New RN terminated trying to find a new job.

[blastopore]

I recently graducated in May 08 and started my residency program job on a thoracic surgical telemetry floor IMU. From the start I never really liked my job but I told myself to tough it out for at least 6 months to 1 year then go somewhere else. My manager told me that this floor isn't for me. Its too fast paced and I just haven't mastered or don't have the critical thinking skills needed for the unit.

I know that I've made mistakes on that floor during orientation and try to correct them but something else always comes up. I don't know why I stayed on that floor when I'm stressed everyday and just hate coming to work.

I was terminated with 3 months of orientation and am really sad and depressed. My friends told me to apply at different hospitals for the residency program December 08 since I never really finish it my May 08 residency program.

My problem is should I apply to the December 08 program or a regular RN job even though I do not have 1 year of experience. Next, should I put that I got terminated from my residency program when applying for the December 08 program?

My friends told me not to mention that I got terminated because it was so short and I didn't even finish orientation. They told me that I have a heads up because I already have my RN license.

The manager told me that its not like my nursing career is over that this floor is not for me. I should go to a basic telemetry floor for a year and if I want to come back to this floor she would hire me. I know that I do not want to come back so I'm asking about advice about applying for my new job.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

blastopore,

So sorry your first job turned out like this. But that clinical area is a very stressful environment to start in. You may want to 'gear down' and look for a job in a more stable area - and one that is used to working with new graduates.

I would always advise sticking to the truth for any job application - for a couple of very important reasons. First of all, healthcare organzations do extensive background checks (it's the law). The information will undoubtedly include info on your SSN just to make sure it's legit- which will turn up the fact that your former employer was making contributions. Secondly, personal integrity is a basic characteristic of the professional nurse. We are expected to always do the 'right thing' even if no one is looking.

There are a lot of ways to refer to your brief experience. Try something like " it was not a good match for me - I did not want to invest any more time since it was not working out". Don't burn any bridges by playing the blame game or bad mouthing your former supervisor.

Stay classy.

[blastopore]

Just a follow up question.

Should I apply to another residency internship or should I appy for a regular RN job. I have already applied to a few residency internships for december 08.

[WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN]

I feel you, I was terminated from my job for not being a good fit either. The difference though was I loved the unit.

I to have been told to not worry about putting it on my resume, unless I'm applying to the same hospital system. You could always ask HR where your thinking of applying whether or not you should include it or not.

[JennyDo]

You and I are in the exact same boat. I was terminated on the 6th of Nov b/c the unit was too fast for me. I also relocated to a completely different town for this job, and now, believe it or not, I am having a hard time finding a new position that I am qualified for. Would going through another residency program be possible?

[AddieRN]

Well, it's good to see that I'm not alone. I didn't get terminated, but I quit. I started out on telemetry, and felt completely overwhelmed everyday that I worked. I worked days, and it was just to fast paced for me. I was constantly drowning in paper work, orders, discharges, new admissions, etc. I also felt that I wasn't being properly trained and taught. It was like here is your patients, and my preceptor would go play on the computer. The hospital was also 45 minutes away from my house. I graduated in May and only worked on the unit for 3 months. I put in 3 applications, and have had 0 call backs. It's been 2 weeks since I've quit. I've been including the job on my applications to be honest, IDK maybe that's the wrong approach. I thought there was a nursing shortage. It seems like every job I apply for, I meet none of the qualifications. Sometimes I regret quiting my job, but I can't do something that I'm unhappy at.

[jjjoy, LPN]

I think you'd be okay applying for new grad programs still. You ARE still new and the more extensive orientation would probably be best for both you AND the facility - as you're more likely to be successful and stay on. Also, you now have the advantage of not being a TOTAL newbie, which means you can use your preceptored time more efficiently than the first time round, when EVERYTHING was new.

With your experience now, you also are probably better able to size up the units you apply to and to judge if it seems like it will be better fit for you than this last one.

This is a tough time, but it can all work out to your benefit in the end!!!