Let Go From Job During Orientation

gonzo1, ASN, RN · Sep 11, 2018

I was "let go" from my first new grad job (ER). Went to med/surg and had a great experience. A year and a half later I went back to ER and stayed for 10 years. I have many friends that this type of situation happened to. I also have a few friends who were told they were to slow and "dumb" to be a nurse. 10 years later they are all thriving in great jobs. A couple are flight nurses, a couple acute care NPs. What all of us did was go to a lower acuity floor for a while and learn skills and gain experience. All of us just told the next job that we realized the job was not a place for new grads and "we bit off more than we could chew." Or similar explanations.

Good luck, you will do fine.

Daisy4RN · Sep 11, 2018

So sorry to hear about your news! Having worked Oncology I can tell you that it is a hard unit for new grads as there is a steep learning curve and the facility I worked for did not ever hire new grads for that reason. I had some med-surg experience before I went there but found there was still very very much to learn in that specialty area. I am sure you will be able to move on and find something you like and that will give you good experience, just keep going and try again, it will work out!!

Workitinurfava, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2018

I went from working on a rehab unit with barely any IV's to working on an oncology med-surg floor (using Iv's with sometimes 4 channels being a used on my shift) in the inner city. It was not an easy transition but thankfully I worked in a teaching hospital. Seeing how cancer kills people was very depressing to me and I left after a year of working on the floor. We would often get fresh previous ICU patients or send them to the ICU. Time management is everything due to constant blood transfusions and antibiotics, plus these patients end up in surgery quite often. I now do case management. Maybe try rehab nursing or med-surg first.

Coffee&freedom76 · Sep 11, 2018

Thank you for all your kind words. I'm applying to a couple of jobs at the same hospital. My recruiter sent my name to two nurse managers on med surg units. Thanks again everyone! Your support means a lot

BrisketRN, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2018

Been there! It's soul crushing and lonely and awful. Sit down and figure out what went wrong. Make a game plan on how you'll prevent it on your next job. Have specific, measurable goals. You will get another job. You will find your place in nursing. You will succeed.

silverbat · Sep 12, 2018

I gave myself 2 days to consider the job offer.

Whew!!!

Amethya · Sep 12, 2018

I guess you can I say I was Let go during Orientation but who knows if it's considered that. I was working in a small Cardiology office and in all honestly, was the worst experience ever. Too toxic and clique-y and the doctor father and son were sexist, and horrible. Once I was seen as an outsider, I was basically treated like I was stupid and basically nothing. I started to get so many complaints for everything, to the point where I thought I was worthless. To this day, I'm starting to think a lot of these complaints weren't even real and maybe my manager just wanted something to call me out on anything to get me to leave. I was written up for so many small things, that I didn't even know I did until a few days later, when I was called to the office. I started getting scared of getting in trouble or even being near the office.

I ended up getting let go because I was caught using the computer after hours to print resumes. Co-worker saw after she came back to get something and told manager.

At that point, I was done and didn't care. I was finally free from that horrid job and I wanted to leave as soon as possible. I didn't know how badly this job effected me until I found a job a day later and I was fired in a week because "I didn't look mentally okay." and I wasn't to be honest. I was very on edge and was scared of everything and everyone.

So I took 2 months off and found a job after that, where I been working for the last 3 years.

Like everyone said, don't do what I did and please take bit of time before you look again to take a breather. After that you can think clearly and it will be super helpful when you find a new job.

I believe in you!

CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2018

I was "let go" from my first new grad job (ER). Went to med/surg and had a great experience. A year and a half later I went back to ER and stayed for 10 years. I have many friends that this type of situation happened to. I also have a few friends who were told they were to slow and "dumb" to be a nurse.

I've had a similar experience and here I am today (thumbs nose as that one particular supervisor) OP, things will work out for you, I am sure.

savedbygrace67 · Sep 12, 2018

Just consider that it's part of becoming that nurse that you will be. Nursing is full of those who like to sit self-righteously above others and cause others to feel less than. Hang in there, adversity will make you stronger and tougher. Nurses need to have a little bit of an edge on the exterior but don't let others make you a hardened individual on the inside. Your patients need your compassion.

Coffee&freedom76 · Sep 12, 2018

What are your thoughts on an obervation unit? Would that be a good floor for a new grad? I applied to ortho and med surg so far

allnurses Guide · Sep 12, 2018

Obs would be good. High turnover of patients, but exposed to a lot of different conditions.

peachtreednurse, RN · Sep 12, 2018

"Not making progress", and "making mistakes" are fair reasons for you to be cut from the position you temporarily held in Oncology, an area where little to no margin for error exists. It was ill-advised to assume the magnitude of responsibility that area presents without an intensive, supervised orientation or prior nursing experience. "Nervousness" is not a condition that can excuse errors, so you need to reflect on your comfort level and preparedness for assuming the care of those critically ill or totally dependent.