New grad just got fired

grandma pat · Sep 26, 2006

I am sorry that your first job as a nurse had to end this way. I have been an RN since 1991 and still have to refer to my charts, the computer, or other staff for information on how to deal with my patients at times. I firmly beleive that nothing happens without a reason, so this job probably was not meant for you. I agree that you should ask for a meeting with the head nurse/educator or preceptor to find out what they were not pleased with to allow yourself insight on how you need to grow from this situation. Don't take it personally because it may be just good old hospital pollitics. Once you have regrouped and start putting in applications focus on you strengths and remember that book knowledge is great but part of real nursing is to learn to see what you learned in your patients. Unfortunately this takes time and patience is not always our strong suit. Try to get into a preceptor program that allows you more time to build your skills and self confidence. A blow like this can affect the way you react in the future, so try not to hold onto it to long. I wish you the best of luck and hope that you can hang in there until you find you nitch in nursing.

vetnrse · Sep 28, 2006

Believe me, its not you thats the problem. Its some of these nurse supervisors that dont have the guts enough or the knowhow to communicate honestly. So they take a small item and exagerate it out of proportion until it can and will be used against you for termination reasons. My guess is that this one probably wanted a more experienced nurse as she may have seen that it takes some time to orient a new grad with her floor nurses used as precepters. And she just couldnt be honest about it.

I was fired once with no notice, warnings or anything on a pumped up charge, that believe me , nurses are guilty of everyday, every shift; an MD order starting late( with no adverse effect to the pt) . I had just worked a 12 hr OT shift that the NM had begged me to work because of short staffed( surprise). then calls me in to terminate me. The real reason I got fired though, is, Im not a brown noser, and boy did he love them. Im a good nurse and have the references from other facilities to prove it, so dont take it personal dear,some of these people have alot of problems and take it out on the staff especially the ones that dont kiss up to them.Its a CYA backstabbing business and you have to be careful out there. Good luck, you'll do fine.

workinmom7 · Sep 28, 2006

[i am sure you feel terrible right now. I do know how you feel, but truly, if that is how you were treated, you don't want to work there anyway. Nursing comes with way too many stresses to have some over zelus know it all breathing down your neck. You aren't going to feel like you know much of anything for a few years, and that's okay. And guess what? We never know everything. Nurses that think they do are the most dangerous ones! I bet by the time you get this you will have already gotten another job. Let me know and hold your head up high. You were honest and didn't pretend or lie. Good for you. :nurse: :nurse: :nurse: :nurse: :nurse: :nurse: :nurse:

twotrees2 · Oct 9, 2006

Dear Nurse,
I am so sorry this happened to you-I agree with the other one's that you need to be very kind to yourself-ask for a meeting to help you make choices for your next job-it does sound like that it was a bad fit-look for a hospital that has at least 12 week orientation program and a support system for new grads-usually larger hospitals-when you interview for next job, honestly tell what happend and that you learned from it. As one nurse said, if you live in an employment at will state, like mine-it is more difficult-if this is the case the employer just tells the next employer that you worked there from x day to y date-. Yes, you are expected to know about your patients--however you can always look information up in a book or the chart etc. I think the person that suggested that how you present yourself might be the problem-perhaps get some short term counseling, if you can-you will both learn from this and you will get a better job, that is a better fit-and that you will be happy and fulfilled in. go somewhere that is relaxing to you-the beach or the mountains or a lake and write down your feelings and what went wrong-then armed with this, ask for the meeting to get feedback-if you are near your school of nursing, maybe go to one of your trusted faculty and ask for assistance, both in job search and in finding out the dynamics of what caused this. You may find out that this is known as a place that eats their young!! Good luck and you will find the right place to work, and later you will respond to another nurse in a forum like this and help that person from what you learned.

never trust any employer to follow that rule and there is NO way to prove that they did otherwise ( ie theyll say they heard rumours from elswhere but in fact it was the employer) - so always be honest with what your side of the story is. most employers know ther is 2 sides to that story and a good one will choose you if you were wronged.

maximaxi · Nov 30, 2006

I am still searching for the strength to move on. I was called in the office yesterday and given the pink slip. I am a new grad, just graduated in May and passed nclex a couple months later and got my first job on a med surg floor.. I started work the end of July and I was on orientation and had three preceptors. The educator dilligently came around and ask me questions about my pts. Basically this lady just hammered on things I told her I needed to look up. She nailed me on things I failed to answered correctly plus exaggerated . And guess what she had it all documented, correct me if i am wrong, am i suppose to answer all her questions correctly? DO all nurses truly and honestly know qthing about their pts? it was the completion of my orientation and they pulled me and said byebye!! Besides, My preceptor just told me how great I was doing the other day.

First that sucks about your situation.Things happen for a reason. Their loss not yours. Later you will look back & be glad that you are not there anymore.How supportive,informative would they have been down the road? I would ask the manager and the educator to please sit down with me and talk about exactly what the problem was. And be like this way I can use this information for any future jobs/orientation I will have. If you don't know what you did "wrong" or what you were deficient in how can you improve yourself? Hi im also in orientation and was wondering what type of questions was the educator asking you. Yesterday was one of first days I actually got the nerve to ask my preceptor how I did yesterday after my first 12 hr shift with her.I asked her as we getting our stuff and getting ready to get on the elevator. I was glad I did & I noticed that she seemed glad I was actually asking.She all of a sudden started letting her guard down and actually was telling me how I could improve. She was telling me how she has noticed that I have progressed from the first day &what she thinks the big thing for me is organizing/prioritization. I got the nerve after reading several posts on this site. Im glad I found ALLNURSES.com.I was once told by an elementry school teacher that there was no such thing as stupid questions.He said the stupid thing is not to ask. You get alot of advice from people with various levels of experience.You can look stuff up & if you can't find it start a net thread. Huh.. What a concept I love it. I also have told alot of my classmates about it.

twotrees2 · Dec 1, 2006

I am still searching for the strength to move on. I was called in the office yesterday and given the pink slip. I am a new grad, just graduated in May and passed nclex a couple months later and got my first job on a med surg floor.. I started work the end of July and I was on orientation and had three preceptors. The educator dilligently came around and ask me questions about my pts. Basically this lady just hammered on things I told her I needed to look up. She nailed me on things I failed to answered correctly plus exaggerated . And guess what she had it all documented, correct me if i am wrong, am i suppose to answer all her questions correctly? DO all nurses truly and honestly know qthing about their pts? it was the completion of my orientation and they pulled me and said byebye!! Besides, My preceptor just told me how great I was doing the other day.

it so breaks my heart - way back when i first became a intern and then new nurse i was treated by the hospital so well and the preceptors - yes asked but also set me down and taught me when i didnt know. such a shame nursing has come to this for our new grads. i do try to help the new grads as much as i can but they put such unrealistic expectations on even the oldies that i have no time to even help the new grads most of the time. hell - tonight was the worst night of my life- new admit and i did not even get to do a skin assessment and initial check as i was to busy chasing psych patients ( when i am supposed to run a dementia unit) out doors and keep em from falling all over and getting hurt. its nuts. just plain nuts.

twotrees2 · Dec 1, 2006

As to a new job, I do believe that when one applies for a job, all the old employer will give out is dates of employment. xo

that is all ythey are supposed to say - date of hire- date last worked there and woudl they rehire - however - i have never heard of one NOT talking out for what they are supposed to not say. they give that info out and there is no way to prove it - sadly true at least in our area.

RN mom of 2 · Dec 1, 2006

I'm so sorry. This must be a difficult time for you. Don't let one person make you feel bad about your abilities. You know in your heart that you were doing your very best. They don't deserve you, and someone else will be thrilled to have you on their team. It's hard, but just remember, this too shall pass. Hold your head high and move on to the next place you are meant to be.

In the words of U2, "Don't let the bastards grind you down." :cool:

Take care. :)

mudget · Dec 1, 2006

Rn2day-How are you holding up? Are things coming together for you now? Please keep us informed. We are all wishing you the best.

tiggertoo · Dec 13, 2006

Same thing happened to me. After 3 months I was told I wasn't a good fit. I had had at least 20 preceptors during my orientation. Most of them gave conflicting information and couldn't explain any of their rational, e.g. you have to shake the purple top tube vigourously you know! Or, I know there is an order that you take the vials for a blood C&S but I don't know what it is. I was told by one preceptor that I used the wrong pencil when updating a Kardex! It was a pencil, not a colored pencil or anything. She just didn't want me taking a pencil from the supply cabinet, I was supposed to walk around the whole unit until I found one that was in use already.

There was a new grad class; this was a magnet hospital after all (whoopti), where the instructors were just going through the motions. For example, they would show up without their supplies to give demos! "You all know what a butterfly looks like right, well then you put this thingy into the vein push the button and voila". Complaints about the level of instruction where made on their evaluations and were responded to with "You don't have to be here you know". Real professionals!

Oh the part I liked best is how they loved to tell you how much money they spent on orienting each new grad, each quote went up a couple of thousand so I can't give you an exact number, anywhere between $40,000 - 45,000, I think they pulled the number out to their hat. Well, they didn't hesitate to throw that money any.

During my tenure there I can't tell you how many complaints I got from patients as I walked in the room at the beginning of my shift about the last nurse. Many of them were to be my preceptors. My last day I had comfort care patient, her iv had infiltrated about 2100 the night before (according to her husband). This was the one hand she could still use and more importantly write with. She had oral cancer and was not able to speak, but was still very much a0x4 and would communitcate with her family by writing, very clearly, now with a hand the size of a baseball mit she was unable to. The night shift had not done anything about her IV, her bed was soak with iv solution not to mention that she wasn't receiving the med for pain.

Unfortunately, for me I turned down about 5 other jobs and took this (the wrong) one. By the time I realized how horrible it truly was, all the other jobs where taken and now I am waiting till the hospitals start hiring new grads again. Usually, only twice a year here and then new grad jobs are pretty few and far between, which I didn't know before I moved here.

Live and learn.

Liddle Noodnik · Dec 14, 2006

... I was supposed to walk around the whole unit until I found one that was in use already.... I can't tell you how many complaints I got from patients as I walked in the room at the beginning of my shift about the last nurse. Many of them were to be my preceptors. My last day I had comfort care patient, her iv had infiltrated about 2100 the night before (according to her husband). This was the one hand she could still use and more importantly write with. She had oral cancer and was not able to speak, but was still very much a0x4 and would communitcate with her family by writing, very clearly, now with a hand the size of a baseball mit she was unable to. The night shift had not done anything about her IV, her bed was soak with iv solution not to mention that she wasn't receiving the med for pain...
Live and learn.

Sounds like they just couldn't stand it that you knew your stuff and you called them on theirs. Of course delivery can be important so they might have labeled you with having an "attitude". Still, things like that lady on nights with the infiltration - unforgiveable.

You can certainly appeal their decision, can't you, and go over their heads? Unless you dont' want to work for those bozos ... lol. That bit about the "wrong pencil" was too much...

Maybe you can work agency and if you find a place you like, apply there. By then they would have tried YOU on and you might have an "in". Who knows?

Take care and good luck!

RNHawaii34 · Dec 14, 2006

i am still searching for the strength to move on. i was called in the office yesterday and given the pink slip. i am a new grad, just graduated in may and passed nclex a couple months later and got my first job on a med surg floor.. i started work the end of july and i was on orientation and had three preceptors. the educator dilligently came around and ask me questions about my pts. basically this lady just hammered on things i told her i needed to look up. she nailed me on things i failed to answered correctly plus exaggerated . and guess what she had it all documented, correct me if i am wrong, am i suppose to answer all her questions correctly? do all nurses truly and honestly know qthing about their pts? it was the completion of my orientation and they pulled me and said byebye!! besides, my preceptor just told me how great i was doing the other day.

:welcome:it happened to me too. but before the manager fires me, i quit. don't lose hope, be happy you don't have to work with them. maybe you will feel better in other places, look for a new place to work now. there are other places out there who is willing to take you, don't worry. try not to feel bad about it. oh, it's their loss, not yours.:icon_hug: