New grad asked to resign during orientation need advice

[Roxy518]

SO I am pretty new to this but here is what's going on...I basically had a hard time finding a job since graduating in May 2010...I was working as a unit clerk in a community hospital and finally decided to apply there since I had no job offers from other hospitals my gut always told me not too but I felt pressured from my family to just get a job. I began orientation in August, I was hired for a telemetry floor but since my floor was getting renovated I was placed on an orthopedic floor where I was for a month then after me complaining because it's nothing like a tele floor they put me on a telemetry floor for my first 12 hour shift what a difference...so anyway once I got to my unit I felt so upset all the time had a hard time adjusting and just felt plain stupid...I guess it is normal to feel this way when your new but at the moment I felt alone...I had a total of 8 weeks orientation and I feel like I had an unfair orientation, so on my last week of orientation I received a call from HR where I was asked to meet with the educator head, my unit manager, and the nurse recruiter, I was so nervous I tried my best to hold back tears and this is when I was given an ultimatum I was told they can only give me 1 more week (3days of 12hr) orientation and prove to them I can take a load of 7 to 8 patients (because I get very overwhelmed after 5 patients) and they even said they don't think it will make a difference or I can resign or I run the risk of getting fired. I ended up resigning because I was scared to get fired and I also forgot to mention I was offered a job in the wound care center of my hospital per diem prior to all this and when I called them to tell them my decision I let the recruiter know if I could take the position she told me initially yes and then said she had to call me back which she never did. I finally called the lady in charge of the wound care and she told me they (HR) told her not to hire me I called the recruiter and she told me something completely different I was mad because I feel like all this was done on purpose so now I'm basically left with no job after 8 weeks of orientation and I don't know what to do...I feel more hurt because I was told they were willing to invest time in me yet they never cared to address my concerns..I cant beleive I worked in this place since 2008 for something like this happen to me...I would appreciate any advice on this I really have lost all hope and this really makes me feel like a complete failure, I can't stop crying and simply am a wreck...

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

It may not appear that way, but its a blessing in disguise.7-8 pt sucks big time- its a tall order .you wouldnt have wanted to stay there. believe me. unfortunately we realize that no companies have any loyalty anymore to anyone.so dont take it personally. They want to find people stupid enought to take these rediculous loads- let em find someone else to do it. no wonder its toxic there. they did you a favor. scope out other jobs.I mean as in not nursing. best wishes to you.

[nohika]

on an orthopedic floor where I was for a month then after me complaining because it's nothing like a tele floor they put me on a telemetry floor for my first 12 hour shift what a difference

Unfortunately, this may have been initially where you stepped wrong. Generally you don't complain to your employer. It's different, yes, but next time, use it as a learning opportunity. Complaining can make people mad.

I was told they were willing to invest time in me yet they never cared to address my concerns..

Unfortunately, as a new grad, your concerns don't really matter to them. You're not invested in their company or experienced as an RN. 8 weeks was a pretty short orientation IMO - I think typically what I see here is about 12 is average. Your concerns are important in a way, but you need to limit your battles. They want someone who will not fight constantly - too much work and annoyance for management imho.

[Winnie_Kate]

I agree with a lot of the feedback you've already been given. 7-8 patients sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Perhaps look for substitute school nurse positions both in public/private schools in your area or something that isn't hospital based right off the bat if you're not having much luck with hospitals in your area. You don't need to work at a place where the staff isn't supportive, that's for sure.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

Oh and let me tell you- telemetry is not what it's cracked up to be either. I just LOVED tele when i was in NS. I would be the one getting all the strips, studying them, etc. I have been in tele for 7 years- it has changed to tele- with med/surg, psych, geriatrics, dementia- and many people are a combo of all of the above.So nice to be pushing IV meds for my rapid a fibber while my confused pt is climbing out of bed ready to crack their head open on the floor, and the drunk is threatening the secretary at the desk. NO, you don't want this. maybe a DR office might hire in your area- also believe me its not worth the extra money to work in a hospital. I am in the process of figuring out a way to live on Burger King wages , LOL. well, not really lol :-(

[EDnursetobe]

7 to 8 patients on tele seems so dangerous to me. especially for a new nurse. Be thankful you quit before something bad happened.

Stay positive, you will find another job eventually.

[Lovely_RN, MSN]

Ortho is not tele! What happened to you at that hospital is the very definition of getting pooped on. Eight weeks orientation to a tele unit is not really enough for a new grad especially when you spent 4 of the 8 weeks on ortho! That's crap and 7 tele pts is a LOT...8 is ridiculous and unsafe...I usually have 5-6 and adding that 6th patient makes the shift go from a lil bit stressful to a lot stressful. Honestly I thank God that usually 1-2 out of the 6 are stable (usually d/c from monitor and waiting to go to med/surg or home) because you can't give 6,7, or 8 very sick pts good care.

By week 4 on the unit I was really just beginning to fully understand the flow of the work. I was much more functional by week 8 and by week 12 I felt confident enough to handle the routine day to day tele stuff. I still need help when things go ***** and I'm not a totally inexperienced new grad. I'm really shaking my head over here...they gave you a very poor orientation.

I think you should try hospital nursing again but you have to stand up for yourself to get the kind of orientation you need to be a fully functioning novice nurse. There is a way to be assertive without being aggressive and ticking folks off. Good luck in the future and it was really them and not you in this case so waste no more tears over this.

[Roxy518]

Thank u so much to all who have replied I didnt expect so much feedback I feel so much better after reading this..I kept telling myself I should've never said anything and sucked it up but I cant risk patients safety especially when thye told me I would have up to 7/8 patients n yes lovelyRN ednursetobe and winniekate it was very toxic and u guys helped me see things in a new light again thank you! :)

[Roxy518]

and lovelyRN- yes I feel like I had an unfair orientation and thank you for telling me 8 weeks is not enough I would question that everyday and when i asked for more time they didnt want to but yes I will continue trying hospitals im jus gonna tkae this and learn from it thanks again :)

[Emergency RN]

No offense, but permit me a question here? Of the total number of people in your orientation group (hospitals usually have them every few months) how many of them were asked to leave? The truth is, none of us are ever perfect and each of us, at some point in our careers, will hit a bump in the road. It's what you do with it that can make or break you.

Often, when you're the one being let go; it's hard not to feel that something unfair had been done to one's self. But, in the overall reality and function of institutions, it's really just one very small facet of the hospital's life. They have to ensure that all of their personnel can perform on the same equal level. Whether the RN:PT ratio is overly high becomes a moot point; if everyone else is doing it, then you're expected to, too.

I suggest that you take this like the professional that your license says you are. Thank your employer for giving you the opportunity to be exposed to their work environ and professional ethic. Apologize for falling short of their standards and expectations; and if it's not too late, request an exit interview. During that process, ask your employer what could you have done different that would have made you more professionally desirable and retention worthy, so that it is something you can strive to do better in the future. Then shake hands with them and again, apologize for not performing to their expectations.

The point is, they're asking you to leave, but you don't have to leave mad. Instead, even as you're departing, maximize the experience for your own future benefit, and leave on amicable terms. It would show them that you're not only professional but also mature enough to rise above the emotions of the moment, look beyond today and towards your own future instead.

Good luck to you.

[headinsandRN]

OP I know 20 year veterans that would sink and drown in sea of 7-8 patients on a Tele floor.

Just awful.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

rg11 I know the feeling thruout my orientation on 3 different floors I had about 10 different preceptors...and your trying to absorb everything they each say but then you begin thinking which one is the correct way...I thank you for the support and I wish you all the luck during orientation try not to give up I hear we will feel like this for at least a year thanks again for the feedback :)

seekingedu- My orientation experience was horrible! I used to come home crying almsot everyday and having so many diff preceptors didnt help...I thank you for your kind words and sometimes things do happen for a reason hopefully its for something better because this just happened this week I guess thats why I feel so crappy again thank you

prove to them I can take a load of 7 to 8 patients (because I get very overwhelmed after 5 patients)

I don't know experienced nurses who can easily handle a 7-8 pt. load on a telemetry floor. The fact that you oriented on different floors, had so many different preceptors, and you're expected to handle that ratio? It's a recipe for new grad failure.

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

Oh, why do they continue to throw new grads to the wolves/eat their young? I've been there, done that. First job - 7 pts on oncology, no orientation (this was 1998 and the "6 week orientation" consisted of increasing one's pt load by 1-2 each week. Nothing else, no preceptor or guidance); after 11 weeks I was asked to resign. Next job - 8 pts on PCU/telemetry (ridiculous load even for experienced nurses, we did vasoactive drips we had to calculate!); stayed for a year, but each 12-hr shift turned into 14-15 hours because I had to chart after hours (not off the clock, though). Wasn't asked to leave, the manager knew what a hellhole it was (she quit soon after I did), but I just couldn't do this to myself anymore; who could?!

Bottom line, OP - you're not alone, you were mistreated, it's not your fault (no matter what some people imply), and you will find something much better. So sorry to see this is still happening to new grads today.... the shame of nursing.

I wish you the very best, please don't be discouraged, you will get through this and find a much better job!

DeLana