Lost my new grad job 3 months in

[lhall92]

I just graduated with my BSN in May and was able to get a job at the local hospital in the ICU. I was beyond stoked since very few, if any, new grads get into that right off. With 5 years of EMS work as an AEMT, I figured I could handle what got thrown my direction. Most of my preceptors were awesome in helping me work through difficulties. At a meeting, the director wanted to go to 80 hours for the last month of orientation. Keep in mind that she is only allowing 15-16 weeks for a new grad to orient. For the last week, I was told by the director that the ICU was not my nitch and that she would let me go. A week later after busting my butt and not having my preceptor hover over me, I was told that I was no longer an employee for that unit and for the hospital. So here I am now with no job and cannot really go anywhere because of working for just 3 months...Fortunately, another place I went to prior to accepting this job has a FT opening in the ED. Hoping for a better outcome.

[lhall92]

I did not go back to ask. I was given a letter saying that I had a hard time making a difference between EMS and RN. I discussed these challenges with my new boss and she was very acceptive of my struggles and how I planned to go about resolving them. The staff at the place where I work are very helpful. They check in with me and I mention if I don't feel comfortable and if there is something I have a question on. Very close group of nurses working together between LNA, RN, and PA's. Love it!!

[SleeepyRN]

You are correct in that being an AEMT in nothing like being in a ICU. My challenges were getting medications in on time, documenting assessments in the computer faster, discharging patients in a timely manner. This is all stuff that came up on the day shift when I was with one preceptor. From the documentation from all the rest of my preceptors, I was progressing well. With suggestions like starting med pass at 8:15am for 9am non-critical meds worked well.

As far as the director, she only heard what this one preceptor had to say. She did not look back on what the others had said about me. I personally feel she did not fully grasp what I had done in the time I've been working there. Decisions were made and now I have to move on. No use crying over spilled milk

What did they expect from a new grad with these very common time management issues you stated above. That takes time. I don't get why specialty areas like ICU hire new grads then give them the boot 4 months in because they aren't fast enough yet. As long as progression with time management occurs, then I think more time should be given to see if one is right for that unit.

Also, don't let anyone tell you that after just a few months as a new grad that ICU is not your niche. One may not be a good fit in that particular hospital, or that particular time, but to say with absolution that ICU isn't your niche....ever....ridiculous.

[SleeepyRN]

Actually, my med surg orientation was a whopping 6 wks. I could have had up to 8 if I needed. And we run heparin, insulin, and amio gtts on my floor, with vents and pod 3 transplants. I think you really need to reconsider moving to the ER.

I was going to say the same thing. Ideally, 3-4 months orientation to med-surg would be great, but the real world.....not usually the case.

[SleeepyRN]

Lessons and experiences have been learned from all of this. I can understand 15-16 weeks for a new grad going onto the med/surg floor but for ICU? I personally feel like I was shorted. I felt like I just got my feet underneath me when they let me go. Oh well, moving on

I think you need to adjust your thinking on what is an ideal orientation vs real world orientation length. Even places that promise 6 months to a year, as you have heard, don't really mean 6 to 12 full months with a preceptor. That is BEST case scenario. A worse case, and what happens often, is one is told they will get, say, 6 months, but at 2-3 months they are thrown to the wolves.

16 weeks IS a good amount of time for orientation in an ICU. But for them to expect you to have perfected your time management by then....ummmm, no. A lot of progression, yes. Down pat, ridiculous for a new grad, first job.

It sounds like there were multiple factors at play as you stated time management and their perception that you had difficulty switching from EMT to RN mentality.

Reflect. Learn from this what you can. Best of wishes in your new position! I think you'll land on your feet just fine ;-)

[Trauma_drama14, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

Sounds really shady. I mean what were the reasons that you were given for why they let you go? 16 weeks is alot of training, especially in ICU. I have been given 10 and my husband 12 weeks so it just depends... And we both had med-surg experience previously. I'm sorry you had a bad experience in that hospital and hope your new position goes more smoothly. Look at it this way, everything happens for a reason