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.
Find an internship position. Many hospitals have them. These types of positions generally have a didactic as well as a clinical aspect. These positions are generally aimed at New grads with the understanding that graduated does not mean skilled!
Generally you are responsible to the nurse educator of the facility until you are ready to move permanently into a unit. In these types of positions, the nurse educator will follow up with you often to help you hone your skills. These are paid positions, though usually a little less than staff nursing and generally come with a contractual obligation.
I would prepare an interview response about your ltc experience that is both humble and hopeful. Most places understand new graduate and will sympathize with you.
As an English nurse I couldn't believe my eyes when I read this. In the UK we are so desperate for nurses and we do our best to nurture our newbies so they stay....we literally are waiting for them to finish university so we can start them on the wards ASAP.
I'm sorry you have had such a horrible experience, but use this as a positive- after this experience you will always treat new nurses with respect, and when you have been in the job for 20 years you can tell your newbies this story! Good luck with your job search (come to the UK!!) xx
My first LTC job I was trained by an agency nurse that could not have cared less. I left in two days and they were like why? I found a different LTC and was trained for a month by real employees who cared. I stayed there a year and a half. Would never have made it without the orientation.
Also, the first facility was a nice place. It was a shame they had no orientation system for new nurses. I would have stayed.
1. You do not have to mention this job on your resume if you left within the first 90 days.
2. Use this time to think about what area of nursing you really WANT to work in. This should be your basis for your job search, not accepting a job because "LTC is all that is hiring". When you decide what type of nursing you want to do, pursue it with a passion. Take CEU's, focus on that area of specialty, and be enthusiastic about wanting to pursue that area of nursing. You will stand out among those who apply for the job.
There are so many things you can do in nursing, pediatrics, psych, school nursing, home care, hospice, doctors office or outpatient. Are you single and flexible? Can you relocate? Did you know they have nurses on cruise ships and movie sets? (I wish someone had told me that when I was a new grad) The world is your oyster, sweetie. Don't be someone's punching bag. You worked hard to get where you are. You took the same board exam as everyone else who graduated when you did. (And frankly, they should have put you on a performance improvement plan. You barely had time to get your feet wet in two months. I have been an RN for almost 40 years, I am certified in Hospice and Palliative Care, and Medical Legal Consulting. I have alot of experience, and I still remember those first 6 months or so, crying before work most nights because I was petrified, working with another new grad on the night shift on Oncology! The best thing I learned is that you have to be flexible and open to learning from your co- workers, and your real learning is just starting. School was just the tip of the iceberg. Good Luck, honey. You will be just fine. I'm sorry you had such a negative first experience
One of the biggest problems with ADN programs is their lack of focus on clinical skills. I just graduated and I feel sorry for all those brand new nurses. I thank my lucky stars I had several years as an LVN before going back to school.
One of the biggest problems with ADN programs is their lack of focus on clinical skills. I just graduated and I feel sorry for all those brand new nurses. I thank my lucky stars I had several years as an LVN before going back to school.
I'm sorry but what? What kind of ADN programs are you familiar with? And regardless of the type of program a new grad has only so many opportunities to practice these skills, that depends more on the clinical sites than the school or the degree type.
How did you graduate if your clinical skills suck? Go into psych or something..
Such a helpful comment...
Anyway, what kind of skills? I mean, lots of skills are learned on the job. My nursing school clinicals w mostly useless. Most of my skills were learned where I could actually practice them.
I know a nurse who has been out of school 2 years and fired from every single job she's had, about 6 or 7. So, there is someone who keeps hiring her. Don't give up!
Take heart. Look for a facility that offers a graduate orientation. Stick with it even without that. When I got my first job, I worked nights with one sometimes two nurses. One night I had the pediatric side plus three adult patients, two of which had signed dnr's. You guessed It, the third adult was not breathing, no heart rate at hourly rounds. Called the code, started the CPR. When the house MD got to the floor, he pointed to me to get the patient's chart. I did, leaving the other two nurses I the room helping the code team. Both knew him as he was a frequent patient. I had just met him in report and first rounds. I got written up and pulled to days for "reorientation". I proceeded to work circles around the dayshift because I was used to magi get ten plus patients on nights and days only had four at the most. It lasted three days instead of three weeks like it was supposed to.
I think I missed something. What did you do wrong?
So as someone who has interviewed people I am not sure I have mixed feelings about putting it on your resume. If you do they may not even consider interviewing you however it was still exprience that was clearly valuable.
The thing I am concerned with is I don't think they gave you a fair shot. Two months in I was still being oriented with a preceptor until I was past three months. I only ever saw one person get fired during orientation and that was because she didn't want to do actual nursing she wanted to be with the patient and spend all the time with them talking to them. So floor nursing wasn't for her but she found an area of nursing that did work better for her. I believe it was hospice which was perfect.
Either way that experience is done and time to move on. There is nothing wrong with LTC even if its not where you want be in the long term. We had a nurse interview with us for our progressive care unit and we loved her but there was someone just a little better. She asked what she would have to do to be able to be hired next time. We told her to get experience in a long term care facility and apply again next year and she did exactly that. She gained so much wonderful experience and knowledge that the next year she got the position without any difficulties and is a great nurse in that unit.
Good luck to you at worst you put it on a few of your resumes and if you don't hear anything back so you take it of.
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SunnyPupRN
289 Posts
Well said.