Loss of first RN job Today I am so sad

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I have been working in an ICU unit precepting for five months, I just was placed on my RN probation period and was working for one month everyone on the unit starting conversing about how I recieved day shift and other issues related to my position. Next thing I know I am called in the office because on of my coworkers wrote me up. I have tried to be humble through this whole exp. and not complain and then today I recieve a termination letter stating I had made a med error and Icu is not the right fit for me. When up to this six month point all I recieved was good reviews. I don't understand this. I my first year of nursing at that. I am heartbroken has this happened to anyone before?

I would like to add that I am appalled at the lack of support in your current environment. One med error is no reason to fire someone, even if it is a really serious one (it's happened a couple times on my floor, and the nurses all still work there!). Also, if they really felt that you were having problems, you should have been counseled about whatever the issues were. And if after that, you still "weren't a good fit", you should have been offerd a position on another floor - you could have worked with HR to see what other openings there were. Not only does the behavior of the manager bother me, but the whole organization sounds shady. I may have issues with my employer, but at the end of the day, I know that they will support me. I can only hope that you find a better environment in which to work in the future. So sorry you had to go through all of that! :icon_hug:

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Specializes in CTICU.

You might be sad now but you are going to realize that in the long run they did you a favor. Im pretty sure you'll find a better and supportive floor......... I'm just amaze at the older nurses eating the new nurses..... This behavior needs to stop. The upper management in the hospital should really look into this and do something about it. NO WONDER THERE IS A SHORTAGE.......

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Specializes in Clinical Nurse Specialist-ICU, Educator.

In your post, you talked about what was happening around you. What were YOU experiencing? Did you look forward to going to work? Did you leave the unit feeling energized, knowing you are living the life you were meant to do? I challenge you to look deep into your heart for these answers.

I certainly emphasize with your loss-it truly is a blow to your confidence as a new RN. It also sounds like your intuition was picking up some vibes re your status. If this was a setting with lots of turnover, this truly may be a gift for you.

Whenever we are challenged, hurt or unsettled about something, it helps to try to look at other perspectives on the topic. Think of 2-3 other perspectives re losing your job. (i.e. What would the "I'm free to create a new me" perspective look like?) Try each one on and see what it feels like. How we respond to any given situation is totally our choice. Once you are over the shock, this may help you take your next step.

I wish you all the best in your career......

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.

Please don't let this be a cause for sadness any longer than possible.

You will find that no matter where you go, what you do, or who you are, there are ALWAYS going to be people like that around you. It's just a fact of life. You cannot change them, you can only change how you react to them, and how much you allow them to affect you.

Chalk this up as a learning experience. This situation will present itself in different forms and in varying levels of intensity in the future, and each time it happens, you will notice the writing on the wall quicker and quicker, until you are able to find what works for you to combat it, and work it to your advantage.

Never give up on yourself and your inherent greatness of your individual contribution to others.

Not everyone fits in within every work environment, and that's okay..... I'm sorry for how you were treated. It wasn't very nice, and I hope that it doesn't happen again.

Good luck in your future endeavours.

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This may be slightly off-topic, but I just can't seem to understand why some nurses are mean to one another. Aren't we all in this business together to care for others? Wouldn't that kind of positive outlook reflect itself upon ones coworkers as well?

No, you don't have to be nice all the time to every single person you meet, but at least try to be a professional and behave like an adult, ya know?

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Specializes in ER.

Seriously, FIVE ICU patients?! for a new grad, nevermind the most die-hard, rockstar, kick-a** experienced nurse is NUTS, imho. Count your blessings to be out...doesn't sound safe to me.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I have faith and to tell the truth I learned a ton but I think first year taking care of five criticaly ill patients is setting yourself up for an unsafe situation.

What kind of ICU did you work in ?

5 intubated, sedated, pressors, swan ganz, bedside dialysis , chest tubes, a lines, Balloon pump kinda ICU patients ? You had 5 of those ?

Thats a bit much..

It is hard to find your niche, but once you find your niche, going to work wont be like "going to work" and you will enjoy work.

I think and others disagree with me.. but I think that new nurses should not work in the ICU right away... 6 months med / surg first then transfer to the ICU or ER. But some new RNs do just fine. Find your niche, if you want to stay with ICU, go to another hospital if you have to. Learn from your strengths.. and your mistakes...

Focus on what your weakest at.. that is how you get stronger....

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
This may be slightly off-topic, but I just can't seem to understand why some nurses are mean to one another. Aren't we all in this business together to care for others? Wouldn't that kind of positive outlook reflect itself upon ones coworkers as well?

No, you don't have to be nice all the time to every single person you meet, but at least try to be a professional and behave like an adult, ya know?

Sometimes is miscommunication, sometimes its just that people are mean, its not limited to being a nurse.

Just because we are in the health care business does not mean that we are not human beings, without emotions.

People get ****** off, people have bad days, people get tired of other peoples stupidity. Its normal to be mean sometimes...

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Once you have 5 patients it isn't an ICU.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Five patients?

Best of luck to you. It must be devastating. Life isn't about never failing, it's about picking ourselves up, learning and moving on when we do fail or fall short.....and we all do this.

Just some food for thought. The employee didn't "write you up". No one but a manager or a supervisor can write you up. Reporting your error was the correct thing to do and is not the same thing as 'writing you up".

You have to rise above the victim role with the "they wrote me up, they were mean, it was a terrible place to work anyway" attitude and hold your head high. Learn, grow and move on, but take a good look at yourself as well.

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Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

I was not aware that any ICU unit allowed any one person to have 5 patients.

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Specializes in Learning phase.

One thing I can say about allnurses.com is that its a tight niche family, you come to cry here, you come to vent, and it is a true stress reliever. People come together on this website and feel like a brand new person. I wish what goes on here went on in the workplace and the outside world. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be on this website. And I want to say personally, thank you to everyone who help console the RN with her situation and making her feel better. Life brings you ups and downs, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

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