Got fired

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

On May 21st, the assistant DON called me and told me that on Monday 25th I am going to do everything by myself, she told that they wanted to speed me up a little bit. My story I am a new nurse, I've found a job on April the 16th, working M-F 7-3 shift. On May 5th I took one week off my job for court duty, I came back to work on Monday 11th. Okay, after the ADON, talked to me on 21st of May, she called me to her office at the end of the shift on Friday May 22nd, she told me that the DON and her want to talk to me after I am done with whatever I was doing. I went to them and ADON told "I am afraid, you are not going to make it, because you work to slow and you are asking a lot of questions about the meds" the questions about the meds was reported to them by a nurse that precept me for one day. I was in shock, I am a single mother and after passing my board, it took me almost 4 months to find a job. I got fired because after about one month from my job, I finished after about 15 to 30 minutes after my time. The weird part is that day I've finished at 2:30 pm. I have to mention that I was doing treatment for about 59 patients that they asked me to do without getting any training. I did because where I am living it's very hard to find a job. I took my time to read everything very good to avoid mistake, because I didn't want to lose my license. Now I am back where I was, I have to start looking for a new job. It is wrong to ask question about a med that I am not familiar with before I give it to the patient? I was asking that nurse the instruction, how to give it to the patient because I wasn't familiar with that med. I know my story is too long; please I need some advice, what impact that being fired will have on my next job search?

Thank you any advice will be appreciated.

Specializes in Derm/Wound Care/OP Surgery/LTC.

Sadly you are going to find yourself in this situation from time to time. When I first came into LTC, I was really overwhelmed! I asked a lot of questions and thankfully I found a nurse who was willing to answer them. At the same time, there were others who I know regarded me as a "nuisance". I don't care. If I am unsure about something I will take the time to look it up. I got a lot of "You're a nurse. Don't you know this already?" Like I am supposed to know EVERYTHING under the sun?

Nursing is a profession where you never stop learning. If you don't learn something new about it nearly everyday, you're doing something wrong in my book. :)

Don't be discouraged. You'll find something that will be your niche and you will shine!

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I can relate, I got let go from my first job after the 5 days of training because I was'nt "fast enough". Then my second job I got let go after a year, partly due to the company had budget problems, but it sounded like the excuse was I was still asking too many questions and not sure of myself. And when they hired me they said it would take a good year to get it down and I was at that point, but I guess it was a little late. Anyway at my present part-time job with "only" 28-33 residents depending on the hall, its impossible to pass all the meds and do all the treatments on your shift and finish on time unless everything goes perfect and that never happens. So now I just pass all the meds I can and do the most important treatments first. I found its pretty much all you can do until you get "super fast" or get more help.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

It is so horrible that these facilities are more concerned about speed and saving money than they are about their patients and nursing staff. I would WANT someone who is asking questions, being safe than sorry...but these bums are all about the almighty dollar, which leads to medication errors and neglect in care. Even the best of the best can fail in a system like this. I guess they would rather see nurses throw medications in the garbage than to actually (heaven forbid), make sure that their patients get the right meds, treatments and dignity.

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thank you everybody for your advice and support. i started my job's search already. if i cannot find anything where i am now i will relocated to another city, specially the one where i went to school. i believe that god will give me something better, where they will pay much better.

that's an awesome attitude to have keenay & i am sorry for their unjust action.

it's unfortunate, as well, because most jobs are not protected by unions anymore either.

therefore, employers know that they can get away with certain things.

i'm sending many blessings your way! sometimes, when one door closes, god leads

you to a better one to open! :nurse:

ps. it seems as though this has happened to many nurses on here...so i am fully preparing

myself for it..and expecting it. sad, i know...but it's tough out there.

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I'm sorry to hear that you got fired...When one door closes another will open I promise. It sounds like you didn't need to be there anyway. You will find another job keep your head ....:nurse:

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Specializes in snf, hospital- stroke unit.

This is terrible, but please dont let it get you down. I was fired last month from my job that i worked at for 6 years. I was only an lvn there for 10 months, a cna for 5. I actually did make a med error, but this place was ridiculously busy, always out of meds, you would be in trouble if you didnt sign for things even if the med wasnt given. I got 3 days of orientation and by a great nurse who was also my friend, but after 1 month they moved me because they said I wasnt getting thepaper work down fast enough, theres no charhe nurse on this unit so you have to do everything yourself. Anyway, I was depressed for a while, and at the same time I was releived. I beleive god got me out of there so he could put me where i am now, My new job is perfect, its easy, calm, I actuaaly have time to do my job correctly.So, please keep your head up and keep praying. God is going to put you somewhere GREAT!!! Good luck

calgirl:nurse:

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Hi,

It happen in hospital now in days. I live in California and it is hard to find a nurse or preceptor will be patient with you. Many preceptor does not seem like want to teach you. I been through a time when my preceptor told me that I was not good in this and that and she wrote me up. Therefore, when I was terminated they can use it as evidence. I cry home that day.

All I want to say it is not your fault to ask questions because you are new and asking questions are something you should do. People now in days just don't have patient and really don't have the heart for people anymore.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Progressive Tele.

Sorry to hear you are having problem with your Preceptor, it is tough to find Preceptors who are willing to Teach. Many of them do it for the Extra Monday, not to be able to make the unit a easier place to work. Talk to your manager about the issues you are having.

Hi,

It happen in hospital now in days. I live in California and it is hard to find a nurse or preceptor will be patient with you. Many preceptor does not seem like want to teach you. I been through a time when my preceptor told me that I was not good in this and that and she wrote me up. Therefore, when I was terminated they can use it as evidence. I cry home that day.

All I want to say it is not your fault to ask questions because you are new and asking questions are something you should do. People now in days just don't have patient and really don't have the heart for people anymore.

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Thanks for your understanding. I had talk to my manager about it. The manager did not do anything and used that again me in the end when I quit the floor. I told the manager what happen and the manager did take care of it. I write a letter and follow the procedure when I leave that floor. In the end, my manager still put me in a blacklist. It was hurtful for me. I can not believe someone will do things like that to you. But I saw that manager did the same things to two other nurses that leave the floor previously. That why I follow the law and procedure, but in the end it still the manager did that to me. It happen in hospital because there are people who try to cover themselve up. My preceptor I believe she is a nice person outside because every week the first day she comes to work. She was so nice to me. Then the second day she will start to harassing me. Telling me I am not good in this and that. It always happen in the second day. The first day, she will be have a good day. The second day she will make things like going through hell. I think that why she write me up because she wanted to cover herself as well. I am worry about not finding a job in this minute. Fear of employer call for reference to my previous employer. I still tell the trust to my interview now. I hope someone understand and hire me. May God see everything that is out there now in days.

Sorry to hear you are having problem with your Preceptor, it is tough to find Preceptors who are willing to Teach. Many of them do it for the Extra Monday, not to be able to make the unit a easier place to work. Talk to your manager about the issues you are having.
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Specializes in LTC.

This is obviously a blessing in disguise..something much better is awaiting you somewhere else. I would expect nothing less of a nurse who was taking care and medicating my family than what you did.....b/c I would be highly upset if a nurse gave my mom 10 wrong pills b/c she wasnt supposed to 'ask' about them or what not.

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I'm wondering if maybe you would not have had this problem if you had been assigned to a night shift? Having 59 patients during the busiest shift of the day sounds like a daunting task for a newbie nurse. When I hear stories like this it really gives me butterflies.

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When it comes to meds, first make an effort to look the med up in the med reference book that is on the cart. Anytime that you can answer your own question by looking something up in a med book, a reference book, or the floor policy and procedures manual, do so, before asking a colleague. You never know when a coworker has sized you up and is just waiting to complain about you. "Asking too many questions" is an easy criticism to make against someone who is new.

Hmmm. I know it's a pain for nurses to have to answer a lot of questions from new people - but frankly - I think that comes with the territory when a new nurse/LPN has been hired. If the nurse has been there for months and is still asking the exact same questions, okay, that's a problem, but I would HATE to be a patient at any facility where brand-new nurses are terrified to ask questions because someone may use it as an excuse to report them.

And I would hate to go to work at a facility where I can't ask questions that can protect my patient's life and safety - just because the nurse doesn't feel like taking 60 seconds to answer my questions.

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