write-up for insubordination because I turned my back to cry...

Nurses Relations

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I need your help!!!! I am being written up for insubordination on my 6th day of employment because when my employer was criticizing me for my work and telling me how much stress and how many errors I had made for him I started crying and turned my back to him on instinct. You know from experience that I have a tendency to cry, and I meant no harm by turning my back, but he took it as an affront. I have not been trained to work there, they showed me the clinical side that you already trained me to do in school, showed me the computer system and told me I would need to learn it, then cut me loose and expected me to know how to use the system like a pro by myself on the 3rd day. I thought I was cruising along using the forms I had figured out on my own and nobody said anything about it until today, other than that I needed to speed up. The girl that was supposed to train me was leaving me to my own devices and showing me to use forms that are no longer valid in our system only when I begged her to show me how to use the system. I don't know what to do. I am swamped, way in over my head and now I am suspended in lieu of termination tomorrow and facing insubordination write-up when I return on monday. what can I do? I'm so scared. This could end my nursing career before it even begins. Please help

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Sounds like a place you don't want to work at anyways.

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

Wow. My instinct says that any employer that would leave you to your own devices after a few days at work is unlikely to listen to reason. I guess you have to decide whether to fight for your job or not and if you even want it. I made the mistake of fighting tooth and nail for I job I didn't really want/need.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

If they terminate you, it could be a blessing in disguise. Do you really want to work in that sort of environment?

Believe me, being terminated will not end your career. I was once terminated from a job. When I went in to file for unemp. (back in the old days, when you had to appear personally and stand on line forever till you got to talk to someone) I told the clerk that I was a nurse and was fired from "X" hospital, supposedly a place with a great reputation. The clerk said, "Oh yeah. Them. We get a lot of nurses from there. Don't take it personally." I never forgot that. There really are toxic places and people.

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Specializes in Community Health/School Nursing.

Wow. This person decided to write you up because you turned your back due to crying?? Apparently, you are suppose to also kneel down and kiss his a** while your at it and call him God. Oh please!!! Get out while you can!! This will not end your nursing career. Don't ever use them as a reference. Start new again.....turn in your notice before they fire you if you can and count your blessings you're out of there. Things like this put a fire under my butt!

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Specializes in LTC, Behavioral Health, Dermatology.

Sorry to hear all that...but honestly sweetie....in this WORLD (and specially the nursing world) it would be good to develop "tough skin" and maintain strong control of your emotions. I've learned that from an experience slightly similar, where I too began to cry. Its okay in my eyes to have feelings, etc. but I was later told it showed "weakness" and emotional instability. As professionals, we are to stand firm and take criticism, deal with other's problems, death, etc without showing the hurt that we may actually feel.

My advice: Keep your head high, stay strong and FACE your supervisor and inform him of the "insufficient" training you felt you received. Also take that time to express your desire to maintain employment there (if thats what you want). Reiterate your competence and your eagerness to perform to meet or exceed their expectations of you.

GOOD LUCK!!! HOPE IT ALL WORKS WELL FOR YOU!! :yeah:

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but i am a new grad to boot and this is my first nursing job. if i am fired for insubordination from here how am i ever gonna get another job? who wants an insubordinate new grad with no experience and an alleged bad attitude?! how can i fix this? can i even fix this at all?!

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Specializes in Community Health/School Nursing.
but i am a new grad to boot and this is my first nursing job. if i am fired for insubordination from here how am i ever gonna get another job? who wants an insubordinate new grad with no experience and an alleged bad attitude?! how can i fix this? can i even fix this at all?!

You're a new grad...only been there for 3 days. Not 3 years. Start over. Don't use them as a job reference. Go into another position as a new grad again. Some people may not agree about not using them on your resume but I feel it won't actually help you at all.

Best wishes.....you will be fine!!! :0)

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but i am a new grad to boot and this is my first nursing job. if i am fired for insubordination from here how am i ever gonna get another job? who wants an insubordinate new grad with no experience and an alleged bad attitude?! how can i fix this? can i even fix this at all?!

You only worked there for 6 days, correct? You don't even need to put that on your resume. Good luck to you! Sounds like a blessing in disguise, really.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
but i am a new grad to boot and this is my first nursing job. if i am fired for insubordination from here how am i ever gonna get another job? who wants an insubordinate new grad with no experience and an alleged bad attitude?! how can i fix this? can i even fix this at all?!

They can't tell a prospective employer you were fired for "insubordination." A good attorney would have a field day with that. The most they usually say is date of hire, date of termination and if you are eligible for rehire.

Don't torment yourself anymore tonight with "what might happen." You can't change it at this point. Tomorrow, start working on applying for another job. Take control; don't be a victim.

Some situations aren't worth fixing, and this sure sounds like one. Is this an LTC?

FWIW, if I had been in your shoes, I probably would have cried, too. It's hard when you're young and inexperienced. You want things to work out.

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Why would you want to work there ? Leave and start over .

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Specializes in ICU/UM.

Seriously, just quit. Call first thing and quit.

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