Long story short, I got a job as a tech at a hospital during nursing school for the sole purpose of working there as an RN once I graduated. Well I got written up earlier this year which prevented me from doing the new RN grad program (I applied in jan but got written up in march). I had to wait six months before I could transfer or do anything. Well fast forward to this month, I get my RN license and my six month "probation" is up. I figure I'd start orienting as an RN but apparently that's not the case. I was told I would still have to work as an aide and wait for a position that I qualify for to show up. Thing is that the GN positions only pop up once a year and all the other postings I need exp. and certs. for.
So, now I'm losing skills and knowledge. I have started applying outside the hospitals to LTC (which is the last thing I wanted to do). I feel unsupported by my manager and I don't know who in the hospital I can talk to. I've already talked to the HR director as well as my manager. The only thing I can think of is talking to them again about this issue, seek out other floors in the hospital for a position or going over their heads.
Thanks for all the advice, it is really appreciated.
I was written up for "patient complaints." One time, I forgot to introduce myself to the patient while doing vitals even though the nurse had introduced me previously, my name was on the board and I had my name tag on, another patient "complained" that I was too rough (but you can't let a surgical patient that's immobile lay in the same spot for 12 hours, they have to be turned, and it will be painful no matter what... there's no way to turn someone without causing a little pain) and another patient "complained" that I seemed to be too busy while tending to her needs and that I "looked bothered." Also, because I forgot to knock on the door... but nobody knocks on the doors, not even doctors. And when you're in the room literally 20+ times a night, you sometimes forget to knock. None of this stuff can be tangibly proven and it's basically "he said, she said." But I really couldn't defend myself since it was documented. I'm not saying I didn't do it, but I didn't do it purposely or with malice intent. I was just trying to do my job effectively. All of these incidents occurred in two separate write ups.
I have never done anything while working that could actually hurt a patient, I'm always on time, and I always get all my responsibilities done, even if that means running around for all the 12 hours. Also, at the time of these incidents, I was also doing my last year of nursing school full time and working full time while completely supporting myself independtly; so I don't know if those stressors had anything to do with it.
As far as someone said keeping up on my assessments and observations, I do that. I work in a small unit (13 beds), so I always have time to correlate physical findings with the actual diagnosis and skim the charts and look at physicians orders, notes, H&P's, etc... The nurses on my unit also don't mind explaining things to me when I ask questions.
I will also continue to keep this job, seeing as I have no other choice at the time.
These are not valid write ups. I'd look elsewhere. BTW, ask those nurses you like if they would write you rec letters.
Oh I don't know> Nurses can and have been written up and or terminated for less such as buttering toast the "wrong" way.
If I was the OP I'd go to HR or my supervisor and ask for a copy of the manual of practice and or employee's handbook that spells out the job description and or duties of her position. I'd go through it line by line with a fine toothed comb and ask for offical clarification of anything that isn't clearly understandable. If anyone asks questions and or has a problem I'd simply state if I was subject to being written up I should know how *not* to have that happen.
Then I'd simply go along with their little game. You want me to introduce myself each time I enter a room/approach a pt? Sure thing it will happen regardless of time of day and or frequency. Knocking on doors? Ditto. Rough handling of patients? Use those assessment and critical thinking skills to interpet any remote signs a patient is uncomfortable when you're turning/positioning them. First sign they aren't "happy" or feel they are being roughly handled go to a nurse/supervisor and request assistance and explain why. If they tell you to carry on, explain the background story and how you wouldn't like to be accused of doing the same again... Oh there are so many ways of playing their little game.
In the meantime I'd be very active in looking for another gig. Remember in most states if you quit one job to take another but it doesn't work out and you're discharged for any reason besides cause, you can still collect unemployment from the previous if there isn't enough time on the second. However if the current job keeps writting you up and you are discharged for "cause" not only won't you get unemployment but it makes it harder to find another job.
Bad as being written up can be it often is not the end of the world. Long as one is honest about the situation many places (but not all) will let bygones be bygones and look at current potential. What the OP was formally warned about again is no different than the "buttering of toast" or "failing to place pillow slips away from the door" type things facilities have been using for ages to get shot of nurses someone didn't like. If all such nurses never worked again then there really would be a "nursing shortage". *LOL*
I would apply elsewhere but stay where you're at for now, not just for the income but it looks better for future employers that you continued to work in the medical field.
Working as a tech still gives you nursing experience so value it! You can also ask fir more respinsibility on the floor- since you have your license now, they might let you do more under the nurses (helping with IV's, some meds, etc.)
You definitely don't want to burn that bridge. If they "find" a spot for you there, great...if you find another job somewhere else, great- but don't burn that bridge!!
It's sucky timing with the write-up but they can't circumvent the rules for you. Try to be patient and let things work out or you may end up makig things really rough for yourself.
I guarantee the skills you use as a tech will only HELP you in your nursing career. It's not as easy to find a nursing position as you think- and you want to find one you like, not just anything. I hated LTC- HATED it and was done with it within 2 weeks...looking for another job, bigger loss of income.
Stick with it! Apply elsewhere, keep working, ask to do more 'nursy' things, leave on GOOD terms, or wait for a position to open there.
I took a nursing refresher course and the instructor told us that if we hold a license as an RN we cannot legally work as a tech, MA, or LPN. I know this is a little off topic, but your predicament made me think of it. Has anyone else ever heard that?
As far as your situation, I agree with many of the others who posted. It doesn't sound like you have good chances if the GN position comes up. HOWEVER - with that said, I have yet to work somewhere where there was not politics or some back-biting. I don't think you are wasting your time. Every opportunity you have to show you are a team player and a great tech, take it. If you have a chance to explore another department, that could be an avenue into a specialty that you really like. You could offer to float, see what is out there, how other floors jive. You might not be doing clinical nursing procedures, but you are learning people management and how to deal with set-backs and that is truly priceless, where-ever you go. You also have the opportunity to observe the nurses, what they do and that is not wasted time.
The situation does not sound all that horrible. I don't know what you were written up for, though. Anyhow, good luck!
Just because you have a license does not mean a facility has any obligation to hire you. You need to prove that you have the right kind of attitude and work ethic and your tone to me comes across as whiney and entitled. You also have to interview for position's they aren't just handed out to anyone with a license.
With as much as a nursing shortage this nation is in right now, hospitals cannot afford to turn away licensed and able bodied nurses. Human resources should be able to find you a RN position somewhere in the facility. In my facility a graduate nurse is only given to nurses with a temporary license awaiting to take their boards. Once you are licensed they can offer you a RN position. In my facility, they do not permit any one with an RN to do anything other than nursing, we can't even act as patient sitters, telemetry techs, or fill in unit secretary. But this is also a place with 12 open ICU RN positions. I would say contact your hospitals nurse recruiter and see what opportunities are available, you are technically not a graduate (temporary license) nurse if you have licensure in your state.
I had to tech for 3 months after I graduated, but had a lot of support from my manager. My facility did not hire GNs, and while my dept technically did not hire new grads, they got permission from our medical director to hire me. I had been a tech there for over 4 years, though, so they were invested in my education. They also technically should not have kept me on as a tech, but they knew they were just waiting for a position to open up for me.
Spikey9001, BSN, RN
337 Posts
Thanks for all the advice, it is really appreciated.
I was written up for "patient complaints." One time, I forgot to introduce myself to the patient while doing vitals even though the nurse had introduced me previously, my name was on the board and I had my name tag on, another patient "complained" that I was too rough (but you can't let a surgical patient that's immobile lay in the same spot for 12 hours, they have to be turned, and it will be painful no matter what... there's no way to turn someone without causing a little pain) and another patient "complained" that I seemed to be too busy while tending to her needs and that I "looked bothered." Also, because I forgot to knock on the door... but nobody knocks on the doors, not even doctors. And when you're in the room literally 20+ times a night, you sometimes forget to knock. None of this stuff can be tangibly proven and it's basically "he said, she said." But I really couldn't defend myself since it was documented. I'm not saying I didn't do it, but I didn't do it purposely or with malice intent. I was just trying to do my job effectively. All of these incidents occurred in two separate write ups.
I have never done anything while working that could actually hurt a patient, I'm always on time, and I always get all my responsibilities done, even if that means running around for all the 12 hours. Also, at the time of these incidents, I was also doing my last year of nursing school full time and working full time while completely supporting myself independtly; so I don't know if those stressors had anything to do with it.
As far as someone said keeping up on my assessments and observations, I do that. I work in a small unit (13 beds), so I always have time to correlate physical findings with the actual diagnosis and skim the charts and look at physicians orders, notes, H&P's, etc... The nurses on my unit also don't mind explaining things to me when I ask questions.
I will also continue to keep this job, seeing as I have no other choice at the time.