Need Advice for New Grad Resigned after 5 months

[Millerstudentnurse]

Hello All,

Im writing to know your opinion and advice on my situation. I am a new grad and worked at the ER for almost 5 months. I was forced to resign due to "inadequate assessment skills and documenting incorrectly." I was shocked because they did not even tell me or give me time to correct myself.

Anyway, I felt there was not a good support and training system in place for new grads over there (given only 6 weeks with a preceptor in a busy ER dept) and so although I felt it was unfair to treat me that way, I was relieved to leave the place too due to the level of stress, taddling and office politics going through there.

My question is right now: how do I position myself when a new employer interviews and asks me why I left my old job given only 5 months of work ?

Would appreciate any input and advice on how to answer the above question on new job interview.

Thank you and have a great day.

Miller

[Faeriewand, ASN, RN]

Just to add to everyone's very good advice

I would take a head to toe assessment course and show my certificate during the interview. ( I have already done this as a part of CEU's thru Flex Ed. But they are in CA and NV. Hope you can find something where you live). I would be sure to really brush up on assessment skills too. I would be honest without mentioning tattling like others have said. I understand I was weak in this area, this is what I did to correct that. The skills class and then show my stuff and that I really learned it. But you would know how to say it in a better way. :)

Then hold your head high. You got out of a bad situation thankfully! You have 5 months ER experience! In my hospital you would have gotten 3 months training. Now you can move on to something better. :heartbeat

[Sherriblu]

I dont think new grads belong in the ER. If I were you I would get at least a year on a Medsurg floor. That would make you more well rounded and give you the experience you need. If you go back to the ER with not much experience you may have issues again. We all had to start out new and that doesnt mean you are not a good nurse but you need experience more than anything!! Er will always be there and you will feel more confident if you become more well rounded.

[pajoopie1]

I agree with what's already been posted.

Also, I would not mention the "tattling." If you say people "tattled" it makes it sound like you did something wrong and you wanted it covered up. I'm NOT saying that that is the case. But I'm just saying to a nurse manager's ears, complaining about tattling is a red flag.

If you do decide to tell them about the "tattlers" I would not use that word. It sounds like you are admitting you were bad. And in some situations, tattling is the right thing to do. Again, not necessarily in this situation. But I have told the nurse manager when someone is doing something wrong. However, I always take it to the person first to give them a chance to improve before telling a manager. clearly that didn't happen here. If you must mention those people, you could say that they passed "false rumors" on or something like that... but again, I'd just leave them out of it completely. Say you didn't have the support you needed as a new grad and that you really want to be a great nurse so you are looking for an environment in which you can become a great nurse. You're willing to work hard, but you need support as you transition from new grad to proficient nurse.

I agree that you needed support. I did med surge out of school and I got 12 weeks orientation. Six weeks in the ER sounds like it's WAY too little.

[Millerstudentnurse]

Thank you guys for all of your comments and thoughts ! Appreciate all of them.

Just wanted to let you guys know that after a week of job search, I got a job offer also from another hospital also at the ER and 15 minutes of driving from home :-))) Just like they say, when a door is closed, a window will be open :-)

So for anyone out there especially new grads that are suffering from "misfits" --go ahead and quit. Life is too short to suffer ! There will always be opportunities esp since you've already gotten your experience even though its short :-))) Its their lost (the one who fired you) and not yours :-)))

[OCNRN63, RN]

Thanks NurseEd and Batmik for your replies.

Yes, I am looking at both ER and non-ER opportunities. For the ER one, how do you say "the situation was not supportive, the supervisor was listening to taddles from LVNs and CNAs and not hearing my side of the story" without slamming the old workplace ?

Once again appreciate any input you may have.

You don't say that. Ever.

You focus on yourself and what you have learned from your experience. (FWIW, it's "tattles.") If you want to say the job wasn't a "good fit," that might be OK, but I wouldn't go any further than that.