Lost job now what?

[ceneil76]

I just lost my first acute care job. I'm disappointed to say the least. But I'm also trying to analyze the situation so that I can improve and do better for next time. They gave two reasons one was critical thinking and I was told that I was argumentative and defensive when corrected. I was talked to about this at 7 weeks and I adjusted or so I thought. I was even told by the manager that I was improving. When they let me go they states they two reasons again but gave no specific examples of a time after I was spoken to where I was defensive or argumentative nor did they give me an example of how I could have or should have better handled a situation. I'm really wondering how much personality fits in to all this and if I was doomed from the start.

[caliotter3]

Once one is given reasons to 'improve' while on a probationary status, it might not be a bad idea to look at the prospect of starting up the job search again. It seems most of the time that the die is cast once they have a reason to criticize.

[ceneil76]

Hi,

thank you for your response. I was thinking that all along. The floor I was on is very cliquey. I had a feeling and still do that I ran afoul of the clique.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Were you given a performance improvement plan at week 7 ?

[amoLucia]

Once one is given reasons to 'improve' while on a probationary status, it might not be a bad idea to look at the prospect of starting up the job search again. It seems most of the time that the die is cast once they have a reason to criticize.

This is usually the first step of the good old 'paper trail'.

It's their hedge against an unemployment claim or lawsuit by you.

[ceneil76]

Yes, and at week nine they said I was improving. And they reassigned me to another unit for three days. I thought all was well. But when I asked when I worked next that is when I given the run around and then let go. I have a strong feeling they made their minds up about me and I didn't really stand a chance. That unit is very cliquey.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Being defensive and argumentative when corrected is one of the biggest failings of a new grad. I really believe that the nursing school curriculum should include something about how to take criticism constructively. No one LIKES being corrected, but you should be able to extract the valuable information from criticism and use it to your advantage even if you don't like the way the criticism was delivered.

When you're new, you WILL make mistakes. Because your mistakes could actually kill someone, you WILL be corrected. Because most nurses (most PEOPLE) aren't skilled at delivering constructive criticism, most criticism will be delivered in a manner in which you will find objectionable. It doesn't mean that the feedback is invalid or that the person who delivers it is "mean", "nasty", a bully or "eating their young." It gives you a chance to shine when you can incorporate the advice given into your practice.

The fact that someone is unable to give examples of your being argumentative or defensive does not mean that they're wrong. But you WILL have to work harder at figuring out what that means and quashing the behavior. Take some time to reflect upon all of this. Put yourself in the place of someone who is forced to give negative feedback, is anxious about doing so and who isn't good at doing it. How would you want the person to respond? Maybe it doesn't seem fair that you have to be the one doing the bending here -- but you're trying to fit into an established workplace with established colleagues, so it's on you to fit in.

And congratulations -- you now have a story to tell when some future interviewer asks you about one of your weaknesses, how it has hurt you and what you've done to overcome it.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

According to a growing body of evidence in this area, personality types are pretty much embedded at the moment of conception. But as human being with superior cognitive power (after all, you're a nurse, so you certainly aren't dumb), you can decide how you react to things. Self-awareness is a great first step. There are lots of assessment instruments out there, but I recommend a book called "Now Discover Your Strengths".

The premise is that you are what you are... trying to change your basic personality is a no-go. But you can become more aware of how to deal with others and modify your behavior to adapt to different situations. The book isn't expensive, and it contains a link for an online assessment. I am a naturally scrappy, argumentative person - conflict style is scorched earth. I have learned that this is not a productive way to deal with others - LOL.

Hang in there. You can recover from this and move on. Years from now, you'll look back on this and -- nope, you'll still be ticked off, but you'll have a better perspective.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Employers get reputations. Your hospital may do this kind of thing a lot. If so, the next employer might be more than willing to look past it. When employers saw my short stint in Nursing Home Hell, most said "Oh, you worked there​." It remains a well-known revolving door.