and I am not sure how to move forward with looking for a job. Do I add it to my resume? Is anyone going to hire me after getting terminated? Ive never been fired before and I am so disheartened that I got fired in my nursing career - if you can call it a career after 2 months. Do I just start over fresh like I have had no experience?
It was mostly related to skills, and my DON who fired me suggested I look online and review my skills, etc. so when I do start looking (which I need to do soon) I can say what happened, and that I have been reviewing my skills to make myself better.
Sometimes I got the feeling that they expected more from me as a brand new nurse than I was able to give. I was always there on time, asked questions, jumped in and tried new things, was willing to help - but its almost like they forgot what it was like to be a new nurse and took forgranted that I was a brand new nurse just learning the ropes. Regardless, my license wont be affected - just my bruised ego. I am especially concerned that since LTC seems to be the only place hiring "inexperienced" (less than a year experience) nurses and that is the field I was in that I am not going to find anyone that is understanding in another branch of nursing to take me in and give me another chance.
II am open to suggestions. This is fairly recent so I am still dusting myself off - but I would love to know if any other brand new nurses went thru this and how they coped with it. Thanks so much for the support.
"How did you graduate if your clinical skills suck? Go into psych or something"
We are able to graduate with textbook knowledge but little hands on practiced skills, in my opinion, because our programs aren't willing to take on the liability of letting us hand central lines, blood draws, IV starts etc on anything but fake arms.
We need repetition! It would be nice to have it while in school, but with the power point/ mixed mode that passes for education these days, its no wonder!
We are able to graduate with textbook knowledge but little hands on practiced skills, in my opinion, because our programs aren't willing to take on the liability of letting us hand central lines, blood draws, IV starts etc on anything but fake arms.
We need repetition! It would be nice to have it while in school, but with the power point/ mixed mode that passes for education these days, its no wonder!
This is exactly it. In an ideal world, every new grad would get an additional 6 months to a year working along side an experienced nurse and learn the ropes. And it's just the way the system is built. School teaches the theory and how to pass boards. Experience comes in the field working with patients after you pass boards.
I could have written your post because I had a similar experience in LTC during orientation. In my situation, the facility failed to realize I was a new grad until I was already hired (inspite of it being in my resume, app and from my own lips!). They were desperate for trained staff and held everything against me. If I asked a question, it meant I was shaky on my skills so I wasn't safe to learn.
Luckily, I had another job that was starting orientation about two weeks into the first job. I quit that first one and moved into the second one. I have to tell you it's great! They WANT to train me. They WANT me to know the health department standards so they are willing to bring them up and discuss them. It's safe to ask questions and learn. And, I highly recommend using educational videos on youtube. I review how to use insulin products (flex pens), inhalers, nebulizers, O2 tank set up and administration etc you can find almost anything you need to see the steps of online.
My advice would be to keep applying to other LTC. You were in a bad situation if your LTC wouldn't give you the space to learn your skills. Another will.
I wouldn't put the negative experience on your resume. In this tight job market, any blemish will hold you back. Plus, I doubt most LTC facilities will dig that deep into your work history beyond your references, drug test and criminal background.
When I first started applying, I would hand in a reference from the last clinical instructor because it was the only reference I had. It was a very average reference and I think it's the reason I didn't get called by those facilities. Once I stopped using that reference, I started getting calls. I would advise to only accentuate the positive aspects. Mention no negatives-even put a positive spin on your "weaknesses". I don't think baring your soul during an interview usually turns out well.
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
So just what should we expect from a new grad? I say bring back hospital programs...we were on the floor from the 2nd day and were ready to hit the units running when we graduated.
I have hired 4 new grads the past month. I am appalled at how little they know. One actually said she shouldn't be expected to pass medications if she didn't know what the med was for. Look on the computer screen and you'll find a link to the med we told her. It's the real world and you can't get spoonfed everything. Besides, I've been a nurse longer than most and I still have to look up a med now and then.
I'm sorry you got fired. It is not the end of the world. I worked for a DON who had been fired from 3 different jobs...all for speaking her mind and sticking up for the staff, so you can find another job...and you will.
No doubt that LTC nursing is not for the faint of heart, let alone a new nurse. Problem is no one want to take the time to do a proper orientation because it takes time and leaves you out of compliance. Fortunately not all jobs out there are like this. Keep trying and good luck-if nothing else you will know in the future to ask for the training that you need. I probably wouldn't list it on your resume because you were probably in your probation period and being that it was only two months no one will question it. I would focus on getting references from someone like your instructor if possible.
I wish you the best of luck. I am not totally sure they will give you a "bad reference" They did end the employment, but you probably showed up to work on time, etc...so I would not worry on that.
I do think as was earlier suggested...saying "The facility was eager to get me up and running independently, ad due to staffing my orientation was cut short" or what not.
I once left a job at exactly 3 months. I HATED that job. I had to go into an interview, and the manager was scowling at the resume and asked me about that. I told her that I liked the staff, and just blurted out the truth...which was, "I found it very difficult to run a code with just myself and the MD in the room. I want to work in a team atmosphere" She hired me.
I'd really look into a lot of jobs, and if you are in touch with some of your friends who are working, check out those connections.
hang in there, lifeisgood2012! persist that there is a place that will see your potential and train you to be the nurse that you've always wanted to be. yes, LTC is not a world we were trained for in nursing school, so those facilities shouldn't expect us new grads to know the "shortcuts."
easier said than done, but don't beat yourself up. i tell myself the same thing (still looking for a job 3 months and counting). just remember to keep going and to also take care of yourself. seek comfort in your support system and keep going.
You were on the job under 90 days, so I don't think it really matters. What I have done is evaluate my own weaknesses and strengths and in good faith made an effort to continually improve them. I felt I needed more instruction in phlebotomy so I paid $70 for a state approved CEU hours all day course to review and practice (unfortunately on a plastic arm again) but it was helpful to review without it being part of the nursing program and graded. They have many other programs as well to offer.
I was uncomfortable with taking vitals so I volunteer at a free clinic that has me do manual BP's as well as pp, rr, O2 sat and temps. I also take patient history and review meds, perform urinalysis and breathing treatments, ekg's are a possibility. There is more than one clinic in town. I would like to see if the others would let me to some blood work. You can get emergency/disaster training through the AMerican Red Cross as well. Also, in September, I will do flu clinic work. I thought the repetitive practice of giving shots and handling client paperwork would help.
I review the you tube educ videos and manufacturer product education on how to use their medication/equipment (great resource!)
I study med admin and medication knowledge on my own time.
Basically, I think if you are making an honest effort to address your deficits, it's nobodies business except yours that you did not receive the training you needed in your first position. I don't see the point in harming your future prospects. I don't see who that serves. I also don't think it's lying. And, don't see how you can be fired for leaving something that was unflattering and under 90 days off your resume/application.
But, if you absolutely feel you must confess all to a future employer, I would think that if you got called in for the interview either they don't care about the blemish or they weren't paying close attention to the details on your resume/app (which happened to me in three interviews!!!) And if you do disclose, I would be prepared to state the close hard facts first, then tell all that you have done to fix the deficits in skill. It's called Vested Interest- a persuasion tactic often used by lawyers. You present the argument against your client (your self and being fired) then disprove its relevence with new evidence ( all that you have done to improve your skills-certificates, courses you've taken, volunteer work etc).
You could try full disclosure and Vested Interest first. If you don't get any calls, then it may be time to be less upfront in the interest of getting you foot in the door. And if it ever came up after the fact, you could explain your fear that you would never get your foot in the door and be able to learn if you had disclosed. Besides if you are a great employee on the next job, who would go looking or even care in the first place. It maybe the case that the former employer can't legally disclose the reason you left the job, they may only be able to say the dates you were employed there. But, I would check that out.
I am so sorry to hear what happened to you, but you are not alone. This happened to me at the end of June, after my 10-12 week orientation on a fast-paced, high acuity hospital unit.
In terms of how to address the issue on employment applications and in interviews, I am still working on this and there are no easy answers. But here is the best I've come up with so far. (And I have learned from my mistakes in my first two interviews last week and the week before!) First, do list the job on your resume and application. As others have said, omissions on a job application (or anything considered dishonesty) can be grounds for termination in the future. I have simply listed the job and all the experience I gained there, which really was a great deal. As to the "reason for leaving" I put "terminated at end of orientation."
Now the hard part. Because I put that on my application, that is the first question asked of me in the interview (all three so far.) It's this: "You said you were terminated at end of orientation. Can you explain what happened and what your plan is for remediation?" The mistakes I made were in giving too much information. My readings online on the subject have since informed me that a brief explanation is best, followed immediately by what you learned and will do differently in future jobs. Then followed immediately after that by your strong points and what you can bring.
I really like what hell0kittygirl suggested and will add that to my repertoire. In any case, I think you and I both have a tough uphill climb. True, it's happened to many others, but it feels like a huge setback. There are days when I doubt my abilities and the depression settles down on me. It really is a traumatic event, that is difficult in the extreme.
Keep active in this forum. Being able to share my experience with others has been a life-saver! "A problem shared is a problem cut in half." Thanks for sharing your story!
"How did you graduate if your clinical skills suck? Go into psych or something"
We are able to graduate with textbook knowledge but little hands on practiced skills, in my opinion, because our programs aren't willing to take on the liability of letting us hand central lines, blood draws, IV starts etc on anything but fake arms.
We need repetition! It would be nice to have it while in school, but with the power point/ mixed mode that passes for education these days, its no wonder!
Wow, I didnt realize how lucky we were in our program then! By our last semester in clinicals, we were pretty much responsible for ALL patient care (general med-surg stuff, nothing advanced of course!). We were in clinicals 4 days a week, and had up to 4 patients if our teachers thought we could handle it. Our clinical teachers figured by that time, it was sink or swim. We needed to know how to organize our time with a full patient load so we didnt end up shell-shocked when we actually started working...
whatdoIdonow?
104 Posts
"How did you graduate if your clinical skills suck? Go into psych or something"
We are able to graduate with textbook knowledge but little hands on practiced skills, in my opinion, because our programs aren't willing to take on the liability of letting us hand central lines, blood draws, IV starts etc on anything but fake arms.
We need repetition! It would be nice to have it while in school, but with the power point/ mixed mode that passes for education these days, its no wonder!