Now I think I made a mistake...

Nurses New Nurse

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Well, I really think I've reached witts end.. I thought I was going into my dream job. Passed school and NCLEX with flying colors went into a internship working for a hospital I had worked at prior to graduating.

First rotation had the preceptor from hell, and either told how little I knew, or had my preceptor tell others this in front of me OR was left in situations ALONE I should not have been left in.

Second rotation like waaaay better awesome preceptor = gained some of my confidence back. It also helps I am on the floor that I previously worked on as a tech, so it's more familiar.

Here's the problem our group of interns last week had a meeting to decide where we want to work permanently, of course everyone wants the floor I'm on now to which there are no positions. The "available" jobs are either nights, per diem or part time or on floors which have reputations. ahem....

so I'm like that's o.k. they gave us until thanksgiving to decide. What makes it worse for me is since I previously worked on the floor I'm on now as a tech and knew the manager and hadn't even expressed an interst in working there after graduation YOU think she would have held a position for me but know. So I've been biting my lip over that.

Now I've also been interviewing at hospitals closer to home in the meantime. Had an interview last Monday thought it went well, looked today at the job ad on line and it closed. No phone call; I'm assuming I didn't get the job. Now I keep wondering what did I do say wrong on my interview?

What is wrong with me? Why has nothing seemed to work out since I"ve graduated? Why did the manager I worked for previous to graduating not hold a position? I'm never late; never call out, reliable, haven't made any errors to my knowledge..

So I'm thinking maybe I just don't belong in nursing. I just don't know, but I'm just feeling so tired of trying trying. I just don't know where to go from here.

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Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.

Don't assume the worst. The job ad may have closed because it was only paid to run through a certain date, or the hosp. may have cancelled it because they have enough prospective applicants.

If you are truly interested in that job, call the HR dept. and let them know of your interest. Better yet, see if you can find out who the NM is and give her a call.

Your current mgr. was correct in not holding a position for you since you never told her you were interested, although it might have been nice of her to ask if you wanted to work there.

New grads need to realize that they may not get their dream job straight after graduating. It's highly likely you'll have to work eves. or nights. You may not get a job on the floor you really want, for that matter. You have to decide which is more important...holding out for what you really want and possibly being unemployed for a while, or taking something you may not necessarily want but at least be employed and be gaining experience. And who knows? You may wind up finding out what you thought you wanted isn't really what you want at all.

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(((((((((((((((((((BIG HUG)))))))))))))))))) I just wanted to wish you all the best. I'm so sorry you're going through this. Maybe you can talk to someone and find out why you didn't get the job, and maybe trying to talk to the nurse manager about not holding a position for you. From my understanding you were a tech there right? I really hope things work out for you...:icon_hug:

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
What makes it worse for me is since I previously worked on the floor I'm on now as a tech and knew the manager and hadn't even expressed an interst in working there after graduation YOU think she would have held a position for me but know. So I've been biting my lip over that.

Why did the manager I worked for previous to graduating not hold a position?

So I'm thinking maybe I just don't belong in nursing. I just don't know, but I'm just feeling so tired of trying trying. I just don't know where to go from here.

Am I reading this right? You never expressed an interest in the job and yet you expected the manager to hold a position for you? If that's what you are saying, you need to give the manager a break. Why would she hold a position open for someone who had every opportunity to express an interest, but who chose not to?

If you are generally OK with the hospital as a whole, I recommend choosing the option that seems the best option for the moment and making the best of it. You worked there as a tech and apparently had a good record as an employee. If you show them you can be a good nurse, you will be in a good position as future positions open up.

In your last statement, you say you are "tired of trying." Perhaps that exhaustion is coloring your assessment of your situation. Get some rest and relaxation. Don't over-stress over things at the moment. Make the conservative, "safe" choice and take a little time to make that transition from student to staff nurse. Then, once you have some experience, reassess your situation.

llg

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Specializes in ICU.

One of the best tips I ever received about interviewing is that as the interview is coming to a close, you have to ASK FOR THE JOB. Clearly and directly ask for it. It's time to be an advocate for yourself!

That said, I'm sorry you're having a tough time and are feeling discouraged. Ask for the job, follow up with a phone call a couple days after interviewing, send a thank you note, show that you are interested. I'm sure things will turn around for you soon.

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Specializes in Clinical exp in OB, psy, med-surg, peds.

I am very sorry you feel that way, but wishing that things turn around for the better for you.

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Hi everyone thanks for the good advice and positive thoughts. llg, I DID express an interest to the hiring manager when I teched there, saying that I would like a position when I graduated. This was when I was teching there prior to graduating in May. Perhaps you are right though and I should just go with whats available at the moment & relax and get some experience that way. It's just so disappointing and I guess being a sensitive person I just feel like I must have done something wrong for her not to have held a position for me. Oh well..

thanks again to everyone for listening. Best wishes for all. :mad:

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If you are comfortable with the manager and staff of the floor you are on then consider one of the other shifts offered. I took a night shift job for a whole year (yeah, It's hard to get sleep, social life changes, blah, blah, blah) and waited for my turn at day shift. I let my manager know when I accepted the position that I was interested in Day shift but would be happy to work nights until a position opened. The benefits of working nights blew me away. First off there are less staff to get in the way. Most of the time the chart stays where you last put it. Next you develop a tight working team with the other nurses because there is less staff you learn to work together and help each other out when things get crazy (and they do at night). Mostly though, because it is at night there is not as much pt acitivity...no one is leaving the floor to go to xray, ct, visitors and family are not asking the same questions 12 different ways, etc... therefore no one is monkeying with the IV lines and monitors or stimulating the patients needlessly. Hopefully your patients will stay put and maybe one or two will actually sleep some of the shift. Don't get me wrong, there is alot more paperwork and responsibility at night...but the time and quietness helps the new nurse get more organized and confident for when a day shift becomes available.

Hope this helps

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Things will get better for you! Your outlook may show in your interview so you need to leave the baggage you carry with you at the door. Interviews are a dime a dozen as are jobs. Someone said you will not land your dream job right away, and that is TRUE! I am not sure many nurses care for ER nursing, however, they do it for experience. I am an LPN student and will be working ANYWHERE just to get experience so I can go back to working for a health insurance company behind a desk! I love L&D, however, a few hospitals where i live do not hire LPN's on their floor. SO, that leaves me to eaither go elsewhere until a position opens are deal with it! Good luck with all you do, also look at how you interview. Maybe some of your answers can be re-worded and make them sound better! CALL, follow up after the interview if you really want the position. ALWAYS worked for me nursing or not!

God Bless

LPN2b Delgado

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

Many new grads have to start on nights. It's a good way to get into the swing of things without the craziness of days there...although it DOES get crazy on nights!

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Specializes in gerontology.

Healer 27,

I have been a nurse for a little over a year. I dream of working in a hospital but the area I am in has little to offer. I started work in a LTC facility and with less than 5 days traing was running a unit by myself. I was overwhelmed and had very little confidence in myself. I have made several calls to my nursing administrator from school and reach out to other nurses quite often. I also did not get my clinical position after the DON had me thinking I was a top pick. Disappointments are part of this job as well as the enjoyments. When you feel discouraged "put your big girl panties on" (as my previous teaching administrator would tell me) and remember why you wanted to be a nurse in the first place. You will be fine. I was one of those students who thought nursing school would teach me all I needed to know and when I got to work it would be just like school. Boy was I wrong! I learn so much each day. I try to follow behind nurses that I have watched and trust. There are two that I feel I would like to follow in their shoes and have their experience and well as grow into my own. You will do just fine. Keep at it and with perserverance you will find your way. There are many people that need your caring and understanding. Never forget who you are doing all this for.:wink2:

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