I am feeling great distress over my current situation.
I received a job offer to work full time in a birthing center. This was what I thought was my dream job and was incredibly excited and was counting my blessings for such a wonderful job. As I got into the unit and the orientation, I felt I was struggling a little bit, but was assured by many a nurse this was normal because I was a new grad. I switched from L&D orientation to mom/baby. The expectation was 3-5 days of orientation then I would do a couple more weeks in L&D. I felt the expectation of being completely oriented to mom/baby in 3-5 days was a little unrealistic, but felt I could do it. I did my absolute best. I struggled with organization a little, but overall felt I was doing well. During this entire process I constantly sought out feedback about how I was doing. I was told I was doing well. Then came a meeting with the two nurses who were orienting me and our unit's educator to check up on my progress. I received some harsh feedback and was told I was doing things wrong, and what not. I was incredibly confused because this was the first I was hearing of this. I was told by one of the nurses I was not where I should be according to how far along I was in my orientation. Then I was told that I was asking way too many questions. I left work that evening pretty upset, because I felt attacked, not constructively criticized. I had a long weekend, but ultimately decided I was going to work extra hard and make sure I addressed every area that was discussed with me. I pumped myself up and was feeling confident I was going to overcome this little road bump. THEN... my next day back at work I was pulled into another meeting. Only this time it was my educator and my manager. To keep it simple, more was said to my manager by my orienting nurses and my manager felt I did not meet their expectations and they fired me. I was in shock. I was not allowed an opportunity to fix any problems, etc.
I have several issues with what happened, but regardless I am jobless now and must find a new job. So I decided to move on and not be bitter. I added the two months of experience to my resume, because I feel it counts as nursing experience. I received the feedback that I should just let people know that the job was just not a good fit.
I had my first job interview yesterday since my firing. I told the manager that the job was not a good fit. The manager asked me "What do you mean it wasn't a good fit?" (With quite the attitude I might mention). I said "The manager felt as though I needed more nursing experience to be successful in a high acuity, specialty unit" (my exact words). This manager sneered at me and said "OH!" I was incredibly offended. To say the least the rest of the interview was quite rocky. I got the impression I was wasting her time and she was not nice at all. I left the interview feeling very beat down.
So, here are my questions for you all (preferably management): Is what happened to me with my first job going to negatively effect me the way it did in this interview? I am afraid I will have an incredibly hard time getting a job now. Also, my confidence has been stomped on twice now. I am afraid that if I am offered another job that this will effect my performance and I will constantly doubt myself to the point of performing poorly. Any suggestions??
All of you advice is much appreciated! AND has made me feel a lot better! I never realized that what I thought was a eagerness to learn and make sure I was doing things right could have come across as needy or incompetent. I will definitely make sure that the next job I do get I will have a different approach. I will work on my confidence and assertiveness.
Do you live in California? I went throu a very similar experience. I was let go because I asked too many questions and was not seeing the big picture. Um hello, evidence based practice tells us that nursing is based on experience. New grads do not have that experience and need at least a year to build a foundation so that the knowledge from school and experience can start to come full circle. Consistent training would also be very helpful, which was not part of my orientation. Yep, I felt like a failure and nobody would hire me forever.
Advice: do not put it on your resume. If you do tell them they were downsizing and being a new hire you were let go first. I really believe that due to the economy, retired and part time nurses were/are flooding the market. So why would the hospital want to keep training me when an experienced nurse is pounding on their door for a job. What really sucks is that I moved my children and I, 300 miles into a very rural town only to turn around, pack and move again. I did not realize nursing would be so dysfunctional. It really sucks. I keep waiting for it to get better.
To the preceptors out there be truthful to the new nurses, be gentle and honest and let them know their weak areas to improve while also mentioning their strengths. Your not doing them any favors but lying to their face saying everything's great, than running to your manager behind their back to complain!
Share your knowledge and experience explain why you would do such and such, and don't belittle them for asking questions. I would rather work with a new grad that wasn't sure and was honest and asked questions; than one who was overconfident and knew everything and then ended up making a big mistake. Don't forget back in the day when you were a new struggling nurse. Now some of you were so overconfident.and maybe spoiled, you never struggled as a new nurse, and if you don't have empathy please don't orient new nurses!
This is the single best thing I've ever read. PLEASE if you're orienting ANYONE...print this out, laminate it and carry it around in your pocket! If you can't do these simple things, don't precept please. It's devastating to be a new grad, nursing student, seasoned nurse and to have these things happen to you. Be honest and gentle and don't stab in the back. Love it.
Hugs to the OP. I'm sorry this happened to you too. I ask a lot of questions and I've always felt it was a benefit to have a nurse ask and not assume. And I will continue to ask as that's the safe and smart thing to do. Keep your chin up sister! You're not alone and it's their loss. I also lost a dream job (thought it was at the time) and then truly got it later...so don't give up! :)
All of you advice is much appreciated! AND has made me feel a lot better! I never realized that what I thought was a eagerness to learn and make sure I was doing things right could have come across as needy or incompetent. I will definitely make sure that the next job I do get I will have a different approach. I will work on my confidence and assertiveness.
And also remember HOW you phrase your questions and who are you asking. "I just want to double check this dose with you" is much better than "I don't remember what that dose is can you help me?". Things like that. ALWAYS ask questions!!!! I get asked questions by nurses I work with who've been around for 30yrs! So just learn what needs to be asked now, phrase it the right way, write down what you can look up later, and make yourself a "brain" sheet to keep organized. I made one in nursing school that I used when I was first a nurse that my NM at the time wanted a copy of for the staff and any future staff.
Not trying to be the big "MEANIE" here. In the "OLDEN DAYS, lol....you had to have at LEAST a year of med/surg before any specialty would even think about accepting you. I did my time on a tele/med surg floor- And I HATED it. By the time I was done with nursing school, i was SO sick of Med surg. But hummmm...what do ya know? I saw my first code....and FREAKED. I learned a lot from that year. And when I eventually ent into OB- the first time I had to do chest compressios on a 26 weeker....I was able to do it without freaking. Obviously you want to be a good nurse. I'm sensing that you are the type of person who does better with positive feedback and encouragement. If they think you are asking too many questions...hunny...then you aren't ready to do what you are trying to do. It DOES NOT make you a bad nurse. It makes you a person who has the education to be a nurse...but not the experience. Take their comments to heart. Grow a set. Go out and do the sludge year of med surge, and get some experience in how to deal with patients, Docs, floor dynamics, emergencies....ect. THEN go to your specialty.
Sorry to hear about u being let go from the job. Personally, I would not even list the job on your resume. It's sad but is true that many nurses forget that they were once new nurses. There is so much backstabbing in nursing it's just pathetic that adults act this way. Grown people...I just had to say that again!! Money does change people and that is real!! I have seen and heard it all. Thats one of the real reasons why I have been reluctant of returning to nursing school. I have developed a thicker skin throughout my nursing career. I might not be able to hold my tongue the second time around. I just suggest that anyone coming out of school try med-surg first because u get to experience a little bit of everything and u get a little experience under your belt. Please don't assume just because u are a new nurse that people r going to be willing to help. It is going to be the total opposite. Dont get me wrong u do have 1 or 2 nurses that may be willing to help but its a rareity!! Be prepared!! U r going to encounter the arrogant doctors, some caring doctors, the on -call no return call doctors, the why u call me in the middle of the night doctors, the super nurses (who think they know it all), the lazy nurses, the don't get their uniforms dirty nurses (these are the ones who just sit all day and dont try to do anything), the half-job nurses, the pass it on to the next shift nurses, the i dont mind helping u nurses who are very sincere, the ask me anything nurses but eventually go right behind your back and call u dumb nurses, the lazy cna's, and some of the best CNA 's on the earth!! Im just real when it comes to nursing. I just dont like for people to be led to something with a blindfold on their faces. My brother and my aunt are nurses. I still call them first b4 i ask anyone in-house. I leared the hard way. Keep your head up. I see nothing wrong with asking a million questions when someone life is in your hand. Dont ever be ashamed or afraid to ask a question. I hope u have a better experience at a new facility!!
Specializes in Med-Surg - Neuro Science - Cardiac.
I agree with the majority about keeping it off your resume but not to lie about what you have been doing for the last two months. When they ask be honest and explain exactly what happened. Someone will see the enthusiasm you have and hire you. I agree that L&D is not a god place to start. Med -Surg nursing maybe a better start. Good Luck and don't give up! :-)
Nobody in here mentioned lying about anything. If the application asks not only for former employers, but also 'where have you been in orientation but not actually employed', or something to that effect, then that would call for listing that episode. But I have yet to see such an application. Some things are just not anybody's need to know.
The CEO of Google was asked recently about if he felt any need to respect people's privacy. He said:"Well, if you don't want something you do posted on the internet, maybe you just shouldn't be doing it". Nice, the thought that anybody should have any degree of privacy any longer.
Not trying to be the big "MEANIE" here. In the "OLDEN DAYS, lol....you had to have at LEAST a year of med/surg before any specialty would even think about accepting you. I did my time on a tele/med surg floor- And I HATED it. By the time I was done with nursing school, i was SO sick of Med surg. But hummmm...what do ya know? I saw my first code....and FREAKED. I learned a lot from that year. And when I eventually ent into OB- the first time I had to do chest compressios on a 26 weeker....I was able to do it without freaking. Obviously you want to be a good nurse. I'm sensing that you are the type of person who does better with positive feedback and encouragement. If they think you are asking too many questions...hunny...then you aren't ready to do what you are trying to do. It DOES NOT make you a bad nurse. It makes you a person who has the education to be a nurse...but not the experience. Take their comments to heart. Grow a set. Go out and do the sludge year of med surge, and get some experience in how to deal with patients, Docs, floor dynamics, emergencies....ect. THEN go to your specialty.
I totally get this. Thing is, as New Grads we are not given the opportunity to get the experience. Evidence based practice tells us nursing is based on experience combined with knowledge and that takes at least a year to begin to get the big/whole picture. I think I am so frustrated because although this is a known fact, we are not given the opportunity to gain experience we need. I feel we are set up to fail in many situations. This is not only a waste of everybodies time and money, it compromises pt safety.
ht07401
8 Posts
All of you advice is much appreciated! AND has made me feel a lot better! I never realized that what I thought was a eagerness to learn and make sure I was doing things right could have come across as needy or incompetent. I will definitely make sure that the next job I do get I will have a different approach. I will work on my confidence and assertiveness.