let go during orientation, needs advice?

dah doh, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2015

That drive would force me to quit...prestigious hospital or not! The OP mentioned only planning to stay for a year...so is there another way to obtain your ultimate goal that can't be obtained by staying put at your supportive ICU environment?

As for that "journal"...what in blazes is that about??? We do daily progress reports on trainees. These are official documents shared between the preceptor, the orientee, and the manager. The good, the bad, and constructive criticism is documented. I always discuss what is documented prior to filling out the form. Monthly progress reports are also documented.

Wrench Party · Oct 31, 2015

F--- that noise. You should go back to where you came! RUN, don't walk, away from that toxic work environment.

MichelletheRN · Oct 31, 2015

Run, run, run!

Hold your head high, too.

Their loss.

I think maybe this preceptor doesn't have enough to do, she has all this time to write in her tattle tale book.

If they seen you do something wrong, right when it happened would be the appropriate time to tell you.

Not by writing it in her little book.

You need to get ahold of that book.

featherzRN, MSN · Oct 31, 2015

The writing is on the wall, IMO. Go take the other job - I would. Forget about the 'prestige'!

runsalot · Oct 31, 2015

Before I was an RN I left a job where I was established and respected at a small company for a fortune 5 company. Biggest lesson I learned there is a big name is just a name. Stay where they treat you with dignity.

tokmom, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2015

Hi there,
I started at a large prestigious hospital ICU unit 4 months ago. Previously I have worked at a small community hospital ICU for about a year. I had no issue at my prior job and I made the change because I was young and wanted the "big hospital, high acuity" experience. For the first two months, there had been no concern about me, everyone on the unit was saying how fast I would adopt to this environment. Then an incident occurred where there were questions about my critical thinking ability. I won't go into details due to patient privacy but I have fully taken responsibility for it and there were no harm done to the patient. I met with the educators, debriefed over the incident and discussed what had went wrong.
The orientation since then had been quite rocky since I felt like I was being watched over all the time and i was not too sure if my preceptor had ever really trusted my ability since then. Fast forward to this week, I was called into a meeting with my manager regarding my progress, apparently my preceptor had significant concerns about me and this was documented in a very detailed journal. I was not aware of a lot of concerns she had and i felt like even things that I have said (unrelated to patient care) was documented. I was surprised but maintained myself during the meeting. The manager said they would extend my orientation and if it doesn't work out then she will ask me to resign. My question is that I still work per diem at my old place, and there will be a temp full time position opening, I havent technically been let go yet at this new place. However I felt like thats the direction we are gonna go into. I am wondering if I should call it quit now or give it a try? My coworkers at the old place are aware the orientation aren't working at this new job and they are quite supportive of me returning. My family and friends said I should not quit this new job and this is a prestigious hospital and I wont be able to be re-hired. They told me its practically a career suicide. Any suggestions? I would appreciate any help!
P.S this new job had been a 1.5 hr commute each way plus I get very minimal break at work so I am constantly tired, having trouble sleeping. My old job is a 5 mins commute and my work life balance then was much better.

I think you made up your mind. Reread your last sentence.

Bob Loblaw · Oct 31, 2015

I would ask for a different preceptor. Maybe I just don't comprehend the preceptor experience, they are supposed to guide you and assist you to proficiency not detail you flaws in a log. From what i read on this site, I have been extremely lucky with mine because they all took me under their wing and guided and nudged without insult or controversy. The places I've worked I can tell when orientees get assigned, without even meeting them, who is going to have a good experience and stay and who isn't just due to who they were assigned to. Just like I can look on the schedule and who is assigned and see whether shift is going to be good and which one isn't. You know- the shifts that if you need help you don't even have to ask because other RN's are right there in the room with you doing some of the tasks cause everyone knew the patient needed alot of care and the shifts when you were on your own. When I was in the fire service we would say- I'd go into a building with him (greatest compliment you could say about a firefighter) and those you wouldn't.

sheepingarden · Oct 31, 2015

I did asked for a different preceptor. My manager seemed receptive at first and then skimmed over my request at the 2nd half of the meeting. Maybe something I said made her change her mind?? I requested a meeting on Thursday with my per diem job. Hopefully I won't be unemployed during Christmas. Lol

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2015

I would resign...since you are orienting they most likely will not allow you to work out your notice but still give them the required notice. What sense isit to work at "prestige" hospital if that's the kind of environment you are in?

VANurse2010 · Oct 31, 2015

I did asked for a different preceptor. My manager seemed receptive at first and then skimmed over my request at the 2nd half of the meeting. Maybe something I said made her change her mind?? I requested a meeting on Thursday with my per diem job. Hopefully I won't be unemployed during Christmas. Lol

If your manager knows you're having problems on orientation and isn't even willing to try a new preceptor - she is not invested in your success. Move on.

NurseNHowell · Oct 31, 2015

I preceptor nurses quite a bit as a LVN. Usually it is new grade RNs with floor work and desk until they move on to my RN supervisor precepting who usually coprecepts the first couple weeks. Experienced nurses usually I precept a few shifts then am like an on call assistant if they get swamped or behind. Weird yes I know but it's cost effective and I have over a decade experience.

Now we are required to write reports for each shift but they are done together then submitted to the RN preceptor who reviews and does a plan for improvement with them each week.

Honestly I would go to human resources and your supervisor and report that you feel this journal is inappropriate since none of these things were brought to your attention for weeks so how are you to improve it if it was never addressed. Id also report that since personal opinions and non-patient or care related things were documented that you feel your preceptor is biased against you and you don't feel you are being given a fair chance so you want a different preceptor or just put in your notice. Make sure you are meeting with human resources so that it is in your file for future reference in case you do want to apply to the facility again or a different department. I'd also request the journal is destroyed since there clearly is a HIPAA issue with patient care related statements in it

SubSippi · Oct 31, 2015

Am I the only one who doesn't think he journal is inappropriate? That nurse is probably required to give reasons why she thinks her preceptee needs longer orientation and/or to be let go, so I can understand why she is keeping documentation. As long as the information is completely factual, I don't see a problem. Although, it certainly wouldn't make me feel good if that happened to me, so OP, I understand why you don't like the idea of it.

I also think if they wanted to fire you, then they would, they wouldn't offer you a longer orientation. I could be wrong, but I was under the impression that when someone was in orientation, you could be fired at any time, for any reason.

It sounds to me like it might have a lot to do with you just not fitting into the unit culture. Which is fine, everybody isn't going to fit in everywhere. And you made a good decision staying PRN at your old job!

Also, a year of ICU experience really isn't that much. You might be more comfortable in a higher acuity unit after a little bit more time in your old unit. If working in a big hospital with the sickest patients out there is what you want to do one day, don't let this little hiccup make you think you're incapable.

Good luck!!