New and thinking I shoukd give up

Published

I have been an aide for years and have dreamed of being an RN. I just can't seem to keep a job as a nurse. I lost my first one because I did not take my state boards in time so that was my fault. My second one I was told I was not competent. My third one I just lost today. The last two all they have told me was I was just not getting it. When I have asked for specific information so that I can learn from it all I get is the managemtn talking in circles. They say stuff like the staff say you are just not getting it. They do not give me any information to go on. I am very angry at myself and frustrated. This last one I was only one month into a 4 month orientation. I know a few of the things I have done wrong and those are personal mistakes. THey all seem to be personal issue mistakes. A few are clinical. The one job lsot was critical care and they told me I was not competnet. Ok. I was not cut out for critical care but I am competent. Help me guys. I have worked so hard and I am about to go out and get a job at McDonalds. Dawn

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

I am so sorry about your luck. I am not a nurse, so I have no advice. Just want to wish you the best of luck this new year and hope you find the right department soon.

Good luck

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It would help if we knew what was happening to make them think you were incompetent, and especially why they would make that decision one month into a orientation! What happened?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Staff nurse.

...sorry about your experiences. Where in Michigan, what hospital? I had a horrible month in one hospital as a new nurse. The precepting was weak, ill-structured, and the preceptors didn't even know they were going to have someone to work with!!

...did you have a skills sheet to complete with your preceptor? How did that go? Were you teachable? Approachable? Did you ask questions and take initiative? Ask them what they are looking for!! Would another part of the facility be a better fit for you? Are they willing to try you in a different place?

...give yourself a little time to heal, and give yourself some credit, you DID pass N-CLEX :) Would a call to one of your nursing school instructors help, as you ask him/her your strengths and weaknesses? Let us hear from you soon!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

As another poster said, it's hard for us to respond without any of the details. You said you made "personal mistakes" but didn't tell us what type of mistakes. Some mistakes (like not taking boards) are serious enough to warrant dismissal. We can't tell that from your post.

llg

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Urg Care, LTC, Rehab.
I have been an aide for years and have dreamed of being an RN. I just can't seem to keep a job as a nurse. I lost my first one because I did not take my state boards in time so that was my fault. My second one I was told I was not competent. My third one I just lost today. The last two all they have told me was I was just not getting it. When I have asked for specific information so that I can learn from it all I get is the managemtn talking in circles. They say stuff like the staff say you are just not getting it. They do not give me any information to go on. I am very angry at myself and frustrated. This last one I was only one month into a 4 month orientation. I know a few of the things I have done wrong and those are personal mistakes. THey all seem to be personal issue mistakes. A few are clinical. The one job lsot was critical care and they told me I was not competnet. Ok. I was not cut out for critical care but I am competent. Help me guys. I have worked so hard and I am about to go out and get a job at McDonalds. Dawn

Maybe you are the type of person that it just takes longer to get it. You made it through school, that is a huge success and a lot of good people don't make it to graduation so you know you've got some brains! And being an aide, you've got some experience...

Can you talk to HR at your old job and ask for specifics so that you know where to brush up on? Be really honest and say you need this to learn from and that you're not trying to get your job back, you're just trying to move forward. I know there are RN refresher courses at some community colleges for nurses who have been out of the job market awhile. Maybe you could take one of those.

And last but not least, critical care??? sheesh, give yourself a break! there are a ton of experienced floor nurses who couldn't handle and wouldn't want to handle critical care nursing. Start somewhere more basic maybe? There are many options out there in nursing.

Don't give up! I really think you'll find your niche!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree that not taking my boards warrented dimissal. That is not what is bothering me. At the one place, I was checked off on everything that we did on the unit. With comments that I was coming along well. When there was a code on the unit I went to ovserve then assist as I became more knowledgable. I sought out new tasks and patients when ever I could. The last place that I was at for only a month was a little more difficult. I had expereince as an extern in that specialty and I flew through the check off on postpartum and newborn care and I did it in two shifts. I asked the nurses how we did certain things and when they looked at me with strange looks and would say why are you asking that I would say at my other employer we has certain ways fo diong things so I want to check to see how it is done here. That bit me in the butt. I was "comparing" the two facilities. I kept trying to tell them that I was trying to make sure I did things the way they did them and not the way we did where I used to work that was why I was asking. I was told here that I was not approachable. I asked what about my demeanor made me unapprachable. I was told it was my "know it all" attitude. The nurse manager and my one prec. told me that i needed to forget everything I learned as a nurse extern. Alot of the skills I learned as a NE are valuable as an RN. I functioned as an RN with an RN shadowing me. Some of the personal mistakes I made were disclosing that I have ADHD and when staff were talking during down time. I went to the parties that I was invited to and I participated in unit functions. THe one thing that I dont understand is if these nurses didn't trust me then whey during orientation did they allow me to take care of patients alone.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Someone had asked what happened. NOthing significant happened like harming a patient or medication errors. BAsically I was told the staff did not like me and the new NM could not in good faith keep me on when her staff who had been there for years kept comgin to her telling her that they had problems with me. None of these problems were related to patinet care. I asked numerous times if I harmed a patient, etc. All she said was unit cohesion.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm still a student, but my heart really goes out to you after reading your post. Hang in there.... don't give up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.
I agree that not taking my boards warrented dimissal. That is not what is bothering me. At the one place, I was checked off on everything that we did on the unit. With comments that I was coming along well. When there was a code on the unit I went to ovserve then assist as I became more knowledgable. I sought out new tasks and patients when ever I could. The last place that I was at for only a month was a little more difficult. I had expereince as an extern in that specialty and I flew through the check off on postpartum and newborn care and I did it in two shifts. I asked the nurses how we did certain things and when they looked at me with strange looks and would say why are you asking that I would say at my other employer we has certain ways fo diong things so I want to check to see how it is done here. That bit me in the butt. I was "comparing" the two facilities. I kept trying to tell them that I was trying to make sure I did things the way they did them and not the way we did where I used to work that was why I was asking. I was told here that I was not approachable. I asked what about my demeanor made me unapprachable. I was told it was my "know it all" attitude. The nurse manager and my one prec. told me that i needed to forget everything I learned as a nurse extern. Alot of the skills I learned as a NE are valuable as an RN. I functioned as an RN with an RN shadowing me. Some of the personal mistakes I made were disclosing that I have ADHD and when staff were talking during down time. I went to the parties that I was invited to and I participated in unit functions. THe one thing that I dont understand is if these nurses didn't trust me then whey during orientation did they allow me to take care of patients alone.

Maybe those places just werent a good fit for you. It doesn't sound like (from what youve told us) that you are incompetant...don't become discouraged!!! Congrats on passing the NCLEX!!!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What areas did you work? Maybe you just weren't cut out to work in the areas you were hired for. You may need some "experience" in another area. It's hard to improve if you don't know what happened. I would try to answers as to why I was incompetant. Go to HR, have them pull your files, and find out what happened. Don't beat yourself up about it. You have to know what you need to improve on before you can improve. Maybe your preceptor was the problem. Can you give us some examples of what happened? Don't be embarrassed. We have all been there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You passed the exam. You're a nurse! Good for you! Don't give up now.

You already finished the hard part. Nursing is a wonderful profession with many opportunities. I think you just need to find the right fit. You should look for a hospital that provides a lengthy new grad program and give yourself a good year to feel comfortable.

Don't let other people tell you who you are. HOLD YOUR HEAD UP HIGH and just take one step at a time. Don't wast your time with people who spend more time tearing you down than building you up. You need a good Preceptor and lots of confidence in yourself. That will come gradually as you grow in

experience.

Much luck in finding the right spot for you. You'll get there. Don't give up.

:nurse: :yelclap:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment