New Nurse BULLIED/UNDERMINED/DRIVEN OUT

[Bindy, BSN, RN]

Hi, I am new to this forum. I am a 37 yr old mother of three who worked in the Ultrasound field for eons...before making the "smart" move to go back to school for nursing. I was in the hospital since I was 20, know the politics, made many friends and many enemies. I am an outspoken, honest,"say it like it is" person who believes in team work and NON backstabbing. I was recently terminated from a position as a staff nurse at a local hospital in M---- County Pennsylvania. I was in this program that would supposedly take me from med-surg all the way up to ICU/CCU. That's what I wanted. Ever since I had started at this institution I have encountered nothing but negative feedback. I am a new nurse, six month's into the GAME. I have been pulled into the nursing office about three times,confronted by two nurse managers that they feel I was just not getting it. That was the first meeting, when I was there on the floor as a new nurse for only 6 days. Then second meeting they told me that I wasn't filling out my I/O sheets (O.K) that "other nurses" were complaining that I was unaproachable, defensive, unfocused, and that patients were complaining too. I said, O.K, can you give me some examples so I know what to work on. They said that they didn't have it ALL written down but there were numerous complaints. I also supposedly talked about alot of the nurses to other nurses. ( At this point I am thinking am I in high school?) So I left that meeting solum and beaten....vowing to not say a peep to anyone. I have three children here to feed and a marriage on the rocks. But unfortunately I have a personality that loves to laugh, talk, help others, and really want to make a difference in patients and my coworkers lives. So that didn't last. I was told I was on probation again....after 5 months on the floor and that I was not ready to be trained on the telemetry floor. ( My background is Cardiology...Echo, holter scanning, etc.) The very next week they ( nursing office) decide to pull me to the telemetry floor, by myself, no preceptor or co-assign for 12 hrs. (Humph!) They( nursing office) call me about 3pm and ask me to stay to 7pm, there on telemtry. I opened my big 'ol mouth and said "Isn't it funny how I am not ready to be trained in telemtry but you can put me here for twelve hours." I stayed. The next week they pull me to the Oncology floor, which is a hospice floor also. I did a two week rotation there in December. I recieved 5 patients....One was dying...and did die on me, a psych patient with medical issues, a drug seeker, a normal medical case, and last but certainly not the least, a OPT coming in for blood that spoke only Russian. Well, my day was hell, so one of the other nurses "started" the ball rolling as far as my patient that had to recieve blood. She did the assessment and "got them ready for me". I was left with the IV stick and getting the blood. I did this all after sticking this poor woman three times because of rolly veins and I proceeded with it when the clerk told me the blood was ready. Appartently there were med's to give prior to the blood that I did not know about. I assumed (how wrong I was) the other nurse would have let me know this. She wrote the nursing progress notes on the patient and it was a mistake I will never make again. Anyhow, this woman's vein infiltrated, I took it out, iced it, then went to pull a seasoned nurse to restick here again. When the first unit of blood was done, I took her vitals and let the oncoming nurse that she had to get lasix folling the unit and after the second unit. This fact was told to me. Patients vitals all within normal parameters, I finished all the rest of my paperwork, and lastly checked if the oncoming nurse needed anything before I left. She said no. Off the next day, then went to work the day after, pulled in the office and was shown an order that stated Tylenol 650mg P.O, Benadryl 25mg, P.O, and Hydrocortosone (don't know the amount...blurry now) and that these meds were never given, now this patient was admitted with reactions and she is in CHF. I looked at the order and it had no time or when to give (premedicate or only PRN)So I am at fault but there were more than one pair of hands in this pot along with a badly written order. I was terminated. I was told that I didn't follow through. Then they said that I didn't even sign the progress note and that's when I told them that I did not write that. They said"oh...." I never receieved any written warnings nor had to sign for anything and I feel that I did not practice at 100% but it was a floor out of my realm. I hope all that reads this do not think that I think I am infallable. I am not. I just feel that this hospital had no intention of keeping me and were waiting to see me fall. I am a "6 month old nurse" in desperate need of a job and I need good references. I was going to stay at this one place until I hit my year mark. It does not look right when you go from place to place. I need some guidance here, if any body would be so kind. Thank you. Bindy

[markjrn]

Well, it just sounds like a lousy situation. I think the hospital's expectations were a little unrealistic, but at the same time, part of this profession is just staying on top of everything - you can't "assume" anything.

Does the facility have a procedure they need to follow to dismiss someone - ie 3 documneted incidents, etc? Did they follow this? Was this a wrongful dismissal, and do you have a legal avenue you can persue?

I think that for future employment, you need to look for a facility that offers a really comprehensive orientation program. Try not to bite off more than you can chew. You could be honest with prospective employers, or I have heard of nurses not putting negative work experiences on their resumes, if it was for just a short period of time. I realize that you are a new grad. Can you use your instructors as references? I definitely wouldn't trust a single person at that hospital.

Hang in there! There are so many opportunities in nursing, and you'll find the right fit.

[Bindy, BSN, RN]

I do not know if this facility has a formal proceedure to follow as far as writing up employees. But I do know from other institutions, there were always certain protocals followed and papers to sign before anyone was shown the door. FYI, this never happened to me before and I usually am disgustingly honest with myself...so I am not embarassed to say I was canned, because I know it was a losing battle. I don't even want the job back, nor did I want to stay there. I just have monetary responsabilities and I guess I am still niave to think everything in life should be fair.

.

Does the facility have a procedure they need to follow to dismiss someone - ie 3 documneted incidents, etc? Did they follow this? Was this a wrongful dismissal, and do you have a legal avenue you can persue?

I think that for future employment, you need to look for a facility that offers a really comprehensive orientation program. Try not to bite off more than you can chew. You could be honest with prospective employers, or I have heard of nurses not putting negative work experiences on their resumes, if it was for just a short period of time. I realize that you are a new grad. Can you use your instructors as references? I definitely wouldn't trust a single person at that hospital.

Hang in there! There are so many opportunities in nursing, and you'll find the right fit.

[Bindy, BSN, RN]

Perhaps you should RE-read my letter. I had no issues with doctors and had made several friends at the establishment. No, it's never 100% all someone elses attitude, like I tell my children, you don't have to like everyone but you still must be cordial and honest. I also admit to my mistake but I see much more going on there that is detrimental to patient care and never anything done about it. I did not come on this board to be whipped but asked for honest opinions and suggestions. Thank you.

[markjrn]

I do not know if this facility has a formal proceedure to follow as far as writing up employees. But I do know from other institutions, there were always certain protocals followed and papers to sign before anyone was shown the door. FYI, this never happened to me before and I usually am disgustingly honest with myself...so I am not embarassed to say I was canned, because I know it was a losing battle. I don't even want the job back, nor did I want to stay there. I just have monetary responsabilities and I guess I am still niave to think everything in life should be fair.

If you don't want your job back, then it's time to move on. Do a little soul searching and figure out what you want to do, and then start making some calls. It's important to assess what happened in this situation and learn whatever you can from it.

[Bindy, BSN, RN]

If you don't want your job back, then it's time to move on. Do a little soul searching and figure out what you want to do, and then start making some calls. It's important to assess what happened in this situation and learn whatever you can from it.

Your absolutely right. I had thought for several hours today and would like to work pool or per diem at an establishment so I can taste what it is like to work at a particular place. The only downfall is medical benefits. I need to supply this to my family. Is there agency work for a fairly new RN?

[mattsmom81]

I'm sorry you were fired. Tough lesson first job out of school.

Its fairly well known in nursing that all it takes to get fired in nursing is one manager pizzed off at you....sounds like you got on the bad side of several. Major mistake.

Sorry to come off so blunt, but you seem to have gone into neophyte nursing waaay too overly confident, with a chip, and are worrying about your inadequacies way too late. Feedback should have been sought from the getgo with all preceptors, with opportunities to improve. We must seek constructive criticism when we're new; all new grads need it. Perhaps you were coming off with such a chip nobody wanted to bother to help you? Only you know.

I'm sorry this happened to you, but its also not reality to blame everything on the environment, particularly when it is coming from more than one source.

Good luck to you. Perhaps you can use your instructors as references as the above poster suggests, and start over somewhere else. I advise you to search long and deep and identify what YOUR role was in this situation so you don't repeat the same negative pattern. Maybe sit down with a trusted advisor/instructor and ask...really ASK... and accept constructive criticism.

That said, one of the reasons I recommend new grads start out in a teaching hospital with a dedicated new grad education/internship dept to mentor them is that some hospitals out there just don't have what it takes to support new grads. This may have been one of those kind of places; if so...I'm sorry. I've watched new grads chewed up and spit out by places without new grad programs. A trusted instructor can likely tell you if this is the case with this facility and can possibly steer you to a better experience.

Once you're calm and have honestly resolved in your mind what happened, practice explaining what happened in this job in a nonblaming way, showing you have learned. Remember anger at the facility and managers is not likely to help you get that next position.

Good luck.

[markjrn]

Your absolutely right. I had thought for several hours today and would like to work pool or per diem at an establishment so I can taste what it is like to work at a particular place. The only downfall is medical benefits. I need to supply this to my family. Is there agency work for a fairly new RN?

You know, I really don't think that would be your best route. You are a new grad, and working per diem requires security in skills, a broad knowledge base, and you need to be able to hit any floor running. I travel nursed for 8 years, and you generally require experience for any nursing angency.

I think you would be wise to consider a new grad orientation/apprenticeship program. Just my

[Bindy, BSN, RN]

I'm sorry you were fired. Tough lesson first job out of school.

Its fairly well known in nursing that all it takes to get fired in nursing is one manager pizzed off at you....sounds like you got on the bad side of several. Major mistake.

Sorry to come off so blunt, but you seem to have gone into neophyte nursing waaay too overly confident, with a chip, and are worrying about your inadequacies way too late. Feedback should have been sought from the getgo with all preceptors, with opportunities to improve. We must seek constructive criticism when we're new; all new grads need it. Perhaps you were coming off with such a chip nobody wanted to bother to help you? Only you know.

I'm sorry this happened to you, but its also not reality to blame everything on the environment, particularly when it is coming from more than one source.

Good luck to you. Perhaps you can use your instructors as references as the above poster suggests, and start over somewhere else. I advise you to search long and deep and identify what YOUR role was in this situation so you don't repeat the same negative pattern. Maybe sit down with a trusted advisor/instructor and ask...really ASK... and accept constructive criticism.

That said, one of the reasons I recommend new grads start out in a teaching hospital with a dedicated new grad education/internship dept to mentor them is that some hospitals out there just don't have what it takes to support new grads. This may have been one of those kind of places; if so...I'm sorry. I've watched new grads chewed up and spit out by places without new grad programs. A trusted instructor can likely tell you if this is the case with this facility and can possibly steer you to a better experience.

Once you're calm and have honestly resolved in your mind what happened, practice explaining what happened in this job in a nonblaming way, showing you have learned. Remember anger at the facility and managers is not likely to help you get that next position.

Good luck.

Thanks for your honest input and to the thread that followed about pool or per diem work. There are job opportunities out there I just have to find the right fit. I am lucky to know many nurse/friends working in staff positions in my neighborhood that can direct me better than I can direct myself. Thank you to all that lent an ear. That helped tremendously and will be doing alot of thinking this weekend.

[pebbles, BSN, RN]

You know, I really don't think that would be your best route. You are a new grad, and working per diem requires security in skills, a broad knowledge base, and you need to be able to hit any floor running. I travel nursed for 8 years, and you generally require experience for any nursing angency.

I think you would be wise to consider a new grad orientation/apprenticeship program. Just my

I second that opinion. Some of the mistakes you describe in your first post go against the basic practices you were taught in school, not checking the chart for your patient before transfusing, some other nurse writing the progress note, etc. It sounds like you were overwhelmed on your first job, and when other nurses tried to help you with tasks, communication about who was responsible to do what seems to have been lost. Tough way to learn some hard lessons, there.

ANY new hire who makes mistakes like that involving basic nursing practice that could jeopardise patient safety will find themselves on the "short list" for termination.

I think you should find a facility that is more geared towards teaching beginner grads to find your legs, learn organisation and solidify your practice before you try agency nursing.

Regarding getting along with other nurses, etc. It's great to ask questions and get feedback regarding how to best take care of a patient or deal with a situation. That's the kind of talking with others you should do more of. Help the other nurses to see you as someone who is open to learning. Make sure you are seen as someone who listens to the answers, as well. Pay attention to how you respond when you are given feedback, of any and all kinds. You may well BE a person who is open to feedback and learning, but if you don't appear that way, the staff will (rightfully so) be concerned about your safety and competence as a beginner.

One of our new grads asks tons of questions, but I think she has a hard time with seeing herself as an absolute beginner, (she's a mature student with two kids as well), and her response is often "oh yeah, I know, but...." The "I know" part makes her seem way overconfident and she looks like she doesn't know her limitations, which is dangerous.

Watch how you talk about other people too. Try to keep the tone of your commentary positive, even if your real opinion is otherwise. You are new, you don't "know" those people well enough to judge them. Sarcasm (The "isn't it funny..." comment you made) is often poorly recieved, especially from higher-ups. If you aren't ready for an assignement, it is your professional and ethical responsibility to say so and ask to not be assigned somewhere that you aren't trained for. And to say it in a manner that is professiona; sarcasm can often be seen as insubbordination.

I really feel that you were not bullied out of this job. By the sounds of it, the manager DID try to talk to you about the problems. It is really hard to talk to somebody about the whole of their workplace demeanor, especially when that is what needs to be addressed, and not the nit-picky specific events. I don't know if you have a union, or what the hospital's policy is - we have a strong union, but any new hire is automatically on probation for three months and can be terminate for any reason in that time, no letters of warning or anything necessary.

Good luck in finding a job that suits you and making it work! :)

[mattsmom81]

Thanks for your honest input and to the thread that followed about pool or per diem work. There are job opportunities out there I just have to find the right fit. I am lucky to know many nurse/friends working in staff positions in my neighborhood that can direct me better than I can direct myself. Thank you to all that lent an ear. That helped tremendously and will be doing alot of thinking this weekend.

I am glad you did not take offense to my post. I truly wish you well. I was fired once from a nursing position and once I was past the anger I could rationally look at my 'role' in it. I really did grow in knowledge about myself, and a greater understanding of my strenghs and weaknesses. If I can do it, so can you. :)

Many managers appreciate our ability to learn and grow from bad experiences. I hope you can find a nurturing environment to heal from the hurts of this last experience and begin anew. Again, Best wishes. :)

[bloviate]

Seems to me like there's a whole lotta problems with a whole lotta other people.

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This is a teamwork business. It relies on everyone doing their part.

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From your diatribe

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definition = thunderous verbal attack

I didn't see anything of the sort. Perhaps you misused the word?

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it would seem that nearly every staff nurse, nurse manager, doctor and patient at that job were out to get you.

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That's strange. What I saw was a new nurse trying to get it right and not being familiar with all the pitfalls that are associated with this business.

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Plus the strife of family life and marriage on the rocks.

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People have problems. Work is not a box that we enter in our shift and then forget about everything else that happens outside of or for that matter INSIDE the box.

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Any chance it might not be the whole rest of the world?

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Any chance you might be in denial about your own situation?

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No, of course not. Everyone's just has it in for you.

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Yes that's it. Blame the victim.

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Grow up, own your mistakes, learn from them, get another job.

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I'm all for owning mistakes. I don't think the grow up part was appropriate. That's just another chance to victimize someone and remain in denial about the bullying and victimizing that goes on with REGULARITY in nursing. From the content of your post I would probably be close in guessing that you yourself have engaged in victimizing other nurses. Or shall we just call it aggressive peer judgement. That's a nice euphemisim for that kind of behavior.

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