

So if anyone got any advise , that would be amazing!!!

I got let go from my first nursing job after a little over 3 months. I been thinking a lot about what went wrong and I feel that I was very overwhelmed. First I moved 6 hours away to start this job, started out ok but then went down hill. I got a preseptor that was nice and after are shift was done she would,say Good Job! She said this for about 3 weeks. I was starting to feel like I was getting the hang of it and I mean she said good job after every shift

but after a shift I guess there was some nurse that were overwhelmed with work and they complained that I did not offer to help them , ( well my perseptor did help well I did are monitor and cared for the patient we were assised plus half the time she work on a assay she had due for her masters degree program ) after that I got call into the mangers office to talk about why I did not help and why I was not at the level I needed to be at, at that time in orientation. I honestly did not know I was off tract , I mean my perseptor said good job after every shift. I do admit I was stuggling with organization, time mannagement and was only caring for two patient semi independently.

My preseptor and nurse educator made a week by week goals for me. Like take on more patient independently, time management with medications. And I had to come the next say with a step by,step how I was planning my day. Next shift I turned in my step by step and manager approved and suggested I make a chart for time management of medications. I started to improve and became increasingly independent and always asked at the end of my shift how I was doing which seemed better.

I then got another preseptor she was in the best terms very particular about everything, she read my charting and shift reports and picked them apart, never let me,take a breather. I was continually fixing charting to her liking. Also I felt that every question I asked her she gave me a " good stupid," overall not ever inviting. I hate going to work when I know she was going to be my perceptor.

But after her I had a few meeting with my manager everytime it seemed like a new thing I needed to improve. After a few weeks I got pair with a new preceptor. He was great! He was up front. Honest and encouraging. He told me the manger was unsure at this point if he was going to keep me and he did not want to see that happen to me. He told me, to go take care of the patient and he would be there if I had question, I think the thing that,worked with him being my perceptor is he did not hover and was alway very open and easy to come to with question. He was my perceptor for about a month. I started to get a few positive meeting with my manger. (but also still some areas to work on - I got a extention on my orientation period)

I was finally put on nights (two more week orientation on nights was the goal) My perceptor on nights was nice her only consider to begin with was building relationships with patients not just jumping in and assessing right away , I worked on it and she told me I was doing well and she noticed that I did better when she stepped back and let me go on my own.

But then right before my last orentation night I asked my perceptor a if she thought I should give a BP med to q patient when the Bp was not really low but low then average , she said she would hold it well I went to give the lady medication and I had the BP med out not intending to give it just off to the side and she came and saw me hold the med and freak out asking why I was going to give it (u wasn't I was actually just looking it up to learn more about it ) well after that that same lady pulled out her NG , and keep getting out of bed, paying not attention to lines connected to her all night ( I think she had sun downing sydrome - in diagnosed)

so I was in and out of her room all night and lastly I forgot to give a med to another person ( the made was suppose to be given on day shift but she was in surgery so it fell in over due medication - which I must have over looked (but she got the 4 other iv medication due over the course of the night) while after report my perceptor ran straight to the manger and nurse educator and told them everything. I talked to her after and she told me " I needed to start thinking like a nurse" after that I lost most of any confidents I had after three more shifts my manger called me in on my day off and told me I was let go.

What happed I think

1. I was super home sick , I did not have anyone to turn to (plus my boyfriend was super home sick and told me all the time)

2. The manger and my boyfriends brother were nursing friends and I think they though I,was going to be like him when I very much was not

3. I spent also of time trying to understand the hospital computer system - it was not like anything I ever used

4. My personality is more submissive and shy

After I felt defeated , losses - after I few Weeks I applied to everything got a few interviews but no called backs after

I ended up taking a direct care (adult foster care) job to pay my bills and I 've been,working there for awhile I still apply when I see job opening, but I feel super down every once and awhile because I not using my degree and I feel I am losing skills and if seems like sometimes I will be never get a nursing job

Any suggestions ? Was taking a direct care job wrong ? Please help !! :-(

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Well, I have to be honest - my first question is whether your resume and cover letters have as many misspellings and as poor grammar and punctuation as this post does? I know that sounds snarky but I don't mean it that way. If your cover letters look like this, you won't be getting calls back. Have someone read them over for you before you send them out and have someone proof-read your resume. Your post above is very difficult to read through and honestly doesn't make a lot of sense in some areas.

Some of the things you wrote are pretty passive aggressive. You mention your boyfriend letting you know he is homesick all the time, your preceptor working on an essay for school at work, your boyfriend's friends conspiring against you.....all of these things you cast out as potential blame for your situation or veiled snark attacks on others. You referenced yourself as being submissive and shy. It sounds, frankly, like assertiveness training is in order as well as some musing on what you are and are not responsible for and what you should and should not occupy your thoughts with.

It sounds as if you were close to turning the corner and being more successful. I hope you get another opportunity elsewhere and are able to carry all you have learned forward with you. I wish you all the best in your search.

[MI_RN_87]

True, my post has a lot of misspellings, grammar and punctuations mistakes. Sorry if it's hard to read. I used my cellphone to post this. My phone likes to change words on me and add commas everywhere. I should have proof read this comment. I wrote this very quickly before going to sleep. I also definitely I’m not by any means amazing at spelling, grammar or punctuation.

Thanks for the advice above. My resume and cover letter has been proof read by multiple people. I think it's more the interview and the "Let go status" keeping me from getting called backs after the interview.

I also don’t mean to blame anyone. I was trying only to explain everything that was going on during orientation and issues at home. When I was let go I took full responsibility and do not blame anyone but myself.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Something that really stands out to me is OPs inability to cope with a normal patient load after 3 months of orientation. Simply put, lengthy orientations are just too expensive for hospitals today. Based on the information provided, the manager did try to "foam the runway" with a mid-course progress evaluation & modification of the OP's training; providing much more structure and introducing specific interventions (daily plan, scrutiny of documentation, etc.). This was very appropriate.

Unfortunately, OP is probably correct - hiring managers are going to be very reluctant to take a chance on someone who didn't make it through a lengthy orientation. Maybe OP should look at jobs that do not require as much autonomy such as physician office or clinics.

[MI_RN_87]

Sorry it may be unclear. I was up to 4 to 5 people on nights. The only thing I found with clinics and doctor offices is they want experience in a office/clinic setting. :-( sounds like I'm screwed

[CrossCountryRN2008]

Try to apply to new grad programs. Sounds like you have a learning curve on computers and time management. Make a brain sheet and use it. Explain in interviews that it was you not keeping open communication with the manager or charge nurses. We get up to 6 or 7 during the day and 8 at night. If you went to rehab it would be 30 patients.