Let go during orientation, will I ever work again?

Nurses General Nursing

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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??

I'm sorry this happened to you. At our hospital if a nurse struggles on a specialty unit they our usually given a chance to transfer to a tele, med-surg unit rather than just being let go.

Regarding the job interview I think your reply was the right thing to say. I'm sorry the hiring manager reacted the way she did. Maybe others can give you other suggestions, but I don't think you said anything wrong.

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I am preparing for interviews after being let go at the end of orientation in circumstances similar to above. I really hate dishonesty and cover stories. I am extremely uncomfortable lying by omission, not listing nor mentioning my 12 week orientation. I also dislike lying about gaps in my resume. I don't understand the comments above stating that you didn't really "work" there in orientation and should not mention it or list it. In my book orientation is a paid position, and therefore considered employment. I don't mean to start an argument, but would like to know if any others out there feel as I do...that starting a new job and having to "hide" previous experience in orientation would be awkward and wrong. As we all know, "it's a small world." What happens if they find out otherwise through the grapevine? In my mind, it may take me longer to find a job, being upfront about my situation, but if hired, at least I know they are hiring "me" and not some phony concoction I dreamed up. Maybe that way I'll know that the hiring manager has faith in me, as I am told here, I should have in myself.I'm confused, people. Help me understand this, please. I know opinions will vary. Thanks!

I am preparing for interviews after being let go at the end of orientation in circumstances similar to above. I really hate dishonesty and cover stories. I am extremely uncomfortable lying by omission, not listing nor mentioning my 12 week orientation. I also dislike lying about gaps in my resume. I don't understand the comments above stating that you didn't really "work" there in orientation and should not mention it or list it. In my book orientation is a paid position, and therefore considered employment. I don't mean to start an argument, but would like to know if any others out there feel as I do...that starting a new job and having to "hide" previous experience in orientation would be awkward and wrong. As we all know, "it's a small world." What happens if they find out otherwise through the grapevine? In my mind, it may take me longer to find a job, being upfront about my situation, but if hired, at least I know they are hiring "me" and not some phony concoction I dreamed up. Maybe that way I'll know that the hiring manager has faith in me, as I am told here, I should have in myself.I'm confused, people. Help me understand this, please. I know opinions will vary. Thanks!

First of all let's say, worst case scenario, a few months after being hired, your manager finds out you worked at Xyz facility and failed to list it on your resume:

a) Your boss likely doesn't remember all you listed on your resume any more than she remembers what color pants you wore to the interview.

b) Even if she did realize, she likely woudn't care at this point. Who would?

c) If she confronted you about it (unlikely), I would just say "I didn't list it, because I didn't feel it to be relevent or necessary. And guess what.... this would be the truth!

To call not listing a place you only worked at for 12 weeks "lying by omission" is going too far. nobody expects you to list such a thing. Frankly, I bet most HR people would consider it a pretty weird and foolish thing to do. No one expects you to sabotage your own resume.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
First of all let's say, worst case scenario, a few months after being hired, your manager finds out you worked at Xyz facility and failed to list it on your resume:

a) Your boss likely doesn't remember all you listed on your resume any more than she remembers what color pants you wore to the interview.

b) Even if she did realize, she likely woudn't care at this point. Who would?

c) If she confronted you about it (unlikely), I would just say "I didn't list it, because I didn't feel it to be relevent or necessary. And guess what.... this would be the truth!

To call not listing a place you only worked at for 12 weeks "lying by omission" is going too far. nobody expects you to list such a thing. Frankly, I bet most HR people would consider it a pretty weird and foolish thing to do. No one expects you to sabotage your own resume.

On the other hand, suppose you don't do well during your first twelve weeks at your new job. Your manager may be looking for a reason to dismiss you. She'll go back over everything she knows about you, including your resume. Lying by omission may then be adequate grounds for dismissal. And it definitely would show a pattern.

Leave it off.

Specializes in Medical Oncology, Alzheimer/dementia.

I was let go from my "dream job" last year at week 12 of my orientation...reason: "not a good fit for the unit." I went on a couple of interviews, 2 of which I decided to tell the interviewer about it. The interview was weird. All they wanted to talk about was what went wrong at that job. Here I am, trying to move forward and not relive an embarassing and hurtful experience. The next 2 interviews I went on, I didn't mention it. I was offered both of those jobs. I excepted one and have been there since February. I love my job and I'm so glad I didn't mention it. Like Brandon said, if it were to come out now I doubt my nurse manager would even care considering how pleased she is with my job performance.

Specializes in Orthopedics, and Home care.

I think it's funny, that we are dealing with people's life, and yet too many questions are frowned upon.. Shame.. .. Medical residents are w courted to ask, confirm with others as well as do thief research, but nurses are not suppose to ask questions , excuse me " too many".. I have been working on the OR for 10 years, our philosophy is" see one, do over, teach one". We as nurses need to advocate , encourage and champion one another, not frown upon one of our own who is new and struggling to find thief nitch..

Did you ever end up finding a job? If so, how long did it take?

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